Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
COSMOLOGICAL IMPLICATIONS OF THE CMB LARGE-SCALE STRUCTURE

The Wilkinson Microwave Anisotropy Probe (WMAP) and Planck may have uncovered several anomalies in the full cosmic microwave background (CMB) sky that could indicate possible new physics driving the growth of density fluctuations in the early universe. These include an unusually low power at the largest scales and an apparent alignment of the quadrupole and octopole moments. In a Λ ? > CDM model where the CMB is described by a Gaussian Random Field, the quadrupole and octopole moments should be statistically independent. The emergence of these low probability features may simply be due to posterior selections from many such possible effects, whose occurrence would therefore not be as unlikely as one might naively infer. If this is not the case, however, and if these features are not due to effects such as foreground contamination, their combined statistical significance would be equal to the product of their individual significances. In the absence of such extraneous factors, and ignoring the biasing due to posterior selection, the missing large-angle correlations would have a probability as low as ∼0.1% and the low-l multipole alignment would be unlikely at the ∼4.9% level; under the least favorable conditions, their simultaneous observation in the context of the standard model could then be likely at only the ∼0.005% level. In this paper, we explore the possibility that these features are indeed anomalous, and show that the corresponding probability of CMB multipole alignment in the R h = ct ? > universe would then be ∼7–10%, depending on the number of large-scale Sachs–Wolfe induced fluctuations. Since the low power at the largest spatial scales is reproduced in this cosmology without the need to invoke cosmic variance, the overall likelihood of observing both of these features in the CMB is ≥ 7 % ? > , much more likely than in Λ ? > CDM, if the anomalies are real. The key physical ingredient responsible for this difference is the existence in the former of a maximum fluctuation size at the time of recombination, which is absent in the latter because of inflation.
Wage Differentials between Native, Immigrant and Cross-Border Workers: Evidence and Model Comparisons.

This paper exploits a parametric variant of the Machado-Mata simulation methodology to examine wage distribution differences between native and foreign workers in Luxembourg. Relying on ‘parametric quantile regression’ in place of repeated linear quantile regressions cuts computing time drastically with no loss in the accuracy of unconditional quantile simulations. Substantively, we find a clear inverted-U-shaped native worker advantage: the advantage is small (possibly negative) for both low and high quantiles, but it is large for the middle half of the quantile range (between the 20th and 70th native wage percentiles). The pattern holds against both immigrants and cross-border workers, although the latter catch up much less at high percentiles. Differences in human capital and job characteristics hardly account for the gap, unlike sorting into different jobs and occupations which account for a substantial share—although not all—of the gap.
Korean Singing Voice Synthesis System based on an LSTM Recurrent Neural Network

Singing voice synthesis (SVS) systems generate the singing voice from a musical score. Similar to the text-to-speech synthesis (TTS) field, SVS systems have also been greatly improved since the deep neural network (DNN) framework was introduced. Although they share many parts of the framework, the main difference between TTS and SVS systems is that the feature composing method, between linguistic and musical features, is important for SVS systems. In this paper, we propose a Korean SVS system based on a long-short term memory recurrent neural network (LSTM-RNN). At the feature composing stage, we propose a novel composing method, based on Korean syllable structure. At the synthesis stage, we adopt LSTM-RNN for the SVS. According to our experiments, our composed feature improved the naturalness of the voice, specifically in any part that has to be pronounced for a long time. Furthermore, LSTM-RNN outperformed the DNN based SVS system in both quantitative and qualitative evaluations.
Morsures de serpents: aspects épidémiologiques et protocole thérapeutique

Les morsures de serpents sont frequentes dans la ville d'Abidjan (4,41 par mois dans la periode de l'etude). Elles touchent la population active de bas niveau socio-professionnel. Son taux est eleve de 18 H a 20 H et dans les quartiers residentiels. La prevention serait donc d'exploiter certains terrains, d'amenager des pistes et les eclairer pour eviter la pullulation des reptiles venimeux. Le traitement est a la portee de tout medecin generaliste. L'heparinotherapie intraveineuse entraine une evolution spectaculaire des signes cliniques locoregionaux. Mais elle necessite une surveillance biologique rigoureuse des facteurs de la coagulation
Primary and secondary sources of formaldehyde in urban atmospheres: Houston Texas region

