Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Validation of cloud property retrievals with simulated satellite radiances: a case study for SEVIRI

Abstract. Validation of cloud properties retrieved from passive spaceborne imagers is essential for cloud and climate applications but complicated due to the large differences in scale and observation geometry between the satellite footprint and the independent ground based or airborne observations. Here we illustrate and demonstrate an alternative approach: starting from the output of the COSMO-EU weather model of the German Weather Service realistic three-dimensional cloud structures at a spatial scale of 2.33 km are produced by statistical downscaling and microphysical properties are associated to them. The resulting data sets are used as input to the one-dimensional radiative transfer model libRadtran to simulate radiance observations for all eleven low resolution channels of MET-8/SEVIRI. At this point, both cloud properties and satellite radiances are known such that cloud property retrieval results can be tested and tuned against the objective input "truth". As an example, we validate a cloud property retrieval of the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of DLR and that of EUMETSAT's Climate Monitoring Science Application Facility CMSAF. Cloud detection and cloud phase assignment perform well. By both retrievals 88% of the pixels are correctly classified as clear or cloudy. The DLR algorithm assigns the correct thermodynamic phase to 95% of the cloudy pixels and the CMSAF retrieval to 84%. Cloud top temperature is slightly overestimated by the DLR code (+3.1 K mean difference with a standard deviation of 10.6 K) and to a very low extent by the CMSAF code (−0.12 K with a standard deviation of 7.6 K). Both retrievals account reasonably well for the distribution of optical thickness for both water and ice clouds, with a tendency to underestimation. Cloud effective radii are most difficult to evaluate but the APICS algorithm shows that realistic histograms of occurrences can be derived (CMSAF was not evaluated in this context). Cloud water path, which is a combination of the last two quantities, is slightly underestimated by APICS, while CMSAF shows a larger scattering.
78 Innovation , Imitation , Growth , and Capital Market Imperfections *

This paper analyzes the interaction of innovation and imitation in a growing economy. It is assumed that because firms cannot use their innovations or imitations as collateral, they finance R&D by issuing shares to the households. The main results are the following. When the mark-ups are close to uniform in all industries, a small subsidy to imitative R&D, a uniform subsidy to all R&D and the decrease in product market competition (PMC) are growth enhancing. In the first-best social optimum, PMC is welfare diminishing. If the government uses the uniform subsidy to all R&D optimally, then there is an "inverted-U" relationship between PMC and social welfare. JEL Classification: L11, L16, O31, O34
Globalisation, Marketisation and Power: The Swedish Case of Institutional Change

Globalisation is often thought to threaten the autonomy of national policymaking and generous welfare policies. This article examines two decades of policy change in Sweden, often viewed as a prime example of a fully fledged welfare state. The analysis is focused on reforms within the welfare sector, which is compared with three other important areas – credit markets, the labour market, and infrastructure policy. These areas can all be seen as crucial aspects of the Swedish social democratic model. The findings can be summarised in three parts. First, seeing the credit–market deregulation as the first phase of the internationalisation of capital in Sweden lends some support to the idea of globalisation as the result of political decisions rather than a structural change caused by technical change. Second, during the last two decades, there have been signs of marketisation of the Swedish public sector. However, this analysis does not give support to the simple hypothesis of globalisation. There are quite large variations both between and within policy areas, variations that are not easily related to international integration. Third, marketisation involves a shift in political power. An overall effect is that the government has lost some of its former direct influence. However, behind the facade of the invisible market we find the same actors as before influencing policy. Globalisation can have tremendous effects on power. Whether or not this will be the case is first and foremost the result of political decisions and individual desires.
Pathogen-Derived Resistance Against Plant Viruses: Postscript and Prospects

Pathogen-derived resistance strategies using coat proteins, movement proteins, non-structural proteins. replicases, antisense and satellite RNAs for the production of virus-resistant transgenic plants are briefly discussed. The concept of recombination of viral RNA with transgene products is critically analyzed and potential risks associated with commercialization of transgenic plants with viral inserts and its effects on bio-safety, are highlighted.
Large herbivore grazing affects the vegetation structure and greenhouse gas balance in a high arctic mire

