Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tree Growth Prediction in Relation to Simple Set of Site Quality Indicators for Six Native Tree Species in the Philippines

The gain in precision to explain the variation on tree growth performance as a function of a set of site indicators was analysed in a stepwise form, increasing its complexity and costs. Six native timber tree species were commonly found on farmer's fields and planted under different types of agroforestry systems. Localization of trees to be used for measurement was achieved through individual interviews to assess timing of introduction of trees. Results proved that native tree species planted on farmers' fields have similar growth rate other exotic timber species as Swietenia macrophylla that are widely spread in the Philippines. Nevertheless, the large fraction of the variation in tree performance that could not be explained by the biophysical site indicators measured implies that farmers take considerable risk in planting trees on the basis of current “scientific” knowledge. The complement of “site characteristics” is probably “management”, and the low determination of tree growth by site properties may in fact be good news for the farmers.
Corporate Governance Structure and Timeliness of Financial Reports of Quoted Firms in Nigeria

This paper examines the impact of corporate governance on the timeliness of financial statements of quoted firms in Nigeria. To achieve this objective, data was collected from books, financial statements and journals. The data collected were analysed using relevant diagnostics tests, granger causality and multiple regression models. The result revealed a significant relationship between board independence and timeliness of financial reports; board size and timeliness of financial reports; board expertise and knowledge and timeliness of financial reports; board experience and timeliness of financial reports; also no significant relationship between CEO duality and timeliness of financial reports and board meetings and timeliness of financial reports. On the basis of the empirical result, the paper concludes that the application of appropriate corporate governance factors will go a long way to improve the timeliness of financial reports and quality financial statements Therefore, on the basis of the findings and conclusions of the study, we recommends that quoted companies should ensure that corporate governance codes are used in the day-to-day operations of corporation to achieve short, medium and long-term goals; government should ensure that regulatory agencies monitor the activities of corporations to ensure compliance with best practice. Also above all integrity, objectivity and fairness must be applied in the conduct of corporate business for financial statement needs be achieved for users. Keywords: Corporate governance, financial report, timeliness, Boards, Nigeria
The Impact of Company Relationship and Institution Technology on R&D Activity and Innovation

In today’s competitive environment, the activities of a business cannot be imagined in an isolated manner, nor can they be exclusively associated with commercial-type relations (purchasing and sales of goods and services) as they were in the 1980s and 1990s (Buhman, et al., 2005; Mas Ruiz, 2000). We are currently living in a networking society where strong interdependencies among actors are created through networks and inter-organizational alliances (Tikkanen & Parvinen, 2006), where today’s companies are network-centric enterprises (Buhman et al., 2005), and where the external environment affects company behavior. At the same time, the companies, their culture and their learning processes influence the external stakeholders with whom they have relations (Minguzzi & Passaro, 2000). Therefore, companies must take into account not only their stage of development but also the development of the industry, in order to maximize their learning capability (Benson-Rea & Wilson, 2003) based on their relations with the other stakeholders located in the same region or country, and thus contribute to the development of competitive advantages at both business and regional levels (Bell & Albu, 1999; Carbonara, 2002; Dohse & Soltwedel, 2006; Feldman et al., 2005).
Extraction of the anisotropic dielectric properties of materials from polarization-resolved terahertz time-domain spectra

The anisotropic complex dielectric properties of materials in the terahertz band is a topic that has attracted considerable attention recently in the fields of physics, chemistry and biochemistry. The mathematical formalism for analysing polarization-resolved terahertz time-domain data is presented, and particular cases including birefringence, optical activity and circular dichroism are discussed.
Temperature statistics in turbulent Rayleigh–Bénard convection

Rayleigh–Bénard (RB) convection in the turbulent regime is studied using statistical methods. Exact evolution equations for the probability density function of temperature and velocity are derived from first principles within the framework of the Lundgren–Monin–Novikov hierarchy known from homogeneous isotropic turbulence. The unclosed terms arising in the form of conditional averages are estimated from direct numerical simulations. Focusing on the statistics of temperature, the theoretical framework allows us to interpret the statistical results in an illustrative manner, giving deeper insights into the connection between dynamics and statistics of RB convection. The results are discussed in terms of typical flow features and the relation to the heat transfer.
The Philosophy of Helping (Consultation Model and Altruistic Behavior as An Important Part of The Counselor for Early Childhood)

