Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PERSISTENCE IN PERFORMANCE FOR MUTUAL FUNDS IN PERIODS OF CRISIS

The study investigates the persistence in performance for a sample of South European funds, domiciled in Portugal, Italy, Greece and Spain. Employing the Sharpe ratio, risk adjusted performance is measured in an attempt to judge the influence of the 2008 crisis and the current debt crisis on funds’ inclination to persist in their previous returns record. Examination period extends from January 2004 to December 2010 incorporating stages of relative stability in the stock and bond markets while also capturing the early stages of the eurozone crisis. We categorize funds as winners and losers in consecutive 6-monthly periods, thus being able to judge persistence in the short run, while our results suggest that the identification of winners and losers could enable us to investigate the possibility to gain investment advantages through this finding. Overall results suggest evidence of persistent results, whether positive or negative, both during the 2008 crisis and the current debt crisis, leading us to deduce that factors leading to performance persistence are not affected by market changes, since medium to long term persistence bypasses any temporary market mischief. This finding could be of use for fund managers aiming at establishing viable investment strategies, at their epicenter being the exploitation of such clues, suggesting persistence in returns. A fund of funds manager employing funds both in equities and fixed income could potentially choose to invest exclusively or more heavily in the winners of previous periods and avoid accordingly poor performers, thus achieving higher returns on average. For this purpose simple investment strategies are employed where we test the outcome of an investment strategy that would invest on fixed income securities by choosing those funds that were winners in the distribution of returns in the previous 6-monthly period, while disinvesting from poor performers and funds switching sides in performance persistence measurement in consecutive periods. The eurozone crisis makes more apparent the need to make use of such anomalies which could result in over performance relative to market benchmarks or reduction in overall losses during periods of unrest in fixed income markets like the one currently faced. Bond funds could also prove a valuable “helping hand” to portfolio managers when equity markets suffer, but that is not guaranteed by all funds under the same market conditions.
MANAGEMENT DECISIONS REGARDING THE VOLUNTARY DISCLOSURE OF INFORMATION: THE PROBLEM OF THE RECOGNITION OF THE FIRM’S INTELLECTUAL CAPITAL AND THAT OF LENDERS’ INFORMATION NEEDS

We analyse data on Italian listed companies quoted on the Milan stock exchange which perform R&D (Research & Development) activity. We find there is a positive relationship between R&D activity and voluntary disclosures of additional information that: a) regards R&D assets in themselves, in line with theoretical predictions according to which voluntary disclosure makes up for shortcomings in the current financial accounting model; b) is relevant to lenders’ interests, in line with the fact that quoted Italian firms are highly dependent upon lenders. Owner-managers of quoted Italian firms show, moreover, a significant tendency to augment additional information provided to lenders in the event of losses (negative earnings).
Ev Yapımı Kefirde Salmonella Typhimurium’un Canlılığının İncelenmesi

Kefir is a fermented probiotic dairy product which is fondly consumed with its peculiar, pleasant taste. However, like all dairy products, kefir may also constitute a risk for pathogenic microorganisms, which is particularly associated with its relatively long fermentation period that requires numerous processing steps. The objective of this study was to investigate the putative growth and risk status of Salmonella during the production and shelf life of kefir. For this purpose, kefir samples prepared with Salmonella reference culture-spiked milk, were divided into two groups; one was fermented at cold temperatures while the other was left to fermentation at ambient temperature. Salmonella enumeration and pH measurements of each group was performed at every 24 hours for six days. According to data obtained, Salmonella count has increased to 5.60 log cfu/ml on the first day of incubation at ambient temperature, which then started to decrease with ongoing fermentation. However, the bacteria was still present at the 6th day. Bacterial count of refrigerated kefir did not exhibit a sudden logarithmic rise, reaching its highest value at 2.87 log cfu/ml level and did not reveal a marked drop in comparison to the initial count, which instead sustained at 1.98 log cfu/ml level and thus bacteria survived until the end of the determined shelf life.
Relationships between capsaicinoids in the soft-flesh genotypes of Capsicum spp.

