Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Molecular gas kinematics and line diagnostics in early-type galaxies: NGC 4710 and NGC 5866

We present interferometric observations of CO lines (12CO(1-0, 2-1) and 13CO(1-0, 2-1)) and dense gas tracers (HCN(1-0), HCO+(1-0), HNC(1-0) and HNCO(4-3)) in two nearby edge-on barred lenticular galaxies, NGC 4710 and NGC 5866, with most of the gas concentrated in a nuclear disc and an inner ring in each galaxy. We probe the physical conditions of a two-component molecular interstellar medium in each galaxy and each kinematic component by using molecular line ratio diagnostics in three complementary ways. First, we measure the ratios of the position-velocity diagrams of different lines, second we measure the ratios of each kinematic component's integrated line intensities as a function of projected position, and third we model these line ratios using a non-local thermodynamic equilibrium radiative transfer code. Overall, the nuclear discs appear to have a tenuous molecular gas component that is hotter, optically thinner and with a larger dense gas fraction than that in the inner rings, suggesting more dense clumps immersed in a hotter more diffuse molecular medium. This is consistent with evidence that the physical conditions in the nuclear discs are similar to those in photo-dissociation regions. A similar picture emerges when comparing the observed molecular line ratios with those of other galaxy types. The physical conditions of the molecular gas in the nuclear discs of NGC 4710 and NGC 5866 thus appear intermediate between those of spiral galaxies and starbursts, while the star formation in their inner rings is even milder
Promoting Pre-Service Teachers' Ideas about Nature of Science through Educational Research Apprenticeship.

This study suggests a novel approach, which integrates an explicit-reflective nature of science (NOS) instruction into the teachersas-researchers approach to improve pre-service science teachers’ conceptions of NOS. Participants were 48 university fourth-year students in a four-year pre-service science teacher-training program in Turkey. The participants received explicit-reflective NOS instruction and were introduced to some techniques for critically evaluating academic articles, designing and conducting a research project, writing a research report and preparing materials to share the findings of their studies with students and staff of their department at a poster conference. During these activities, the lecturer explicitly addressed the target aspects of NOS and made pre-service science teachers’ thinking more visible and reflective. The Views of Nature of Science Questionnaire (VNOS-C) was used in conjunction with individual interviews to assess participants’ NOS views at the beginning and conclusion of the study. The results indicated that compared with their ideas at the beginning of the course, many pre-service science teachers had developed more ‘informed ideas about NOS’ throughout the course. The significance of this study is that carrying out an educational research with the incorporation of an explicit-reflective instructional model seems to be a promising avenue to improve pre-service science teachers’ ideas about NOS. Some possible implications for pre-service and in-service teacher education and further research are discussed.
Cultural Values and Student Learning Style Preferences : Implications for Course Satisfaction 1

This paper presents results from two studies that have been conducted with higher education business students at Victoria University, Melbourne Australia. The first study examines the relationship between business students’ demographics, cultural values profile and the level of course satisfaction of 548 higher education business students. Similar to the first study Robertson and Hoffman’s (2000) Cultural Values Scale, derived from the work of Hofstede (1980; 1991; 1998) was used to gauge students’ cultural values profile, and a course satisfaction measure was derived from the work of Netemeyer, Krishnan, Pullig, Wang, Yagci, Dean, Ricks and Wirth (2004) and Harris and Uncles (2000). A major finding of this second study was that high Collectivism and high Uncertainty Avoidance ratings and Participant Age form the key determinants of Course Satisfaction. The second study examines the relationship between business students’ cultural values profile and the Teacher-Driven learning preferences of 364 higher education business students. Two empirically driven inventories were used: Robertson and Hoffman’s (2000) Cultural Values Scale, derived from the work of Hofstede (1980; 1991; 1998), and Honey and Mumford’s (1992) Learning Style Questionnaire, derived from Kolb’s (1974; 1976) theoretical framework. A major finding of this study was that high Masculinity, high Confucian, high Uncertainty Avoidance and high Collectivism ratings form the characteristics of the Teacher-Driven learning style.
Factors influencing e-health implementation by medical doctors in public hospitals in Zimbabwe