Helping Profession is the main concept underlying the role and function of counselor. Helping is a process of activities that people do against other individuals in their social environment. There are three models to help: professional information model, clinical model, and model of consultation process. The consultation process model is the first model to be applied in a helpful philosophy. This model is important to be a helper as a steering process. However, professional and clinical information models may be provided, but the helper should use confrontive intervention. This intervention is intended to provide some hypotheses or alternatives for solving client problems. In the counseling process, primarily involving early childhood, the philosophy of helping is seen in altruistic behaviors related to the empathetic and caring attitude of the counselor to the client. Keywords—component; helping philosophy; consultation process; altruistic.
The action of the affine diffeomorphisms on the relative homology group of certain exceptionally symmetric origamis

We compute explicitly the action of the group of affine diffeomorphisms on the relative homology of two remarkable origamis discovered respectively by Forni (in genus 3) and Forni-Matheus (in genus 4). We show that, in both cases, the action on the non trivial part of the homology is through finite groups. In particular, the action on some 4-dimensional invariant subspace of the homology leaves invariant a root system of $D_4$ type. This provides as a by-product a new proof of (slightly stronger versions of) the results of Forni and Matheus: the non trivial Lyapunov exponents of the Kontsevich-Zorich cocycle for the Teichmuller disks of these two origamis are equal to zero.
Two-dimensional spectroscopic imaging of individual ferromagnetic nanostripes

We use ferromagnetic-resonance force microscopy to spectroscopically image the edge modes in individual 700 nm and 400 nm wide Permalloy stripes with a spatial resolution on the order of 200 nm. The imaging clearly identifies some resonances as edge modes in stripes in a case where mode identification by comparison with micromagnetic modeling is not clear. Combined spectroscopic and spatial scans reveal clear differences in the edge mode resonances at opposite edges of the stripes as well as inhomogeneity along the length of the stripe.
Baseline choice and performance implications for REDD

Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation (REDD) projects are being designed and implemented across tropical countries, intending to curb the contribution of deforestation to greenhouse gas emissions. An important aspect of REDD implementation is the baseline against which reductions are measured. The baseline estimates the business-as-usual emissions from deforestation and forest degradation. We solve a dynamic model of land conversion from forest to agriculture in the presence of REDD, and assess the performance of four baselines. We show that none of the analysed baselines dominates in all performance aspects, and that the final baseline choice needs to maximise the trade-off between the effectiveness to reduce deforestation, cost-efficiency, and changes in income. The frequently used historical average baseline could be improved by using a forward-looking one, which is shown to better account for the opportunity costs faced by landowners. This result hinges on the ability of the baseline to predict deforestation rates without significant underestimations. We advocate the switch from a single-threshold baseline to a corridor methodology, which would provide continued incentives to reduce deforestation, even during periods of high opportunity costs. We finally show how the selection of certain baseline attributes, such as corridor bandwidth and symmetry, can enhance performance.
Diurnal cycle of cloud system migration over Sumatera Island

This paper describes a diurnal cycle in systematic cloud system migration observed with the GMS IR1 sensor over Sumatera (approximately 1,500 km in length) from May 2001 to April 2002. Convective clouds developed over mountainous areas in the afternoon, and migrated westward and/or eastward for several hundred kilometers (∼ 500 km) from midnight to morning. Westward migration occurred in almost every month except August over southernmost Sumatera Island. Eastward migration occurred when lower-tropospheric winds were westerly and/or when super cloud clusters moved eastward along the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ), which moves northward and southward with an annual cycle.
Theoretical models for development competence of health protection and promotion

The competence of health protection and promotion are mentioned in various legislative documents that regulate areas of education and health policy. The researches on health conditions of Lithuania Country's population disclosed the deteriorating health status of the society, even of the children. It has also been found that the focus on health education is not adequate. The number of National and International health programmes have been realized and educational methodological tools prepared in Lithuania, however the insufficient attention to the health promotion models is been noticed. The objective of this article is to discuss the theoretical models used in health education field. The questions to be answered: what theoretical models are used in order to development competence of health protection and promotion? Who does employ particular models? What are the advantages of various models? What conceptions unite and characterize theoretical models? The analysis of scientific literature revealed the number of diverse health promotion model; however none of them is dominant. Some of the models focus on intrapersonal, others on interpersonal or community level but in general they can be distinguished as cognitive – behavioural models which are characterized by three main conceptions: 1) the healthy living is determined by the perceived health related knowledge: what is known and understood would influence the behaviour; 2) the knowledge in healthy living field is essential but insufficient condition for behaviour change; 3) the great influence to healthy living life style is done by perception, motivation, skills and habits as well as social environment. These are the components that are typical to all theoretical models and that reflect the hole of the conditions influencing healthy living.
EMPLOYING EDUCATIONAL VIDEO IN SPEECH-LANGUAGE TELEREHABILITATION WITH CHILDREN: INSIGHTS FROM INTERVIEWS WITH PARENTS

