Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Interpreting the effect of regional climate fluctuations on Quercus robur L. trees under a temperate continental climate (southern Romania)

To determine oak tree sensitivity to climate fluctuations as a precipitation predictor, we eliminated monthly climate data and computed the growth-precipitation correlation using mean daily values calculated in time intervals. Precipitation from March through May is the primary limiting factor in intra-annual tree-ring growth for Quercus robur L. in southern Romania. Bootstrap correlations between the residual series and monthly average precipitation showed a positive dependence (r = 0.4). Using CLIMTREG software and daily climate data, we obtained correlation values of (0.6) and a better understanding of on-going tree radial growth. We found that the oak growth process is active during two distinct periods in the study area, December 22th–February 10th (earlywood) and March 04th–June 13th (latewood). For the studied oak tree population, the correlation with climate was positive with respect to precipitation and negative with respect to temperature. This indicates that annual tree-ring formation was influenced by the precipitation regime and frequency and by the degree of drought. These results also indicate that different behaviours occur among the examined earlywood and latewood under the same climatic conditions, which were then analysed.
Comparative Evaluation of Sealing Ability of Various Single-cone Systems: An in vitro Study

Materials and methods: Thirty-six extracted mandibular premolars were prepared using EndoWave rotary instruments. Samples were divided into three groups with 10 teeth each. Group I: Obturated with AH Plus sealer and gutta-percha cones (6%), group II: Obturated with ActiV GP sealer and ActiV GP cones (6%), group III: Obturated with Epiphany sealer and Resilon cones (6%), positive control (3 teeth): obturated without sealer with guttapercha cones (6%), and negative control (3 teeth): Obturated as in group I and covered with sticky wax and nail varnish.
Milky Way mass constraints from the Galactic satellite gap

We use the distribution of maximum circular velocities, Vmax, of satellites in the Milky Way (MW) to constrain the virial mass, M200, of the Galactic halo under an assumed prior of a Λ cold dark matter universe. This is done by analysing the subhalo populations of a large sample of haloes found in the Millennium II cosmological simulation. The observation that the MW has at most three subhaloes with Vmax ≥ 30 km s-1 requires a halo mass M200 ≤ 1.4 × 1012 M⊙, while the existence of the Magellanic Clouds (assumed to have Vmax ≥ 60 km s-1) requires M200 ≥ 1.0 × 1012 M⊙. The first of these conditions is necessary to avoid the `too-big-to-fail' problem highlighted by Boylan-Kolchin et al., while the second stems from the observation that massive satellites like the Magellanic Clouds are rare. When combining both requirements, we find that the MW halo mass must lie in the range 0.25 ≤ M200/(1012 M⊙) ≤ 1.4 at 90 per cent confidence. The gap in the abundance of Galactic satellites between 30 km s-1 ≤ Vmax ≤ 60 km s-1 places our galaxy in the tail of the expected satellite distribution.
Lessons in modularity: the evolutionary ecology of colonial invertebrates

Benthic colonial invertebrates share with higher plants a modular construction and a sessile adult life. Both types of organism show parallel evolutionary responses to common selective forces, but in contrast to the long-established focus on plants, comparable study of colonial invertebrates has developed relatively recently, largely owing to the application of new techniques in image processing and molecular biology. Species whose life cycles are readily completed under laboratory conditions and whose colonies are easily propagated from cuttings provide powerful models for experimentally investigating fundamental evolutionary problems, including metabolic allometry, the manifestation of ageing and the origin of allorecognition systems. Free of the confounding influences of behavioural manipulation and costs of copulation, colonial invertebrates whose water-borne sperm fertilize retained eggs lend themselves well to the experimental study of cryptic female choice, sperm competition and sexual conflict. In these respects, it will be productive to adopt and extend theoretical frameworks developed for flowering plants to guide experimental investigation of modular animals. Since mate choice occurs at the cellular level in modular animals, reproductive isolation is uncorrelated with morphology and cryptic speciation is likely to be widespread.
DEHYDRATION AND REHYDRATION OF AN ION-LEACHABLE GLASS USED IN GLASS-IONOMER CEMENTS

