Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
First records in Brazil for Arthrosaura versteegii van Lidth de Jeude, 1904 (Reptilia, Gymnophthalmidae), a possible species complex, and distribution extension for Arthrosaura montigena Myers & Donnelly, 2008, in Venezuela

Arthrosaura versteegii van Lidth de Jeude 1904 has a supposed distribution on the Guiana Shield from eastern Venezuela to western French Guiana, between 100–1400 m above sea level. No records for Brazil were known. We here report material from two areas in Brazilian Amazonia south of the Amazon River, of specimens morphologically agreeing with mso-bidi-font-style: normalA. versteegii, but with two distinct types of hemipenes that also differ from that of Guianan males. Moreover, reexamination of two specimens of mso-bidi-font-style:normalA. versteegii reported from the Venezuela highlands show that they are A. montigena Myers and Donnelly 2008. This leaves A. versteegii restricted to eastern Amazonian lowlands.
Learning 3 D scene synthesis from RGB-D images by Zeinab

We present a data-driven method for synthesizing 3D indoor scenes by inserting objects progressively into an initial, possibly, empty scene. Instead of relying on few hundreds of handcrafted 3D scenes, we take advantage of existing large-scale annotated RGB-D datasets, to form the prior knowledge for our synthesis task. Our object insertion scheme follows a cooccurrence model and an arrangement model, both learned from the SUN RGB_D dataset. Compared to previous works on probabilistic learning for object placement, we make two contributions. First, we learn various classes of higher-order object-object relations which effectively enable considering objects in semantically formed groups rather than by individuals. Second, while our algorithm inserts objects one at a time, it attains holistic plausibility of the whole current scene while offering controllability through progressive synthesis. We conducted several user studies to demonstrate the effectiveness of our synthesis method.
CERN-TH / 2003-173 , HD-THEP-03-39 , UFIFT-HEP-03-21 Production of Massless Fermions during Inflation

We correct a sign error in the effective Dirac equation solved in Ref. [12]. We discuss the changes this implies and their physical significance. In Ref. [12] we calculated the one-loop self-energy for massless fermions which couple via a Yukawa interaction term to a massless, minimally coupled scalar during de Sitter inflation. However, within the system of conventions we used, the self-energy should contribute oppositely to the local derivative term in the quantum-corrected Dirac equation. The correct equation is, ai∂/(aψ(x)) − ∫ dx Σret(x, x ′)ψ(x′) = 0 . (70) Here a = −1/(Hη) denotes the scale factor during de Sitter inflation, Σret is the retarded self-energy of the Schwinger-Keldysh formalism, and ψ is the fermionic wave function. This is how equation (29) in [12] should have read. The correct sign makes a simple and profound change in our analysis. The conformally rescaled, chiral components of spatial plane wave mode functions obey the equation, ∂Nh ± L(N,w) + ( f 2π )2 ∫ N 0 dN ′ hL(N ′, w)e∓i2we −N ′ [ N ′− 4 − 2 ∫ 2we−N′ 0 dτ e±iτ−1 τ ] ≈ 0 . (71)
Fermi establishes classical novae as a distinct class of gamma-ray sources

Gamma-ray novas may be garden variety When astronomers detected gamma rays from the nova V407 Cyg, an explosive mass transfer from a red giant onto a white dwarf, they found it surprising enough. They blamed the rays on strong stellar winds enabling particle acceleration. Now, the Fermi-LAT Collaboration has observed gamma rays from three more novas, all lacking the strong winds. Although the three sources vary slightly in nature, none is particularly unusual. If all novas emit gamma rays, then astronomers would expect to see the same number of novas that they did in fact see within a 5-kpc distance over 5 years. Science, this issue p. 554 Three classical novae exhibit unexpected high-energy particle acceleration and may represent the norm for that object class. A classical nova results from runaway thermonuclear explosions on the surface of a white dwarf that accretes matter from a low-mass main-sequence stellar companion. In 2012 and 2013, three novae were detected in γ rays and stood in contrast to the first γ-ray–detected nova V407 Cygni 2010, which belongs to a rare class of symbiotic binary systems. Despite likely differences in the compositions and masses of their white dwarf progenitors, the three classical novae are similarly characterized as soft-spectrum transient γ-ray sources detected over 2- to 3-week durations. The γ-ray detections point to unexpected high-energy particle acceleration processes linked to the mass ejection from thermonuclear explosions in an unanticipated class of Galactic γ-ray sources.
NITRATE-NITROGEN SUFFICIENCY RANGES IN LEAF PETIOLE SAP OF PAC CHOI GROWN WITH ORGANIC AND CONVENTIONAL FERTILIZERS

