Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Verification of the BOLAM weather prediction model over the area of Cyprus

Abstract. The purpose of this study is the verification of the BOLAM weather prediction model over the area of Cyprus. The verification period spans from 1 January 2007 till 31 December 2007 and the parameters studied are: temperature, wind and precipitation. The model forecasts are compared to the observations recorded at three locations on the island, where Automatic Weather Observing Systems are operated by the Meteorological Service of Cyprus, namely, those of Larnaka and Paphos Airports and at Athalassa. The statistical analysis includes calculation of the mean error, the mean absolute error and the standard deviation. Based on the construction of a contingency table, the probability of detection of a precipitation event and the false alarm rate are calculated. Finally, an example of BOLAM forecasts for a case study of a low pressure affecting Cyprus during winter is presented and discussed.
How Effective is Acupuncture in Treating Persistent Allergic Rhinitis in Children and Adults

Objective: The objective of this evidence based medicine review is to determine whether or not acupuncture is effective in treating persistent allergic rhinitis in children and adults. Study design: Review of three published, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) published in 2004, 2007, and 2013. All English language. Data Source: The three randomized controlled trials that used in this review were found using PubMed. Outcome measured: Symptoms of nasal obstruction, rhinorrhea, sneezing and itching were measured with the Total Nasal Symptom Score (TNSS). Other outcomes measured were: Daily rhinitis scores, relief medication scores symptom free days and relief quality of life questionnaire scores (RQLQ). Results: In the study Choi et al, there was a statistically significant difference in TNSS between the active acupuncture group and sham acupuncture group (p=0.03). However, there was no change in rhinitis quality of life score between groups, but a difference between each group and baseline was noted. In the study Xue et al, there was a significant difference noted in the TNSS (p=0.01), however, individuals were still permitted to used symptomatic relief medication throughout the duration of the study. In Ng et al, there was no significant difference in daily rhinitis scores, but there was a significant change in percentage of symptom-free days in the acupuncture group compared to the sham acupuncture group (p<0.0001). Conclusions: Evidence to support the use of acupuncture as a form of treatment for persistent allergic rhinitis at this time is inconclusive.
Warm Season Afternoon Thunderstorm Characteristics under Weak Synoptic-Scale Forcing over Taiwan Island

Abstract The spatial and temporal characteristics and distributions of thunderstorms in Taiwan during the warm season (May–October) from 2005 to 2008 and under weak synoptic-scale forcing are documented using radar reflectivity, lightning, radiosonde, and surface data. Average hourly rainfall amounts peaked in midafternoon (1500–1600 local solar time, LST). The maximum frequency of rain was located in a narrow strip, parallel to the orientation of the mountains, along the lower slopes of the mountains. Significant diurnal variations were found in surface wind, temperature, and dewpoint temperature between days with and without afternoon thunderstorms (TSA and non-TSA days). Before thunderstorms occurred, on TSA days, the surface temperature was warmer (about 0.5°–1.5°C) and the surface dewpoint temperature was moister (about 0.5°–2°C) than on non-TSA days. Sounding observations from northern Taiwan also showed warmer and higher moisture conditions on TSA days relative to non-TSA days. The largest average .
Stemming the tide: progress towards resolving the causes of decline and implementing management responses for the disappearing mammal fauna of northern Australia

Recent studies at some sites in northern Australia have reported severe and rapid decline of some native mammal species, notwithstanding an environmental context (small human population size, limited habitat loss, substantial reservation extent) that should provide relative conservation security. All of the more speciose taxonomic groups of mammals in northern Australia have some species for which the conservation status has been assessed as threatened, with 53% of dasyurid, 46% of macropod and potoroid, 33% of bandicoot and bilby, 33% of possum, 31% of rodent, and 24% of bat species being assessed as extinct, threatened or Near Threatened. This paper reviews disparate recent and ongoing studies that provide information on population trends across a broader geographic scope than the previously reported sites, and provides some information on the conservation status and trends for mammal groups (bats, larger macropods) not well sampled in previous monitoring studies. It describes some diverse approaches of studies seeking to document conservation status and trends, and of the factors that may be contributing to observed patterns of decline. The studies reported provide some compelling evidence that predation by feral cats is implicated in the observed decline, with those impacts likely to be exacerbated by prevailing fire regimes (frequent, extensive and intense fire), by reduction in ground vegetation cover due to livestock and, in some areas, by ‘control’ of dingoes. However the impacts of dingoes may be complex, and are not yet well resolved in this area. The relative impacts of these individual factors vary spatially (with most severe impacts in lower rainfall and less topographically rugged areas) and between different mammal species, with some species responding idiosyncratically: the most notable example is the rapid decline of the northern quoll Dasyurus hallucatus due to poisoning by the introduced cane toad Rhinella marina , which continues to spread extensively across northern Australia. The impact of disease, if any, remains unresolved. Recovery of the native mammal fauna may be impossible in some areas. However, there are now examples of rapid recovery following threat management. Priority conservation actions include: enhanced biosecurity for important islands, establishment of a network of substantial predator exclosures, intensive fire management (aimed at increasing the extent of longer-unburnt habitat and in delivering fine scale patch burning), reduction in feral stock in conservation reserves, and acquisition for conservation purposes of some pastoral lands in areas that are significant for mammal conservation.
Effects of antioxidant supplementation on meat quality and carcass yield in broilers fed commercial-type diets

