Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tissue loss rather than colony size determines the demographic fate of the branching coral Acropora cervicornis

Partial mortality is a common process affecting coral colonies. Yet, the impact of tissue loss on the demography of the threatened reef-building coral Acropora cervicornis has been poorly investigated. This limits our understanding of how this species will fare under unfavorable environmental conditions. In this study, we examined the growth and survival of colonies with varying degrees of partial mortality, indicated by tissue loss, for 2 yr at 2 reefs in Puerto Rico. We found that irrespective of colony size, rates of coral growth and survival declined significantly once the proportion of dead tissue exceeded 20% of the total colony size. Projections of statematrix population models indicated that partial mortality could also have a negative impact at the population level. For instance, a 25% increase in the number of colonies with >20% tissue loss would reduce the time in which 75% of the population is lost by 3 to 4 yr. Our results provide a new perspective on the effect of partial mortality on the demography and population dynamics of A. cervicornis. First, 20% of tissue loss can be considered a threshold value in which colony fate and population growth are compromised. Second, colony size is not the most important determinant of a colony’s demographic performance; instead, the surface area lost to partial mortality is a better predictor of colony growth and survivorship. Taking into consideration the relationship between partial mortality and the demographic fate of A. cervicornis can aid in the development of stronger conservation and restoration programs.
Erosion prediction on unpaved mountain roads in northern Thailand: validation of dynamic erodibility modelling using KINEROS2

The event‐ and physics‐based KINEROS2 runoff/erosion model for predicting overland flow generation and sediment production was applied to unpaved mountain roads. Field rainfall simulations conducted in northern Thailand provided independent data for model calibration and validation. Validation shows that KINEROS2 can be parameterized to simulate total discharge, sediment transport and sediment concentration on small‐scale road plots, for a range of slopes, during simulated rainfall events. The KINEROS2 model, however, did not accurately predict time‐dependent changes in sediment output and concentration. In particular, early flush peaks and the temporal decay in sediment output were not predicted, owing to the inability of KINEROS2 to model removal of a surface sediment layer of finite depth. After 15–20 min, sediment transport declines as the supply of loose superficial material becomes depleted. Modelled erosion response was improved by allowing road erodibility to vary during an event. Changing the model values of erosion detachment parameters in response to changes in surface sediment availability improved model accuracy of predicted sediment transport by 30–40%. A predictive relationship between road erodibility ‘states’ and road surface sediment depth is presented. This relationship allows implementation of the dynamic erodibility (DE) method to events where pre‐storm sediment depth can be estimated (e.g., from traffic usage variables). Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Impact of Multiple Intelligences-Based Instruction on Developing Speaking Skills of the Pre-Service Teachers of English

The current study investigates the impact of multiple intelligences-based Instruction on developing speaking skills of the pre-service teachers of English. Therefore, the problem of the current study can be stated in the lack of speaking skills of the pre-service teachers of English in Hurgada faculty of Education, South Valley University. To confront this problem, the researcher developed a multiple-intelligences based program to enhance the speaking skills paying a due attention to the individual differences among students. The sample of the study consists of sixty fourth-year Prospective teachers of English. The Quasi-experimental research design was used in the study as the researcher used the one group pre-posttest to assess the usefulness of using this approach. Results of the study proved the effectiveness of Multiple-intelligences based Instruction on developing speaking skills of the pre-service teachers of English.
The Role of Visual Rhetoric in Semantic Multimedia: Strategies for Decision Making in Times of Crisis