*Department of Physical Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, Adam Mickiewicz University of Poznań, ul. Umultowska 89b, 61-614 Poznan, Poland **Department of Biomaterials and Experimental Dentistry, Dental Institute, University of Medical Sciences, ul Bukowska 70, 60-812 Poznan, Poland ***Bluefield Centre for Biomaterials, 67-68 Hatton Garden, London, EC1N 8JY, United Kingdom and Dental Physical Sciences, Barts & The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, Mile End Road, London, E1 4NS, United Kingdom
Perceived Trustworthiness Within The Organization: The Moderating Impact Of Communication Frequency

(WP05/02 Clave pdf) This paper investigates the antecedents of intra-organizational trust and, more specifically, how the frequency of communication between trustor and trustee moderates the impact of these factors on perceived trustworthiness. Data on 157 dyadic relationships among 50 senior managers within a multinational corporation confirm that the effect of both trustor as well as trustee characteristics on the level of perceived trustworthiness is moderated by the frequency of communication between the two parties.
The Acceptance of Workplace Users for a New IT with Mandatory Use

The paper discusses the acceptance of workplace users for a new information technology (IT) with mandatory use. The learning intention of users is employed to define the acceptance. Through three intermediate variables, workload pressure, perceived ease of use, and perceived usefulness, four exogenous variables including computer knowledge of users, technology support, subjective norms, and training were investigated to analyse the determinants that affect the learning intention. For the above analysis, a causal model with an IT of Enterprise Resources Planning (ERP) systems was constructed. As an empirical study, 112 workplace users were sampled to validate the model. The results indicated that, except training factor, all of the exogenous variables have significant direct or indirect effects on user learning intention respectively. The training factor, even though does not affect the user learning intention, has significant relations with technology support and subjective norms. The results provide both theoretical and practical implications for organizations in implementing new IT with mandatory use, especially the IT of ERP systems.
Modeling the EUV spectra of optically thick boundary layers of dwarf novae in outburst

Here we compute detailed model spectra of recently published optically thick one-dimensional radial baundary layer (BL) models in cataclysmic variables and compare them with observed soft X-ray/extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectra of dwarf novae in outburst. Every considered BL model is divided into a number of rings, and for each ring, a structure model along the vertical direction is computed using the stellar-atmosphere method. The ring spectra are then combined into a BL spectrum taking Doppler broadening and limb darkening into account. Two sets of model BL spectra are computed, the first of them consists of BL models with fixed white dwarf (WD) mass (1 M_sun) and various relative WD angular velocities (0.2, 0.4, 0.6 and 0.8 break-up velocities), while the other deals with a fixed relative angular velocity (0.8 break-up velocity) and various WD masses (0.8, 1, and 1.2 M_sun). The model spectra show broad absorption features because of blending of numerous absorption lines, and emission-like features at spectral regions with only a few strong absorption lines. The model spectra are very similar to observed soft X-ray/EUV spectra of SS Cyg and U Gem in outburst. The observed SS Cyg spectrum could be fitted by BL model spectra with WD masses 0.8 - 1 M_sun and relative angular velocities 0.6 - 0.8 break up velocities. These BL models also reproduce the observed ratio of BL luminosity and disk luminosity. The difference between the observed and the BL model spectra is similar to a hot optically thin plasma spectrum and could be associated with the spectrum of outflowing plasma with a mass loss rate compatible with the BL mass accretion rate. The suggested method of computing BL spectra seems very promising and can be applied to other BL models for comparison with EUV spectra of dwarf novae in outburst.
The Suitability of Cross Cultural Models in Predicting Car Center Stack Design Preferences