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of antioxidant supplementation on meat quality and carcass yield of broilers. A total of 200 day-old Cobb 500 male broilers were used in a completely randomized design. Broilers were assigned into 4 treatments, 5 replications each for 49 d. Experimental treatments were 1) Control, without antioxidant supplementation; 2) Vitamin E supplementation (Tocopheryl acetate, 30 UI/kg of diet; 3) Spirulina supplementation (2% of the diet; 40 mg/kg of phycocyanin); 4) Vitamin E + Spirulina supplementation (30 UI/kg of diet of Vitamin E + 2% of diet of Spirulina. Commercial diets were restrictedly fed in a crumble form in 3 phases. At 49 d, we evaluated pH, color parameters (0.25 h, 0.75 h, 5 h, 24 h, 78 h, 192 h), water holding capacity (WHC; 24 h, 78 h, 192 h), Warner-Bratzler shear force (1, 3, 8 d), carcass characteristics and carcass yield. Data were analyzed by ANOVA using the GLM procedure of SAS. Responses across time were evaluated as repeated measures. Antioxidant supplementation decreased WHC after 192 h (P= 0.009). At 15 minutes, a decreased and h increased with antioxidant supplementation, and at 45 minutes, h decreased (P ≤ 0.045). Warner-Bratzler shear force increased with Spirulina and Vitamin E supplementation compared to Vitamin E supplementation at day 3 (P=0.029). There was a greater fat percentage in the total carcass with Vitamin E compared to Spirulina supplementation, and there was less fat percentage with Spirulina than with both antioxidants (P ≤ 0.023). Breast bone percentage decreased with antioxidants (P = 0.053). In the 3-joint wing, Vitamin E supplementation increased fat percentage compared to Vitamin E and Spirulina (P=0.034). Data from this experiment suggest limited benefit of feeding antioxidants on meat quality. However, impact of Spirulina on fat percentage requires further exploration.
Lithium Dendrite Growth in Glassy and Rubbery Nanostructured Block Copolymer Electrolytes

Enabling the use of lithium metal anodes is a critical step required to dramatically increase the energy density of rechargeable batteries. However, dendrite growth in lithium metal batteries, and a lack of fundamental understanding of the factors governing this growth, is a limiting factor preventing their adoption. Herein we present the effect of battery cycling temperature, ranging from 90 to 120 ◦ C, on dendrite growth through a polystyrene-block-poly(ethylene oxide)-based electrolyte. This temperature range encompasses the glass transition temperature of polystyrene (107 ◦ C). A slight increase in the cycling temperature of symmetric lithium-polymer-lithium cells from 90 to 105 ◦ C results in a factor of five decrease in the amount of charge that can be passed before short circuit. Synchrotron hard X-ray microtomography experiments reveal a shift in dendrite location from primarily within the lithium electrode at 90 ◦ C, to primarily within the electrolyte at 105 ◦ C. Rheological measurements show a large change in mechanical properties over this temperature window. Time-temperature superposition was used to interpret the rheological data. Dendrite growth characteristics and cell lifetimes correlate with the temperature-dependent shift factors used for time-temperature superposition. Our work represents a step toward understanding the factors that govern lithium dendrite growth in viscoelastic electrolytes. © The Author(s) 2014. Published by ECS. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License (CC BY, http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted reuse of the work in any
It Takes Two: The Incidence and Effectiveness of Co‐CEOs

This study examines the phenomenon of co‐CEOs within publicly traded firms. Although shared executive leadership is not widespread, it occurs within some very prominent firms. We find that co‐CEOs generally complement each other in terms of educational background or executive responsibilities. Our results show that firms most likely to appoint co‐CEOs have lower leverage, a more limited firm focus, less independent board structure, fewer advising directors, lower institutional ownership, and greater levels of merger activity. The governance structure of co‐CEO firms suggests that co‐CEOships can serve as an alternative governance mechanism, with co‐CEO mutual monitoring substituting for board or external monitoring and co‐CEO complementary skills substituting for board advising. An event study indicates that the market reacts positively to appointments of co‐CEOs while a propensity score analysis shows that the presence of co‐CEOs increases firm valuation.
Brazilian ground beef authentication by multiplex polymerase chain reaction