Herbivory is an important part of most ecosystems and affects the ecosystems’ carbon balance both directly and indirectly. Little is known about herbivory and its impact on the carbon balance in high arctic mire ecosystems. We hypothesized that trampling and grazing by large herbivores influences the vegetation density and composition and thereby also the carbon balance. In 2010, we established fenced exclosures in high arctic Greenland to prevent muskoxen (Ovibos moschatus) from grazing. During the growing seasons of 2011 to 2013 we measured CO2 and CH4 fluxes in these ungrazed blocks and compared them to blocks subjected to natural grazing. Additionally, we measured depth of the water table and active layer, soil temperature, and in 2011 and 2013 an inventory of the vegetation density and composition were made. In 2013 a significant decrease in total number of vascular plant (33–44%) and Eriophorum scheuchzeri (51–53%) tillers were found in ungrazed plots, the moss-layer and amount of litter had also increased substantially in these plots. This resulted in a significant decrease in net ecosystem uptake of CO2 (47%) and likewise a decrease in CH4 emission (44%) in ungrazed plots in 2013. While the future of the muskoxen in a changing arctic is unknown, this experiment points to a potentially large effect of large herbivores on the carbon balance in natural Arctic ecosystems. It thus sheds light on the importance of grazing mammals, and hence adds to our understanding of natural ecosystem greenhouse gas balance in the past and in the future.
The result of “testing fights in a vertical posture” as a selection criterion for professional training of judo sport – prognostic value TFVP

Background & Study Aim: Judo, like many other sports, in the professional meaning can practice in two ways. For health, cognitive, utilitarian (as the art of self-defence) purposes and for satisfaction as the favourite “sport of life”. The second dimension of professional is sports career. The aim of the study is an answer to two questions: whether young athletes, who won in the most “testing fights in a vertical posture” (TFVP) with peers starting practicing judo, at the same time most effectively settle the tournament fighting (TF) during the 3-years stage of preliminary training the judo? what part of the youths, which revealed the highest skills for practicing judo sports is giving further trainings up and in what period of the 4-years stage of preliminary training the judo of such events is the most frequently? Material & Methods: In the study examined 997 boys and girls in age 7 to 13 years across the Poland (from 39 leading judo clubs), which began judo training in 2006. The study takes into account the results of 363 boys – those who competed in judo tournament from the club to international level. The results TFVP associated with TF. Results: Young athletes which won groups during TFVP in competing groups of the five-, fourand three-person at the same time often proved high efficiency during TF. A very large diversity in the number of TF fought is a consequence of the effectiveness from one side (which is motivating to next starts), on the other hand, resignation from further trainings. The most effective in TF during the 3-years period had: 80 fights (98% of the effectiveness), 117 fights (75%), 75 fights (84%), 56 fights (79%), 45 fights (60%). Conclusions: TFVP are a simple tool for predicting success in TF judo. Appropriate qualifying for juvenile judo athletes tournaments in the preliminary period of training judo can effectively reduce the negative tendency of resignation from trainings of a large number of students during the first year of training.
Entrepreneurial intention among secondary students: findings from Portugal

This paper aims to identify some factors that may be explaining differences among secondary students in start-up intentions. For that, the study develops an entrepreneurial intention model sustained by the use of Azjen's theory of planned behaviour (TPB). This theory is considered as a relevant tool to model the development of entrepreneurial intention through pedagogical processes and learning contexts. Using a sample of students aged between 14 and 15 years old, it was administrated a questionnaire based on the Linan and Chen's entrepreneurial intention questionnaire (EIQ). Data was collected before the entrepreneurship education programme. The purpose is to test a model of entrepreneurial intention using structural equations, before the educational experience.
Dual solution of Casson fluid over a porous medium: Exact solutions with extra boundary condition

Abstract In this article we calculate the exact solution of the steady flow of non-Newtonian Casson fluid, over a stretching/shrinking sheet. The governing partial differential equations (PDEs) are transformed into ordinary differential equation (ODE) by using similarity transformation and then solved analytically by utilizing the exact solution. The closed form unique solution is obtained in the case of stretching sheet whereas for shrinking sheet unique and dual solutions are obtained. Influences of Casson fluid and suction/injection parameter on dimensionless velocity function are discussed and plotted graphically; also the effects of skin friction coefficient are presented in graphical form. Comparisons of current solutions with previous study are also made for the verification of the present study.
HETEROGENEITY IN INOCULUM POTENTIAL AND EFFECTIVENESS OF ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAL FUNGI

Arbuscular mycorrhizae are symbiotic associations among glomalean fungi and plant roots that often lead to enhanced water and nutrient uptake and plant growth. We describe experiments to test whether inoculum potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungal communities varies spatially within a broadleaf temperate forest, and also whether there is variability in the effectiveness of AM fungal communities in enhancing seedling growth. Inoculum potential of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi in a temperate broad-leaved forest did not vary significantly among sites. Inoculum potential, measured as the extent to which the roots of red maple seedlings that had been germinated on sterile sand and then transplanted into the forest, were colonized by AM fungi, was similar in floodplain and higher elevation sites. It was as similar under ectomycorrhizal oaks as it was under red maples and other AM tree species. It was also similar among sites with deciduous understory shrubs with arbuscular mycorrhizae (spicebush, Lindera benzoin) and those with evergreen vegetation with ericoid mycorrhizae (mountain laurel, Kalmia latifolia). Where spicebush was the dominant understory shrub, inoculum potential was greater under gaps in the canopy than within the understory. Survivorship of transplanted red maple seedlings varied significantly over sites but was not strongly correlated with measures of inoculum potential. In a greenhouse growth experiment, arbuscular mycorrhizal fungal communities obtained from tree roots from the forest had different effects on plant growth. Seedlings inoculated with roots of red maple had twice the leaf area after 10 wk of growth compared to the AM community obtained from roots of southern red oaks. Thus, although there appears to be little heterogeneity in inoculum potential in the forest, there are differences in the effectiveness of different inocula. These effects have the potential to affect tree species diversity in forests by modifying patterns of seedling recruitment.
Effect of Drought Stress and Zinc Sulfat on the yield and some physiological characteristics of Sunflower (Helianthus. Annuus L.)

