Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ERIES Market Stability vs . Market Resilience : Regulatory Policies Experiments in an Agent Based Model with Low-and High-Frequency Trading

We investigate the effects of different regulatory policies directed towards high-frequency trading (HFT) through an agent-based model of a limit order book able to generate flash crashes as the result of the interactions between lowand high-frequency (HF) traders. We analyze the impact of the imposition of minimum resting times, of circuit breakers (both ex-post and ex-ante types), of cancellation fees and of transaction taxes on asset price volatility and on the occurrence and duration of flash crashes. In the model, lowfrequency agents adopt trading rules based on chronological time and can switch between fundamentalist and chartist strategies. In contrast, high-frequency traders activation is event-driven and depends on price fluctuations. In addition, high-frequency traders employ low-latency directional strategies that exploit market information and they can cancel their orders depending on expected profits. Monte-Carlo simulations reveal that reducing HF order cancellation, via minimum resting times or cancellation fees, or discouraging HFT via financial transaction taxes, reduces market volatility and the frequency of flash crashes. However, these policies also imply a longer duration of flash crashes. Furthermore, the introduction of an ex-ante circuit breaker markedly reduces price volatility and removes flash crashes. In contrast, ex-post circuit breakers do not affect market volatility and they increase the duration of flash crashes. Our results show that HFT-targeted policies face a trade-off between market stability and resilience. Policies that reduce volatility and the incidence of flash crashes also imply a reduced ability of the market to quickly recover from a crash. The dual role of HFT, as both a cause of the flash crash and a fundamental actor in the post-crash recovery underlies the above trade-off.
Indigenous ruminant production scenario in a selected cluster area of Bangladesh

A household survey was conducted in a preselected rural area (279 households) of Mymensingh district in Bangladesh to know the overall production and husbandry practices regarding indigenous ruminant farming and their future outlook. Data were analyzed following descriptive statistics. The average cattle (144 HHs) and goat (63 HHs) distribution per household were 1.83 and 2.14, respectively. Daily milk production of cattle and goat recorded 1.47 and 0.24 liters including the lactation period 201.98 and 87.21 days. Most of the farmers housed their cattle (88.19%) and goat (55.55%) outside the dwelling. Only 2.08% farmers purchased feed for cattle. Natural and uncontrolled breeding observed for all ruminants in the studied area. Digestive disorder (blot) in cattle (12.50%) and goat (14.29%) identified as one of the major problems in the studied areas. Vaccination practice followed very limited owners of cattle (19.44%) and goat (4.76%). Proper initiative, funding, farm-based training to educated farmers including modern animal husbandry practices could increase indigenous ruminant population in the rural area of Bangladesh. Asian Australas. J. Biosci. Biotechnol. 2016, 1 (3), 552-556
The Effects of Direct Instruction Flashcards with Model , Lead , and Test on Counting Money with a High School Student with Autism and Intellectual Delay

The purpose of this study was to increase the fluency and accuracy on counting out money amounts for one 16-year-old student with autism and intellectual delay. The study was conducted in a self-contained special education classroom in a public school in the Pacific Northwest. The behaviors measured were corrects and errors on counting out money amounts in Sets 1-4. The behavior was measure 3-4 times a week. The student was taught using Direct Instruction, which included a Model, Lead, and Test Procedure. The results showed a clear increase of corrects and a decrease in errors for the participant. The benefits of Direct Instruction clearly demonstrated that a 16-year-old student with autism and intellectual delay could be taught to count out money amounts and use a calculator to find the total cost of items.
Homogeneous control Lyapunov functions for homogeneous control systems

We show that any asymptotically controllable homogeneous control system admits a homogeneous control Lyapunov function. As a consequence, we obtain that any such system admits a stabilizing discontinuous sampled feedback, where the sampling rate is bounded from below depending on the degree of the homogeneity. Furthermore, we show that asymptotic controllability of a homogeneous system implies local asymptotic controllability of an approximated system.
Impact of Perceived Student Leadership Role on the Academic Performance of Distant Education Students in Ghana

