Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rural development policy in Italy: the impact of growth-oriented measures on farm outcomes

Growth-oriented measures of the EU’s rural development policy have been promoted to meet the aims of the Lisbon strategy. Th is article assesses their impact on performance-related variables of farms. We apply a conditional diff erence-in-diff erences approach to the 2003–2007 Italian FADN survey. No evidence emerges to indicate any impact of the measures on farm income, employment or partial productivities. Conversely, participation in the selected policy schemes resulted initially in a productivity increase and, subsequently, in enhanced farm performance. We argue that participation in the growth-oriented measures gave rise to a process of capital deepening that, in turn, elicited a productivity increase and, eventually, positive growth rates in farm performance. Th e estimated variations in capital intensity signal that the measures resulted in the activation of channels that are expected to positively aff ect farm performance after a time lag.
FLOPROS: an evolving global database of flood protection standards

Abstract. With projected changes in climate, population and socioeconomic activity located in flood-prone areas, the global assessment of flood risk is essential to inform climate change policy and disaster risk management. Whilst global flood risk models exist for this purpose, the accuracy of their results is greatly limited by the lack of information on the current standard of protection to floods, with studies either neglecting this aspect or resorting to crude assumptions. Here we present a first global database of FLOod PROtection Standards, FLOPROS, which comprises information in the form of the flood return period associated with protection measures, at different spatial scales. FLOPROS comprises three layers of information, and combines them into one consistent database. The design layer contains empirical information about the actual standard of existing protection already in place; the policy layer contains information on protection standards from policy regulations; and the model layer uses a validated modelling approach to calculate protection standards. The policy layer and the model layer can be considered adequate proxies for actual protection standards included in the design layer, and serve to increase the spatial coverage of the database. Based on this first version of FLOPROS, we suggest a number of strategies to further extend and increase the resolution of the database. Moreover, as the database is intended to be continually updated, while flood protection standards are changing with new interventions, FLOPROS requires input from the flood risk community. We therefore invite researchers and practitioners to contribute information to this evolving database by corresponding to the authors.
Catholic Priests as Counselors: An Examination of Challenges Faced and Successful Techniques

In lieu of an abstract, below is the essay's first paragraph. "Today’s Catholic priest plays a number of roles. He is expected to live a life similar to that of Jesus by setting an example as a leader, a helper, and a healer. Part of his job as a helper is to provide pastoral counseling services to parishioners and members of the public. Within this context, the Catholic priest must employ his knowledge of the Bible and spirituality to help individuals overcome such problems as depression, anxiety, marriage and family conflicts, and drug and alcohol abuse (see Worthington, Kurusu, McCollough, & Sardage, 1996). Americans often enlist the help of a Catholic priest when dealing with a personal problem as an initial means of coping or because they prefer to have spirituality included in their therapy sessions. According to Woodruff (2002), three million hours annually are spent with individuals in pastoral counseling, a form of therapy that combines both secular therapeutic techniques and spirituality. Clearly, Catholic Priests’ use of spirituality within therapy is a welcome treatment plan for many and can lead to a more holistic course of treatment for the counseled person. " This article is available in Verbum: http://fisherpub.sjfc. edu/verbum/vol1/iss2/3 Catholic Priests as Counselors: An Examination of Challenges Faced and Successful Techniques by
Comparative Study of Briquetting of Few Selected Agro-Residues Commonly Found in Nigeria.

Biomass can play a significant role in alternative energy generation. Briquetting of agro-residues can alleviate some of the problems of energy shortage being encountered world-wide. This work investigated briquetting of five selected agro-residues commonly found in Nigeria. A briquetting machine capable of producing four briquette pieces per batch was designed and fabricated. The five residues were milled and sieved. ASTM standard methods were used to determine the proximate and ultimate analyses of the residues. The compaction, density, relaxation ratios and percentage expansion of the briquettes were also determined. Their mechanical properties and the heating value were determined using universal testing machine and Ballistic bomb calorimeter respectively. The mean moisture contents of corncob, groundnut shell, melon shell, cassava, and yam peels were 9.47, 11.53, 9.60, 10.19, and 9.27% respectively, while the moisture contents of their briquettes were 7.48, 9.18, 7.45, 8.78, and7.95% respectively. The maximum, relaxed densities and relaxation ratio for briquettes produced from corncob, groundnut shell, melon shell, cassava, and yam peels were respectively (650kg/m 3
The Fossil Galliform Bird Paraortygoides from the Lower Eocene of the United Kingdom