In many areas of Iran, the reproductive growth stage of sunflower is exposed to the drought stress. Therefore, irrigation management of farms is necessary to increase irrigation efficiency and decreasing water loss. Zinc (Zn), is one of the necessary nutrient for plant growth to involve in formation of indole acetic acid and its foliar application is a known way and addition complementary to uptake by roots. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of zinc sulfate on some physiological traits in sunflower (Hellianthus.annuus L.) under drought stress. The experiment was split plot based on randomized complete block design with three replications. Four irrigation treatments, i.e. I1= without stress (control), I2= interrupt irrigation during the vegetative growth stage, I3= interrupt irrigation during the flowering stage, I4= interrupt irrigation during the vegetative and flowering stages were arranged as main plots and three foliar application treatments of zinc sulfate, i.e. Zn0= without foliar application, Zn1= 0.5%, Zn2= 1% concentration of zinc sulfate were arranged as sub plots. The results indicated that drought stress decreased significantly all the measured traits. Seed yield had a significant decrease. The treatment of full irrigation (Control) resulted in higher yields than other irrigation treatments. The highest seed yield was related to foliar application with 1% concentration of zinc sulfate and the lowest one was related to no irrigation during vegetative stage and flowering stage with no foliar application of Zn. Regarding the limitation of water resources, application of Zn could be used as a good strategy for yield sustainability of sunflower under drought stress. Key word: sunflower, drought stress, Zinc foliar application, relative water content (RWC), yield
The Different Role of Mothers' and Fathers' Beliefs in the Development of Adolescents' Mathematics and Literacy Task Values

This study examined how interest and importance values concerning mathematics and literacy develop from grade 7 to grade 9 in comprehensive school and to what extent gender, in addition to mothers’ and fathers’ beliefs about the abilities of individual children, predicts the level of and changes in these values. A total of 206 Finnish students (100 girls, 106 boys) were followed from grade 7 to grade 9, just before an important transition from compulsory comprehensive school to secondary education occurs in the Finnish context. Students’ parents participated in the study when the students were in grade 7. The results of multivariate latent change models showed that interest and importance values and their development in one particular subject were associated with one another. Mothers’ and fathers’ beliefs seemed to play a different role in relation to task values, and this role also varied according to the subject: mothers’ ability beliefs predicted the students’ level of interest in mathematics and evaluation of the importance of literacy. However, fathers’ ability beliefs were found to predict the changes related to interest and importance values in mathematics. The role of gender in students’ values was more evident in the case of literacy than in mathematics.
Actividad antioxidante del aceite de semillas de uva Vitis vinifera de la variedad Tempranillo

En esta investigacion se optimizo el tiempo de extraccion para la obtencion de aceite de semillas de uvas Variedad Tempranillo y posterior evaluacion del contenido de compuestos polifenolicos y actividad antioxidante del aceite. Para la obtencion del aceite se evaluaron tres tiempos de extraccion (7, 8 y 9 horas) empleando el metodo Soxhlet con hexano como solvente de extraccion. El contenido de polifenoles totales fue determinado empleado el metodo Folin & Ciocalteu y la actividad antioxidante por el metodo de decoloracion del cation radical 2,2'- azino-bis- 3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulphonic acid (ABTS•+) empleando Trolox como estandar de referencia. El maximo rendimiento se obtuvo a las ocho horas de extraccion con un valor de 12,79% m.m-1. La concentracion de compuestos fenolicos y la actividad antioxidante del aceite fue 341,161 μg GAE.g-1 de aceite y 9,200 μgTE. g-1 de aceite, respectivamente. El aceite de semilla de uvas es una fuente potencial de antioxidantes que puede ser empleado en la industria alimentaria por sus efectos beneficiosos para la salud.
Functional diversity responses to changing species richness in reef fish communities