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which distant education (DE) student leaders perceive their role and establish whether this has significant correlation with their academic performance. Specifically, the study was interested in the influence that the intervening variables of age, level, employment status, and prior leadership experience have on their perceived leadership role. The role of gender in this direction was also considered. Guiding this study was the servantleader theoretical framework. According to Greenleaf (2003) students consider the building of trust as the central issue for leadership by means of service. It was in line with this problem that most student leaders profess that they want to serve their fellow students instead of lording it over them. A questionnaire based on student leadership role with a Cronbach’s alpha reliability coefficient of . 855 was used to collect data. Predictive Analysis Software (PASW) was used to analyze the data. Regression and correlation statistical tools were used to test the hypothesis formulated to guide the study. The results of the study revealed that DE students’ perception of their leadership role is high. However, this high perception is neither dependent on background of student leaders nor gender. It also showed that high academic performance is not dependent on perceived student leadership role expectation let alone their duties and responsibilities. However, perceived leadership role expectation was found to be the least potent contributor to academic performance of distant education (DE) student leaders. It is, therefore, recommended that DE students should be elected strictly on merit and not on age, level, employment status, and prior leadership experience. DE student leaders should also be given training in the positions they have been elected for. Finally, DE students leaders should strive to combine their studies with the leadership position they occupy.
The Effect of Different Atomic Substitution at Mn Site on Magnetocaloric Effect in Ni 50 Mn 35 Co 2 Sn 13 Alloy

The effect of different atomic substitutions at Mn sites on the magnetic and magnetocaloric properties in Ni50Mn35Co2Sn13 alloy has been studied in detail. The substitution of Ni or Co for Mn atoms might lower the Mn content at Sn sites, which would reduce the d-d hybridization between Ni 3d eg states and the 3d states of excess Mn atoms at Sn sites, thus leading to the decrease of martensitic transformation temperature TM in Ni51Mn34Co2Sn13 and Ni50Mn34Co3Sn13 alloys. On the other hand, the substitution of Sn for Mn atoms in Ni50Mn34Co2Sn14 would enhance the p-d covalent hybridization between the main group element (Sn) and the transition metal element (Mn or Ni) due to the increase of Sn content, thus also reducing the TM by stabilizing the parent phase. Due to the reduction of TM, a magnetostructural martensitic transition from FM austenite to weak-magnetic martensite is realized in Ni51Mn34Co2Sn13 and Ni50Mn34Co2Sn14, resulting in a large magnetocaloric effect around room temperature. For a low field change of 3 T, the maximum ∆SM reaches as high as 30.9 J/kg K for Ni50Mn34Co2Sn14. A linear dependence of ∆SM upon μ0H has been found in Ni50Mn34Co2Sn14, and the origin of this linear relationship has been discussed by numerical analysis of Maxwell’s relation.
Monitoring of pesticide residues in domestic vegetables in Thailand during 2015

In Thailand, the Ministry of Public Health has the responsibility for regulatory monitoring safety of food. To assess the residue levels and to evaluate the exposure of the Thai population to pesticides, a nationwide surveillance program for pesticide residues in vegetables has been performed during 2015. A total of 934 samples of four types of vegetables including Chinese broccoli, ivy gourd, yardlong bean and water spinach were collected from wholesale markets by 77 Provincials Public Health Offices in collaboration with 14 Regional Medical Sciences Centers. All samples were sent to the accredited laboratory of the Bureau of Quality and Safety of Food and were examined for residues of 60 pesticides, including 20 organochlorines, 23 organophosphorus, 8 synthetic pyrethroids, 7 carbamates and 2 fungicides using multi-residue extraction and chromatography method. Predominantly, 22.3% of the samples had detectable pesticide residues at levels ranging from <0.01 to 5.9 mg/kg. Of the contaminated samples, the levels of 33.9, 31.9, 10.6 and 9.5% of the samples were pesticides detectable in yardlong bean, Chinese broccoli, ivy gourd and water spinach, respectively. The results showed a potential human dietary risk related to consumption of these vegetables. Governmental action plans should be developed with the cooperation of producers to reduce pesticide residues.
Occurrence of Escherichia coli virulence genes in feces of wild birds from Central Italy

