Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
First characterization and validation of FORLI-HNO3 vertical profiles retrieved from IASI/Metop

Abstract. Knowing the spatial and seasonal distributions of nitric acid (HNO3) around the globe is of great interest and allows us to comprehend the processes regulating stratospheric ozone, especially in the polar regions. Due to its unprecedented spatial and temporal sampling, the nadir-viewing Infrared Atmospheric Sounding Interferometer (IASI) is capable of sounding the atmosphere twice a day globally, with good spectral resolution and low noise. With the Fast Optimal Retrievals on Layers for IASI (FORLI) algorithm, we are retrieving, in near real time, columns as well as vertical profiles of several atmospheric species, among which is HNO3. We present in this paper the first characterization of the FORLI-HNO3 profile products, in terms of vertical sensitivity and error budgets. We show that the sensitivity of IASI to HNO3 is highest in the lower stratosphere (10–20 km), where the largest amounts of HNO3 are found, but that the vertical sensitivity of IASI only allows one level of information on the profile (degrees of freedom for signal, DOFS; ∼ 1). The sensitivity near the surface is negligible in most cases, and for this reason, a partial column (5–35 km) is used for the analyses. Both vertical profiles and partial columns are compared to FTIR ground-based measurements from the Network for the Detection of Atmospheric Composition Change (NDACC) to characterize the accuracy and precision of the FORLI-HNO3 product. The profile validation is conducted through the smoothing of the raw FTIR profiles by the IASI averaging kernels and gives good results, with a slight overestimation of IASI measurements in the upper troposphere/lower stratosphere (UTLS) at the six chosen stations (Thule, Kiruna, Jungfraujoch, Izana, Lauder and Arrival Heights). The validation of the partial columns (5–35 km) is also conclusive with a mean correlation of 0.93 between IASI and the FTIR measurements. An initial survey of the HNO3 spatial and seasonal variabilities obtained from IASI measurements for a 1-year (2011) data set shows that the expected latitudinal gradient of concentrations from low to high latitudes and the large seasonal variability in polar regions (cycle amplitude around 30 % of the seasonal signal, peak to peak) are well represented by IASI data.
India's Affordable Defence Spending

Defence expenditure is an important component of national security and every country allocates a significant portion of its resources for this purpose. However, given the scarcity of resources and the competing demands from other sectors, a nation’s ability to meet all its Defence requirements is not unlimited. Even the United States, the only military superpower, is unable to afford many of its major programmes, forcing it to scale down the number of items to be procured. The sheer size of the Defence budget and its impact on other sectors of the economy thus, more often raises the question as to how much a country can afford for its Defence.
From fresh water to the slope: fish community ecology in the Río de la Plata and the sea beyond

Se analizo el patron espacial de las asociaciones de peces y su relacion con los factores ambientales a lo largo del gradiente desde el agua dulce en el Rio de la Plata hasta la parte superior del talud. Los peces fueron muestreados en 22 estaciones con una red de arrastre de fondo tipo Engel (200 mm de abertura de malla en las alas, 120 en el copo, 4 m de abertura vertical y 15 m de abertura horizontal) con una velocidad de arrastre de 4 nudos durante 20 a 30 min. Para definir la distribucion espacial de las asociaciones de peces basadas en la composicion de la ictiofauna (abundancia y biomasa) se aplico el analisis de agrupamiento jerarquico y el analisis de ordenacion MDS y para estimar la relacion entre estas asociaciones con la profundidad, la temperatura y la salinidad del agua en la superficie y el fondo, se utilizo el proceso BIO-ENV. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que en la comunidad de peces a lo largo de este gradiente riverino-marino se pueden establecer cuatro asociaciones: riverina, estuarial, plataforma y talud. Estas asociaciones fueron significativamente diferentes en la composicion de especies, cada una de ellas fue caracterizada por varias especies comunes y discriminantes y presento diferentes condiciones ambientales. Concluimos que la salinidad y temperatura de fondo fueron las variables ambientales determinantes de la estructura de las asociaciones a traves de las areas. El cambio en la estructura entre las areas fue gradual y con limites flexibles.
The Widespread Distribution of the Venomous and Poisonous Blue-lined Octopus Hapalochlaena spp., in the East/Japan Sea: Possible Effects of Sea Warming

