Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GLOBAL TO DOMESTIC PRICE TRANSMISSION BETWEEN THE SEGMENTED CEREALS MARKETS: A STUDY OF AFGHAN RICE MARKETS

This paper examines cointegration and the difference in the extent of price transmission, and speed of adjustment between global and domestic prices of high and low quality rice. Unit root tests, cointegration tests and error correction models are employed in the analysis. While there are no comparable studies in the literature, the findings of this study indicate that the dynamics of price transmission may be different between high and low quality rice markets. That is, the extent of price transmission appears to be larger for the global prices of low quality rice whereas the speed of adjustment to the long-run equilibrium may be faster for domestic prices of high quality rice. Moreover, a shock in the global prices of low quality rice may have a long-lasting effect on domestic prices of low quality rice as compared to their high quality counterparts affecting domestic prices of high quality rice.
Host-plant flowering status and the concentration of sugar in phloem sap: Effects on an ant-treehopper interaction

Keywords. Ant-treehopper association, honeydew, host-plant mediation, host-plant quality, Membracidae, mutualism, phloem sugar, tritrophic interaction, cerrado savanna Abstract. Host-plant mediation in ant-hemipteran mutualisms requires three conditions. First, hemipteran attractiveness to ants should vary with plant quality. Second, ants should preferentially tend those Hemiptera that produce the most nutritious attractant. Third, increased ant attendance based on a richer food reward should have a significant effect on some measure of hemipteran fitness. A field experiment is used to test these conditions. This is the first study to simultaneously test these three conditions, and the first to test the effect of plant flowering status on the ant-derived benefits for a honeydew-producing hemipteran. It is hypothe- sized that membracids (Guayaquila xiphias) feeding on plants (Didymopanax vinosum) with flowers ingest phloem sap of higher quality (higher sugar concentration), produce a higher-quality honeydew and, as a result, are attended by more ants and are better protected compared to those on plants without flowers. Total nitrogen content of the phloem sap of plants with or without flowers did not differ significantly, whereas the sugar concentration was higher in the sap of plants with flowers. Honeydew sugar concentra- tion, honeydew production, and ant tending levels did not vary significantly with flowering status. Membracid survival increased, and natural enemy abundance decreased when ants were present. Plant flowering status did not affect the ant-derived protection afforded to treehoppers, but plants with flowers accumulated more natural enemies through time than plants without flowers. The results suggest that a trade-off between feeding on a higher-quality food and running increased risk of predation on flowering plants could underlie this ant-hemipteran interaction. Based on the parameters measured in this study it is concluded that host-plant media- tion does not occur in the ant-Guayaquila system. The results suggest, however, that the way in which the host-plant could affect ant-Guayaquila interactions is complex and likely to involve other species.
Masculinity, mass consumerism and subversive sex: A case study of Second Life’s ‘Zeus’ gay club

This article is a case study of a Second Life region in reference to the prevailing attitudes of sexual conservatism and the growing acceptance of homosexual coupling. The site of Zeus is a contested site of legitimacy in view of tensions regarding masculinity as it applies to sex, sexuality, gender conformity and consumption practices. Furthermore, it is representative of the tensions between an acceptable, albeit conservative gay male identity, and the subversive hyper-sexual and hyper-masculine subject of desire.
QUASI-SIMILARITY OF WEAK CONTRACTIONS