The studies aimed at determining the levels and reciprocal proportions of capsaicinoids (capsaicin and dihydrocapsaicin) in the pericarp and puree obtained by the mechanical separation of the soft tissue from the inedible parts of fruits. The studied material involved a few lines, selected from the interspecies hybrid of Capsicum frutescens L. x C. annuum L. , manifesting a soft-flesh tissue of pericarp in mature fruits. The quantitative estimation of capsaicinoids was conducted using HPLC. The capsaicin content in the studied lines ranged from 9 to 27 and from 20 to 387 mg kg-1 in the pericarp and puree, respectively. For dihydrocapsaicin, the values ranged from 3 to 26 and from 6 to 155 mg kg -1, respectively. Depending on the genotype group, the content of each of the compounds in the puree was 2.5to about 10-fold higher than in the pericarp tissue. Both in the pericarp and in the puree the level of capsaicin was around 2.5-fold higher than that of dihydrocapsaicin.
EFFICACY OF INTRA-PERITONEAL ADMINISTRATION OF METFORMIN AND 5-FLUORURACIL IN PREVENTION OF INDUCED-COLORECTAL ABERRANT CRYPT FOCI IN MICE

Objective: The aim of this study is to investigate the anti-proliferative effect of metformin in comparison with 5-fluoruracil (5-FU) in induced-colorectal ACF in mice, and to evaluate the activity of metformin as chemo preventive drug in colorectal cancer when given oral and intra-peritoneal route. Methods: Sixty albino BALB/c mice were allocated into five groups, the groups given azoxymethane (AOM) as inducer for ACF once weekly for two weeks. Group A treated with normal saline injection and considered as positive control; Group B treated with metformin orally for four weeks, Group C treated with intra-peritoneal (i.p.) metfromin and group D treated with i.p injection of 5-FU. Group E did not receive treatment and consider as negative control. The started one week after the second dose of AOM. The body weight has been measured weekly, while fasting blood sugar (FBS) has been measured at the end of the experiment. Then, all animals were sacrificed and their colon and rectum have been removed for counting the number of ACF and the anti-proliferative effect of metformin and 5-FU on colonic epithelium using proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) labeling index (LI). Results: Metformin has the ability to prevent the ACF without causing any change in the level of FBS. Both metformin and 5-FU have significant antiproliferative activity against proliferation of colonic epithelium. Intraperitoneal administration of metformin has significant chemo preventive effect and anti-proliferative effect than oral administration so as its efficacy become close to that of 5-FU without significant difference between them. Conclusion: Intra-peritoneal administration of metformin can prevent ACF significantly than oral administration with no change in FBS during the course of the treatment compared to 5-FU.
Analysis of the Single Toggle Jaw Crusher Force Transmission Characteristics

This paper sets out to perform a static force analysis of the single toggle jaw crusher mechanism and to obtain the force transmission characteristics of the mechanism. In order to obtain force transmission metrics that are characteristic of the structure of the mechanism, such influences as friction, dead weight, and inertia are considered to be extraneous and neglected. Equations are obtained by considering the balance of forces at the moving joints and appropriately relating these to the input torque and the output torque. A mechanical advantage, the corresponding transmitted torque, and the variations thereof, during the cycle of motion of the mechanism, are obtained. The mechanical advantage that characterizes the mechanism is calculated as the mean value over the active crushing stroke of the mechanism. The force transmission characteristics can be used as criteria for the comparison of different jaw crusher mechanism designs in order to select the most suitable design for a given application. The equations obtained can also be used in estimating the forces sustained by the components of the mechanism.
COMPUTERIZED DECISION SUPPORT SYSTEM AND DECISION QUALITY OF NURSES 1

