Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stellar mass and age determinations - I. Grids of stellar models from Z = 0.006 to 0.04 and M = 0.5 to 3.5 M⊙

Aims. We present dense grids of stellar models suitable for comparison with observable quantities measured with great precision, such as those derived from binary systems or planet-hosting stars. Methods. We computed new Geneva models without rotation at metallicities Z = 0.006, 0.01, 0.014, 0.02, 0.03, and 0.04 (i.e. [Fe/H] from -0.33 to +0.54) and with mass in small steps from 0.5 to 3.5 M o . Great care was taken in the procedure for interpolating between tracks in order to compute isochrones. Results. Several properties of our grids are presented as a function of stellar mass and metallicity. Those include surface properties in the Hertzsprung-Russell diagram, internal properties including mean stellar density, sizes of the convective cores, and global asteroseismic properties. Conclusions. We checked our interpolation procedure and compared interpolated tracks with computed tracks. The deviations are less than 1% in radius and effective temperatures for most of the cases considered. We also checked that the present isochrones provide nice fits to four couples of observed detached binaries and to the observed sequences of the open clusters NGC 3532 and M67. Including atomic diffusion in our models with M < 1.1 Mo leads to variations in the surface abundances that should be taken into account when comparing with observational data of stars with measured metallicities. For that purpose, iso-Z surf lines are computed. These can be requested for download from a dedicated web page, together with tracks at masses and metallicities within the limits covered by the grids. The validity of the relations linking Z and [Fe/H] is also re-assessed in light of the surface abundance variations in low-mass stars.
Risk Management and Performance in Insurance Companies

A study in the Netherlands by Laeven & Perotti (2010) has shown that the financial crisis has had a dramatic effect on the insurance industry. The impact of the crisis caused various insurance firms to fail to fulfil financial requirements as stated by the Dutch Central Bank. Willaims et al. (2006) defined risk management in the following way: “Risk management aims to provide decision makers with a systematic approach to coping with risk and uncertainty. ” First, there is traditional risk management which focuses on financial risk and manages risks in individual cases. Next, there is enterprise risk management (ERM) which manages the risks as a package. ERM focussus not only on financial risks, but also on non-financial risks. Multiple researches have shown that the implementation of ERM has positive effects on both the performance and the value of a firm (McShane et al., 2011; Hoyt & Liebenberg, 2011; Baxter et al., 2013). The question now rises, whether the effects of the 2007 and 2008 financial crisis could have been alleviated by having implemented enterprise risk management (ERM). This has led to the formulation of the following research question: Does ERM implementation mitigate the effect of the crisis on performance of insurance companies? For this study, the data from annual reports has been collected from 39 Dutch insurance firms, resulting in a sample of 156 firm year observations. The years 2005 – 2008 have been taken into account, 2005 and 2006 are regarded pre-crisis years and the years 2007 and 2008 are the years during the crisis. To find an answer on the research question, both t-tests and regression analysis have been used. The results confirm the decrease in performance during the crisis years. This drop in performance is crucial for investigating the mitigating effect of ERM on performance. No statistically significant evidence has been found to support the positive effects of ERM on performance, both before and during the crisis years. However, results have been found supporting the exact opposite. Statistically significant results also show that firms with a higher ERM implementation level have a lower ROA than firms with a lower ERM implementation level in the pre-crisis period. The combination of these findings results in the following conclusion based on the research question: Very little evidence has been found to support a mitigating effect of ERM implementation on the negative effects on insurance company performance of the crisis.
Antitumoral Activity of Multiferon ® (HulFN-alpha-Le) in Experimental Murine Melanoma Model

Multiferon® (HuIFN-alpha-Le) (MF) is a natural interferon alpha used in several countries for the treatment of selected viral infections and as an adjuvant treatment in different types of cancer, including melanoma. We have examined the influence of MF in vitro and in vivo in murine melanoma cells. B16F10 cells were treated with MF at different concentrations ranging from 0 to 1000 IU/mL and this substance had no effect on cell proliferation, migration or clonogenic abilities of the tumoral cells. However, in vivo studies with murine models after subcutaneous implantation of B16F10 cells showed that tumor volumes measured during the experiment and at sacrifice were significantly smaller in mice receiving MF (90 IU/mice 3 times a week) than in the control group (p<0.005). MF was well tolerated and no body weight loss or other sign of toxicity was observed in all groups. These results indicate that MF is active in vivo in murine experimental melanoma model without showing any direct antimelanoma activity in in vitro assays when used at doses mimicking the serum levels found in clinical practice in humans. We believe that the activation of the immune system following the administration of MF may be one of the mechanisms that explain the anti-tumoral effect of this drug.
Synthesis and In Vitro and In Vivo Evaluation of a New 68Ga-Semicarbazone Complex: Potential PET Radiopharmaceutical for Tumor Imaging