Let T be a completely nonunitary (c.n.u.) weak contraction (in the sense of Sz.-Nagy and Foias). We show that T is quasi-similar to the direct sum of its CO part and C11 part. As a corollary, two c.n. u. weak contractions are quasi-similar to each other if and only if their CO parts and C11 parts are quasi-similar to each other, respectively. We also completely determine when c.n. u. weak contractions and CO contractions are quasi-similar to normal operators. Recall that a contraction T on the Hilbert space H is called a weak contraction if its spectrum a(T) does not fill the open unit disc D and 1 T* T is of finite trace. Contained in this class are all contractions T with finite defect index dTdim rank(1 T* T)'/2 and with a(T) =# D (cf. [9, p. 323]). Assume that T is a weak contraction which is also completely nonunitary (c.n.u.), that is, T has no nontrivial reducing subspace on which T is a unitary operator. For such a contraction, Sz. -Nagy and Foias obtained a C0-Cl1 decomposition and then found a variety of invariant subspaces which furnish its spectral decomposition (cf. [9, Chapter VIII]). In this note we are going to supplement other interesting properties of such contractions. We show that a c.n. u. weak contraction is quasi-similar to the direct sum of its C0 part and Cl part. Although the proof is not difficult, some of its interesting applications justify the elaboration here. An immediate corollary is that two such contractions are quasi-similar to each other if and only if their C0 parts are quasi-similar and their Cl parts are quasi-similar to each other. This is, in turn, used to show that two quasi-similar weak contractions have equal spectra. Another interesting consequence is that a c.n. u. weak contraction is quasi-similar to a normal operator if and only if its C0 part is. The latter can be shown to be equivalent to the condition that its minimal function is a Blaschke product with simple zeros, thus completely settling the question when a c.n. u. weak contraction is quasi-similar to a normal operator. Before we start to prove our main theorem, we provide some background work for our notations and terminology. The main reference is [9]. Presented to the Society September 9, 1976; received by the editors October 1, 1976. AMS (MOS) subject classifications (1970). Primary 47A45.
Effects of shoot pruning and inflorescence thinning on plant growth, yield and fruit quality of greenhouse tomatoes in a tropical climate

The combined effects of shoot pruning (one or two stems) and inflorescence thinning (five or ten flowers per inflorescence) on greenhouse tomato yield and fruit quality were studied during the dry season (DS) and rainy season (RS) in Central Thailand. Poor fruit set, development of undersized (mostly parthenocarpic) fruits, as well as the physiological disorders blossom-end rot (BER) and fruit cracking (FC) turned out to be the prevailing causes deteriorating fruit yield and quality. The proportion of marketable fruits was less than 10% in the RS and around 65% in the DS. In both seasons, total yield was significantly increased when plants were cultivated with two stems, resulting in higher marketable yields only in the DS. While the fraction of undersized fruits was increased in both seasons when plants were grown with a secondary stem, the proportions of BER and FC were significantly reduced. Restricting the number of flowers per inflorescence invariably resulted in reduced total yield. However, in neither season did fruit load considerably affect quantity or proportion of the marketable yield fraction. Inflorescence thinning tended to promote BER and FC, an effect which was only significant for BER in the RS. In conclusion, for greenhouse tomato production under climate conditions as they are prevalent in Central Thailand, the cultivation with two stems appears to be highly recommendable whereas the measures to control fruit load tested in this study did not proof to be advisable.
PHENOTYPIC AND MOLECULAR CHARACTERIZATION OF CHICKPEA (Cicer arietinum L.) MESORHIZOBIA