Functional diversity in biological communities is critical for providing the full suite of ecosystem functions and services, yet the relationship between functional diversity and species rich- ness — how diversity is usually measured — remains largely unknown. Here we evaluate empirically how different measures of functional diversity change with increasing species richness across 36 Atlantic reef fish communities that vary greatly in species richness. We show that (1) the definition used for functional groups strongly influences the perceived relationship; (2) when using more com- prehensive definitions of functional groups the relationship is asymptotic and highly unsaturated; and (3) increasing species richness primarily leads to the addition of species to a few key functional groups rather than the addition of novel functional groups. Consequently, non-random assembly of fish assemblages leaves many possible functional groups empty, and high species redundancy within functional groups is limited to relatively few groups. Consequences of future extirpation or extinction of species for the loss of ecosystem functions will be variable, in part depending on the proportion of species lost within a functional group, but potentially profound due to the large number of functional groups represented by only a single species and the targeted nature of most species extraction and extirpations.
A molecular genetic study on fruiting-body formation of Cordyceps militaris

In the fungal genus Cordyceps, the type species C. militaris produces bioactive ingredients and exhibits medicinal effects as a Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). Currently, the fruiting-body of C. militaris has been artificially mass-produced as functional food and medicine in China. The unstable variation in forming fruiting-body is however a restriction in the production. The genetic study on perithecial stromata (fruiting-body) formation in vitro of C. militaris has not yet been reported. In this study, we reported the effect of genetic variation including possession of the mating system on perithecial stromata formation of C. militaris. The results showed that the mono-conidial isolates with both MAT1-1-1 and MAT1-2-1 (genotype MAT1-1/2) produced stromata. While the isolates having only either MAT1-1-1 or MAT1-2-1 failed to produce stromata. Despite obvious heterothallism, homothallism was occasionally observed in a few isolates of C. militaris. Genetic variation was observed amongst the different mono-conidial isolates of C. militaris. The unstable variation or loss of fruiting-body formation was caused by the inner-specific genetic variation. Key words: Cordyceps militaris, molecular genetics, genetic variation, homothallism, heterothallism, fruiting-body.
The X-shooter GRB afterglow legacy sample (XS-GRB)

In this work we present spectra of all γ-ray burst (GRB) afterglows that have been promptly observed with the X-shooter spectrograph until 31/03/2017. In total, we have obtained spectroscopic observations of 103 individual GRBs observed within 48 hours of the GRB trigger. Redshifts have been measured for 97 per cent of these, covering a redshift range from 0.059 to 7.84. Based on a set of observational selection criteria that minimise biases with regards to intrinsic properties of the GRBs, the follow-up effort has been focused on producing a homogeneously selected sample of 93 afterglow spectra for GRBs discovered by the Swift satellite. We here provide a public release of all the reduced spectra, including continuum estimates and telluric absorption corrections. For completeness, we also provide reductions for the 18 late-time observations of the underlying host galaxies. We provide an assessment of the degree of completeness with respect to the parent GRB population, in terms of the X-ray properties of the bursts in the sample and find that the sample presented here is representative of the full Swift sample. We have constrained the fraction of dark bursts to be <28 per cent and confirm previous results that higher optical darkness is correlated with increased X-ray absorption. For the 42 bursts for which it is possible, we have provided a measurement of the neutral hydrogen column density, increasing the total number of published HI column density measurements by ∼33 per cent. This dataset provides a unique resource to study the ISM across cosmic time, from the local progenitor surroundings to the intervening Universe.
Survey of alpine vegetation near the forest line in the Ertash Valley of the Sarychat -Ertash State Reserve in the northern Tian Shan Mountains, Kyrgyz Republic

As a part of an ecological research project on wild animals in the Sarychat-Ertash State Reserve,we surveyed the alpine vegetation near the forest line(at an elevation from ca.3,000 to 3,200 m)in the Ertash Valley of the northern Tian Shan mountains of the Kyrgyz Republic. Horses and sheep are kept as livestock in the area and Marco-Polo sheep (argali)and wolves inhabit the region,but information on wildlife,weather conditions and inhabitants’livelihood is hard to obtain.In May 2011,we established 5 transverse transects across a river to describe a cross-sectional view of the vegetation.As a result,the 8 woody species identified belonged to 6 families and all exhibited shrubby forms. Shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla fruticosa)was distributed throughout the survey area,and thorny Caragana jubata was interspersed locally.The number of woody species increased significantly at higher elevations.We discuss the reason for the unexpected increase in number of species with increasing elevation.
A remark on Zagier's observation of the Mandelbrot set

We investigate the arithmetic properties of the coefficients for the normalized conformal mapping of the exterior of the Multibrot set. In this paper, an estimate of the prime factor of the denominator of these coefficients is given. Bielefeld, Fisher and Haeseler presented Zagier's observation for the growth of denominator of the coefficients for the Mandelbrot set and Yamashita verified it in his master thesis. Our study takes into consideration both Zagier's observation and Yamashita's estimate.