Petiole sap nitrate-nitrogen (NO3-N) analysis with handheld meters is a valuable tool in applying in-season nitrogen (N) for many crops. Sufficiency levels have been determined for several leafy green crops, including lettuce (Lactuca sativa L.) and cabbage (Brassica oleracea L.), but not for pac choi (Brassica rapa L.). The response of pac choi to different fertilizer rates and sources [conventional and organic] has established optimal soluble N application rates and Cardy meter sufficiency ranges. Greenhouse experiments were conducted during summer and fall of 2008 in Manhattan, KS. Conventional soluble fertilizer was formulated from inorganic salts with a 4 NO3-N: 1 ammonium ratio. Phosphorus was held at 1.72mM and K at 0.83mM for all treatment levels. The organic soluble fertilizer, fish hydrolyzate (2N:1.72P:0.83K), was diluted to provide the same N levels as with conventional treatments. Both fertilizers were applied at rates of 0, 32, 75, 150, 225, 300, and 450 mg L. Seedlings were transplanted and fertilizer application began at 18 days. Plants were harvested at seven weeks (five weeks post transplanting) after receiving 15 fertilizer applications during production. Samples of the most recently matured leaves were harvested weekly and analyzed for petiole sap NO3-N and leaf blade total N concentration. Leaf count, leaf length, and chlorophyll content were also measured weekly. Fresh and dry weights were determined on whole shoots and roots. Optimum yield was achieved at the 150 mg. L fertility rate with both conventional and organic fertilizers. Field and high tunnel experiments were conducted during fall 2008 to validate the sufficiency ranges obtained from the greenhouse studies. Based on field and high tunnel results, sufficiency levels of NO3-N for pac choi petiole sap during weeks 2 to 3 of production were 8001500 mg. L, and then dropped to 600-1000 mg. L during weeks 4 through harvest for both conventional and organic fertilizers sources. These ranges could vary based on the variety of the crop, the fertility of soil, and certain environmental factors such as photoperiod, light intensity. However, we found that petiole sap nitrate always increased to the point associated with the maximum biomass, followed by a plateau where sap nitrate remained constant. This characteristic of the cardy meter can provide the growers with a practical methodology to generate their standard curves under specific conditions to guide in-season N applications. Total N in leaf tissue showed fewer fertilizer rate effects than petiole sap NO3-N. Chlorophyll content was not useful in evaluating pac choi N status.
Glycan Recognition Single-chain antibody-fragment M 6 P-1 possesses a mannose 6-phosphate monosaccharide-speci fi c binding pocket that distinguishes N-glycan phosphorylation in a branch-speci fi c manner †

The acquisition of mannose 6-phosphate (Man6P) on N-linked glycans of lysosomal enzymes is a structural requirement for their transport from the Golgi apparatus to lysosomes mediated by the mannose 6-phosphate receptors, 300 kDa cation-independent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (MPR300) and 46 kDa cation-dependent mannose 6-phosphate receptor (MPR46). Here we report that the single-chain variable domain (scFv) M6P-1 is a unique antibody fragment with specificity for Man6P monosaccharide that, through an array-screening approach against a number of phosphorylated N-glycans, is shown to bind monoand diphosphorylated Man6 and Man7 glycans that contain terminal αMan6P(1→ 2)αMan(1→ 3)αMan. In contrast to MPR300, scFv M6P-1 does not bind phosphodiesters,monophosphorylatedMan8 ormonoor diphosphorylatedMan9 structures. Single crystal X-ray diffraction analysis to 2.7 Å resolution of Fv M6P-1 in complex with Man6P reveals that specificity and affinity is achieved via multiple hydrogen bonds to the mannose ring and two salt bridges to the phosphate moiety. In common with both MPRs, loss of binding was observed for scFv M6P-1 at pH values below the second pKa of Man6P (pKa = 6.1). The structures of Fv M6P-1 and the MPRs suggest that the change of the ionization state of Man6P is the main driving force for the loss of binding at acidic lysosomal pH (e.g. lysosome pH∼ 4.6), which provides justification for the evolution of a lysosomal enzyme transport pathway based on Man6P recognition.
Back to Basics : The Impact of Financial Leverage on Asset Pricing