Abstract A new fossil species assigned to the galliform genus Paraortygoides Mayr is described from the Lower Eocene (Ypresian Stage) London Clay Formation of the United Kingdom. Paraortygoides radagasti, n. sp. , is referred to the genus on the basis of comparisons with other specimens from the Middle Eocene deposit of Messel (Hessen, Germany). Because of the three-dimensional preservation of this fossil material, P. radagasti contributes new information pertaining to the morphology of the genus Paraortygoides, in particular with regard to the thoracic vertebrae, tarsometatarsus, and toes. This genus, for example, is distinguished from other currently known fossil and extant galliform birds by the presence of deep pneumatic excavations in the lateral sides of the thoracic vertebrae. The results of a preliminary phylogenetic analysis suggest that Paraortygoides is basal within Galliformes (as already proposed by Mayr [2000]); monophyly of the order is supported with Megapodiidae as the basal sister taxon with respect to the Cracidae and Phasianidae. Paraortygoides radagasti is one of the oldest galliform birds described to date; its age and degree of preservation provide a reliable early phylogenetic constraint for the divergence of a basal clade within the order Galliformes.
Recent Data Show no Weakening of the Walker Circulation

Various authors have examined the strength of the equatorial Pacific overturning known as the Walker Circulation in both climate models and observations, attributing a generalized weakening to anthropogenic global warming. Here we review the analysis in Power and Smith [2007] using updated Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) and NINO sea surface temperature indices. We find no significant long-term changes in the indices, although the SOI appears to have recovered from an anomalously low period from 1976 to 1998. The increasing sea surface temperature in the NINO4 region is not significant, nor representative of other NINO regions. The findings of a weakening Walker circulation appear to be premature, and the corresponding climate model projections cannot be substantiated at this time. The reports of weakening of horizontal atmospheric circulation in climate models should be regarded as an inconsistency and not as an indicator of anthropogenic climate change.
Decision making and advice giving : Differences in construal level and responsibility

Three experimental studies are reported, the first two of which explore differences in advisors’ and decision makers’ preferences, and differences in personal decisions in the near and the distant future. It was expected that preferences of advisors would be more similar to those of distant future decision makers than of near future decision makers. This prediction was supported. In Experiment 1, advisors (both pure advisors and decision makers for others) and distant future decision makers made more action choices than near future decision makers, thus only for low life-impact situations. In Experiment 2 advisors and distant future decision makers made more desirability choices than near future decision makers. These results indicate some similarities in representation of the decision problem due to a psychological distance to the event, which construal level theory could account for. Experiment 3 explores decision makers’ and advisors’ responsibility from the perspective of both decision makers and advisors. Responsibilities are explored both without knowledge of decision outcomes, and with two levels of outcome (moderately and severely negative.Decision makers are generally perceived as being much more responsible for a decision than advisors, both by the decision makers themselves and by the advisors. Advisors, on the other hand, perceived themselves as more responsible than did decision makers. Decision outcomes are found to have an impact on perception of responsibility. Decision makers perceived their own responsibility to increase with knowledge of negative decision outcomes, while they perceived advisors' responsibility to decrease. Advisors, on the other hand, perceived their own responsibility to decrease with knowledge of moderate outcomes, and to increase with knowledge of severely negative outcomes.
Linking biodiversity and recreational merits of urban green spaces

Urban green spaces play an important role in promoting both biodiversity and human recreation. This thesis therefore attempted to link biodiversity and recreational values of urban green spaces through an interdisciplinary research of trade-offs and synergies between biodiversity conservation and human recreation. The interdisciplinary research comprised a methodological review followed by three interlinked case studies in Helsingborg employing different methods and having different research questions, but conducted partly on the same sites. The review focused on biotope mapping where a biotope mapping model integrated with vegetation structure was developed as a further contribution to the methodology. In the first case study the modified biotope mapping model was tested to identify biodiversity values in an urban green space. In the second case study, different user groups' perceptions of urban green spaces were examined by self-reported identification of the eight perceived sensory dimensions and linked to the green spaces' biotope characteristics. The third case study was an in-depth and on-site exploration of the relationship between preference and biodiversity in an urban green space context adopting the Visitor-Employed Photography (VEP) method. The results suggest that - Biodiversity values in urban green spaces can be indicated through modified biotope mapping involving vegetation structures. - People can perceive recreational values in urban green spaces through eight sensory dimensions. Each dimension is furthermore associated with biotopes. The more diverse biotopes an urban green space encompasses, the more frequently the eight sensory dimensions could be perceived. Urban forests were more frequently perceived as nature and rich in species than open green spaces. - Preference is not positively related to high biodiversity. The VEP study revealed on-site preference for biodiversity to be highly context-specific, mainly triggered by specific features rather than the overall scenery and character of the setting. These results can be used for urban green space planning and management to maximize both biodiversity and recreational benefits in urban green spaces in practice.
Density, Energy and Metabolism of a Proposed Smart City