This study investigates whether there is a difference in the decision quality when Operating Room nurses use a computerized decision support system (CDSS) based on normative decision modeling as well as nurses' confidence in making decisions based on their own judgement and aided by a CDSS called Lightyear. Decision quality was measured as agreement with the decisions of a panel of experts in Operating Room nursing. A posttest quasi experimental design was used, with a non-random convenience sample of nurses randomly assigned into one control (unaided) and one experimental group (computerized decision support system). Of this study did not demonstrate a significant difference in decision quality between the control and experimental group. No relationship was found between demographic variables and quality of decision. Subjects in the control group presented a higher degree of decision confidence. Subjects in the experimental group, who had a higher score in the correct. response score showed a lower degree of confidence when making decisions with Lightyear. This study raises important methodological considerations about the need of further studies that evaluate the use of CDSS based on normative modeling where subjects might be allowed to evaluate its effectiveness using the software in its full potential.
Predictive modelling of magnesium concentration in grapevine petioles as a basis for liming recommendations in vineyard acid soils

Soil acidification is a natural process which can either be accelerated by the activity of plants, animals and humans, but can be controlled through appropriate soil management. The main aim of this work was to develop a predictive modelling of magnesium concentration in grapevine petioles for liming amendment recommendation in vineyard acid soils. One liming material, dolomite, has been added to the soil at three doses: 0.9, 1.8 and 2.7 t CaCO 3 ha -1 . Magnesium exchangeable content in soil surface and concentrations of this nutrient in petioles of leaf samples were investigated during three years. Exchangeable magnesium in soil tended to increase with increasing dolomite application rate. These increases were significant among all the doses and the control, except for the dose of 0.9. However, only between the highest dose and the control significant differences in magnesium concentration in petioles could be detected. In addition, one linear model has been proposed to make liming recommendations in vineyard acid soils based on petiole magnesium concentrations.
Efficacy of forest resources governance on REDD+ performance in Uvinza district, western Tanzania

This paper presents findings of a study on the effectiveness of forest resource governance on the performance of the REDD+ project in the Masito-Ugalla ecosystem in Uvinza district, western Tanzania through transparency, accountability, participation and integrity. The study was conducted in Ilagala, Karago and Kirando villages with the objective of understanding the effects of forest resources governance on REDD+ project performance as well as examining the best ways of integrating forest resource governance with REDD+ projects. The methods used in the study included household interviews that used a structured questionnaire, semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions. Semi-structured interviews were used to gather qualitative data from key informants. The findings revealed that despite the efforts undertaken by REDD+ initiative in Masito-Ugalla ecosystem, its performance was generally average. Such performance was due to the support rendered by JUWAMMA, the inter-village community based organization, to the REDD+ project activities in the area. Poor forest resources governance had, however, continued to hamper its performance. Minimal duration of operation of the REDD+ Project and dominance of politics in conservation matters were the major reasons for its poor performance. Embezzlement of funds by politicians and senior government officials also contributed to the bad performance of the project. Villagers were also seldom engaged in decision-making. Implementing accountability by setting standards would have improved forest resources governance in the study area. The study concludes that more transparent budgeting and public procurement is inevitable for achieving good REDD+ performance. REDD+ activities also need to be addressed openly, with legal measures being taken by responsible authorities against corruption'. Key words: Forest resources governance, REDD+ in Tanzania, REDD+ projects performance, Masito-Ugalla ecosystem.
Land-use/land-cover change and its influence on surface temperature: a case study in Beijing City