Objective: To investigate the potential role of wild birds as fecal spreaders of enteropathogenic, enterohemorrhagic and Shiga-toxins producing Escherichia coli (E. coli), enteropathogenic E. coli, enterohemorrhagic E. coli and Shiga toxin-producing E. coli strains. Methods: Fecal samples collected from 121 wild birds of different orders and species were submitted to molecular analyses. In particular, eaeA encoding intimin, hlyA encoding for hemolysin, stx1 and stx2 genes encoding Shiga-toxins 1 and 2, respectively, were investigated. Results: Overall, 21(17.35%) fecal samples resulted positive for at least one of the investigated genes. In detail, 12(9.91%) samples were positive for eaeA, 10(8.26%) for stx1, 4(3.31%) for hylA and 1(0.83%) for stx2. An owl (Athene noctua) positive for the four investigated genes suggesting that it harbored a STEC strain. However, virulence genes characterizing EPEC, and EHEC strains were mainly found among seagulls, waterfowl and feral pigeons. Conclusions: Seagulls, waterfowl and feral pigeons, which frequently reach and contaminate rural, urban and peri-urban areas with their droppings, may be important sources of E. coli infection for other animals and humans.
EFFECTS OF GENDER AND CULTURAL BELIEFS ON WOMEN ENTREPRENEURSHIP IN NIGERIA

The study assessed the effects of gender bias and cultural beliefs on growth of entrepreneurship in Nigeria. Gender and cultural dimensions such as restricted access to education, finance, ethnicity, religion and societal perceived roles of women were investigated. The effects of these factors on women entrepreneurial activities is worth studying because entrepreneurship is considered as an important aspect of economic development of both developing and developing nations. The researchers adopted descriptive survey design in a quest to obtain necessary information for the study. 380 women entrepreneurs in three states, North Central Nigeria were purposively selected and investigated. The findings of the study show that women in Nigeria are affected by a number of cultural factors that impede the growth and development of their entrepreneurial intentions. The study presented a picture of some gender bias and culture related barriers that women must overcome to be able to establish new businesses or expand existing ones. Keywords— Gender Bias, Cultural Belief, Women, Entrepreneurship.
A Micropropagation Method for Korarima ( Aframomum corrorima ( Braun ) Jansen )

An efficient method for micropropagation of korarima (Aframomum corrorima (Braun) Jansen, an important culinary and medicinal plant species native to Ethiopia, was developed using axillary bud explants obtained from the rhizome. Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium proved to be the best for the establishment stage. Addition of 5% coconut water to the culture medium was effective in enhancing shoot proliferation. Basal medium supplemented with 2 mg/l imazalil in combination with 0.5 mg/l thidiazuron gave 7.5-fold higher shoot multiplication compared to Plant Growth Regulator (PGR)-free medium within eight weeks of culture period. The shoots developed roots readily when transferred to PGR-free MS medium. Rooted plantlets were easily acclimatized by transplanting to a potting mix substrate of river sand and peat moss (1:1), and then covered with polythene bags for a week. Acclimatized plants successfully grew (93%) when transferred to screen-shaded nursery.
Growth and survival of the ' fitter ' ? Evidence from US new-born firms Giovanni Dosi °

We examine market selection mechanisms and their strength for a representative cohort of US new independent firms. In particular, we explore whether and how effectively markets reward newlyborn firms according to their ‘fitness’ in terms of both labour productivity and profitability. Our analysis yields puzzling results in contrast with canonical industry dynamics models. First, we find that selection on differential growth is mainly related to productivity while profitability plays a negligible role. Second, in contrast with the growth of the fitter principle, selection appears to be driven by changes in firms’ relative productivity. Third, we explore how new firms’ relative fitness affects their growth performance in different sectors. Our results reveal that market selection operates quite differently across them with higher incidence for new-born firms in services, low-tech and less concentrated sectors. Fourth, concerning selection via exit, our results support the survival of the fitter principle with respect to productivity, while relative profitability does not seem to exert any significant effect on survival probabilities. However, the contribution of firm relative ‘fitness’ to the total firm exit rates variation appears to be modest.
Forage Density and Fermentation Variation : A Survey of Bunkers , Piles and Bags Across Minnesota and Wisconsin Dairy Farms