This paper examines the impact of financial leverage on time-varying betas and on the conditional CAPM using a framework in which a firm’s equity beta is decomposed into the product of financial leverage and its asset beta. The unique aspect of this analysis is that a firm’s asset beta is estimated using asset returns constructed from market data not only on equity, but also on corporate bonds and loans. Several results emerge. The first finding is that leverage alone can explain a substantial portion of the well-documented unconditional alphas of book-to-market–sorted portfolios. Second, this improvement is shown to be due to the tight link between book-to-market and leverage, explaining my empirical finding that firms’ asset returns do not increase across book-tomarket–sorted portfolios. Third, I document that high book-to-market firms have counter-cyclical asset betas, further improving the fit of the model. In summary, high book-to-market firms have both high leverage and high asset betas in economic downturns and, therefore, have high expected equity returns.
Distinguishing micro-businesses from SMEs: a systematic review of growth constraints

Purpose Micro-businesses account for a large majority of small and medium enterprises (SMEs). However, they remain comparatively under-researched. The purpose of this paper is to take stock of the extant literature on growth challenges and to distinguish growth constraints facing micro-businesses as a specific subset of SMEs from those facing larger SMEs. Design/methodology/approach The study consists of a systematic review of 59 peer-reviewed articles on SME growth. Findings Micro-businesses distinguish themselves from larger SMEs by being owner-manager entrepreneur (OME) centric and are constrained by a tendency to be growth-averse, underdeveloped capabilities in key business areas, underdeveloped OME capabilities, and often inadequate business support provision. Research limitations/implications The use of keywords, search strings, and specific databases may have limited the number of papers identified as relevant by the review. However, the findings are valuable for understanding micro-businesses as a subset of SMEs, providing directions for future research and generating implications for policy to support the scaling up of micro-businesses. Originality/value The review provides a renewed foundation for academic analysis of micro-business growth, highlighting how micro-businesses are distinct from larger SMEs. At present, no literature review on this topic has previously been published and the study develops a number of theoretical and policy implications.
Explaining macroeconomics changes using credit spreads

In this paper the usefulness of credit spreads to explain changes in macro economic variables is tested. Several new credit spread indices are created, some of them taking maturity mismatching into account. These indices will be compared to the GZ index, created using the bottom-up approach as in Gilchrist,Zakrajsek (2012). The results of these new indices even exceed that of the GZ index, while requiring less information to be constructed. Lastly, the dierent indices will be combined to make a single model that outperforms all the previous ones.
STUDIES ON ESTIMATION OF LEAF GAS EXCHANGE OF ORNAMENTAL WOODY PLANT SPECIES

Instrumental measurements were carried out on urban tolerant Acer, Fraxinus, and Tilia species and varieties in the Buda Arboretum (N 47°2 8’47.7” E 19°02’19.6”) in order to evaluate differences between their photosynthetic and gas ex change performance. Stomatal conductance, transpiration, net photosynthesis and photosyntheti c active radiation (PAR) on sample leaves were measured and calculated using the LCi infrared gas analyzer (IRGA). Meanwhile the photosynthetic activity (net CO2 assimilation) of leaves showed correlation to PAR, stomatal conductance and leaf temperature, there are significant differences foun d between genera and species of urban trees, which suggests that their CO 2 assimilation capacity differs. This influences the value of genera and species considering the urban air cleaning due to their CO 2 fixation. Under the examined conditions leaves of Tilia sp. showed higher photosynthetic capacity compared to Acer or Fraxinus sp. The transpiration rate of leaves correlates to stomatal conductance and le af temperature. The low transpiration rate of Fraxinus excelsior ‘Westhof’s Glorie’ leaves suggests more economic w ater use. We also found considerable differences in water use efficiency (WUE) between s pecies and genera. Tilia sp. Acer platanoides and Fraxinus excelsior ‘Westhof’s Glorie’ showed higher WUE compared to Acer negundo .
Production of Optical Coatings Resistant to Damage by Petawatt Class Laser Pulses