Video has been recognized as an important mean for delivery of speech-language therapies, particularly when used in telepractice settings. It can be used in video conferencing setup for synchronous communication of the speech-language therapist and the patients, or employed as educational video artefacts which contain speech therapies that can be remotely accessed by patients at their convenient time. This paper discusses the design of educational videos for telerehabilitation of pediatric speech disorder (dyslalia) and presents results of a qualitative part of the pilot study. First, it presents how principles of multimedia learning were applied in the design of instructional videos aimed at the treatment of dyslalia. Second, it describes research results from empirical pilot study conducted with five children with dyslalia and their parents who used the videos. Quantitative data about the quality of the video design were collected from the parents by means of the post-use questionnaire and in this paper are briefly reported. The main emphasis of the paper is on presenting qualitative data about parents’ experiences, impressions and observation of interactions while employing videos with their children. Feedback gained from the interviews provides important insights into the interactions of children with video artefacts and suggests additional guidelines for designing online instructional videos aimed at preschool children who need speech-language treatments.
HEALTH HAZARDS OF FLUORIDE AS RELATED TO ETHIOPIA: A REVIEW OF SOME RELEVANT ISSUES FOR PREVENTIVE APPROACHES

Ethiopia is one of the 23 countries in the world with excessive fluoride concentration in drinking ground waters in many rural communities. While the majority of these communities are located in the rift valley, some of them are found dispersed in the surrounding highlands. Consistent with the presence of high-fluoride in drinking water, clinical findings have provided evidence for increased incidences of dental and skeletal fluorosis. However, despite observations of many other health effects of fluoride elsewhere, no attempts have been made to describe/assess these effects in the context of the Ethiopian situation. In addition, there are no comprehensive accounts on fluoride that have broad implications for a multidimensional approach for prevention and/or treatment of its toxicities in Ethiopia. The present paper reviews the biological mechanisms responsible for the action of fluoride with regard to dental and skeletal fluorosis, the factors that may be involved in the body’s handling of fluoride, other chronic health effects of fluoride, and preventive measures that can be taken to mitigate the adverse effects of fluoride resulting from consumption of contaminated drinking water. While some attempts have been made in Ethiopia to tackle some of the problems of fluoride with the provision of low-fluoride drinking water, no significant sustainable success has been achieved. A better understanding and appreciation of the complex nature of the problem of fluoride by all stakeholders, coupled with a more comprehensive and feasible approach of prevention are vital for achieving desirable results. Aspects believe to be crucial for these considerations are particularly highlighted in the current review
Effect of annealing temperature on the structural and optical properties of CdSe: 1% Ag thin films

CdSe: 1% Ag thin films prepared by thermal evaporation method on glass substrates under vacuum technique with rate of deposition equal to 50 nm/min, the deposited films thickness (1μm) on glass substrates have been annealed at different temperatures for one hour. XRD measurement shows that the films have polycrystalline structure at R.T and change to single crystalline when annealed these films for different annealing temperatures (423, 473, 523 K). The optical measurement indicated that CdSe: 1% Ag films have direct optical energy gap, and it decreases with increasing annealing temperatures. The optical constant refractive index, extinction coefficient and dielectric constants were also studied.
THE PRODUCTION OF LOLINE ALKALOIDS IN ARTIFICIAL AND NATURAL GRASS/ENDOPHYTE ASSOCIATIONS

Infection of grasses by Neotyphodium spp. endophytes is associated with the presence of alkaloids. This study investigated the production of loline alkaloids in endophyte-infected tall fescue, meadow fescue and perennial ryegrass. Most of the grass/endophyte associations were artificially created by inoculating parent plants with different Neotyphodium endophytes. The presence of lolines was dependent upon endophyte species and strain, but host species also influenced which lolines were produced. Concentrations of the different lolines, and the ratio at which they occurred, were also dependent upon endophyte isolate and host species. These findings are significant given that lolines contribute to host resistance against some insect pests.
Constitutional Talk: Exploring Institutional Scope Conditions for Effective Arguing