In an attempt to develop new tumor imaging radiotracers with favorable biochemical properties, we have synthesized new 68Ga-2-acetylpyridine semicarbazone (68Ga-[APSC]2) as a potential positron emission tomography (PET) tumor imaging agent using a straightforward and a one-step simple reaction. Radiochemical yield and purity were quantitative without HPLC purification. Biodistribution studies in nude mice model bearing human MDA-MB-231 cell line xenografts displayed significant tumor uptake of 68Ga-[APSC]2 radiotracer after 2 h postinjection (p.i.). The initial results demonstrate that 68Ga-[APSC]2 radiotracer may be useful probe for detecting and staging of hypoxic tumor using PET imaging modality.
The Development of British Military Masculinities through Symbolic Resources

Within military culture there is a protected version of masculinity. The theory of symbolic resources (Zittoun, Duveen, Gillespie, Ivinson & Psaltis, 2003) recognises that people are positioned within different symbolic streams in the socio-cultural world, in which they can be displaced or can relocate themselves (Benson, 2001; Duveen, 2001). So an individual entering the military is relocating him or herself from a civilian socio-cultural world to a military one. 29 semi-structured individual interviews and three focus groups (each comprising three individuals) with male and female military personnel in Britain were conducted. Participants included Royal Marine, Army and Royal Air Force personnel and were of a variety of ranks. In accordance with the theory of symbolic resources, the unit of analysis for psychological development is the unit rupture-irruption of certainty-transition. This implies a process that leads to a new form of stability. This process is that which military personnel undertake in order for that which is uncertain and unfamiliar when they begin their training to become certain and familiar. Through focusing on the rupture that takes place during the training phase within an individual’s military career, one can explore how through symbolic resources, military masculinities develop.
Variability in oocyte size and batch fecundity in anchoveta (Engraulis ringens, Jenyns 1842) from two spawning areas off the Chilean coast

Utilising histological preparations of ovaries from Engraulis ringens females collected in two contrasting spawning habitats along the Chilean coast, we assess the variability in oocyte size and batch fecundity during the peak spawning seasons in three years. The effects of female size (length and weight), batch fecundity and mean sea surface temperature on oocyte size were also examined. Results showed larger oocytes and lower batch fecundity in females from the southern area. Oocyte volume differences persisted inter-annually and were not explained by differences in female sizes. Since ovary weight was similar between areas, the cost of producing larger oocytes in the south population seems to be a fecundity reduction. The latitudinal variations in oocyte number and size seem to be determined by the predominant environmental conditions in each habitat. Hence, female E. ringens seem to adapt their reproductive tactics by producing eggs sizes and quantities that favour survival of their offspring under the environmental conditions in which they are to develop.
Connecting Poverty to Purchase in Informal Markets

Base-of-the-Pyramid (BoP) enterprises seek to serve impoverished customers in informal markets. While BoP enterprises have grown in prominence, comparatively little multidimensional theoretical work has explored why these customers ultimately elect to purchase their products. Using a sample of 555 potential customers in rural India, our results indicate that the influence of different dimensions of poverty on likelihood of purchase is largely a function of the strength of the formal institutional environment. Specifically, stronger formal institutional environments can act as both a complement to, and a substitute for, the influence of individual- and network-level norms on purchasing decisions in informal markets. Copyright © 2014 Strategic Management Society.
HEURISTIC METHODS TO IDENTIFY FUZZY MEASURES APPLIED TO CHOQUET INTEGRAL CLASSIFICATION OF BREAST CANCER DATA

When the search space for optimisation or classification problems gets large heuristics and soft computing are often used to find the needed parameters. The Choquet integral methods needs one parameter for each subset of the condition attributes because these sets form a lattice on which the fuzzy measure needed for integration is defined. In this paper the frequency of how many data from each class pass through each set in the lattice provides information that is then used to construct the fuzzy measure. Several heuristics based on this idea are tested upon the well-known Wisconsin breast cancer data set. The heuristics prove to be as successful, or more so, than a range of other methods quoted in the literature when 10-fold cross validation is performed. In order for the Choquet to separate classes after integration a boundary value has to be calculated. Remarkably, it is found that switching the way to view success from number of records correctly classified to the distance of the wrongly classified record from the boundary leads to a hill climbing approach that can reclassify the data with a 100% success rate.
A short-term mindfulness intervention: effects on stress, happiness and productivity in the workplace