Car center stack design is an important feature in a car interior as drivers will interact with car center stacks while using their vehicles. Drivers with different cultural backgrounds may have different expectations of how car center stack designs are supposed to be. Cross cultural models from Hofstede and Hallwere utilized to determine the suitability in predicting design preferences. The interpretations of Hofstede’s model from previous researchers were utilized in this study. The interpretations offered by Jhangiani and Marcus on Hofstede’s cultural dimensions did not match with the results showed by this study. Jhangiani and Marcus predicted that high power distance cultures prefers limited choices on interfaces but the results showed otherwise (92% prefers variety of features). It was also inferred from Jhangiani and Marcus that low uncertainty avoidant cultures such as Malaysia would tolerate inefficiency in interface layout and unclear menu labeling, but the results showed the opposite. Future research should consider alternative approaches when it comes to cross cultural design of car center stacks.
Procedural Outcome and Short Term Follow Up of Patients Undergoing Endovascular Stenting for Coarctation of Aorta: A Single Centre Experience

1 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Pediatric Cardiology, SAT Hospital, Govt. Medical College, Trivandrum 2 Professor and Head, Dept. of Pediatric Cardiology, Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, The Madras Medical Mission Chennai, India Abstract Background: Endovascular stenting is the preferred option in managing coarctation of aorta (COA) in older children and adults. Covered stents are used in selected or high risk category of patients. We present our experience with stenting of coarctation of aorta. Materials and Methods: Patients with severe coarctation of aorta who underwent endovascular stenting during the period July 2013 to July 2016 were retrospectively analysed. CT aortogram was used for pre procedural imaging. Procedural outcome complications and short term follow up were noted. Results: 22 patients (seven females) aged 1-52 years (median 29), weighing 7.8 -86.4 (median 55.1) kg, underwent stenting of COA. All except one had post subclavian coarctation. 68.2% of patients had hypertension and were on treatment. Mean gradient at catheterisation was 71.7 ± 28.6 mm hg and mean gradient post procedure was 3.6 ± 4.4 mmhg. A total of 22 stents were deployed, Covered CP (12), Cook Formula (1), Advanta V12 Atrium (2), Intrastent Mega(3), Palmaz (2), Andrastent. (1),Bare CP (1). Covered stents were used in 59.1%. The mean stent length was 35 ± 12.5 mm. Pre dilatation was done in two patients including one with near interruption. Post dilatation was needed in 36.4% of patients. Procedural complications included retroperitoneal hemorrhage in one which resulted in mortality. Follow-up ranged from 1 month to 3.5 years. 36.4% required continuation of antihypertensive therapy even after stenting. One patient with presubclavian coarctation required redilatation 6 months after stenting. Conclusions: Stent implantation is a safe and effective alternative to surgical repair in COA. It provides immediate and near complete relief of obstruction which is sustained on short term follow up. Long term follow up is required to look for restenosis, aneurysm formation and persistent systemic hypertension.
Seasonal variation in the fatty acid composition of milk supplied to dairies in the mountain regions of Switzerland

The influence of typical feeds from five mountain regions of Switzerland (altitude of grass-based feed (GBF) during the summer and winter seasons: 1247 (± 465) m and 1136 (± 310) m, respectively) on the fatty acid (FA) composition of bovine milk fat was studied over one year (from May 2004 to April 2005). Compared with winter, summer milk had a significantly lower concentration of saturated FA (SFA) (−8.6%) and significantly higher contents of monounsaturated FA (MUFA) (+19.9%), polyunsaturated FA (PUFA) (+21.7%), conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) (+70.1%), and trans FA other than CLA (+56.7%). Summer and winter milk from mountains did not significantly differ with respect to the contents of branched, n-3 and n-6 FA. However, the content of the main n-3 FA (α-linolenic acid) was significantly higher in summer than in winter milk and its content was positively correlated with increasing percentages of GBF and altitude.Abstract5 ( 1247 ± 465 m 1136 ± 310 m) (2004 5 –2005 4) (−8.6%) (+19.9%) (+21.7%) (+70.1%) (+56.7%) n-3 n-6 n-3 (α-)RésuméL’influence d’un affouragement typique des régions de montagne suisses (cinq régions; altitude du fourrage à base d’herbe durant les saisons estivale et hivernale : 1247 (± 465) m et 1136 (± 310) m, respectivement) sur la composition en acides gras du lait de vache a été étudiée pendant une année (de mai 2004 à avril 2005). Comparée à l’hiver, la matière grasse du lait d’été avait des concentrations significativement plus basses en acides gras saturés (−8,6 %) et plus élevées en monoinsaturés (+19,9 %), polyinsaturés (+21,7 %), acides linoléiques conjugués (ALC) (+70,1 %) et en acides gras trans (+56,7 %, ALC non inclus). Les concentrations en acides gras ramifiés, n-3 et n-6 du lait d’été et d’hiver n’étaient pas significativement différentes. Cependant, la concentration de l’acide gras n-3 principal de la matière grasse du lait, l’acide α-linolénique, était significativement plus élevée dans les laits d’été que dans ceux d’hiver et était positivement corrélée avec le pourcentage de fourrage à base d’herbe et avec l’altitude.
Asia-Pacific Research and Training Network on Trade