As semantic multimedia is approaching mainstream, even the great improvements that can be seen in its classic schools, like the data mining inspired Information Retrieval based on metadata analysis, or Computer Vision, might not be enough. We identify a new group that gains traction in the semantic multimedia community and which uses as starting point developments from psychology and visual communication. For the purposes of this article we restrict our domain to visual rhetoric as we consider it to yield the biggest potential for future developments. Living in times when the periods between crises seem to be shorter and shorter, we look at how developments in semantic multimedia can be used for predicting and overcoming crises. We analyze at least 2 aspects related to this: using information visualization to understand the evolution of crises and creating multi-layered semantic multimedia technologies that can easily be adapted to use a variety of sources and solve problems from different domains. In both cases we show how techniques inspired by visual rhetoric (information linking, framing, composition) in conjunction with named entity recognition offer a lot of benefits. The section related to multi-layered semantic multimedia technologies also draws on the lessons learned while designing a prototype application aimed at improving tourism decision making process. The article ends with a discussion on evaluation methods for multi-layered semantic technologies applications. We look at how to evaluate them on both levels: mechanisms (information linking versus raw named entity recognition when generating visuals, for example), and decision making strategies (Do such systems actually solve real problems related to crises, create jobs or at least can they be repurposed to solve other problems than the one with which we have started? ).
Effect Of Risk Dimension On Intention To Buy And Online Purchase Behavior

This research aims to empirically examine the effect of risk dimension to online buying intention and its impact on online purchasing behavior. This research used three dimensions of risk, namely the risk of product risk, financial risk, and privacy risk. Respondents on this research are internet users who had once buying products online on online store type of business to customers (B2C). Research method on this study is online survey and it was analyzed by Smart PLS. Result of this research proved that product risk had a negative effect to online buying intention, intention had a positive effect to online purchasing behavior, financial risk and privacy risk are not proved to affect the buying online intention. Test of mediating results intent to buy online full mediate relationship from risk of product to online purchasing behavior.
Religion as Reassurance? Testing the Insecurity Theory in 26 European Countries

In this article, we extend insecurity theory by examining the influence of various kinds of insecurities on religiosity. Religiosity is operationalized in terms of a public dimension (church attendance) and a private dimension (subjective religiosity). Using data from four rounds of the European Social Survey (ESS, 2002-2008) on 26 European countries, we find strong support for the main hypothesis of insecurity theory that higher levels of insecurity are associated with increasing religiosity. Furthermore, it appears that all kinds of insecurities play a role. Specifically, we find, among others, that religiosity is higher among people who have an insecure job position, whose parents were unemployed, whose parents had a lower status job, who have experienced a war in their own country, who have lost their partner, and who reside in a country with lower social welfare spending and a higher unemployment rate. On a more general level, it is concluded that both (i) economic and existential; (ii) past and present; and (iii) individual and contextual insecurities are important in explaining (cross-national) variation in religiosity.
Perpendicular exchange bias effect in sputter-deposited CoFe/IrMn bilayers

CoFe/IrMn bilayers with perpendicular magnetization for various IrMn layer thicknesses exhibit unusual two-step hysteresis loops with both positive and negative loop shifts. Observed at room temperature in the as-grown state, they provide direct evidence of large antiferromagnetic domain formation at the IrMn interface. The exchange bias field reaches 100 mT with an IrMn layer thickness of 4 nm after field annealing at 200 °C–300 °C in 800 mT, which is at least three times as large as the coercivity, and may be useful for reference layers of spin-valves or magnetic tunnel junctions with perpendicular magnetic anisotropy.
Living benthic foraminifera in sediments influenced by gas hydrates at the Cascadia convergent margin, NE Pacific