The geographical distribution of the toxic blue-lined octopus (commonly known as the blue-ringed octopus), Hapalochlaena spp. , around the East/Japan Sea was investigated. Observation records of the octopus were gathered using commercial search engines on the Internet. A questionnaire to complement and enhance the base data was conducted that targeted fishermen from areas where the octopus was most likely to occur, i.e., the southeast coast and islands of Korea in the East/Japan Sea. Overall, 32 observational records of the blue-lined octopus were found from Korea and Japan. In Korea, only one record, from 2003, was found on a website; none of the 240 fishermen who participated in the questionnaire reported seeing blue-lined octopus. However, a total of 31 observa tions of the blue-lined octopus from 2004 to July 2010 were found from 17 different regions in the East/Japan Sea and neighboring waters in Japan. Twenty-two cases were from coastal Honshu Island, and nine were from the west coast of Kyushu Island, Japan. The northern distributional boundary of the blue-lined octopus on the Japanese coast was off Fukui Prefecture around latitude 36o10' N. Our results indicate that the blue-lined octopus is distributed extensively along the Japanese coast, at a low frequency, in the East/Japan Sea.
A method for rearing Arhopalus ferus (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae) larvae on a modified artificial diet

Burnt pine longhorn (BPL), Arhopalus ferus (Mulsant) (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae), is an introduced species sometimes found in association with export logs and sawn timber. A rearing method was developed to produce larvae of a known age, number and quality for control trials. Growth of larvae from newly hatched to 5 weeks was measured on a standard cerambycid artificial diet and on modified diets. Replacing pine wood with pine bark sawdust increased survival at 5 weeks from 23% to 76% and mean weight from 9 to 21 mg. There were significant interactions between the influences of three factors (diet, period of rearing, initial larval density) on the weight of surviving larvae. Individual rearing was preferred for convenience and a standardised method was used to rear 8740 larvae for disinfestation trials. Establishment and survival to 6 weeks for these larvae was 97%.
The role of traditional beliefs in conservation of herpetofauna in Banten, Indonesia

Abstract Social taboos have been increasingly recognized for their role in determining human behaviour. Such informal institutions may also, in some instances, guide practices that serve as effective conservation measures. Here we present a case in Banten, Indonesia, where a local taboo has discouraged the collection of two herpetofaunal species, the water monitor lizard Varanus salvator and the reticulated python Python reticulatus, on Tinjil Island, an undeveloped island off the coast of Java. The taboo is not observed in the nearby mainland villages of Muara Dua and Cisiih, where the two species may be harvested for skin or meat, and where the water monitor may also be killed as a pest. Water monitors and reticulated pythons figure prominently in the international reptile leather trade, with skins produced from Indonesia's wild populations representing the highest percentage of total global exports of both lizard and snake skins. The site-specific taboo documented here provides a strong deterrent to collection of these species in a location where they could be subject to illicit harvest as populations in nearby mainland areas decrease. Preliminary evidence also suggests that belief in forest guardian spirits may extend protection to other wildlife species on Tinjil Island.
The effects of amoxicillin, oxytetracyclin and doxycyclin on the growth and development of silkworm, Bombyx mori L.

The present investigation reported the effects of amoxocillin, oxytetracyclin and doxycyclin on physiological parameters, growth and development of the larva and pupa, mortality percentage and different cocoon characteristics of silkworm, Bombyx mori L. at various concentrations. The experimental results showed that the effect of different antibiotics on physiological parameters like food consumption, food utilization and food digestibility of 5 instar larvae were increased in the treated lines in comparison to the control. The highest food consumption, food utilization and food digestibility of 5 instar larvae was recorded at 5% doses. Weight of larva and pupa were significantly increased due to different antibiotics application in mulberry leaves and the most effective result was found at 5% doses of amoxicillin, followed the order oxytetracyclin and doxycyclin. In case of larval and pupal duration, it was observed that the duration of larval and pupal period of silkworm, B. mori was significantly decreased and the lowest period has been recorded at 5% doses of amoxicillin. Antibiotics also reduced the larval and pupal mortality percentage at different concentrations. The cocoon characters e.g. cocoon weight, shell weight and shell ratio were significantly increased at different antibiotic concentrations like 2% and 5%. The effectiveness of different antibiotics followed the order amoxicillin > oxytetracyclin > doxycyclin.
Hematological parameters in Nile Tilápia, Oreochromis niloticus exposed to sub-letal concentrations of mercury

Mercury toxicity in tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, (Linnaeus, 1758) was investigated by the hematological parameters after long-term (14 days) exposure to various Hg concentrations (0.02, 0.002, 0.0002mg/L Hg). Test groups were set up with three replicates for each concentration, plus the control group. Blood samples were collected from six individuals for each concentration at 0, 3, 7, 10 and 14 days of exposure. The hematological parameters analyzed were: total red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin concentration (Hb), hematocrit (Ht), mean corpuscular volume (MCV), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), total white blood cell count (WBC) and differential leukocyte counts and total thrombocyte count (Tr). There were no significant differences among the mean hematological values at the different Hg concentrations indicating that Hg at the concentrations studied was not toxic to tilapia.
Prevalence of HbS Gene in Marzouk Region of Southern Libya

