Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Unbalanced growth in natural assemblages of marine bacterioplankton

We tested whether natural assemblages of marine bactenoplankton undergo periods when rates of macromolecular syntheses are uncoupled (unbalanced growth). In seawater cultures of bacteria, rates of DNA and protein syntheses (thymidine and leucine incorporation) and changes in the DNA amount and cell size were compared to fluctuations in growth rate. Rates of DNA and protein syntheses became uncoupled when the bacterial assemblage shifted between growth rates. During these periods of unbalanced growth, rates of bacterial protein synthesis changed faster than rates of DNA synthesis. Variations in the DNA concentration and size of cells paralleled changes in rates of DNA and protein syntheses. The C : DNA ratio of bacteria varied 2-fold depending on the growth state with an average value of 4.6 -t 0.48. The delay between unbalanced growth and shifts in the growth rate was on the order of hours and was always shorter than the generation time. Information about unbalanced growth may reveal the delay between fluctuations in the environment and the corresponding bacterial response. In addition, the unbalanced growth model may explain why rates of thymidine and leucine incorporation occasionally do not covary in pelagic ecosystems.
Differences in social capital between 54 Western European regions

Beugelsdijk S. and Van Schaik T. (2005) Differences in social capital between 54 Western European regions, Regional Studies 39 , 1053–1064. Based on the extant literature, a newly developed index measuring social capital at the regional level in Europe is presented. It is shown that there are large regional differences on this social capital index. It was tested if higher scores on this social capital index correlate with higher levels of economic development and regional economic growth in 54 Western European regions. Though further research is required, these preliminary results suggest a positive relationship exists between social capital and regional economic development. The paper concludes with suggestions for future empirical research.
A Model to Explain the Observed Tendency to Aggression in University Students

Some approaches in psychology (e.g. Psychoanalysis) define aggression as an inborn behavior while some others (e.g. Behaviorism) define it as an acquired behavior. However, today it is a more widely admitted idea that aggression is a product of heredity-environment interactions and it has a relation with different psycho-social variables. It is observed that aggression was tried to be explained by more basic research models in previous studies. In this study; however, it was preferred to form a complex model to explain aggression selected as a dependent variable. The main objective of the study in this context is to examine the relation between aggression and the variables of perfectionism, forgiveness and coping with stress. The study group consists of 2744 university students studying in seven different cities. The data of the study was analyzed with the Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results obtained from the study show that aggression is explained significantly by the variables of perfectionism (β=.13; p<.001), forgiveness (β=-.40; p<.001) and negative and passive coping (β=.17; p<.001). Some of the results show similarities with the previous findings while the others have some differences. In consideration of the results, some suggestions were made for the implementation process and for further researches.
Spectral analysis and abundances of the post-HB star HD 76431

HD76431 is a slow rotating post-HB star that shows an underabundance of helium by 0.5 dex relative to the solar value. These observational facts suggest that atomic diffusion could be active in its atmosphere. We have used the MMT and Bok spectra to estimate the atmospheric parameters of the target star using the model atmospheres and synthetic spectra calculated with TLUSTY and SYNSPEC. The derived values of the effective temperature, surface gravity, helium abundance are consistent with those obtained by Ramspeck et al. (2001b). It appears that NLTE effect are not important for HD76431. We have used Stokes I spectra from ESPaDOnS at CFHT to perform an abundance analysis and a search for observational evidence of vertical stratification of the abundance of certain elements. The results of our abundance analysis are in good agreement with previously published data with respect to average abundances. Our numerical simulations show that carbon and nitrogen reveal signatures of vertical abundance stratification in the atmosphere of HD76431. It appears that the carbon abundance increases toward the deeper atmospheric layers. Nitrogen also shows a similar behaviour, but in deeper atmospheric layers we obtain a significant dispersion for the estimates of its abundance. To our knowledge, this is the first demonstration of vertical abundance stratification of metals in a post-HB star and up to now it is the hottest star to show such stratification features. We also report the detection of two SiIII and one TiIII emission lines in the spectra of HD76431 that were not detected in previous studies.
Community structure and decadal changes in macrozoobenthic assemblages in Lake Poyang, the largest freshwater lake in China