Rapid global economic development has resulted in a corresponding intensification of urbanization, which has in turn impacted the ecology of vast regions of the world. A series of problems have thus been introduced, such as changes in land-use/land-cover (LULC) and changes in local climate. The process of urbanization predominantly represents changes in land-use, and is deemed by researchers to be the chief cause of climate change and ecological change. One of the principal purposes of the research in this field is to find ways to mitigate the influence of land-use change on local or global environments. In the study presented in this article, satellite images were utilized to extract information regarding land-use in Beijing City, and to develop maps of land surface temperature (LST) during two different periods of time: 2 August 1999 and 8 August 2010. A supervised classification scheme, a support vector machine, was used to derive the land-use change map for the above periods. Maps of surface temperature are derived from the thermal band of Landsat images using the mono-window algorithm. Results from post-classification comparison indicated that an increase in impervious surface areas was found to be dramatic, while the area of farmland decreased rapidly. The changes in LULC were found to have led to a variation in surface temperature, as well as a spatial distribution pattern of the urban heat island phenomenon. This research revealed that the hotspots were mainly located in areas dominated by three kinds of material: bare soil, rooftops, and marble surfaces. Results from the local Moran's I index indicated that the use of lower surface temperature materials will help to mitigate the influence of the urban heat island phenomenon. The results of this research study provide a reference for government departments involved in the process of designing residential regions. Such a reference should enable the development of areas sympathetic to environmental changes and hence mitigate the effects of the growing intensity of urbanization.
Wave‐influenced deltas: geomorphological implications for facies reconstruction

ABSTRACT A process‐based facies model for asymmetric wave‐influenced deltas predicts significant river‐borne muds with potentially lower quality reservoir facies in prodelta and downdrift areas, and better quality sand in updrift areas. Many ancient barrier‐lagoon systems and ‘offshore bars’ may be better reinterpreted as components of large‐scale asymmetric wave‐influenced deltaic systems. The proposed model is based on a re‐evaluation of several modern examples. An asymmetry index A is defined as the ratio between the net longshore transport rate at the mouth (in m3 year−1) and river discharge (in 106 m3 month−1). Symmetry is favoured in deltas with an index below ≈ 200 (e.g. Tiber, lobes of the Godavari delta, Rosetta lobe of the Nile, Ebro), whereas deltas with a higher index are asymmetric (e.g. Danube – Sf. Gheorghe lobe, Brazos, Damietta lobe of the Nile). Periodic deflection of the river mouth for significant distances in the downdrift direction occurs in extreme cases of littoral drift dominance (e.g. Mahanadi), resulting in a series of randomly distributed, quasi‐parallel series of sand spits and channel fills. Asymmetric deltas show variable proportions of river‐, wave‐ and tide‐dominated facies both among and within their lobes. Bayhead deltas, lagoons and barrier islands form naturally in prograding asymmetric deltas and are not necessarily associated with transgressive systems. This complexity underlines the necessity of interpreting ancient depositional systems in a larger palaeogeographic context.
Sex allocation in the sex-changing marine goby, Coryphopterus personatus, on atoll-fringing reefs

Sex allocation theory applied to sex-changing animals predicts that the amount of sex change and the proportion of individuals that mature early as the second sex depend upon the mating system of the species or population in question. In turn, theory suggests that the mating system is governed by the size and distribution of resources critical to reproduction, and by population density. Here we investigate the social and ecological factors that govern the amount of selection for sex change and the production of alternative male strategies in a protogynous (female first) goby, Coryphopterus personatus, on atoll-fringing reefs in Belize. We found that: (1) increasing population density leads to an increase in the proportion of early maturing males on leeward-facing reefs, as predicted, but not on windward reefs; (2) contrary to predictions, the proportion of early maturing males was higher on continuously distributed coral gardens than on isolated patches of reef in windward locations, with no difference in leeward locations; and (3) the proportion of early maturing males can be used as a predictor of the population sex ratio, with less biased sex ratios occurring with a higher proportion of early maturing males, as predicted by theory. We discuss these conflicting results in terms of the differences between windward and leeward reefs that might lead to differing selective regimes acting in these locations.
ANALYSIS OF THE DIET OF CHMPSOCEPHALUS GUNNARZ AT SOUTH GEORGIA IN LATE SUMMER FROM 1994 TO 1997, DR EDURDO L. HOLMBERG SURVEYS