Extensive research has demonstrated the existence of large potential welfare gains from trade facilitation—measures to reduce the overall costs of the international movement of goods. From an equity perspective an important question is how those benefits are distributed across and within nations. After discussing the possible impacts of trade facilitation, we use firm-level data for a wide variety of developing countries to investigate whether it is mostly large firms that benefit from trade facilitation. We find that firms of all sizes export more in response to improved trade facilitation. Our results suggest that trade facilitation can be beneficial in a range of countries, including those that are primarily involved in value chains as suppliers. JEL Classification: F13; F14; O24
Differential Functions Of CCR9- Or CXCR3-Expressing Microglia

Underlying mechanisms by which how microglia accomplishes a destructive or constructive role in central nervous system remain to be fully studied. We have established different mouse models by intracranially infection and re-challeng with Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) or infection and re-challeng with lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus ( L C M V ) . T h e n e u r o t o x i c C C R 9 + I r g 1 + (immunoresponsive gene 1) microglia are high frequent in the brain in the mice infected and re-challenged with T. gondii. These cells possess resistance to apoptosis and TNF-a-biased. The neurosupportive CXCR3Irg1 microglia are high frequent in the brain in the mice infected and re-challenged with LCMV. These cells are sensitive to apoptosis and IL-10and TGF-b-biased. Moreover, the brain-derived neurotrophic factors (BDNF) express in similar pattern in different CCR9Irg1 or CXCR3Irg1 microglia. CCL25/CCR9 induces Irg1 phosphorylation in neurotoxic CCR9Irg1 microglia ex vivo. These data plus our previous report indicate that there are two different subsets of microglia, which have neurotoxic or neurosupportive function. The study provide with a number of novel evidences on involvement of microglia in neurodegenerative and neuroinflammatory diseases.
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids of Chromolaena odorata act as nematicidal agents and reduce infection of lettuce roots by Meloidogyne incognita

1,2-dehydropyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs) represent a class of secondary plant compounds that are active in defence against herbivory. They are present in Chromolaena odorata, one of the most invasive weeds of Asia and Africa. In vitro studies demonstrate that pure PAs from C. odorata roots have nematicidal effects on the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, even at concentrations of 70-350 ppm. In vivo experiments show that mulch or aqueous crude extracts from C. odorata roots reduce the infection of lettuce by M. incognita. Thus, the use of PA-containing plants appears to be a valuable element for integrated nematode management.
Bow Flare Water Entry Impact Prediction and Simulation Based on Moving Particle Semi-Implicit Turbulence Method

Prandtl’s mixing length method and the -epsilon method are introduced into the Moving Particle Semi-Implicit (MPS) method for the purpose of modeling turbulence effects associated with water entries of two-dimensional (2D) bow flare section. The presented numerical method is validated by comparing its numerical prediction with experimental data and other numerical results obtained from the Boundary Element Method (BEM). The time histories of the pressure and the vertical slamming force acting on the dropping ship section subjected to various conditions with different dropping velocity and inclined angles are analyzed. The results show that both the pressure and the vertical slamming force are in good agreement with the experimental data.
Concentrated dark matter: Enhanced small-scale structure from codecaying dark matter