Abstract. We evaluate the rates of secondary production and primary emission of formaldehyde (CH2O) from petrochemical industrial facilities and on-road vehicles in the Houston Texas region. This evaluation is based upon ambient measurements collected during field studies in 2000, 2006 and 2009. The predominant CH2O source (92 ± 4% of total) is secondary production formed during the atmospheric oxidation of highly reactive volatile organic compounds (HRVOCs) emitted from the petrochemical facilities. Smaller contributions are primary emissions from these facilities (4 ± 2%), and secondary production (~3%) and primary emissions (~1%) from vehicles. The primary emissions from both sectors are well quantified by current emission inventories. Since secondary production dominates, control efforts directed at primary CH2O emissions cannot address the large majority of CH2O sources in the Houston area, although there may still be a role for such efforts. Ongoing efforts to control alkene emissions from the petrochemical facilities, as well as volatile organic compound emissions from the motor vehicle fleet, will effectively reduce the CH2O concentrations in the Houston region. We do not address other emission sectors, such as off-road mobile sources or secondary formation from biogenic hydrocarbons. Previous analyses based on correlations between ambient concentrations of CH2O and various marker species have suggested much larger primary emissions of CH2O, but those results neglect confounding effects of dilution and loss processes, and do not demonstrate the causes of the observed correlations. Similar problems must be suspected in any source apportionment analysis of secondary species based upon correlations of ambient concentrations of pollutants.
The Link between Early Adolescent Alcohol Abuse and Adult Antisocial Behaviour: A Hypothesis Revisited

the community [3,4]. Thus it was reasonable to assume that emotional impulsiveness – the tendency to act precipitately and without consideration of adverse consequences under pressure of negative emotions such as anger – might be a core feature of severe personality disorder, one that was associated with a high risk of violent offending. Both childhood CD [5] and early alcohol abuse [6, 7], particularly in the form of binge drinking [8] have independently been implicated as precursors of later antisocial behavior, and of violence in particular [8]. However, a variable proportion of those children diagnosed with CD have been found to progress to antisocial personality disorder as adults – estimates vary across different samples between 30% [9,10] and 60% [11]. Howard’s hypothesis was novel in explicitly proposing a causal link between CD and early alcohol abuse in the genesis Received: September 3, 2016; Accepted: September 5, 2016; Published: September 13, 2016
An Investigation into Chinese EFL Learners ’ Pragmatic Competence

Successful communication is influenced not only by language accuracy, but also by language appropriateness in various social contexts. Accordingly, second/foreign language (L2) learners‟ pragmatic competence as well as how they develop the competence has attracted much attention in the research field of interlanguage pragmatics (ILP). The existing literature on Chinese EFL learners‟ pragmatic competence focuses on their awareness of contextually appropriate language and neglects their production of the language. This study investigated Chinese EFL learners‟ pragmatic competence in terms of both awareness and production. Three research instruments were employed to collect data: a multiple-choice discourse completion task (MDCT), a written discourse completion task (WDCT), and a retrospective interview. Eight-five English major undergraduates from a university in China participated in the study. The results showed that Chinese EFL learners‟ ability to identify and produce contextually appropriate utterances needed to be promoted, and their pragmatic awareness was found to be positively correlated with their production. Compared with the ranking of imposition, Chinese EFL learners were more aware of the interlocutor‟s social power and tried to display the power distance in their language. However, they had difficulties in using appropriate strategies and linguistic features to achieve communicative intentions, and a very serious problem that they encountered was the intended meaning and force of different linguistic forms and strategies. The research findings provide evidence that Chinese EFL learners‟ pragmatic competence is still much influenced by Chinese language and culture, and some form of pragmatic instruction to raise their awareness or understanding of pragmatic features and force relation is crucial for the learning of L2 pragmatics.
Designing Social Networks to Combat Fear of Missing Out