There are a number of ultra-high intensity lasers in operation around the world that produce petawatt (PW) class pulses. The Z-Backlighter lasers at Sandia National Laboratories belong to the class of these lasers whose laser beams are large (tens of cm) in diameter and whose beam trains require large, meter-class, optics. This chapter provides an in-depth overview of the production of state-of-the-art high laser-induced damage threshold (LIDT) optical coatings for PW class laser pulses, with emphasis on depositing such coatings on meter-class optics. We begin with a review of ultra-high intensity laser pulses and the various approaches to creating them, in order to establish the context and issues relating to high LIDT optical coatings for such pulses. We next describe Sandia’s PW Z-Backlighter lasers as a specific example of the class of large-scale lasers that generate PW pulses. Then we go into details of the Sandia Large Optics Coating Operation, describing the features of the large optics coating chamber in its Class 100 clean room environment, the coating process controls, and the challenges in the production of high LIDT coatings on large dimension optical substrates. The coatings consist of hafnia/silica layer pairs deposited by electron beam evaporation with temperature control of the optical substrate and with ion assisted deposition (IAD) for some coatings as a means of mitigating stress mismatch between the coating and substrate. We continue with details of preparation of large optics for coating, including the polishing and washing and cleaning of the substrate surfaces, in ways that insure the highest LIDTs of coatings on those surfaces. We turn next to LIDT tests with nanosecond and sub-picosecond class laser pulses while emphasizing the need, when interpreting LIDT test results, to take into account the differences between the test laser pulses and the pulses of the actual PW laser system. We present a comprehensive summary of results of LIDT tests on Sandia coatings for PW pulses. Two sections of the chapter present specific coating case studies, one for designs of a high reflection (HR) coating with challenging performance specifications and one for the antireflection (AR) coatings of a diagnostic beamsplitter. The coatings are for non-normal angle
Cost sharing in the Ethiopian higher education system: the need, implications and future directions

Only about 1.5% of the age cohort is currently participating in higher education in Ethiopia. This is dismal, and is the major factor for of the critical shortage of educated and skilled human resource. The five-year (2005-2010) education sector development program (MOE, 2005) indicates that the higher education system in Ethiopia should be moving away from exclusive enrolments of 1-2% of the age cohort towards increasing participation to over 5%. However, free higher education is not feasible and simply inappropriate for Ethiopia. Covering the full tuition and food and room cost for a small proportion of the age cohort from the taxpayers’ money is inappropriate and inequitable distribution of resources. A significant number of students (about 54% of total enrolment in 2003/04) are enrolled in fee-paying programs in public and private institutions. The increasing need for more public budget to expand access, the requirement to redress inequitable subsidies by taxpayers to a small proportion of the age cohort and the desire to diversify revenue necessitates the introduction of cost sharing. Ethiopia has chosen a modified model of the Australian type Graduate Tax. This model is relatively more attractive, simple and manageable than other systems such as the mortgage type loan. The graduate tax scheme, as implemented in Ethiopia, ensures equitable access to students of any background, as there is no need to stipulate income of parents to arrive at the repayment amounts. It essentially foregoes mandatory parental obligations. By strengthening the tax collection and information system, recovery from graduate tax can represent over 20% of recurrent budget in a decade or so. Some policy and implementation issues need to be given serious consideration. Immediate removal of all subsidies to food and room need to be effected. Appropriate tuition fees and costs should be calculated in each program and institution. There is a need to provide each and every citizen a tax identification number (TIN) and decentralization of tax collection. Management information systems in higher education institutions and the tax collecting authorities have to be updated, harmonized and shared. A credible and transparent mechanism by which extra revenue would be dedicated to higher education for improvements of academic quality need to be put in place. The above improvements enhance the confidence of both public and university community including students towards fulfilling their responsibility and the success of the cost sharing that is implemented to diversify revenue and to address equity and quality in the Ethiopian higher education system.
Partition function of N = 2 ∗ SYM on a large four-sphere