Lake Poyang is the largest freshwater lake in China and contains unique and diverse biota within the Yangtze floodplain ecosystem. However, knowledge of its macrozoobenthic assemblages remains inadequate. To characterize the current community structure of these assemblages and to portray their decadal changes, quarterly investigations were conducted at 15 sites from February to November 2012. A total of 42 taxa were recorded, and Corbicula fluminea , Limnoperna fortunei , Gammaridae sp. , Nephtys polybranchia , Polypedilum scalaenum and Branchiura sowerbyi were found to dominate the community in terms of abundance. The bivalves Corbicula fluminea , Lamprotula rochechouarti , Arconaia lanceolata and Lamprotula caveata dominated the community in biomass due to their large body size. The mean abundance of the total macrozoobenthos varied from 48 to 920 ind·m-2 , the mean biomass ranged from 28 to 428 g·m-2 . The substrate type affected strongly the abundance, biomass, and diversity of the macrozoobenthos, with muddy sand substrates showing the highest values. Compared with historical data, remarkable changes were observed in the abundance of macrozoobenthos and the identity of the dominant species. The mean total abundance decreased from 724 ind·m-2 in 1992 to 228 ind·m-2 in 2012. The dominant species have shifted dramatically. Large unionids were dominant before 1998, whereas pollution-tolerant species (e.g. , Branchiura sowerbyi ) increased in dominance after 2008. Our findings should have implications for the conservation of the benthic biodiversity of this large Yangtze-connected lake.
Job Satisfaction as Predictor of employee engagement

The current study aims to investigate the extent of job satisfaction contribution to employee engagement. Employee engagement has been found as being important to employee productivity and organization performance. Participants were 110 employees of a private property company in Makassar, Indonesia. A self-administered questionnaire was used to measure job satisfaction and employee engagement. Simple multiple regression showed that Job satisfaction was significantly predicted employee engagement (R= .561, p<.05) Additionally, multiple regression highlighted factors of job satisfaction such as operating conditions, coworkers, nature of works, and communication significantly contributed to employee engagement whereas promotion, pay benefit, and reward were found to be insignificant. These results suggest that increasing job satisfaction can potentially leverage employee engagement. However, only three out of seven factors of job satisfaction contributed significant effect to the employee engagement. Future research is needed to test whether these findings can be found in other company with the same type of business and other types of business. Keywords— Job satisfaction; employee engagement;
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) A reversible Erlang loss system with multitype customers and multitype servers

Disclaimer/Complaints regulations If you believe that digital publication of certain material infringes any of your rights or (privacy) interests, please let the Library know, stating your reasons. In case of a legitimate complaint, the Library will make the material inaccessible and/or remove it from the website. Please Ask the Library: http://uba.uva. nl/en/contact, or a letter to: Library of the University of Amsterdam, Secretariat, Singel 425, 1012 WP Amsterdam, The Netherlands. You will be contacted as soon as possible.
Preparation of Silver Nanoparticles and Their Industrial and Biomedical Applications: A Comprehensive Review

Silver nanoparticles (Ag-NPs) have diverted the attention of the scientific community and industrialist itself due to their wide range of applications in industry for the preparation of consumer products and highly accepted application in biomedical fields (especially their efficacy against microbes, anti-inflammatory effects, and wound healing ability). The governing factor for their potent efficacy against microbes is considered to be the various mechanisms enabling it to prevent microbial proliferation and their infections. Furthermore a number of new techniques have been developed to synthesize Ag-NPs with controlled size and geometry. In this review, various synthetic routes adapted for the preparation of the Ag-NPs, the mechanisms involved in its antimicrobial activity, its importance/application in commercial as well as biomedical fields, and possible application in future have been discussed in detail.
Voting Patterns, Party Spending and Space in England and Wales