EnglishThe aim of the present study was to assess the efficacy ofmultiplex PCR in detecting the adulterationof commercially available ground beefvia addition and/orsubstitution ofground buffalo meat. Experimentally adulterated ground beefsamples were prepared in triplicate, and dilutions of DNA from Bos taurus and Bubalusbubalis were prepared to determine the detection limit of the method. Concurrently, 91 ground meatsamples sold as “ground beef” were collected from differentstores in northern Brazil andanalyzed bymultiplex PCR. Buffalo DNA was detected in 17.5% of the collected ground meat samples.Our results showed that multiplex PCR is an efficient method for detectingthe incorporation of groundbuffalo meatatpercentages ranging from 10 to 100% and the incorporation of beef at percentages ranging from0.1 to 100% intoground meat samples. Key words species identification; Bos taurus; Bubalusbubalis; DNA; adulteration portuguesO objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar a eficacia da PCR multiplex na deteccao da adulteracao por adicao e/ou substituicao de carne bubalina em carne moida bovina, comercialmente disponivel. A fim de determinar o limite de deteccao da tecnica, carnes moidas bovinas fraudadas intencionalmente foram fabricadas em triplicata e, adicionalmente, concentracoes conhecidas de DNA das especies Bostaurus e Bubalusbubalis foram diluidos. Ao mesmo tempo, 91 amostras de carne moida comercializadas como sendo de origem bovina foram coletadas em diferentes comercios na regiao Norte do Brasil e a PCR multiplex proposta foi realizada. Os resultados demonstraram que o DNA bubalino foi detectado em 17,5% das amostras de carne moida coletadas. Concluiu-se que a PCR multiplex e uma tecnica eficaz, capaz de detectar a incorporacao de carne moida bubalina em percentagens que variaram de 10 a 100%, e a incorporacao de carne bovina em percentagens que variaram de 0,1 a 100% em amostras de carne moida. Palavras-chave: identificacao de especies; Bos taurus; Bubalus bubalis; DNA; adulteracao
Fabrication and Crystallization of ZnO-SLS Glass Derived Willemite Glass-Ceramics as a Potential Material for Optics Applications

Willemite glass-ceramics were successfully derived from conventional melt-quench ZnO-SLS precursor glass by an isothermal heat treatment process. The effect of heat treatment temperatures on the physical properties was investigated by Archimedes principle and linear shrinkage. The generation of willemite crystal phase and morphology with increase in heat treatment temperature was examined by X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) techniques. X-ray diffraction revealed that the metastable -Zn2SiO4 and thermodynamically stable zinc orthosilicate α-Zn2SiO4 phases can be observed at temperatures above 700°C. The experimental results indicated that the density and shrinkage of the glass-ceramic vary with increasing the sintering temperature. FTIR studies showed that the structure of glass-ceramic consists of SiO2 and ZnO4 units and exhibits the structural evolution of willemite glass-ceramics. The characteristic of strong vibrational bands can be related to the tetrahedron corresponding to reference spectra of willemite.
Displacement and relocation of protected areas: a synthesis and analysis of case studies.

Antoine Lasgorceix (antoine.lasgo@hotmail.com) has been an intern with Kalpavriksh, an environmental action group based at Pune and Ashish Kothari (ashishkothari@vsnl.com) is with Kalpavriksh. Relocation of human populations from the protected areas results in a host of socio-economic impacts. In India, in many cases, especially relating to tribal communities that have been relatively isolated from the outside world, the displacement is traumatic from both economic and cultural points of view. This paper provides brief case studies of displacement (past, ongoing, or proposed) from protected areas, number of villages/families displaced, the place where these villages/families were relocated to, governance of the relocation process, and the kind or nature of relocation (voluntary, induced or forced). It finds that not even a single study shows the ecological costs and benefits of relocation, comparing what happens at the old site to what happens at the rehabilitation site. This is a shocking gap, given that relocation is always justified from the point of view of reducing pressures and securing wildlife habitats. Relocation of human populations from within areas notified for wildlife conservation (protected areas or PAs) has been undertaken in several countries, as a means of trying to reduce pressures on wildlife. It is not the aim of this essay to dwell on the ecological and social justifi cation for such relocation. Instead, it attempts to describe and analyse the full range of relocation cases in India in the last few decades, discuss the impacts of these displacements from both environmental and livelihood perspectives, and offer recommendations on the way to enhance the process by which relocation decisions are taken and implemented.1
What drives stock prices? Fundamentals, bubbles and investor behaviour