Achieving a tight pack and attaining a high density are extremely important aspects of harvesting and storing silage. Reaching goals of high density are important for two main reasons. First, density and dry matter content determine the porosity of the silage, which affects the rate at which air can enter the silage during storage and feedout. Secondly, thorough packing increases the amount of forage that can fit into a silo. Higher densities generally reduce the annual cost of storage per ton of forage by increasing the amount of crop entering the silo and reducing crop losses during storage. Ruppel (1992) measured the dry matter losses in alfalfa silage in bunker silos and developed an equation to relate these losses to the density of the ensiled forage (Table 1). Researchers recommend a minimum packing density of 14 lbs/ft3 (Muck and Holmes, 2000).
Zero-discharge wastewater treatment system for biomass production

Evapotranspirative willow system (EWS) is a zero-discharge wastewater treatment system where all influent water is used for growth of willows and evaporation. The EWS has no pollutant emissions to the environment and enables reuse of water and nutrients i.e. closing material flows. Willow clones used in EWS may significantly affect the performance of wastewater treatment plant, therefore the clones with high biomass production and resilience to permanent flooding, increased nutrient concentrations and salinity have to be selected. In the presented study a 27 m pilot EWS was set up in November 2015 enabling to test three different willow clones from the Croatian selection namely 'V 052' (Salix alba var. calva x S. alba), 'V 093' (Salix alba x S. alba var. vitellina) x S. alba and 'V 160' (Salix alba) in three parallels. Stem height, diameter and number of shoots per stump were measured weekly in the first year of growth on site, along with water quality parameters and water level in the experimental beds during the start up operation. There were no differences in stem height between the experimental clones; however, 'V 052' and 'V 093' have 0.16 and 0.26 m higher stems in control plots compared to the experimental ones, while 'V 160' experimental plants were in average 0.20 m higher compared to control ones. Experimental 'V 160' also developed more shoots compared to the controls and had significantly higher water demand. Between the examined clones, so far 'V 160' presents the most appropriate clone for the use in EWS; however further investigation will evaluate the efficiency of nutrient transfer from wastewater to wood biomass, water demand and the biomass yield for the selected clones.
Intensive Culture of Walleye Fry

Introduction w a l l e y e may be raised from newly hatched fry to phase I fingerlings (1.25-3.0 in; 32-76 mm) in extensive (i.e., ponds) or in intensive culture, that is in tanks and raceways. Currently, the predominant method for raising phase I fingerlings is in drainable (Summerfelt et al. 1996) or undrainable ponds (Kinnunen 1996). Nickum and Stickney (1993) stated that “Since successful rearing of first-feeding fry under intensive culture conditions has not been economically accomplished, walleye culture has been based on pond rearing until the fish reach at least 2.5 rn. Thereafter, the fish may be offered formulated feeds. ” The latter refers to the procedure of habituated pond-raised fingerlings to formulated feed in intensive culture systems (Malison and Held 1996). However, walleye fingerlings may be raised from first-feeding fry in intensive culture systems, hereafter called “intensive culture of fry. ” This can be done because major constraints to intensive culture of fry (noninflation of the gas bladder, nonfeeding, and maladaptive clinging behavior) have been resolved, and production-scale systems for intensive culture have been developed. The case studies by Colesante (1996), Moodie and Mathias (1996), and Moore (1996) provide technologies for production to advanced fingerlings in intensive systems. Intensive culture is the only technology that can make use of fry produced by out-of-season spawning (Le., fry hatched in February).
Comparison of serum oxidative stress markers among male partners of fertile and infertile couple at Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital, Nnewi, Anambra State, Nigeria