Background: Improving access to health care services in both developed and developing countries through information communication technology (ICT) has been getting particular attention from government, medical researchers and practitioners. This has seen many governments proposing the implementation of healthcare systems that are centred on technology, while researchers and practitioners have been arguing for policies that promote the use of technology in healthcare provision. Objective: The main objective of this study was to determine the factors influencing implementation of e-health by medical doctors in public hospitals in Zimbabwe. Methods: The study was guided by a qualitative research in conjunction with multiple-case studies. Qualitative data were collected using 20 semi-structured interviews from selected hospitals concerning the implementation of e-health by medical doctors in public hospitals. Hospitals were selected using random sampling, while purposive sampling was used to select the 20 doctors. In addition, the researcher conducted direct observations at five hospitals. Furthermore, data concerning policy issues in Zimbabwe’s e-health were collected using document review process. Data from the interviews were analysed using data-driven thematic coding. This solo approach was conducted because the researcher intended to reveal e-health influencing factors that could not be revealed by related literature. Results: This study reveals that the implementation of e-health by medical doctors in public hospitals in Zimbabwe is influenced by both internal and external factors. Internal factors include ICT infrastructure and e-health technologies, ICT skills and knowledge, technical support, security concerns, lack of basic medical facilities, demographic factors such as age and doctor–patient relationship. External factors are health policy, funding and bureaucracy. Conclusion: The idea of e-health is relatively new to healthcare centres in Zimbabwe. Its application has not been sufficiently addressed. The study shows that the success of an e-health system depends on internal and external factors. There is a great potential for implementing e-health in Zimbabwe if these factors are taken into consideration. Otherwise, Zimbabwe will continue to lag behind in the implementation of e-health systems in public hospitals.
Knowledge Spillovers and Entrepreneurs' Export Orientation

We draw on knowledge spillover literature to suggest that a country’s level of foreign direct investment (FDI) and international trade may influence the export orientation of its entrepreneurs, which in turn may relate to the country’s total level of entrepreneurial activity. Macro-level data from 34 countries during 2002–2005 indicate that a country’s outward FDI, export, and import positively affect entrepreneurs’ export orientation, but these effects differ in how fast they manifest themselves. Furthermore, the extent to which a country’s entrepreneurs engage in export-oriented activities affects the subsequent emergence of new businesses. These findings have important implications for research and practice.
HOW QUALITY, VALUE AND SATISFACTION CREATE PASSENGER LOYALTY: AN EMPIRICAL STUDY ON INDONESIA BUS RAPID TRANSIT PASSENGER

This study aims to investigate the dimensions of service quality especially in the area of public transport as well asthe role of service quality in enhancing passenger’s value, satisfaction and loyalty. Partial Least Squares (PLS) with survey data from 152 BRT passengerswas used by this study. This study found that outcome quality, physical quality and interaction quality are the the primary dimensions of service quality. In addition, this study explained that service quality has a signifiant effect on passenger perceived value, satisfaction and loyalty. Apart from perceived service quality, this study also found that passenger satisfaction and perceived value are the essential determinants of passenger loyalty. Keywords : Bus Rapid Transit, Outcome quality, Interaction quality, Physical quality, service quality, satisfaction and loyalty.
Classification of Serranidae Species Using Color Based Statistical Features

In this study 6 species of Serranidae family (Epinephelus aeneus, Epinephelus caninus, Epinephelus costae, Epinephelus marginatus, Hyporthodus haifensis, Mycteroperca rubra) were classified by using a color based feature extraction method. A database which consists of 112 fish images was used in this study. In each image, a fish was located on a white background floor with the same position and the images were taken from different distances. A combination of manual processes and automatic algorithms were applied on images until obtaining colored fish sample images with a black background. Since the presented color based feature extraction method avoids including background, these images were processed by using an automatic algorithm in order to obtain a solid texture image from the fish and extract features. The obtained solid texture image was in HSV color space and used due to extract species-specific information from the fish samples. Each of the hue, saturation and value components of the HSV color space was used separately in order to extract 7 statistical features. Hence, totally 21 features were extracted for each fish sample. The extracted features were used within Nearest Neighbor algorithm and 112 fish samples from the 6 species were classified with an overall accuracy achievement of 86%.
Value of electrocardiogram in predialytic chronic kidney disease patient without known coronary artery disease