There is a growing body of literature which suggests that voting patterns are not independent from space yet few empirical investigations exist which take explicit account of space. This article examines the determinants of voting patterns across constituencies in England and Wales using spatial econometric methods. The results suggest that while socioeconomic factors are key determinants of party vote shares in constituencies, there is strong spatial autocorrelation in voting patterns. We find that each major political party is influenced by space to different extents with the Liberal Democrats visibly exploiting spatial autocorrelation to increase their vote shares.
Can Global Organizations Use Values-Based Leadership to Combat Bribery and Corruption?

With rising uncertainty associated with FCPA enforcement, this article explores the potential development of a values based approach to combat bribery and corruption. Although this approach requires empirical investigation, arguments suggest that organizations desiring higher ethical standards to mitigate bribery and corruption practices should transition from compliance to values based strategies. When leaders enact and display positive organizational values, mutual follower-leader synergies build the foundation for more moral and ethical organizational cultures. This article explores Values-Based Leadership as a framework to create ethical and moral corporate governance systems that establish organizational cultures naturally resistant to bribery and corruption.
Evolution of maximal endurance capacity: natural and sexual selection across age classes in a lizard

Hypothesis: One of the basic tenets of evolutionary physiology is that physical performances and fitness are tightly linked. Question: Are phenotypes with exceptional locomotor capacity strongly favoured by natural and sexual selection? Organism: A ground-dwelling, actively foraging and non-territorial lizard species, Lacerta vivipara. Methods: We analysed the relationship between morphology (body size and condition) and maximal endurance capacity in three age classes (juveniles, yearlings, and adult males). We then tested whether morphology and endurance capacity predicted variation in annual body growth, annual survival, and reproductive success. Results: The large variation in maximal endurance capacity observed at hatching has a genetic basis. Endurance capacity increased with body size in juveniles and with body condition in juveniles and yearlings. Endurance capacity was not correlated with annual body growth at any age class. Positive, directional viability selection on endurance capacity was detected for juveniles and yearlings, but not for adult males. Endurance capacity was weakly, positively correlated with male reproductive success. Natural selection in juveniles and sexual selection in adult males was non-linear and the strength of selection decelerated with endurance capacity. Conclusion: In the common lizard, selection on maximal performances is non-linear and varies between age classes. This pattern of weak and inconsistent selection could explain the maintenance of considerable genetic variation of locomotor performance within populations.
Risk Management Capability Maturity and Performance of Complex Product and System (CoPS) Projects with an Asian Perspective

Complex Products and Systems (CoPS) are high value, technology and engineering-intensive capital goods. The motivation of this study is the persistent high failure rate of CoPS projects, Asian CoPS provider’s weak capability and lack of specific research on CoPS risk management. This paper evaluates risk management maturity level of CoPS projects against a general CoPS risk management capability maturity model (RM-CMM) developed by the authors. An Asian based survey was conducted to investigate the value of RM to project performance, and Asian (non-Japanese) CoPS implementers’ perceived application of RM practices, their strengths and weaknesses. The survey result shows that higher RM maturity level leads to higher CoPS project performance. It also shows project complexity and uncertainty moderates the relationship between some RM practices and project performance, which implies that a contingency approach should be adopted to manage CoPS risks effectively. In addition, it shows that Asian CoPS implementers are weak in RM process and there are also rooms for improvement in the softer aspects of organizational capabilities and robustness.
The motion of a point vortex through gaps in walls

New analytical techniques for studying the motion of a point vortex in fluid domains bounded by straight walls having an arbitrary number of gaps are presented. By exploiting explicit formulae for the Kirchhoff–Routh path function in multiply connected circular domains, combined with a novel construction of conformal mappings from such circular domains to multiply connected slit domains, the governing Hamiltonians for the motion of a point vortex in a number of physically interesting fluid regions involving walls with gaps are derived. The vortex trajectories in several illustrative cases are computed. These examples include finding the vortex paths around a chain of islands sitting off an infinite coastline, around islands in an unbounded ocean and around a sequence of islands situated between two headlands.
Effects of Dietary Astaxanthin on Body Astaxanthin, Growth, and Survival of Penaeus monodon Postlarvae