[From the introduction]. Arguing, understood as reason-giving, is all pervasive in international politics: Negotiating actors give reasons for their demands at almost any time, regardless of whether talks are con-ducted in public or behind closed doors. And yet, since negotiations have most often been conceived of as processes of bargaining in which actors seek to adjust their behavior through the exchange of threats and incentives, arguments have primarily been treated as rather epiphenomenal to strategic interaction. In this paper we argue that under certain circum-stances arguments affect negotiating actors’ preferences, and subsequently lead to outcomes that are not easily explained in pure bargaining terms. Arguing and bargaining as different modes of interaction, however, are not contending but rather complementing explanations. As a result, we have to ask which scope conditions are particularly conducive to enabling arguing to prevail in decentralized negotiations and, thus, to affect both process and outcome. In a structured-focused comparison of Intergovernmental Conferences (IGCs) with the European Convention we aim to unveil institutional factors that induce actors to take validity claims into account and change their preferences accordingly. At the example of negotiations on sim-plification and the single legal personality of the European Union we seek to demonstrate that the transparency of the debate in conjunction with a higher degree of uncertainty about appro-priate behavior made arguing in the Convention particularly effective.
NINE EASY STEPS FOR CONSTRUCTING RELIABLE TREES FROM PUBLISHED PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSES1

Abstract Classification and biogeography should be informed by reliable phylogenetic reconstruction. This may be recovered from the mainly speculative literature by a nine-step protocol of critical methods, the “operative transform. ” Piecemeal total evidence is attained by combining separately published support values for the same branch arrangement with Bayes' Formula. Joint probability correction is advanced for multiple test problems of conclusions of monophyly necessarily regarded as sets. Tables are given for conversion of nonparametric bootstrap values and decay indexes into probabilities, based on four-taxon simulations. Uncontested morphology-based branch arrangements are assigned high priors. Probabilities associated with unaccounted assumptions are addressed by a general correction factor. A probabilistic calculation allows the inference of two or more reliable internodes from a series of less well-supported internodes. A patristic distance of at least two internodes is used to support inference from molecular data alone of an intermediate lineage for recognition of supraspecific segregate taxonomic entities. Recognizing paraphyletic taxa when appropriate preserves attributes of inferred functional evolution providing taxic unity and value. Evolutionary Lazarus taxa contravening Dollo's Rule against re-evolution of complex traits justify interpretations of reticulation. This method of evaluation of the decisiveness of published molecular studies is exemplified with previously published cladograms focused on Malpighiales and the moss family Pottiaceae. Additional consideration of evolutionary process not reflected in phylogenetic analysis leads to reliable hypotheses of evolutionary relationship.
Ambiguity in the Cross-Section of Expected Returns: An Empirical Assessment

This article estimates and tests the smooth ambiguity model of Klibanoff, Marinacci, and Mukerji based on stock market data. We introduce a novel methodology to estimate the conditional expectation, which characterizes the impact of a decision maker’s ambiguity attitude on asset prices. Our point estimates of the ambiguity parameter are between 25 and 60, whereas our risk aversion estimates are considerably lower. The substantial difference indicates that market participants are ambiguity averse. Furthermore, we evaluate if ambiguity aversion helps explaining the cross-section of expected returns. Compared with Epstein and Zin preferences, we find that incorporating ambiguity into the decision model improves the fit to the data while keeping relative risk aversion at more reasonable levels. Supplementary materials for this article are available online.
Benchmarking Efficiency of Telecommunication Industries in the US and Major European Countries: A Stochastic Possibility Frontiers Approach

The impact of ICT on the efficiency of different national telecommunication industries of the US, Germany, France, the UK and the Netherlands is analysed by using a stochastic production possibility frontier approach. The relative inefficiencies of these industries measured as distances to the general production possibility frontier are estimated by a multi-country panel maximum-likelihood-estimation. By determining the technology efficiency effect frontiers for each single country one obtains a measure for the evolution of relative inefficiencies over time for each country's industry. Looking at these different patterns a common characteristic shape of stylised J-curves is revealed. This can be interpreted as J-curves of adoption of innovations in different national telecommunication industries. Since the troughs of these J-curves occur in different years for different countries a phase delay in adoption of innovations occurs differing from country to country. The time period covered by the data include a time when the deregulation of the telecommunication industries in these countries took place and the rapid diffusion of two key innovations - the Internet and mobile communications - changed the technological and organisational foundations everywhere. The results show that even if the US telecommunication industry led in this wave of major innovations as a first mover in comparison to the others and diminished by this their relative efficiency disadvantage opposite the European countries the EU countries still maintain a comparative efficiency advantage inherited from the early 1980's. In particular after their delayed adoption of the recent innovations like deregulation and Internet began there during the late 1990's the rapid catch up of the US telecommunication industry relative to the European industries has stalled. However, overall the inefficiency differences between national telecommunication industries have decreased in the long-run. Differences in the capability to establish and maintain a competitive and innovative national industry, however, still prevail between these countries even if they have become less pronounced as before.