Chronic Kidney disease (CKD) is a pressing public health burden occurring in about 10% of the population. The majority of them die before reaching End Stage Renal Disease (ESRD) due to cardiovascular disease (CVD). Hypertension (HTN) and anaemia are two reversible factors for progression of CKD. Besides asymptomatic coronary artery disease, the electrolyte abnormalities such as hyperkalaemia and hypocalcaemia also subject these patients to sudden cardiac death. This study is aimed at to see the changes in electrocardiogram (ECG) in hospitalized predialytic CKD patients due to these abnormalities. Methods: This is a 6 months cross-sectional study carried out at Chittagong Medical College Hospital in Chittagong, Bangladesh. 50 patients with stages 3, 4 and 5 CKD were recruited from the Nephrology and Medicine wards. Patients with prior history of coronary artery disease, cardiomyopathy, valvular heart disease and dialysis were excluded. All had their standard 12–lead electrocardiogram (ECG) recorded and various findings were critically studied and interpreted independently by two consultant physicians including a cardiologist. Data analysis was done using SPSS version 19. Results: LVH (left ventricular hypertrophy) (66%), LAE (left atrial enlargement) (30%) and unrecognized myocardial infarction (28%) were very common ECG abnormalities in our predialytic CKD patients. HTN, anaemia, late presentation, and male gender appear to be associated with ECG abnormalities. Though 28 patients (56%) were hyperkalaemic only 9 patients (38%) of them had tall tented T wave in ECG. Conclusion: Detection of HTN and anaemia in male predialytic CKD patients will arouse suspicion which will help in early detection of cardiac outcome by ECG abnormality which will help in taking treatment strategy in resource limited country.
ALFVÉN WAVE HEATING OF THE SOLAR CHROMOSPHERE: 1.5D MODELS

Physical processes that may lead to solar chromospheric heating are analyzed using high-resolution 1.5D non-ideal MHD modeling. We demonstrate that it is possible to heat the chromospheric plasma by direct resistive dissipation of high-frequency Alfvén waves through Pedersen resistivity. However, this is unlikely to be sufficient to balance radiative and conductive losses unless unrealistic field strengths or photospheric velocities are used. The precise heating profile is determined by the input driving spectrum, since in 1.5D there is no possibility of Alfvén wave turbulence. The inclusion of the Hall term does not affect the heating rates. If plasma compressibility is taken into account, shocks are produced through the ponderomotive coupling of Alfvén waves to slow modes and shock heating dominates the resistive dissipation. In 1.5D shock coalescence amplifies the effects of shocks, and for compressible simulations with realistic driver spectra, the heating rate exceeds that required to match radiative and conductive losses. Thus, while the heating rates for these 1.5D simulations are an overestimate, they do show that ponderomotive coupling of Alfvén waves to sound waves is more important in chromospheric heating than Pedersen dissipation through ion–neutral collisions.
New hosts of Pseudoperonospora cubensis in the Czech Republic and pathogen virulence variation.