Negative stress and unhappiness are two factors that can negatively influence psychological well-being in working adults and can also influence workplace productivity. Mindfulness has been shown to reduce stress in working adults; however it is unclear by which mechanisms its positive effects are applied. Thirty-three adults working in a professional complaint handling workplace were randomly assigned to either a mindfulness condition or an active control condition to investigate whether a short-term mindfulness intervention would improve trait mindfulness, stress, happiness and productivity over a four week period. Despite observing no significant changes in trait mindfulness, happiness or productivity, the mindfulness condition experienced significant reductions of self-reported stress from pre-post intervention. No significant changes were observed in any of the variables for the control condition. The current study provides promising results in terms of stress reduction in working adults, whilst raising questions regarding the mechanisms by which stress reduction is achieved and highlights that the efficacy of short-term mindfulness interventions needs further study.
The relationship between self-concept, perceived parental bonding and delinquent behaviour among young people in Hong Kong

Journal article developed from this OAPS paper: Cheng, P. F. , & Cheng, C. H. K. (2015). Effects of moral self, self esteem and parental bonding on delinquency among young people in Hong Kong. International Journal of Criminology and Sociology, 4, 119-127.
Firm efficiency in selected developed and developing Asia-Pacific countries: using data envelopment analysis

The paper primarily aims to examine the firm efficiency or technical efficiency (TE), pure technical efficiency (PTE) and scale efficiency (SE) in the selected developed and developing Asia-Pacific countries. The sample of this paper consists a sum of 700 firms in selected developed and developing Asia-Pacific countries over the periods from 2009-2015. The non-parametric Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) based on the production approach is used to assess firm efficiency. On average, the results indicate that the firms in selected Asia-Pacific countries reveal the TE of 53.2per cent with input waste of 46.8per cent during the years 2009-2015. Furthermore, scale inefficiency (SIE) is the dominant source of inefficiency of firms in selected Asia-Pacific countries. The results also show that the large firms (the 350 largest firms) have exhibited higher mean TE as compared to small firms (the 350 smallest firms). Moreover, the results also shows that the large firms tend to operate at either constant return to scale (CRS) or decreasing return to scale (DRS) level. Whilst the small firms tend to operate at either CRS or increasing return to scale (IRS) level. Finally, the results also conclude that the firm in selected developed countries (300 firms) have exhibited higher mean TE than those firms in selected developing countries (400 firms) of the Asia-Pacific region.
A study of the prompt and afterglow emission of the Short GRB 061201

Context. Our knowledge of the intrinsic properties of short duration Gamma-Ray Bursts has relied, so far, only upon a few cases for which the estimate of the distance and an extended, multiwavelength monitoring of the afterglow have been obtained. Aims. We carried out multiwavelength observations of the short GRB 061201 aimed at estimating its distance and studying its properties. Methods. We performed a spectral and timing analysis of the prompt and afterglow emission and discuss the results in the context of the standard fireball model. Results. A clear temporal break was observed in the X-ray light curve about 40 min after the burst trigger. We find that the spectral and timing behaviour of the X-ray afterglow is consistent with a jet origin of the observed break, although the optical data can not definitively confirm this and other scenarios are possible. No underlying host galaxy down to R ∼ 26 mag was found after fading of the optical afterglow. Thus, no secure redshift could be measured for this burst. The nearest galaxy is at z = 0.111 and shows evidence of star formation activity. We discuss the association of GRB 061201 with this galaxy and with the ACO S 995 galaxy cluster, from which the source is at an angular distance of 17 �� and 8.5 � , respectively. We also test the association with a possible undetected, positionally consistent galaxy at z ∼ 1. In all these cases, in the jet interpretation, we find a jet opening angle of 1–2 degrees.
Effect of Butachlor Herbicide on Earthworm Eisenia fetida—Its Histological Perspicuity

With the advent of the Green Revolution, there has been a quantum leap in the use of synthetic herbicides and pesticides throughout the world to sustain high yielding crop varieties. Continuous use of these synthetic chemicals leads to loss of soil fertility and soil organisms. To explore the effect of exposure to commercial herbicide (Butachlor) on the life history parameters (biomass, clitellum development, and cocoon production) and the histological changes in the earthworm Eisenia fetida over 60 days, the dried cow dung was contaminated with 0.2575 mg , 0.5150 mg , and 2.5750 mg of butachlor based on the value, and a control was maintained. The mean earthworm biomass was found to be decreased with increasing herbicide concentration. Similarly, cocoon production was also reduced by the increasing herbicide concentration. A possible explanation is an increased demand for energy, needed for the regulation and detoxification of herbicide. All earthworms in the exposed group were found to have glandular cell enlargement and to be vacuolated.
The Intergenerational Persistence of Human Capital: An Empirical Analysis of Four Generations

Most previous studies of intergenerational transmission of human capital are restricted to two generations – parents and their children. In this study we use a Swedish data set which enables us link individual measures of lifetime earnings for three generations and data on educational attainments of four generations. We investigate to what extent estimates based on income data from two generations accurately predicts earnings persistence beyond two generations. We also do a similar analysis for intergenerational persistence in educational attainments. We find two-generation studies to severely under-predict intergenerational persistence in earnings and educational attainment over three generations. Finally, we use our multigenerational data on educational attainment to estimate the structural parameters in the Becker-Tomes model. Our results suggest a small or no causal effect of parental education on children's educational attainment.
Effect of Different Levels of Diet Dilution During Finisher Period on Broiler Chickens Performance and Carcass Characteristics