This paper reports on a detailed analysis of the metabolism of the Island City of Mumbai should the Indian Government's proposal for ‘smart' cities be implemented. It focuses on the environmental impact of increased population density achieved by demolishing existing medium-rise (3-5 storey) housing and replacing it with the proposed high-rise (40-60 storey) towers. The resulting increase in density places a burden on the demand on such things as electricity and water and simultaneously increases the output flows of drainage, solid waste and greenhouse gas production.An extended urban metabolism analysis is carried out on a proposed development in Mumbai (Bhendi Bazaar) that has been put forward as an exemplar case study by the Government. The flows of energy, water and wastes are calculated based on precedents and from first principles. The results of the case study are then extrapolated across the City in order to identify the magnitude of increased demands and wastes should the ‘smart' city proposals be fully realised.Mumbai is the densest city in the world. It already suffers from repeated blackouts, water rationing and inadequate waste and sewage treatment. The results of the study indicate, on a per capita basis, increasing density will have a significant further detrimental effect on the environment.
Criteria for Assessing Student Satisfaction with Online Courses

The first purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of a tool to measure students’ evaluation of online courses. A second purpose was to examine students’ evaluations of our online courses. A principal components analysis revealed six underlying factors that appear to have high validity: appropriateness of readings and assignments; technological tools; instructor feedback and communication; course organization; clarity of outcomes and assignments, and content format. Cronbach’s alpha of . 98 indicated high inter-item reliability. Feedback from students showed an overall satisfaction with online courses, with somewhat lower satisfaction regarding aspects pertaining to instructor feedback and technology. Students rated content organization and formatting of the content more favorably than other aspects of the course.
EHL modeling of hip implants based on a ball-on-plane configuration

An elastohydrodynamic lubrication model of hip joint replacements was investigated, under quasi-static operating conditions, for both hard-on-hard and soft-on-hard implants. A simplified ball-on-plane configuration was adopted to represent the articulation between the femoral head and the acetabular cup. The governing equations, including the Reynolds and the elasticity equations, were solved, respectively, using MLMG and MLMI methods, which showed a low computational cost. On the base of many simulations, the validity of the model was discussed; it can reliably evaluate film thickness and pressure maps in the case of hard-on-hard implants, while it introduces an error for soft-on-hard materials. The model was used to estimate lubrication regimes of various hip implants under simplified walking conditions: a vertical load and flexion-extension motion were adopted according to ISO 14242-1. The results evidenced the better behavior of hard-on-hard bearing couples, explaining the renewed interest in these implants.
Capital Structure and Firm Performance in the Developed Financial Market

The paper examines the role of debt in affecting the performance/value of a firm (DVF relationship) in the developed financial market. There is no consensus on the DVF relationship in this market. In addition, literature about the DVF relationship in the developed market lacks the interpretation of results by taking into account different business, management and financial theories. The study addresses the gap in the literature by utilizing the panel data of 60 companies for the year 2000 to 2003 from the developed (Australian) financial market. The result of the study suggests that higher debt has a negative relationship with the value of a firm supporting agency theory in this market. The result also supports the second trade off theory and the foundation of developed market as debt in the presence of the dispersed shareholding deteriorates the value of a shareholder. The results relevant to the role of control variables in affecting the value of a firm show that smaller board, liquid market and information efficiency improve the firm’s performance in the developed financial market. The results of the study are of value to both academics and policy makers.
Surgical Extrusion: An Alternate Treatment Modality for Crown-Root Fracture

This paper presents a case report of a mandibular central incisor tooth having complete crown fracture. Root-crown lengthening is performed by surgical extrusion of the root coronally, splinted using an interdental sutures and the postoperative course was uncomplicated, with both clinical and radiographic success up to 1 year of follow up. Treatment of complete crown fracture by surgical extrusion and splinting may be a good alternative since it is an easy and short time requiring technique necessitating less equipment.
Experimental Analysis of Tensile Mechanical Properties of Sprayed FRP