This study assesses the homozygous and heterozygous status of sickle cell disease (SCD) and evaluates the relationship between consanguinity and the occurrence of HbS gene in families living in Marzouk region of Libya. The study revealed higher frequency (53.34%) of sickle cell trait (HbAS) in Marzouk region; whereas the prevalence of sickle cell anemia (HbSS) was nearly 10%. Out of 210 subjects, two cases of sickle cell with HbC (0.95%) were noticed. High frequency of consanguinity (72%) found in this study suggests that interrelation marriages are very common in Marzouk region and these are one of the major factors for high rate of sickle cell trait. In addition, large family size (average of 6-10 children/family) plays an important role in increasing the frequency of HbS. Surprisingly the carriers of HbAS showed some clinical complications of HbSS like jaundice and joints splenomegaly. Interestingly, one case of aplastic crisis was also detected in HbAS carriers. In the long run these findings will help in deciphering the mechanisms of the disease processes within SCD and management of the disease by implementing effective control measures and prevention strategies (like, genetic counseling, pre-marital screening etc.) along with care and rehabilitation of the affected population.
Coach and athlete perceptions of ambiguous behaviors and sexual harassment

The purpose of this study was to examine the perceptions of coaches and athletes of ambiguous behaviors (i.e. actions which may or may not be construed as sexual harassment) in order to inform curriculum development in coach education. This study replicates and extends a previous American study which examined perceptions and experiences of sexual harassment among 210 female college athletes in the USA (Volkwein,
Influence of starfish grazing on lagoonal microalgal communities: non-competitive mechanisms for unimodal effects on diversity

We quantified the effects of grazing by the starfish Parvulastra (=Patiriella) exigua on microalgal assemblages in a lagoon on the South African west coast. This starfish is common on rocky shores in South Africa and Australia, but rarely occurs on soft sediments. Although grazing is well known to be a dominant structuring agent of marine systems, the influence of grazing starfish is poorly documented. Our results indicate that at natural densities, P. exigua plays an important role in structuring soft-sediment microalgal assemblages, having no significant effect on microalgal bio- mass, but reducing microalgal abundance probably through consumption. Interestingly, concentra- tions of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS) increased with densities of P. exigua, indicating a potentially important ecological role of this starfish in enhancing carbohydrate levels on the sediment either through mucus addition or stimulation of bacterial biomass. Taxonomic richness and diversity of microalgae showed classical hump-shaped responses to increasing starfish density. Our findings are discussed in the context of the intermediate disturbance hypothesis, which proposes that distur- bance promotes diversity at intermediate intensities by eliminating dominant species and allowing poor competitors to co-exist. We also present evidence for a mechanism based on non-competitive interactions to explain the promotive effects of this starfish on microalgal diversity, arising from the ability of this species to enhance sedimentary EPS levels. Our results collectively indicate that P. exigua plays an important role in regulating diversity and richness of microalgal assemblages and concur with previous assertions that this starfish plays an underestimated role in structuring intertidal systems.
Top predators and biodiversity: much debate, few data

1. In two recent papers, we found support for the hypothesis of an association between the occurrence of top predators and biodiversity. Such results were recently criticized. 2. Cabeza, Arponen & Van Teeffelen (2008) claim that the proper way to test the investigated relationship was to conduct a regional-level complementarity analysis that pools all predators across all habitat-types. However, such an approach may not help in assessing the performance of predators as surrogates for wider biodiversity, because: (a) management programmes on top predators almost invariably focus on a single species; (b) conservation planning and management often occur within habitats, not only across them; and (c) the required surveys and analyses may often be logistically unfeasible. Re-analysis of our data suggests that a different methodology would not change the results. 3. Kery, Royle & Schmid (2008) used data from a Swiss volunteers’ monitoring scheme to claim that we missed a large number of species in our estimates of avian richness. However, we list 10 reasons why their calculations were inflated, given major differences in surface-coverage, habitat-sampling, field effort and in the way that secretive species were treated. Furthermore, our results for birds were replicated in analyses of butterflies and trees, which could not suffer from the same detectability biases. 4. Roth & Weber (2008) analysed the same Swiss database and found that a group of lower-trophic-level species (tits) out-performed raptors as indicators of butterfly richness (but not of bird richness). However, their analyses did not control for ecosystem identity, and data on raptor locations were of dubious quality. Furthermore, because tits are major caterpillar predators, the reported findings could have been expected on other grounds. 5. Synthesis and applications. We disagree with Cabeza and colleagues that local studies are of limited importance. Given the paucity of available information, many more local studies are needed to check the generality of the ecological pattern we found. Until further analyses become available, polarized positions for or against top predators as biodiversity indicators are premature. Meanwhile, like any tools, top predators should be employed in conservation decision-making with appropriate caution.
Financial Market Shocks during the Great Depression