This experiment was conducted to compare the effects of diet dilution with sand and wheat bran (wt:wt) on broiler chicken performance and carcass characteristics during finisher periods from 35 to 45 ages. Hence one Completely Randomized Design (CRD) that include different levels of finisher diet diluted with sand and wheat bran (wt:wt) (in levels 7, 14, 21 or 28%) and one control group (undiluted finisher diet) in 5 treatment with four replicate each containing five male broiler chicken (total 100 birds) of arain strain. Comparing means levels of diet dilution with control birds showed that feed intake in different levels was more than control birds (p<0.01). But live weight (at 45 ages), body weight gain only in 28% levels were less than control birds (p<0.01). Carcass weight in 28 and 21% levels and abdominal fat percent in 14, 21 and 28 levels were significant difference with control birds (p<0.01). However percentage of breast and thigh at all levels of diet dilution except of 7% level were less than control birds (p<0.01).
Health Seeking Behaviour of Patients with Skin Disorders in Kano, Nigeria

Background: To determine and compare the health seeking behavior for common skin disorders of an urban and rural community of Kano, Nigeria Material and Methods: A multistage random sampling was used to select two Local Government Areas (an urban and a rural), each comprising three wards. Structured interviews were conducted to elicit information on the health-seeking behaviour of household members. Results: Total 164 respondents (82 respondents each from rural and urban areas) were used for the study. The age range was 16 - 82 years, the mean age for both groups was 38.9 years +12.9. There are statistically significant more urban respondents with educational attainment above primary school compared to rural respondents. The predominant job in the rural area is farming. The following diseases are more important to the rural populace: vitiligo, pyoderma and scabies; while tinea capitis, scabies and acne vulgaris are more important to urban dwellers. Conclusion: The bulk of skin cases in both rural and urban settings are seen by traditional healers, medicine vendors or \auxiliary health workers have knowledge gaps in dermatology skills. Most of these skin diseases are preventable, curable and controllable problems. The capacity of nondermatologist workers should be improved to recognize common skin diseases. Furthermore referral system should be established such that difficult cases can be referred to dermatologist.
Parameterization of the light absorption properties of chromophoricdissolved organic matter in the Baltic Sea and Pomeranian lakes

Abstract. This study presents three alternative models for estimating the absorption properties of chromophoric dissolved organic matter aCDOM(λ). For this analysis we used a database containing 556 absorption spectra measured in 2006–2009 in different regions of the Baltic Sea (open and coastal waters, the Gulf of Gdansk and the Pomeranian Bay), at river mouths, in the Szczecin Lagoon and also in three lakes in Pomerania (Poland) – Obleskie, Łebsko and Chotkowskie. The variability range of the chromophoric dissolved organic matter (CDOM) absorption coefficient at 400 nm, aCDOM(400), lay within 0.15–8.85 m−1. The variability in aCDOM(λ) was parameterized with respect to the variability over 3 orders of magnitude in the chlorophyll a concentration Chl a (0.7–119 mg m−3). The chlorophyll a concentration and aCDOM(400) were correlated, and a statistically significant, nonlinear empirical relationship between these parameters was derived (R2 = 0.83). On the basis of the covariance between these parameters, we derived two empirical mathematical models that enabled us to design the CDOM absorption coefficient dynamics in natural waters and reconstruct the complete CDOM absorption spectrum in the UV and visible spectral domains. The input variable in the first model was the chlorophyll a concentration, and in the second one it was aCDOM(400). Both models were fitted to a power function, and a second-order polynomial function was used as the exponent. Regression coefficients for these formulas were determined for wavelengths from 240 to 700 nm at 5 nm intervals. Both approximations reflected the real shape of the absorption spectra with a low level of uncertainty. Comparison of these approximations with other models of light absorption by CDOM demonstrated that our parameterizations were superior (bias from −1.45 to 62 %, RSME from 22 to 220 %) for estimating CDOM absorption in the optically complex waters of the Baltic Sea and Pomeranian lakes.
Transcending paradox in the realm of South African executive pay

Executive pay has long been a point of contention in the world of work (e.g. Thomas & Hill 2014). The sheer scale of remuneration afforded to executives often dwarfs that of lower-level employees (e.g. Ferdman 2014; Kiatpongsan & Norton 2014; PE Corporate Services 2014; Preston 2014; PWC 2014). The notion that such pay is just reward for the application, acquisition and retention of complex and scarce skills has been challenged for many reasons, notably when companies do poorly yet executive pay remains high Chapter 6 Transcending paradox in the realm of South African executive pay