During the 2009, 2010, and 2011 growing seasons, disease prevalence and severity and the host range of Pseudoperonospora cubensis, the causal agent of cucurbit downy mildew, were evaluated at more than 70 locations in two main regions of the Czech Republic. Infection by P. cubensis was observed primarily on Cucumis sativus, rarely on other cucurbits. Medium to high disease-severity levels were most frequently recorded on C. sativus. During the years 2010 and 2011, P. cubensis infection was also recorded on Cucumis melo, Citrullus lanatus and Cucurbita moschata. Occurrence of P. cubensis on C. melo and C. lanatus has been formerly reported from the Czech Republic, however, infection on C. moschata was observed for the first time in the Czech Republic in 2009. In the years 2010 and 2011, four new hosts (Cucurbita pepo, Cucurbita maxima, Cucurbita ficifolia and Lagenaria siceraria) of P. cubensis were found in the Czech Republic. Virulence structure and its temporal changes (2010 to 2011) were studied in populations of P. cubensis in the Czech Republic. Seventy P. cubensis isolates, collected from Cucumis sativus and melo, Cucurbita maxima, pepo, and moschata, and Citrullus lanatus, were analyzed for virulence variation. The variation of pathogen populations was expressed by the designation of pathotypes using tetrad numerical codes. The most susceptible group of differentials was Cucumis species; in contrast, the lowest frequency of pathogenicity was recorded on Cucurbita pepo subsp. pepo, Citrullus lanatus and Luffa cylindrica. A high proportion of Czech P. cubensis isolates were able to infect two cucurbit species, Benincasa hispida and Lagenaria siceraria, that are not commonly cultivated in the Czech Republic or elsewhere in Central Europe. In this study period (2009-2011), there were substantial changes to the pathogen virulence structure in comparison with the period 20012008. Cucurbitaceae 2012, Proceedings of the Xth EUCARPIA meeting on genetics and breeding of Cucurbitaceae (eds. Sari, Solmaz and Aras) Antalya (Turkey), October 15-18th, 2012
DETONATIONS IN SUB-CHANDRASEKHAR-MASS C+O WHITE DWARFS

Explosions of sub-Chandrasekhar-mass white dwarfs (WDs) are one alternative to the standard Chandrasekhar-mass model of Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia). They are interesting since binary systems with sub-Chandrasekhar-mass primary WDs should be common and this scenario would suggest a simple physical parameter which determines the explosion brightness, namely the mass of the exploding WD. Here we perform one-dimensional hydrodynamical simulations, associated post-processing nucleosynthesis, and multi-wavelength radiation transport calculations for pure detonations of carbon–oxygen WDs. The light curves and spectra we obtain from these simulations are in good agreement with observed properties of SNe Ia. In particular, for WD masses from 0.97 to 1.15 M☉ we obtain 56Ni masses between 0.3 and 0.8 M☉, sufficient to capture almost the complete range of SN Ia brightnesses. Our optical light curve rise times, peak colors, and decline timescales display trends which are generally consistent with observed characteristics although the range of B-band decline timescales displayed by our current set of models is somewhat too narrow. In agreement with observations, the maximum light spectra of the models show clear features associated with intermediate-mass elements and reproduce the sense of the observed correlation between explosion luminosity and the ratio of the Si ii lines at λ6355 and λ5972. We therefore suggest that sub-Chandrasekhar-mass explosions are a viable model for SNe Ia for any binary evolution scenario leading to explosions in which the optical display is dominated by the material produced in a detonation of the primary WD.
Size distribution of galaxies in SDSS DR7: weak dependence on halo environment

Using a sample of galaxies selected from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey Data Release 7 (SDSS DR7) and a catalog of bulge-disk decompositions, we study how the size distribution of galaxies depends on the intrinsic properties of galaxies, such as concentration, morphology, specific star formation rate (sSFR), and bulge fraction, and on the large-scale environments in the context of central/satellite decomposition, halo environment, the cosmic web: cluster, filament, sheet and void, as well as galaxy number density. We find that there is a strong dependence of the luminosity- or mass-size relation on the galaxy concentration, morphology, sSFR and bulge fraction. Compared with late-type (spiral) galaxies, there is a clear trend of smaller sizes and steeper slope for early-type (elliptical) galaxies. Similarly, galaxies with a high bulge fraction have smaller sizes and steeper slopes than those with a low bulge fraction. Fitting formulae of the average luminosity- and mass-size relations are provided for galaxies with these different intrinsic properties. Examining galaxies in terms of their large scale environments, we find that the mass-size relation has some weak dependence on the halo mass and central/satellite segregation for galaxies within mass range 9.0 ≤ log M* ≤ 10.5, where satellites or galaxies in more massive halos have slightly smaller sizes than their counterparts, while the cosmic web and local number density dependence of the mass-size relation is almost negligible.
A dynamic program under Lévy processes for valuing corporate securities