The diet composition of the mackerel icefish (Champsocephalus gunnari) caught in CCAMLR Subarea 48.3 in late summer from 1994 to 1997 was analysed using frequency of occurrence (F%) and dietary coefficient (Q%) methods. Krill (Euphausia superba), followed by the amphipod hyperiid Thenzisto gaudichaudii, was the main food item around South Georgia and Shag Rocks in the period investigated, except in 1994, when the order of importance of these two species in the diet of C. gunnari was reversed. The consumption of other prey items such as mysids and Thysanoessa sp. , which are known to be important alternative food in years of krill scarcity, as well as fish, was only occasional or negligible and varied from year to year. The spatial distribution of the main prey items in the diet of C. gunnari, as well as of the proportions of stomachs with/without food in Subarea 48.3, did not show a consistent pattern from year to year. Likewise, in the four surveys by the Dr Eduardo L. Holinberg from 1994 to 1997, high proportions of fish had empty stomachs, a phenomenon which could be caused by several concurrent factors. The variation of the diet according to the length of C. gt~iznari did not reveal any selectivity pattern for any of the prey items. The availability of krill in Subarea 48.3 during the period investigated can be defined as low in 1994 (equivalent to years of krill scarcity), intermediate in 1995 (below years of historically high abundance), and high in 1996 and 1997 (in line with years of high krill abundance). This information is well in accord with independent information from acoustic surveys and krill-dependent species monitored under the CCAMLR Ecosystem Monitoring Program (CEMP). Resume
Postpartum depression among mothers as seen in hospitals in Enugu, South-East Nigeria: an undocumented issue

Introduction: Postpartum depression is an uncommon and frequently undocumented issue that impacts negatively on maternal and child health. Methods: The study was carried out among mothers who attended postpartum clinics from two teaching hospitals and three private hospitals all in Enugu metropolis. The instrument employed for data collection was a structured self-administered questionnaire developed from the Edinburgh Postnatal depression Scale. The families were assigned socio-economic classes (SEC) using the recommended method (modified) by Oyedeji. The objectives of this study was therefore aimed to highlight the pattern and prevalence of post-natal depression among mothers in Enugu, south east Nigeria. Results: A total of 214 mothers attending postpartum clinics were recruited in this study. The prevalence of postpartum depression from this study is 22.9%. There are no significant association between socio-demographics of mother and depression, age (p= 0.556), educational level (p= 0.667), occupation (p=0.494), parity (p= 0.823) and mode of delivery (p= 0.760). Conclusion: This study has shown that the prevalence of postpartum depression in Enugu, south east Nigeria is 22.9% which is comparable to that obtained in African continents. We noted no significant associations between socio-demographics of mother, age, educational level, occupation, parity and mode of delivery and depression. Pan African Medical Journal 2016; 23
Comparison of range-wide chloroplast microsatellite and needle trait variation patterns in Pinus mugo Turra (dwarf mountain pine)

Abstract: In this study, range-wide genetic variation was analysed in 553 Pinus mugo Turra (dwarf mountain pine) individuals from 21 locations using 11 chloroplast microsatellites. Our main goal was to assess the spatial distribution of neutral genetic variation. We also used data from a previous study on the morphological variation of needles from 18 stands of P. mugo. In total, 22 needle characteristics were reanalysed and compared to microsatellite data to describe the distribution of morphological variation in the context of neutral genetic variation. We hypothesised that the chloroplast microsatellite and needle trait variation patterns would not entirely overlap. The results indicate the recent divergence of P. mugo populations derived from a formerly larger distribution. We identified 4 genetic and 3 morphological clusters whose spatial distribution overlapped only to some extent. The distribution of genetic variation showed a south-north pattern with signs of admixture in the Alps and Carpathians. Two south-westernmost stands from Italy were evidently isolated from the others. In contrast, morphological variation tended to display a west-east pattern. A separate group based on needle traits was formed mostly by eastern stands and was not observed by microsatellite analysis. In addition, a few needle characteristics significantly correlated with longitude and climate variables. These findings suggest that eastern populations of P. mugo may be of different origin and/or that some needle characteristics may be adaptively important in these locations. The potential roles of past demographic events, phenotypic plasticity and local adaptation in shaping the patterns of genetic and morphological variation in P. mugo are discussed.