We examine the partition function of N = 2∗ supersymmetric SU(N) YangMills theory on the four-sphere in the large radius limit. We point out that the large radius partition function, at fixed N , is computed by saddle-points lying on walls of marginal stability on the Coulomb branch of the theory on R4. For N an even (odd) integer and θYM = 0 (π), these include a point of maximal degeneration of the Donagi-Witten curve to a torus where BPS dyons with electric charge [ N 2 ] become massless. We argue that the dyon singularity is the lone saddle-point in the SU(2) theory, while for SU(N) with N > 2, we characterize potentially competing saddle-points by obtaining the relations between the Seiberg-Witten periods at such points. Using Nekrasov’s instanton partition function, we solve for the maximally degenerate saddle-point and obtain its free energy as a function of gYM and N , and show that the results are “large-N exact”. In the large-N theory our results provide analytical expressions for the periods/eigenvalues at the maximally degenerate saddle-point, precisely matching previously known formulae following from the correspondence between N = 2∗ theory and the elliptic Calogero-Moser integrable model. The maximally singular point ceases to be a saddle-point of the partition function above a critical value of the coupling, in agreement with the recent findings of Russo and Zarembo.
Increasing the flexural capacity of geopolymer concrete beams using partially deflection hardening cement-based layers: Numerical study

Experimental research has demonstrated the great flexural performance of deflection hardening cement based composites for strengthening the beams. This paper numerically investigates the feasibility of adding thin deflection hardening fiber reinforced layers to the bottom of geopolymer concrete beams to enhance the flexural performance. To properly predict the structural behavior and crack patterns of beams, the smeared crack approach was adopted to simulate the beams. The numerical simulations executed in the FEM-based computer program. To validate the developed numerical models, the tested experimental tests beams with two layers cross section were numerically simulated. Regarding the results obtained , the models would well predict the structural behavior and crack patterns of beams. Ensuring the efficiency and accuracy of the adopted constitutive model to predict the structural behavior and crack patterns of beams, the numerical FE models used to simulate the added hardening deflection fiber reinforced layer to the bottom of geopolymer concrete beams. The numerical results revealed that adding a thin fiber reinforced layer to geopolymer concrete beams results in increasing ultimate load capacity, ultimate deflection, and ductility. The greatest enhancement in the flexural performance of the strengthened beams was found in the ultimate load capacity of the strengthened beams.
Dispersal and Re-Capture of Marked, Overwintering Tomicus Piniperda (Coleoptera: Scolytidae) From Scotch Pine Bolts

The pine shoot beetle (PSB), Tomicus piniperda is a recently established exotic pest of live pine in the southern Great Lakes region of the U.S. and Canada. Scotch pine, Pinus sylvestris L. is the most susceptible pine species, but the adult also attacks several other North American species of Pinus, This research investigated the dispersal behavior of beetles emerging from overwintering sites to aid in the development of effective monitoring and management practices. Scotch pine logs with overwintering PSB were sprayed with fluorescent pigments to mark dispersing beetles. These logs were placed in piles in the centers of three circular trap arrays of 8-unit Lindgren traps, baited with α-pinene, and placed at distances of 50, 100, 200, 300 and 400 meters from the center along equally spaced radii. An estimated average of 393 PSB, or 23.4% of the overwintering PSB, dispersed from each of three log piles during the initial spring dispersal flight, and 21.9% of these were captured in traps. Traps within 100 meters caught 56.0 to 67.8% of the marked PSB recovered. Most (95.3%) marked PSB were trapped within 400 meters, but 12 beetles (4.7%) were trapped 780-2,000 meters away in adjacent trap arrays. The dispersal pattern of the population, as indicated by trap catch, was to the northeast, in the direction of prevailing westerly/ southerly winds up to 4.77 m/s daily average during beetle flight. Regression analysis suggests that the PSB within the experimental area had a predicted dispersal distance of 900 meters in an area that contained numerous traps. Dispersal distances may be greater under of conditions of strong and steady winds or if traps or abundant host material removed fewer PSB from the dispersing population. The use of traps to monitor specific sites should consider the direction of prevailing winds. Trap catches of wild PSB suggest that optimal inter-trap spacing for efficient detection could be about 78 m.