This study examines the effect of shocks observed in financial markets on output and employment during the Great Depression. We present three main findings. First, an adverse financial shock leads to a decline in the manufacturing sectors output and employment that peaks about 11 months afterward. Next, this shock has a much greater impact on the durables sector than the nondurables sector. Last, continuing financial market weakness in 1933 and 1934 may have restrained the recovery from the Great Depression. The findings suggest that financial market weakness contributed to the length and depth of the Great Depression, and that this occurred mainly through the investment channel. In addition, a counterfactual analysis using the estimates from the Great Depression suggests that the recent recession would have been less severe without the financial market disruptions in the fall of 2008.
ASASSN-14li: A MODEL TIDAL DISRUPTION EVENT

ASASSN-14li is a recently discovered tidal disruption event with an exceptionally rich data set: spectra and lightcurves in soft X-rays, UV, optical, and radio. To understand its emission properties in all these bands, we have extended our model for post-tidal disruption accretion and photon production to estimate both soft X-ray radiation produced by the “prompt” accretion phase and synchrotron emission associated with the bow shock driven through an external medium by the unbound tidal debris, as well as optical and UV light. We find that fiducial values of the stellar mass ( ) and black hole mass ( ) yield quantitative agreement with the optical/UV luminosity, lightcurve, and color temperature; approximate agreement with the soft X-ray spectrum and lightcurve; and quantitative agreement with the radio luminosity, spectrum, and lightcurve. Equipartition analysis of the radio data implies that the radio-emitting region expands with a constant speed, and its magnitude is comparable to the speed expected for the unbound stellar ejecta. Both facts provide strong support to our model. We find that the disruption event took place in 2014 mid-September. Two independent parameters, the magnitude and logarithmic radial gradient of the ambient gas density near the black hole, must be fit to the data to explain the radio emission; their inferred values are comparable to those found near both Sgr A* and the TDE candidate Swift J1644.
THE INTERACTIVE WHITEBOARD IN ENGLISH AS A FOREIGN LANGUAGE (EFL) CLASSROOM

This study describes and analyses the uses of Interactive WhiteBoards in English as a Foreign Language (EFL) classrooms. It tries to answer the following questions; first, how can an Interactive WhiteBoard be used in a learning environment? , second, how can Interactive WhiteBoards promote student engagement? , and what are Interactive WhiteBoard activities in the EFL classroom? The researcher's impression is that the interactive whiteboard is a very innovative and powerful support for language acquisition. First of all, it provides a bridge that allows using the features of computers without breaking communication. Secondly, it may enhance new kinds of learning processes. Finally, it offers a very interesting option for bringing the Internet into every EFL class.
Understanding farmers’ responses to CAP reform

The 2014-2020 Common Agricultural Policy (CAP) reform defines new rules for farmers, including regionalisation, crop diversification and the ecological focus area (EFA). This paper aims to evaluate the farmers’ intention to modify their behaviour in response to the CAP reform using the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB). A questionnaire was submitted to 211 Italian durum wheat producers. Two behaviours were analysed: 1) the change in the durum wheat acreage, and 2) the maintenance of at least 7% of the arable land as an EFA. A structural equation model (SEM) technique was employed. The TPB model explains, respectively, 52% and 55% of the intention variance. Subjective norms affect the intention to change the durum wheat acreage, while attitude drives the intention to maintain at least 7% of the arable land as an EFA. Implications for policy makers and producers are discussed.
The Attitudes of Pre-service Teachers towards EFL Writing

The results of the previous studies indicate that no consensus exists on either the attitudes towards EFL writing or the factors that affect these attitudes. In addition, the studies mainly focused on the attitudes of language learners, rather than teachers. Thus, the present study aims to investigate the attitudes of pre-service teachers towards writing in English as a foreign language and the relationship between their attitudes and certain variables. A background questionnaire and a scale intending to measure the attitudes were administered to a sample group of 162 pre-service teachers of English. The collected data were used to provide a descriptive and correlational analysis. The results of the study indicated that pre-service teachers mainly have positive attitudes towards writing in English as a foreign language. Furthermore, it was found that age, gender, educational background and language proficiency significantly correlate with some statements in the scale.
A Novel Synthesis of 1,2,3-Benzotriazinones from 2-(o-Aminophenyl)oxazolines

1,2,3-Benzotriazinones were synthesized in excellent yields by the reaction of 2-(o-aminophenyl)oxazolines and isoamyl nitrite in methanol. The crystal structure of the acetyl derivative of one of the 1,2,3-benzotriazinones provided additional support for the spectroscopic structural characterization of the title compounds.