Author(s): Dror, JA; Kuflik, E; Melcher, B; Watson, S | Abstract: © 2018 authors. Published by the American Physical Society. We study the cosmological consequences of codecaying dark matter - a recently proposed mechanism for depleting the density of dark matter through the decay of nearly degenerate particles. A generic prediction of this framework is an early dark matter dominated phase in the history of the Universe, that results in the enhanced growth of dark matter perturbations on small scales. We compute the duration of the early matter dominated phase and show that the perturbations are robust against washout from free streaming. The enhanced small-scale structure is expected to survive today in the form of compact microhalos and can lead to significant boost factors for indirect-detection experiments, such as FERMI, where dark matter would appear as point sources.
The scenario of a single freak wave appearance in deep water - dispersive focusing mechanism framework

Abstract. One of the possible mechanisms of the emergence of freak waves in deep water, based on the dispersive focusing of unidirectional wave packets is analysed. This mechanism is associated with the frequency dispersion of water waves and manifested in the interference of many spectral components, moving with different velocities. Formation of a single freak wave in a random wind wave field is considered in the frame of linear theory. The characteristic lifetime of an abnormal wave in the framework of this mechanism for typical conditions is approximately two minutes, thus, a rapid effect is difficult to predict and prepare for. A rogue wave quickly changes its shape from a high ridge to a deep depression.
Case JP: Twenty experiments on a person with Congenital Prosopagnosia and inability to experience visual imagery from birth

Congenital Prosopagnosia and inability to experience visual imagery was investigated through administration of neuropsychological, face processing and visual imagery tests on a single patient, JP. JP had no general intellectual impairment, no problems affecting visual and spatial abilities and had little problems affecting overall memory. She was impaired on unfamiliar face matching, perception of eye gaze and famous face recognition, and was in the normal range for facial expression recognition; thus suggesting that JP is of the “prosopagnosic” type. Subjective vividness and spontaneous use of imagery was rated as extremely poor and performance of standard tests of visual imagery yielded mixed results. These findings were interpreted as suggesting that JP adopted different cognitive strategies when performing imagery tasks.
Optimization Methods to Manage Uncertainty and Risk in Power Systems Operation

Electricity from renewable energy sources is essential for a sustainable energy future. One inherent property of renewable generation is however that it is partially unpredictable, with uncertainty arising from forecast errors and real-time fluctuations. As the share of renewable generation grows, this uncertainty challenges existing practices for electric grid operation. In the past, the operation of the electric grid was deemed secure if the system could withstand any credible contingency, typically defined as the failure of any single component. With increasing levels of forecast uncertainty, the system experiences larger deviations from the planned operating point. It therefore becomes more important to account for possible adverse impacts of those deviations to ensure that the system will remain secure in real time operation. This thesis is concerned with the development of optimal power flow methods that help system operators manage uncertainty and mitigate risk in day-to-day operational planning. In the first part of the thesis, we focus on chance-constrained optimal power flow, which limits the probability of constraint violation. We propose to formulate the problem using separate chance constraints, which are reformulated using an analytical reformulation based on either full or partial knowledge about the uncertainty distribution. The approach allow us to model policy-based control actions in reaction to uncertainty realizations, which contribute to managing and mitigating possible adverse impacts. The method is applied to selected cases in power system operations, including investigations of different reserve activation policies and corrective control by HVDC connections and phase shifting transformers. These studies show that a more flexible system decreases
Assessing Relationship between Working Capital Management and Return on Equity of Islamic Bank Bangladesh Limited

This paper is an attempt to investigate the effects of working capital management efficiency as well as effects on the profitability of Islami Bank Bangladesh Limited. The paper tries to find out whether empirical results on the relationship between working capital management practices and profitability of bank like Islamic Bank Bangladesh Limited. The data was collected from secondary sources; this data was mainly collected from published financial statements. This data was over a period of 5 years from 2008 to 2012.The descriptive statistics such as mean and standard deviation were used to measure variations. Correlation and regression analysis were used to analyze the data and testing of hypotheses. This paper found that working capital variables like credits payment period, leverage, growth and credit risk has negative relation with return on equity but there was a positive relation with Cash Conversion Cycle and Debtors collection period. Among six hypotheses only two hypotheses were accepted. It can conclude that there is a relationship with working capital management variables with profitability (ROE uses as a proxy).