Fear of missing out, (hereafter referred to as FoMO), is increasingly becoming an issue of concern in relation to the use of Social Network Sites (SNSs). Despite its importance, the effects of FoMO continue to receive limited attention, while guidance on how SNSs design is responsible for developing should and, also, combatting it, remains inadequate. In this position paper, we argue that dual responsibility of SNSs design. We report on initial results of a multiphase empirical study which was undertaken to examine the features of social networks that may contribute to triggering FoMO, and to explore how future SNSs can be designed to aid people manage their FoMO. The study involved three focus group sessions and a diary study. We argue that future SNSs shall support interaction styles and protocols and their agreement and adherence processes to enable people prevent and combat FoMO and present styles for doing that.
Effects of Rose Cultivars and Fertilization Rates on Populations of Scirtothrips dorsalis (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) in Southern Florida

ABSTRACT Roses (Rosa spp. L.) are important ornamental hosts of chilli thrips, Scirtothrips dorsalis Hood (Thysanoptera: Thripidae). The knowledge of how these thrips affect 8 cultivars of landscape roses popular in Florida (‘Angel Face’, ‘Don Juan’, ‘Pink Summer Snow’, ‘Radeon’, ‘Radrazz’, ‘Radsunny’, ‘St. Patrick’, and ‘Sun Flare’) would help in developing techniques for integrated pest management of S. dorsalis. The effects of 3 rates of fertilizer and cultivars on population densities of chilli thrips and on host plant damage were evaluated. Fertilization rate, plant organ, and cultivar were important in determining S. dorsalis population density. Differences in total numbers of S. dorsalis, damage rating, and in numbers of flowers and buds produced were observed among different fertilizer rates. The higher rates recommended for accelerated floral growth resulted in more S. dorsalis damage, but not in more flowers than the rates suggested for maintenance. Among parts of the rose plant, buds had the highest density of S. dorsalis, followed by flowers and leaves, which had similar low densities. Larger flowers had more S. dorsalis than small flowers, but population densities were similar. Different cultivars of Knock-Out® rose were similar in their susceptibility to S. dorsalis, but ‘Radeon’, ‘Don Juan’, and ‘Sun Flare’ had more damage with lower S. dorsalis abundance and density than other the cultivars.
EFFECT OF AGE AND CASTRATION METHOD ON NEUROHORMONAL, AND ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC STRESS INDICATORS IN HOLSTEIN CALVES by JENNA

As public concern for food animal welfare increases, the need for objective pain assessment and methods to alleviate pain associated with production practices such as castration gains attention. The aims of this study were (i) to evaluate the physiological response to pain induced by castration in calves and (ii) to elucidate age-related differences in pain response of calves subjected to different castration methods. Seventy six Holstein bull calves were blocked by age (≤ 6 weeks and ≥ 6 months) and randomly assigned to one of four treatment groups: control (n = 20), castration by banding (n = 18), cut and clamp surgical castration (n = 20), and cut and pull surgical castration (n = 18). Measurements included electroencephalogram, heart rate variability, infrared thermography, electrodermal activity, and concentrations of serum cortisol, and plasma substance P prior to, during, and following castration. Electroencephalogram recordings showed desynchronization for all treatments, consistent with increased arousal; yet the magnitude of desynchronization was greatest for 6-month-old calves castrated by cut and clamp. Additionally, older calves in the cut and pull group showed greater desynchronization than younger calves in the same group. Based on the heart rate variability analysis, 6-month-old calves in the control or cut and pull castration groups showed greater sympathetic tone than younger calves in the same treatment groups. Overall, younger calves showed lower electrodermal activity than older calves. Regardless of treatment, concentrations of cortisol and plasma substance P were greater in 6-month-old calves relative to their younger counterparts. In summary, neurohormonal and electroencephalographic stress responses of calves to castration were age-specific. Castration by cut and clamp showed the most pronounced stress response in 6-month-old calves.
Population ageing and taxation in New Zealand