Diets supplemented with 0, 80, and 240mg astaxanthin kg^(-1) were fed to tiger prawn (Penaeus monodon) postlarvae for 4 weeks to compare their growth, survival, and concentration and various forms of body astaxanthin. Free astaxanthin (FA), monoester astaxanthin (MA), diester astaxanthin (DA), and total astaxanthin (TA) of all shrimps decreased with time. In the fourth week, as compared to the control, the supplement of dietary astaxanthin at 80mg kg^(-1) resulted in higher content of body FA and TA, consequently higher survival and growth. Further supplement up to 240mg kg^(-1) neither increase content of all forms of body astaxanthin nor survival and growth. FA was more sensitive to dietary astaxanthin levels than DA and TA and reflected its difference in each weekly sampling. In turn, FA had more influence than DA and TA on growth and survival. MA had no correlation with both growth and survival at all samplings. The fraction of either esterified astaxanthin (MA or DA) to TA remained more stable than unesterified astaxanthin (FA) with respect to dietary astaxanthin level.
Elemental abundance trends in the Galactic thin and thick disks as traced by nearby F and G dwarf stars

Based on spectra from F and G dwarf stars, we present elementalabundance trends in the Galactic thin and thick disks in the metallicityregime -0.8< [Fe/H < +0.4. Our findings can besummarized as follows. 1) Both the thin and the thick disks show smoothand distinct abundance trends that, at sub-solar metallicities, areclearly separated. 2) For the alpha -elements the thick disk showssignatures of chemical enrichment from SNe type Ia. 3) The age of thethick disk sample is in the mean older than the thin disk sample. 4)Kinematically, there exist thick disk stars with super-solarmetallicities. Based on these findings, together with other constraintsfrom the literature, we discuss different formation scenarios for thethick disk. We suggest that the currently most likely formation scenariois a violent merger event or a close encounter with a companion galaxy.Based on kinematics the stellar sample was selected to contain starswith high probabilities of belonging either to the thin or to the thickGalactic disk. The total number of stars are 66 of which 21 belong tothe thick disk and 45 to the thin disk. The analysis is based onhigh-resolution spectra with high signal-to-noise (R 48 000 and S/Ngtrsim 150, respectively) recorded with the FEROS spectrograph on LaSilla, Chile. Abundances have been determined for four alpha -elements(Mg, Si, Ca, and Ti), for four even-nuclei iron peak elements (Cr, Fe,Ni, and Zn), and for the light elements Na and Al, from equivalent widthmeasurements of 30 000 spectral lines. An extensive investigation ofthe atomic parameters, log gf-values in particular, have been performedin order to achieve abundances that are trustworthy. Noteworthy is thatwe find for Ti good agreement between the abundances from Ti I and TiIi. Our solar Ti abundances are in concordance with the standardmeteoritic Ti abundanceBased on observations collected at the European Southern Observatory, LaSilla, Chile, Proposals #65.L-0019(B) and 67.B-0108(B). Full Tables eftab:linelist and eftab:abundances are onlyavailable in electronic form at the CDS via anonymous ftp tocdsarc.u-strasbg.fr (130.79.128.5) or viahttp://cdsweb.u-strasbg.fr/cgi-bin/qcat? J/A+A/410/527 (Less)
Wavelet-like orthonormal bases for the lowest Landau level

As a first step in the description of a two-dimensional electron gas in a magnetic field, such as encountered in the fractional quantum Hall effect, we discuss a general procedure for constructing an orthonormal basis for the lowest Landau level, starting from an arbitrary orthonormal basis in L2(R). We discuss in detail two relevant examples coming from wavelet analysis, the Haar and the Littlewood-Paley bases.
ASSESSMENT OF CARBIMAZOLE, PROPYLTHIOURACIL & L-THYROXINE FOR LIVER MARKERS IN THYROID PATIENTS FROM PUNJAB, PAKISTAN