Living (Rose Bengal stained) foraminifera in gas-hydrate-influenced sediments at the Cascadia convergent margin were investigated. Foraminiferal assemblages from the southern Hydrate Ridge and neighboring basins were compared in terms of abundances, vertical distribution, diversity, and species composition. At Hydrate Ridge, the presence of shallow gas hydrates and increased porewater sulfide concentrations was indicated by extensive bacterial mats of Beggiatoa sp. and clam beds of the bivalve mollusk Calyptogena sp. , generating different biological zones. Living foraminifera were found in all biological zones, in sediment layers down to 5 cm. They showed highly variable densities within all zones. The average abundance of benthic foraminifera at Hydrate Ridge differs from neighboring basins. Average species diversities are comparable between biological zones, while the average number of species increases from bacterial mats to clam fields and surrounding sediments. Foraminifera can be characterized by 5 principal component communities which explain 97.3% of the variance of the live assemblages at the southern Hydrate Ridge and neighboring basins. At Hydrate Ridge, 2 foraminiferal zones can be distinguished: (1) an Uvigerina peregrina community which characterizes sediments covered with bacterial mats and clam fields; (2) a ? Spiroplectammina biformis community in the surrounding non-seep sediments. Foraminiferal assemblages in the neighboring Western and Eastern Basin differ from the Hydrate Ridge stations.
Market Definition in Printed Media Industry : Theory and Practice 1

This paper first discusses how the market is delineated in some recent antitrust cases in the printed media industry. It evaluates the extent to which the main features of the industry are incorporated into the analysis and affect market definition. In addition we argue that an econometric analysis that does not incorporate these features can lead to biased estimates of elasticities. As demand substitution is a crucial element for defining market, bad estimates of elasticities could blur the boundaries of relevant markets. Second we propose a simple model that encompasses these features and in particular the two-sidedness of the market. Thirdly, we review some empirical papers that analyze the issue of demand estimation in printed media. Finally, we perform a statistical estimation on a dataset of magazines in order to provide a measure of the possible bias that could arise in the estimation of elasticities when one does not use a proper model.
Acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injuries: correlating MRI findings with neurological outcome

Study design: Retrospective, observational, cohort study. Objectives: To evaluate whether quantitative and qualitative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessments after acute traumatic cervical spinal cord injuries (SCI) correlate with the patient’s neurological status and if they are predictive of outcome at long-term follow-up. Materials and methods: Eighty-eight patients (77 male, 11 female) with traumatic cervical spinal cord injuries who were admitted to the spinal unit, were evaluated over a period of five years (Jan 2004–Dec 2008). Neurological impairment was classified using the Frankel classification both on admission and discharge. MR imaging was done on all patients using both T1- and T2-weighted sagittal scans, axial T2-weighted scans and axial gradient recalled echo imaging (for evaluation of haemorrhage). Three quantitative imaging parameters (maximum spinal cord compression [MSCC], maximum canal compromise [MCC], and length of lesion) as well as five qualitative parameters (intramedullary haemorrhage, cord oedema, cord swelling, disc herniation and soft tissue injury) were evaluated and correlated to the patients’ neurological outcome. Results: Patients with a complete motor and sensory SCI (Frankel A) had higher frequencies of intramedullary haemorrhage (p<0.001), cord swelling (p=0.002) and cord oedema (p<0.001) compared to the incomplete SCI (Frankel grade B, C and D) and those without any neurology (Frankel grade E). Patients with complete SCI also had a more substantial MSCC (p=0.008), MCC (p=0.009) and lesion length (p=0.001) compared to the other two groups. The length of lesion (p=0.019) and intramedullary haemorrhage (p=0.001) correlate with baseline neurology. MSCC (p=0.063), length of lesion (p=0.011) and intramedullary haemorrhage (p=0.036) were predictive of a poor neurological outcome. Conclusion:
Impact of Asthma on the Quality of Life of Adolescent Patients from Saudi Arabia