Most structural models for valuing corporate securities assume a geometric-Brownian motion to describe the firm’s assets value. However, this does not reflect market-stylized features; the default is more often conducted by sudden informations and shocks, which are not captured by the Gaussian model assumption. To remedy this, we propose a dynamic program for valuing corporate securities under various Lévy processes. Specifically, we study two jump diffusions and a pure-jump process. Under these settings, we build and experiment with a flexible framework, which accommodates the balance-sheet equality, arbitrary corporate debts, multiple seniority classes, tax benefits, and bankruptcy costs. While our approach applies to several Lévy processes, we compute and detail the equity’s, debt’s, and firm’s total values, as well as the debt’s credit-spreads under Gaussian, double exponential, and variance-gamma-jump models.
Working Paper n o 24 / 12 Portfolio Choice with Indivisible and Illiquid Housing Assets : The Case of Spain Sergio Mayordomo

This paper presents a procedure for computing the theoretically optimal portfolio under the assumption that housing is an indivisible, illiquid asset that restricts the portfolio choice decision. The analysis also includes the financial constraints households may face when they apply for external funding. The set of financial assets that constitute the household’s portfolios are bank time deposits, stocks, mortgage, and housing. We compare the theoretically optimal portfolio against Spanish households’ actual choices using a unique data set, the Spanish Survey of Household Finance. In comparison with the optimal portfolio, households significantly underinvest in stocks and deposits. In the case of mortgages, the optimal and actual portfolios weights are not unequal. At a more disaggregated level, some additional differences emerge that are explained by demographic, educational, and income characteristics. Sergio Mayordomo School of Economics and Business Administration University of Navarra smayordomo@unav.es María Rodríguez-Moreno European Central Bank maria. rodriguez_moreno@ecb.int Juan Ignacio Peña Department of Business Administration Universidad Carlos III de Madrid ypenya@eco.uc3m. es Portfolio Choice with Indivisible and Illiquid Housing Assets: The Case of Spain Sergio Mayordomo , María Rodríguez-Moreno and Juan Ignacio Peña
MASS TRANSFER MODELING OF HEPATIC DRUG ELIMINATION USING LOCAL VOLUME AVERAGING APPROACH

Applying local volume averaging method a mathematical model including liver porosity, tortuosity, permeability, unbound drug fraction, drugplasma diffusivity, axial/radial dispersion and hepatocellular metabolism parameters was developed for hepatic drug elimination. The model was numerically solved using implicit finite difference method to describe drug concentration gradient with time across the liver. Statistically validated by observations and other models, the model suggested axial dispersion as a significant variable in drug distribution across the liver. Sensitivity analyses revealed that lower liver porosity resulted in faster drug distribution across the liver, and bioavailability was sensitive to the interaction between unbound fraction and intrinsic clearance.
Effect of oil pollution on serum growth hormone (GH) levels, histology and Ultrastructure of muscles of the Nile Tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus)

ver the last decades, there has been a growing interest in studying the main problems that could be harmful to the River Nile system in Egypt. Attention was paid to one of the most important problems that face the River Nile, this is called River Nile transport project. So the main objective of the present study was to investigate the adverse effects that can result from spilled gasoline as petroleum product from various motor ships into the River Nile on one of the most important popular fishes in Egypt, Oreochromis niloticus to ascertain whether spilled gasoline into aquatic ecosystems can affect on the aquatic biota or not and to identify any potential public health risks that can be associated with dietary intake of such fish by histological and ultrastructural studies on its edible muscles. Levels of the growth hormone secreted by the pituitary gland which is essential to the development of skeletal muscles and growth rate was also examined. So, the fish were exposed to increasing concentrations of gasoline: 0 (control), 100, 200 and 500 mg/L for 30 days. Unexposed fish exhibited significantly higher levels of serum GH compared to that of tested fish. The GH levels decreased significantly with increasing gasoline concentrations. These data together indicate that Gasoline presents a hazardous substance for both the fish as well as the human consumers . Finally, the results revealed that the River Nile transport project can lead to serious harm to fish community that eventually become unsafe for human consumption. Therefore, this project must be carefully revised forbidden by health agencies.