This paper considers the implications for personal income tax and Goods and Services Tax (GST) revenues of population ageing in New Zealand. It considers ‘pure’ ageing effects; that is, population size is held constant but its age distribution changes over the next 40 years. With age-earnings profiles having a peak in the 45–54 age range, and the expected average age of the population over the next 40 years transiting this age range, younger individuals with increasing incomes are expected to approximately counteract the declining incomes of older individuals. However, ageing is expected to increase the dependence of income tax and GST revenues on pension choices. Without changes in New Zealand Superannuation (NZS), its cost is expected approximately to double over the next 40 years, with most of this occurring over the next 20 years.
Subtropical mode water variability in a climatologically forced model in the northwestern Pacific Ocean

AbstractA climatologically forced high-resolution model is used to examine variability of subtropical mode water (STMW) in the northwestern Pacific Ocean. Despite the use of annually repeating atmospheric forcing, significant interannual to decadal variability is evident in the volume, temperature, and age of STMW formed in the region. This long time-scale variability is intrinsic to the ocean. The formation and characteristics of STMW are comparable to those observed in nature. STMW is found to be cooler, denser, and shallower in the east than in the west, but time variations in these properties are generally correlated across the full water mass. Formation is found to occur south of the Kuroshio Extension, and after formation STMW is advected westward, as shown by the transport streamfunction. The ideal age and chlorofluorocarbon tracers are used to analyze the life cycle of STMW. Over the full model run, the average age of STMW is found to be 4.1 yr, but there is strong geographical variation in this, .
Establishment and Characterization of the Fibroblast Line from Silkie Bantam

A Silkie Bantam embryo fibroblast line (named SBF59 line) was successfully established by using direct explant culture and cryopreservation techniques. Cell morphology, viability, dynamic growth and contamination were tested and the Karyotype and levels of isoenzymes of lactic dehydrogenase and malic dehydrogenase were analyzed. Four kinds of fluorescent protein extro-genes, including pEGFP-N 3 , pECFP-N 1 , pEYFP-N 1 and pDsRedl-Ni were transfected into the cells. The results showed that the cells were healthy and possessed a fibrous structure without a change in morphology. The average viability of the cells was 96% before freezing and 90.5% after thawing. The growth curve appeared as typical "S" shape and the cell growth passed through a detention phase, a logarithmic phase and a platform phase; the estimated population doubling time (PDT) was 38.5 h; assays for the presence of bacteria, fungi, viruses and mycoplasmas were negative; the cell line showed no cross contamination when assessed by isoenzyme analysis; the chromosome number was 2n = 78 on more than 88% of occasions; four kinds of fluorescent protein extro-genes appeared to be expressed effectively with a high transfection efficiency between 18.3% and 42.3%. The cell line met the required quality control standard. It not only preserves the genetic resources of the important Silkie Bantam at the cellular level but also provides valuable materials for genomic, post-genomic, somatic cell cloning research and other applications.
Integrated first and second Generation Ethanol Production from Sugarcane

Marina O. S. Dias*, Otávio Cavalett, Rubens Maciel Filho, Antonio Bonomi Institute of Science and Technology, Federal University of São Paulo (ICT/UNIFESP), Rua Talim, 330, São José dos Campos, 12231-280, SP, Brazil Brazilian Bioethanol Science and Technology Laboratory (CTBE/CNPEM), Caixa Postal 6170, 13083-970, Campinas, SP, Brazil Faculdade de Engenharia Química, Universidade Estadual de Campinas (UNICAMP), Av. Albert Einstein, no 500, 13083-852, Campinas, SP, Brazil mdias@unifesp.br
Subjective wellbeing and the MENA region