Background: Bronchial asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease afflicting people worldwide without distinction of age, gender or ethnicity. The health-related quality of life (HRQL) of adolescents with asthma can be disrupted considerably and may reflect the effectiveness of symptoms management, therapy and health services provided. Objective: To evaluate the health-related quality of life (HRQL) of Saudi Arab adolescents with documented clinical history of asthma, classified by severity. Methods: In this cross-sectional survey, the Pediatric Asthma Quality of Life (PAQLQ) and the Mini Asthma Quality of life (Mini-AQLQ) questionnaires were applied to 135 randomly recruited asthma patients (11-to-19 years old) in the period between January and June 2012, grouped as intermitent, mild, moderate, or severe. Results: In 9 of 27 questions, significantly impaired HRQL was perceived by severe asthmatics, relative to intermittent patients; in particular, almost all aspects of the symptoms category significantly bothered the severe asthmatics. In emotional aspects, mild and moderates feel frustrated because couldn't keep up with others, whereas in social activities, moderate and severe groups indicated worse scores in school attendance, relative to intermittent asthmatics. In physical activities, severe and moderate groups reported lowest scores. A consistent finding was related to the influence of environmental triggers: Dust, cigarette smoke and air pollution impaired HRQL of all four asthma groups, relative to intermittent asthmatics. Conclusion: Asthma lowers the health-related quality of life of Saudi adolescent patients, in terms of physical, emotional, symptoms, and environmental triggers, impairing mainly the severe asthmatics.
The Role of Revenue Recycling Schemes in Environmental Tax Selection: A General Equilibrium Analysis

This study examines the roles of revenue recycling schemes for the selection of alternative tax instruments (i.e., carbon-, sulphur-, energy- and output-tax) to reduce CO2 emissions to a specified level in Thailand. A static, single period, multi-sectoral computable general equilibrium (CGE) model of the Thai economy has been developed for this purpose. This study finds that the selection of a tax instrument to reduce CO2 emissions would be significantly influenced by the scheme to recycle the tax revenue to the economy. If the tax revenue is recycled to finance cuts in the existing labour or indirect tax rates, carbon tax would be more efficient than the sulphur-, energy- and output-taxes to reduce CO2 emissions. On the other hand, if the tax revenue is recycled to households through a lump-sum transfer, sulphur and carbon taxes would be more efficient than energy and output taxes. The ranking between the sulphur and carbon taxes under the lump sum transfer scheme depends on substitution possibility of fossil fuels. Sulphur tax is found superior over carbon tax at the higher substitution possibility between fossil fuels; the reverse is found true at the lower substitution possibility. In all schemes of revenue recycling considered, the output tax is found to be the most costly (i.e., in welfare terms) despite the fact that it generates two to three times higher revenue than the other tax instruments.
JourANTI-CONVULSANT ACTIVITY OF GANAXOLONE ALONE AND IN COMPARISON WITH STANDARD ANTI-EPILEPTIC DRUGS IN RODENT MODELS

BACKGROUND: Presently, treatment of epilepsy with standard anti-epileptic drugs is associated with a number of shortcomings inviting us to study newer agents that would overcome these problems or search for the drugs or substances, which would enhance the efficacy or reduce the dose or toxicity of these standard anti-epileptic drugs. Ganaxolone (GNX) (3α-hydroxy-3β-methyl-5α-pregnan-20-one), a synthetic analog of the endogenous neurosteroid allopregnanolone and a positive allosteric modulator of GABA A receptors, may represent a new treatment approach for epilepsy. AIM: To evaluate the effect of Ganaxolone on maximal electroshock (MES) induced and Pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) induced convulsions and also their effect in combination with conventional antiepileptic drugs (CAEDs). MATERIAL AND METHODS: Wister strain albino rats weighing 200-250 gm were used. Effects of Ganaxolone (5 &10 mg/kg) alone and in combination with standard drugs were studied in MES and PTZ induced seizure models. Abolition of tonic hind limb extension was an index of anticonvulsant activity in MES, while for PTZ seizures; failure to observe clonus for 5sec duration for 30min was the index. Following that, percentage inhibition was calculated. STATISTICS: ANOVA followed by Newman-Keuls Multiple Comparison Test was used for analysis of data between the groups. RESULTS : In MES seizures, significant antiepileptic activity was observed with 10mg of Ganaxolone compared to control group but has less activity when compared to that of Phenobarbitone. In PTZ induced convulsions, the anti-epileptic effect of Sodium Valproate was higher than Ganaxolone, but both were statistically significant as compared to control. In PTZ-induced seizures, augmented effects were obtained when Ganaxolone was combined with sodium valproate i.e. 55%. CONCLUSIONS: The results provide a lead for potential benefit of adding Ganaxolone to Sodium Valproate in the treatment of epilepsy, which needs to be explored further.
Sorry to (Not) Burst Your Bubble: The Influence of Reputation Rankings on Perceptions of Firms