Infertility is a common cause of marital disharmony in Nigeria because of the high premium placed on child bearing. Male factor is a significant contributor and declining male fertility rate has been observed over the past decade. Oxidative stress has been implicated in the aetiology of male infertility. The objective of the study was to compare the serum levels of oxidative stress markers (TAC – Total Antioxidant Capacity, MDA - Malondialdehyde and SOD – Superoxide dismutase) in male partners of fertile and infertile couples. This was a case controlled study carried out over a period of 8 months on male partners of infertile couple. Thirty-six were male partners of fertile couple with normal semen parameters and no history of infertility while 73 were male partners of infertile couple which consists of 28 males with oligospermia, 28 with oligoasthenospermia and 17 with asthenospermia. Serum markers of oxidative stress (TAC, MDA and SOD) were evaluated and compared among the group. The male partners of infertile couple showed significantly low levels of TAC (P = 0.000), SOD (P = 0.000) and significantly high levels of MDA (P = 0.000) when compared with male partners of fertile couple (750.93±146.37 versus 1269.20±330.79, 11.22±3.33 versus 13.96±1.38 and 2.48±1.20 versus 1.51±0.19). Oxidative stress may be a major contributor to male infertility. Its assay may be of importance in prevention and treatment of male infertility.
Predictive simulations of damage propagation in laminated composite materials and structures with SAMCEF

In this paper, the advanced damage analysis of composite materials and structures made of continuous fibers embedded in a polymer matrix is addressed. The solution is based on the SAMCEF finite element code, which is now available in the SIEMENS NX CAE environment, with the specific focus of solving non-linear analysis problems for composites. Globally speaking, SAMCEF is an implicit non-linear solver able to solve quasi-static and dynamic problems, with a comprehensive library of structural elements and kinematic joints. First, the sizing strategy based on the building block approach (pyramid of physical and virtual tests) is recalled. Applied for years in the aerospace industry, it is here extended to the automotive context. In this approach, the knowledge on the composite material and structure is built step by step from the coupon level up to the final full scale structure. In this paper, stages of the pyramid starting from the coupon level are considered, and the predictions obtained by numerical simulations are validated by test results. The non-linear analysis approach available in the SAMCEF finite element code is then described. It is based on the continuum damage mechanics, and is used to study the progressive failure of composites in the plies and at their interface (delamination). The material models are described. The identification procedure for these damage models is also discussed: it is based on a very limited number of tests results at the coupon level. It is then shown how this information on the material behavior can be used at upper stages of the building block approach and so applied to larger scale structures and/or more complex load cases and different stacking sequences. The very good agreement obtained in this paper between simulation and test results on composite structures of increasing complexity tend to demonstrate that SAMCEF can be used as a predictive numerical tool for the evaluation of the non-linear behavior of composites, including the progressive interand intra-laminar damage analysis.
IMPACT OF CLIMATE CHANGE ON THE INDIAN ECONOMY : EVIDENCE FROM FOOD GRAIN YIELDS

We analyse the effects of rainfall and temperature on yields of paddy and millets (pearl millet and sorghum) in India for the period 1966–1999, at the district level. Unlike other studies, we control for fertiliser use and irrigation. We find that paddy (India’s leading food crop) is sensitive to the climate variables but also to fertiliser use and irrigation. Millets are less affected by climate variables although sorghum shows some sensitivity to temperature. Our results have important implications for how India’s agriculture will adapt to climate change.
Microwave-assisted extraction of lemongrass essential oil : Study of the influence of extraction method and process parameters on extraction process

In this study, essential oil of lemongrass was extracted by microwave-assisted hydrodistilation (MAHD) and Solvent free microwave extraction (SFME) method and the effects of individual process parameters; microwave power, irradiation time and sample particle size were evaluated. Results showed that oil yield increases with increasing microwave power, irradiation time and decreasing particle size. The maximum oil yield in MAHD was 1.72% for 90 minutes and 1.61% in SFME for 20 minutes of irradiation time. Longer irradiation time resulted in inferior quality of essential oil. Extraction using SFME was much faster than MAHD but slightly lower in essential oil yield. Solvent free microwave extraction resulted in significant reductionin extraction time and in better extraction efficiency as compared with microwave assisted hydrodistillation.