The present investigation was carried out to study phenotypic and molecular characterization of native chickpea mesorhizobia. A total of 20 Mesorhizobium spp. were isolated and characterized on the basis of morphological, biochemical and functional traits. Significantly high IAA was produced by Mesorhizobium spp. LGR 46 (45.25 μg mL -1 ) followed by the reference isolate LGR 33 (44.49 μg mL -1 ). Of 20 isolates, 6 isolates including reference Mesorhizobium spp. LGR 33 indicated yellow halo zone of Psolubilization on NBRIP medium. Maximum zone was shown by LGR 46 (1.8 cm) followed by LGR 33 (1.7 cm). Out of 20 isolates of Mesorhizobium spp. 43% and 33% were able to produce siderophore and HCN, respectively. A total of 57% and 62% Mesorhizobium spp. were able to produce cell wall degrading enzymes protease and cellulase respectively. Of 20 Mesorhizobium spp. , 70%, 65% and 50% were tolerant to tetracycline, erythromycin and chloramphenicol respectively whereas no isolate was found to be resistant towards gentamycin. Three new native Mesorhizobium spp. LGR 46, LGR 50 and LGR 52 were most effective in controlling Fusarium wilt. Salt tolerance ability reduced with increasing salt concentration. Maximum salt tolerance was shown by Mesorhizobium isolate LGR 50 from Bathinda soil. Thirteen Mesorhizobium isolates were able to grow at 5°C temperature. Maximum amount of EPS was produced by LGR 50 (155.04 μg mL -1 ) followed by LGR 49 (132.64 μg mL -1 ) and LGR 46 (46.34 μg mL -1 ). Three new native isolates (LGR 46, LGR 50 and LGR 52) along with LGR 33 were amplified with nifH, gyrB and nodD primers and identified as Mesorhizobium spp. Further, Mesorhizobium isolates were screened for growth, symbiosis and yield in vivo. Isolate of Mesorhizobium sp. LGR 46 registered significantly high nodule biomass, N content of shoots and grain yield (127mg, 1.40% , 1750kg ha -1 ) respectively as compared to already recommended LGR 33 (98mg, 1.36%, 1708kg ha -1 ) respectively. Native potential mesorhizobia with dual functional traits (N2 fixation and PGP) can be exploited as ideal bioinoculant for improving productivity in chickpea.
Does the financial system affects early stage venture capital investments

Improving access to finance is one of the key factors for increasing the number of innovative business start-ups with high growth potential. In this context, venture capitalists (VCs) have successfully dealt with the problems of financing innovative projects. The existing literature suggests that VC investments are strongly negatively affected by the characteristics of a bankcentered financial system and this negative influence could be one reason for different VC investment levels across the OECD countries. This paper is the first analysis that includes the relative size of the banking sector to produce evidence regarding whether, as is suggested in the predominant theoretical financial literature, the negative impact of a more bank-based financial system can withstand the empirical evidence. The fundamental argument supplied by Black and Gilson argues that banks are not able to duplicate the implicit contract regarding future control as a market-based system can. Additionally, a more market-based system provides more lucrative exits via IPOs. Whereas markets are complements for VC, banks are substitutes. The panel analysis conducted for 16 OECD countries supports this view.
BFORE: a CMB balloon payload to measure reionization, neutrino mass, and cosmic inflation

BFORE is a high-altitude ultra-long-duration balloon mission to map the cosmic microwave background (CMB). During a 28-day mid-latitude ight launched from Wanaka, New Zealand, the instrument will map half the sky to improve measurements of the optical depth to reionization tau. This will break parameter degeneracies needed to detect neutrino mass. BFORE will also hunt for the gravitational wave B-mode signal, and map Galactic dust foregrounds. The mission will be the first near-space use of TES/mSQUID multichroic detectors (150/217 GHz and 280/353 GHz bands) with low-power readout electronics.
Global Integration ' Global Concentration

There is a widespread belief that increases in the cross-border integration of markets are associated with increases in global concentration along various dimensions. This article reviews the available evidence and presents new data, indicating that increasing global integration has not been accompanied by general increases in four types of global concentration measures: industry seller concentration, cross-industry superconcentration, national/regional hegemony, and geographic concentration. The article also uses the automobile industry to illustrate a bias toward believing concentration is increasing even when it is not and to discuss possible reasons. Copyright 2006, Oxford University Press.
Transformation of information systems: relevance of expectations

The purpose of the paper is to highlight the influence of expectations of professionals towards a greater role in decision-taking at all levels. This includes an expectation of collaboration in the development of organizational information systems. To this end we drew upon Claudio Ciborra's Mood, represented by his discussion of bricolage, hacking and improvisation and their philosophical foundations in the work of Heidegger. Further, the paper explains how these relate to IS at the level of the organization. Our treatment of Ciborra's vision and concerns contributes towards the realisation of ideals closely relevant to a transformation to professionalisation of citizenship within organizations. Integration of these ideas into information systems development processes would help to develop more desirable systems, in line with changing professional values.
BEHAVIOUR OF Neosartorya fischeri ASCOSPORES IN PINEAPPLE JUICE