We measure the influence of reputation rankings on individuals’ perceptions of firms. Through experimental design, we vary whether and how participants are exposed to a reputation ranking alongside other information about a firm. We find that rankings influence perceptions when they are negative and congruent with other information about the firm. These findings help explain how a firm’s reputation can change even if its characteristics remain constant and why change in a firm’s characteristics can be slow to produce change in its reputation.
A Note Regarding the Reliability and Validity of Scores on Collins and Read's Adult Attachment Scale.

Attachment styles have been shown to be enduring and influential, and studies of attachment phenomena require scores that are reliable and valid. The present study investigated the psychometric integrity of scores on the Adult Attachment Scale using data from 283 college students. This instrument is an 18-item Likert scale that is an expansion of the measure developed by C. Hazan and P. R. Shaver (1987, 1990). Results strongly supported the reliability and validity of scores from the measure. These results compared extremely favorably with those from previous studies, and certainly were more ,7_,vorable than those for the Hazan and Shaver measure. (Contains 2 tables and 19 references.) (Author/SLD) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.
The occurrence of classical Cepheids in binary systems

Classical Cepheids, like binary stars, are laboratories for stellar evolution and Cepheids in binary systems are especially powerful ones. About one-third of Galactic Cepheids are known to have companions and Cepheids in eclipsing binary systems have recently been discovered in the Large Magellanic Cloud. However, there are no known Galactic binary Cepheids with orbital periods less than one year. We compute population synthesis models of binary Cepheids to compare to the observed period and eccentricity distributions of Galactic Cepheids as well as to the number of observed eclipsing binary Cepheids in the LMC. We find that our population synthesis models are consistent with observed binary properties of Cepheids. Furthermore, we show that binary interaction on the red giant branch prevents some red giant stars from becoming classical Cepheids. Such interactions suggest that the binary fraction of Cepheids should be significantly less than that of their main-sequence progenitors, and that almost all binary Cepheids have orbital periods longer than one year. If the Galactic Cepheid spectroscopic binary fraction is about 35%, then the spectroscopic binary fraction of their intermediate mass main sequence progenitors is about 40-45%.
Global Characterization of Protein-Altering Mutations in Prostate Cancer

Abstract : The identification of recurrent, protein-altering genetic alterations is frequently the means by which a given gene is initially implicated in tumor biology. Our specific aims are as follows: (1) Carry out the genome-wide identification of nonsynonymous mutations in a limited number of prostate metastases using second-generation technologies for targeted capture and sequencing; (2) Evaluate the mutational histories of individual mutations within the progression of the cancer in which it was observed, and to assess the prevalence of candidate cancer genes observed here in prostate cancer. (3) Perform integrative analyses of somatic mutation with gene expression and copy number change data collected on the same samples. During this funding period we have: (i) completed the identification and quality assessment of the prostate cancer tissues/samples that will be used for the duration of the project; (ii) completed DNA isolation for 204 samples/cases of prostate cancer that will be used for the project; (iii) transferred the first group of DNAs to the Shendure lab for Exome analysis; (iv) participated in interpreting the Exome sequence data for the first 23 samples. These studies have produced the exciting and novel result identifying a hyper-mutated prostate cancer phenotype; (v) completed copy number analyses for 70 prostate cancers; (vi) identified, and confirmed, recurrent point mutations in several genes and genetic pathways; (vii) initiated network-based integrated molecular analyses of advanced prostate cancers that includes copy-number variation and transcript profiles.