Hepatic functions dependency on thyroid hormones has been reported in many past studies. Momentous change in physiology and chemistry of thyroid gland not only affects the glandular function but also profoundly impinge working of liver markers causing hepatic dysfunction. Consequently, in order to give better response for thyroid diseases, the efficiency of thyroid drug is also calculated in persuading liver markers towards standard ranges which previously have been disturbed due to thyroid invasion.
Cohort Dynamics of Summer-Spawned Bluefish as Determined by Length-Frequency and Otolith Microstructure Analyses

Abstract Elucidating recruitment processes in marine fish is difficult when species occupy distinct habitats at different ontogenetic stages and when multiple cohorts determine year-class strength. Currently, there is insufficient information on the cohort dynamics of the early life history stages of summer-spawned bluefish Pomatomus saltatrix to critically evaluate each cohort's role in regulating population dynamics. The objective of this study was to provide greater insight into the cohort dynamics of summer-spawned bluefish during the summer and fall on the inner continental shelf off southern New Jersey. Length-frequency and otolith microstructure analyses were used to estimate the age, hatch date, and growth of neustonic individuals collected from shelf surface waters during August–October 1998. Bluefish ranged between 9 and 46 d in age, corresponding to back-calculated hatch dates between 27 June and 13 September. Hatch date frequencies were decomposed into a series of normal curves and identified .
Dento-skeletal changes in patients using twin-block appliance- A pre and post treatment comparison

Background: Class II patients show specific clinical characteristics, such as a large overjet resulting in a soft tissue profile imbalance. This is closely related to patients' and parents' complaints concerning selfimage and self-confidence. In order to reestablish their self-esteem, an early approach into correction of the dentoskeletal disharmony and improvement of facial esthetics may be indicated in the pre-pubertal stage, sometimes leading to two-phase orthodontic treatment. Aim of study: To evaluate dentoskeletal changes in patients using twin-blockappliance. Materials and method: The study was conducted in the postgraduate department of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics of the Dental institute. 32 patients were selected from patients attending the out patient department of orthodontics. Cephalometric radiographs of the patients were obtained at the beginning of the study (T1) and after completion of the treatment (T2) (treatment time 1 year ±3.6 months). The changes in the dento-skeletal parameters were studied by comparing T1 cephalogram and T2 cephalogram. Results: In case of skeletal changes we observed significant increase in the spatial position of the mandible related to the anterior cranial base (SND) and significant reduction in the measurements related to maxillomandibular sagittal position. In case of dental parameters, we observed statistical changes on upper incisors position (1/NA degree) and on lower incisors tipping (1/NB degree), which resulted in significant increase of interincisal angle. Conclusion: From the results of present study we conclude that there is a significant improvement in the total mandibular length and anteroposterior relationship in patients treated with twin-block appliance.
Early wide spacing in red alder (Alnus rubra Bong.): effects on stem form and stem growth

A thinning t(cid:93)ial was established in 1962 in a 7-year-old red alde(cid:93) stand in northwestern Washington. Spacings were 8 x 8 ft (dense), 12 x 12 ft (intermediate), and 16 x 16 ft (open). The effect of early thinning on growth and stem form was measured in 1982, 20 years after spacing t(cid:93)eatment. There was negligible tree lean and sweep in open and intermediate stands except in areas affected by t(cid:93)ees leaning into the plots from outside. Red alder trees generally appea(cid:93) to be displaced horizontally by competing t(cid:93)ees toward nearby open areas. Production of straight, nonleaning trees can be achieved by wide and even spacing at an early age. Trees grown in this fashion will yield significantly more high-quality wood per unit volume than can be obtained f(cid:93)om t(cid:93)ees in unmanaged stands.