Using a dynamic version of the present value model and a range of developed and Asian emerging markets, this article considers estimates of stock market prices given expectations on dividends and earnings and compares these fundamental stock prices with actual stock prices. The reported empirical results suggest that a dynamic present value model combined with differing definitions of cash flows can explain actual stock price movements for many of the sample markets. For markets where price deviations from fundamental value are statistically significant, the revealed deviations are investigated by considering types of investor behaviour which might drive such departures.
A Pecking Order Analysis of Graduate Overeducation and Educational Investment in China

Against the background of the recent rate of expansion of China's higher education system that has outstripped even China's own high rate of economic growth, the paper examines evidence of the emerging problem of graduate overeducation within China. Based upon a pecking-order model of employment offers and associated ordered probit model, it analyses the empirical factors which determine the incidence of graduate overeducation across China. The extent to which individual students have an incentive to become overeducated compared to a socially optimal level of their education is also examined in the context of a supporting economic model that compares individual and socially optimal levels of investment in education, in the face of labour market demands. The extent of the divergence between individual and socially optimal levels of investment in education, and of the associated levels of graduate overeducation, is found to depend upon how recent major increases in the supply of graduates within China will interact with the future growth rates in job specifications, in demand variables and in resultant graduate wages within China.
The Challenge of Machine Milking in Dromedary Camel

Machine milking is widely spreading and practised in she-camel many years ago, but in some countries still used only in small scale due to some constraints; of which non effective use of the machine, difficulty of the machine usage or the restraining of the machine by the she-camel. This study presents some of problems that hinder the usage of machine milking in she-camel due to variations in the daily milk yield, lactation yield and length. Since genetic improvement programs planed towards improvement of camel reproductive and production performances were very scarce.and hand milknig is practised in a wide range in small sacle production systems. The other constraint facing machine milking is the variations in morphological, anatomical and physiological aspects of camel udder and teats. These variations exist not only between countires, but between herds and within herds and this explore the inconvienice to practise machine milking. The third challenge is that most of camel milking necessitate the presence of calves beside their mothers to stimulate milk ejection reflex. Added to that camels must be trained enter milking which may take between 2-4 weeks based on the background of the animal.
The transport of atmospheric NO x and HNO 3 over Cape Town

Abstract. Cape Town, the most popular tourist city in Africa, usually experiences air pollution with unpleasant odour in winter. Previous studies have associated the pollution with local emission of pollutants within the city. The present study examines the transport of atmospheric pollutants (NOx and HNO3) over South Africa and shows how the transport of pollutants from the Mpumalanga Highveld, a major South African industrial area, may contribute to the pollution in Cape Town. The study analysed observation data (2001–2008) from the Cape Town air-quality network and simulation data (2001–2004) from a regional climate model (RegCM) over southern Africa. The simulation accounts for the influence of complex topography, atmospheric conditions, and atmospheric chemistry on emission and transport of pollutants over southern Africa. Flux budget analysis was used to examine whether Cape Town is a source or sink for NOx and HNO3 during the extreme pollution events. The results show that extreme pollution events in Cape Town are associated with the lower level (surface – 850 hPa) transport of NOx from the Mpumalanga Highveld to Cape Town, and with a tongue of high concentration of HNO3 that extends from the Mpumalanga Highveld to Cape Town along the south coast of South Africa. The prevailing atmospheric conditions during the extreme pollution events feature an upper-level (700 hPa) anticyclone over South Africa and a lower-level col over Cape Town. The anticyclone induces a strong subsidence motion, which prevents vertical mixing of the pollutants and caps high concentration of pollutants close to the surface as they are transported from the Mpumalanga Highveld toward Cape Town. The col accumulates the pollutants over the city. This study shows that Cape Town can be a sink for the NOx and HNO3 during extreme pollution events and suggests that the accumulation of pollutants transported from other areas (e.g. the Mpumalanga Highveld) may contribute to the air pollution in Cape Town.
Contemporary performance measurement systems in central and eastern Europe: A synthesis of the empirical literature

The paper presents a synthesis of contemporary performance measurement systems (PMS) research in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE). The literature review is organized around four determinants of contemporary PMS: multidimensionality, strategic focus, cascading, and alignment between PMS and compensation. Discussion of findings and future research directions are suggested along these four determinants while taking into account different institutional, legislative, and cultural contexts of the CEE countries. The paper delivers tentative implications for management researchers and management accounting researchers to guide future thinking and research on PMS in CEE countries. Finally, relevance of research findings for managers is discussed.
Incubation Methods for Forecasting the Occurrence and Development of Lophodermium seditiosum Minter, Staley & Millar on Pine

© 2013 Rajkovic et al., licensee InTech. This is an open access chapter distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. Incubation Methods for Forecasting the Occurrence and Development of Lophodermium seditiosum Minter, Staley & Millar on Pine