To study the tensile mechanical properties of sprayed FRP, 13 groups of specimens were tested through uniaxial tensile experiments, being analyzed about stress-strain curve, tensile strength, elastic modulus, breaking elongation, and other mechanical properties. Influencing factors on tensile mechanical properties of sprayed FRP such as fiber type, resin type, fiber volume ratio, fiber length, and composite thickness were studied in the paper too. The results show that both fiber type and resin type have an obvious influence on tensile mechanical properties of sprayed FRP. There will be a specific fiber volume ratio for sprayed FRP to obtain the best tensile mechanical property. The increase of fiber length can lead to better tensile performance, while that of composite thickness results in property degradation. The study can provide reference to popularization and application of sprayed FRP material used in structure reinforcement.
Estimation of primary production of subhumid rangelands from remote sensing data

Above-ground Net Primary Production (ANPP) is the main determinant of forage availability and hence of stocking density. A tool to track the seasonal and interannual changes in ANPP at the paddock level will be very important for livestock management. We studied the relationship be- tween field ANPP data and the Normalized Difference Veg- etation Index (NDVI) for rangelands of the Flooding Pampa of Argentina using spectral data provided by sensors on board of two satellites: NOAA/AVHRR and Landsat TM. The relation- ship between NDVI and ANPP was linear both for data derived from NOAA/AVHRR and Landsat TM. Changes in ANPP accounted for a large proportion of the temporal and spatial variation of NDVI: 71% of NOAA/AVHRR data and 74% of Landsat TM data. By inverting these models, ANPP may be inferred from NDVI data at a seasonal and paddock scale. NOAA/AVHRR data captured better the seasonal vari- ation in ANPP and were less sensitive to local variations than Landsat TM data. In contrast, Landsat TM data were more sensitive to inter-site differences in primary production, ex- cept for the winter months. Thus, combining information from these two sources offers a good alternative for monitoring rangeland production at high temporal and spatial resolution.
Post-harvest effects on beverage quality and physiological performance of coffee beans

During coffee drying, different temperatures applied to the beans with varied humidity content levels can interfere in the membranes integrity, germination, organic acid and carbohydrate content resulting in coffees with distinct flavors. The quality control of the beans will be much more effective the earlier the alterations provoked in the postharvest are detected. This work has an objective to study alternative methods for the dehydration of the coffee beans using ultra-drying followed by slow drying and its impact on the sensorial quality, chemical composition and physiology. For that purpose, coffee lots were processed by the methods, dry (natural coffee) and wet (fully washed coffee); and sun-dried and machine-dried at a constant 60°C temperature and alternating 60/40°C. The sensory quality of the samples was assessed by the Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) analysis protocol. The sugar, total titratable acidity and the phenolic compound content was also analyzed. The physiological alterations of the coffee beans were analyzed by germination tests, emergence speed index, electrical conductivity and potassium leaching. The temperature of the drying air significantly altered the sensorial quality of the coffee beans. The processing way associated to drying methods causes many physiological alterations with the highest damage observed in the natural coffees. For the first time, we are showing that drying with heated air at 60/40oC is promising for the fully washed coffee beans, which are more tolerant to dehydration than the natural coffee beans. Conversely, the natural coffee beans were much more sensitive to drying regardless the temperature, with very low performance in the physiological analyses. The drying at the constant 60oC temperature is inappropriate for the natural coffee as well as for the fully washed coffee beans. In addition, the physiological tests used were shown effective for the early evaluation of coffee beans quality. Key words: Coffea arabica L. , processing, drying, sensory analysis, chemical composition, germination.
THEMIS observations of extreme magnetopause motion caused by a hot flow anomaly

[1] On 30 October 2007, the five THEMIS spacecraft observed the cause and consequence of extreme motion of the dawn flank magnetopause, displacing the magnetopause outward by at least 4.8 RE in 59 s, with flow speeds in the direction normal to the model magnetopause reaching 800 km/s. While the THEMIS A, C, D, and E observations allowed the determination of the velocity, size, and shape of a large bulge moving tailward along the magnetopause at a speed of 355 km/s, THEMIS B observed the signatures of a hot flow anomaly (HFA) upstream of the bow shock at the same time, indicating that the pressure perturbation generated by the HFA may be the source of the fast compression and expansion of the magnetosphere. The transient deformation of the magnetopause generated field-aligned currents and created traveling convection vortices which were detected by ground magnetometers. This event demonstrates that kinetic (non-MHD) effects at the bow shock can have global consequences on the magnetosphere.