An area of considerable debate amongst social scientists and the wider public is the nature of the relationship between an individual’s level of material wealth and that person’s perceived “happiness” or well being. In discussion and research on this topic, the term subjective well-being (SWB) has become widely used and encompasses a number of measures or meanings. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the theoretical and empirical literature in this area. Several key drivers of SWB are identified and discussed in the context of the Middle East and North African (MENA) region using data from survey data collected by the World Values Survey (WVS) from 1981–2007. A comparison is made of approaches to measuring “development” or “human progress” employing aggregate objective measures as opposed to individual survey responses.
A New Model of Current Retroflection Applied to the Westward Protrusion of the Agulhas Current

AbstractThe dynamics of current retroflection and rings shedding are not yet fully understood. In this paper, the authors develop an analytical model of the Agulhas Current retroflection dynamics using three simple laws: conservation of volume, momentum balance, and Bernoulli’s principle. This study shows that, for a retroflecting current with a small Rossby number, this theoretical model is in good agreement with numerical simulations of a reduced-gravity isopycnal model. Otherwise, the retroflection position becomes unstable and quickly propagates upstream, leaving a chain of eddies in its path. On the basis of these findings, the authors hypothesize that the westward protrusion of the Agulhas retroflection and the local “zonalization” of the Agulhas Current after it passes the Agulhas Bank are stable only for small Rossby numbers. Otherwise, the retroflection shifts toward the eastern slope of the Agulhas Bank, where its position stabilizes due to the slanted configuration of the slope. This study show.
Effect of collection techniques on recovery, and in vitro maturation of Black Iraqi Goats oocytes

The study was conducted to know the effect of colle ction techniques on recovery and on in vitro maturation of goat oocytes. Oocytes were collected by two techniques aspiration and slicing of goat ovaries obtained fro m slaughter house. It was observed that aspiration showed a recovery rate of 76.94% (1 401/1821) while slicing method showed a recovery rate of 69.93% (884/1264). There was a significant difference (P<0.05) between the two methods. Aspiration method showed a maturation rate of 40.68% of the recovered oocytes of good quality (12 97/1401), While the slicing method showed a maturation rate of 30.84% of the recovered oocytes (198/642). There was a significant difference (P<0.05) in maturation rate between the aspiration and slicing methods. It was concluded from this study that the method of collection oocytes from ovaries in slaughter house effect on recovery and the matur ation of oocyte in Black Iraqi Goat.
The perceptibility curve test applied to CCD and two methods of digitization of dental film-based radiographs

Objective: After introduction of digital radiography into dentistry several methods of image acquisition were accessible in the field of dentistry. In many instances it is necessary to digitize analog images. There is no overall acceptable method for image digitization so all different types of images can be comparable. The objective of this study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of different methods of image digitization. Methods: This study was an accuracy diagnostic test study. In current study perceptibility curve test which first introduced by de Balder was applied. In this test a test object is used which is usually made by aluminum. Different levels of thickness are necessary and there are a number of holes in the test object to have different levels of contrast. Images from film and CCD and digitized images by means of CCD scanners and digital camera were prepared. Nine observers assessed the images. Data collected from observers delivered to SPSS software (SPSS 13.0, Chicago, IL) and for each image acquisition method interclass correlation coefficience (ICC) was computed and compared to the gold standard. Results: Mean sensitivity, specifity, positive and negative like hood ratios in dependence on material thickness (steps) and the background gray value were calculated. In regions of high optical density (dark images, low gray value in background) the sensitivity for the film images was highest (0.994) following by CCD (0.905), scanner (0.889) and camera (0.821). Difference between CCD images and scanner images was not significant. (P >0.05) In dark regions of no dark holes the sensitivity was highest for film images (0.832) following by CCD (0.798), camera (0.714) and scanner (0.615) Difference between film and CCD images was not significant. (P >0.05). Conclusion: The diagnostic quality of radiographic films was better than digital CCD sensors. And for digitizing analog images scanners are better than digital cameras.