For heat-resistance determinations, a Neosartorya fischeri ascospore suspension, obtained at three different conditions of temperature (20, 30 and 35°C) and age (1, 2 and 3 months), was heat treated in pineapple juice with three different ratio conditions. The 1/k (min) values obtained were statisticatically analysed through the software Statistica 6.0. At 80°C, when there was a level change in the ratio factor from a * lower (10) to a higher one (38), the thermal resistance (1/k) increased in approximately 41%. The increase of the ascospore production age and temperature caused an increase on the thermal resistance approximately equal to 28% and 14%, respectively. Through the results, it could be concluded that N.fischeri presented lower thermal resistance for heating mediums with lower ratio values, or rather, the increase of the soluble solids concentration caused an increase of its thermal resistance. It was also observed that the ascospore production age and temperature increased significantly the thermal resistance of this mould in pineapple juice.
Sea bottom characteristics affect depth limits of eelgrass Zostera marina

This study tested the hypothesis that sea bottom characteristics interact with light atten- uation in the water column to regulate the depth limit of eelgrass Zostera marina L. A large-scale field data set on eelgrass depth limits, light climate and physico-chemical sea bottom characteristics was collected from Danish coastal waters and analyzed by statistical models. The results confirmed that light attenuation is the main predictor of eelgrass depth limits, but indicated that sediments charac- teristic of eutrophic conditions and physically protected environments also play a regulating role. Depth limits were moderately shallower when the sea bottom was rich in organic material, had high concentrations of nutrients and hydrogen sulfide, and had a physical structure characterized by fine particles, high porosity, high water content and low density. The effect of sediment variables was non-linear, and the sediment only affected depth limits beyond certain threshold levels characteristic of eutrophic conditions and physically protected environments. We argue that further reductions in nutrient loads can improve the state of eelgrass beds by ameliorating not only light conditions but also sediment quality and associated oxygen concentrations in the water column.
Introgression of common bacterial blight (Xanthomonas axonopodis pv. phaseoli) resistance to common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) adapted to Tanzania facilitated by marker assisted selection

Common bacterial blight (CBB) caused by Xanthomonas axonopodis pv phaseoli (Xap) is an important disease of common bean in Tanzania causing severe damage. This study was carried out to introgress resistance to CBB to the adapted common bean in Tanzania with the facilitation of molecular markers along with determining the inheritance and heritability of the disease. Crosses were made between the adapted parent Kablanketi and the resistant parent Vax 4 and their F1, F2 and the backcrosses to both parents generated. The phenotypic evaluation was carried out after inoculation with Xap and the molecular marker was applied on the F2 generations using the SCAR marker SAP 6 linked to a QTL for CBB resistance. The result shows no significant deviation from the expected 3:1 (χ 2 = 0.47; P>0.05) in the F2 population and 1:1 for the backcross to the susceptible parent. These results that resistance in Vax 4 to Xap is conditioned by the presence of dominant genes. The moderate heritability of 0.32 was estimated implying that resistance is conditioned by one major gene which has effects of partial resistance. There were significant correlation between the phenotypic reaction and molecular marker screening (resistant QTL) (r = 0.502; p<0.05). This indicates there are greater chances of selecting resistant individuals using molecular markers which also exhibited resistance under field conditions .
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Endogenous Market Turbulence

In this paper I study a nonlinear feedback trading model which can generate stable, unstable, turbulent or chaotic asset returns depending on market conditions. The dynamics are driven by the stochastic price impact of net order flow (inverse market liquidity). If price impact grows beyond exogenous threshold values, liquidity dries up and asset returns become turbulent. In the absence of fundamental factors, the occurence of turbulence and chaos is entirely endogenous. The results highlight the critical role of maintaining stable market-making conditions for averting “liquidity black holes”.
MIF Proteins from Two Nematodes Recognize Sera of Onchocerciasis Patients and Stimulate Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells to Release TNF-α and iL-10 Cytokines

Onchocerciasis is a human filarial disease which leads to blindness in its ultimate phase. The immunopathology of the disease categorize patients into two types regarding the symptoms of the sickness: the hypo-reactive (generalized) and the hyper-reactive (sowda) types. In vitro, the humoral response by sera from the two categories of patient to recombinant proteins from the human parasitic nematodes: Onchocerca volvulus and Strongyloides ratti and the free-living nematode: Caenorhabditis elegans showed differences in strength and specificity. Immune recognition of antigens from O. volvulus (extract, Ovmif 1 and OvSOD) and C. elegans (mif proteins) were evaluated in a western blot and an indirect enzyme linked-immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using 36 human sera. The response was determined as optical density (OD) read at 450 nm and an index value of recognition calculated. The rate of induction of pro and anti-inflammatory cytokines by the same proteins was assessed on peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC). Variable amounts of recombinant proteins were incubated with PBMC at 5% CO2 in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with antibiotic, bovine serum albumin, HEPES. Generally, there was a stronger recongnition of O. volvulus antigens than C. elegans antigens. However, a comparison of the index values by ANOVA using Bonferroni post-test showed a significantly stronger recognition of O. volvulus antigens by sera from sowda patients than the recognition by sera from the generalized form when compared to C. elegans antigens. The sowda sera were shown therefore to be specific to O. volvulus antigens. The stimulation of PBMC by recombinant proteins from the two categories of nematode induced globally a higher anti-inflammatory (iL-10) cytokine release compared to the pro-inflammatory (TNFα) cytokine. Again, there was a notable higher release of iL-10 and TNF-α by proteins from the parasitic nematodes compared to the free living nematode. The humoral immune response to a cocktail of recombinant proteins from O. volvulus and the bovine parasite Onchocerca ochengi should be evaluated.
Bulk eigenvalue statistics for random regular graphs

We consider the uniform random $d$-regular graph on $N$ vertices, with $d \in [N^\alpha, N^{2/3-\alpha}]$ for arbitrary $\alpha > 0$. We prove that in the bulk of the spectrum the local eigenvalue correlation functions and the distribution of the gaps between consecutive eigenvalues coincide with those of the Gaussian Orthogonal Ensemble.
PURE SPINORS AND THEIR POSSIBLE ROLE IN PHYSICS

TheCartan's equations defining "simple" spinors (re- named "pure" by C. Chevalley) are interpreted as equations of motion for fermions and for fermion's multiplets in momentum spaces which, after the adoption of the Cartan's conjecture on the non elementary nature of euclidean geometry, appear lorentzian and isomorphic to invariant mass spheres. The equations found are most of those traditionally adopted ad hoc by theoretical physics of elementary particles. It is shown how, the known internal symmetry groups, in partic- ular those of the standard model, might derive from the 3 complex division algebras correlated with the associated Clif- ford algebras, while the real one might be at the origin of black matter. One of the results is that some of the internal symmetry groups (isospin), might represent reflection groups (conformal) rather than coverings of rotation groups. It is shown how in the frame of Cartan's conjecture in (quantum) mechanics of fermions, it is necessary and natural to substitute the euclidean concept of point event with that
Memory Disambiguation Hardware: a Review

One of the main challenges of modern processor designs is the implementation of scalable and efficient mechanisms to detect memory access order violations as a result of out-of-order execution. Conventional structures performing this task are complex, inefficient and power-hungry. This fact has generated a large body of work on optimizing address-based memory disambiguation logic, namely the load-store queue. In this paper we review the most significant proposals in this research field, focusing on our own contributions.