Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Late-Holocene initiation of ice-free ecosystems in the southern Ross Sea, Antarctica

New data on marine sediments, seawater paleotemperatures, and the occupation his- tory of Adelie penguins indicate that modern ice-free conditions in the southern Ross Sea developed only within the last 1000 yr. Here we show that penguins permanently abandoned the southern Vic- toria Land Coast 2000 yr ago when extensive sea-ice cover blocked access to ice-free terrain for breeding. The first colonization of Ross Island in East McMurdo Sound, where over 300 000 penguins breed today, did not commence until after 1170 yr BP when coastal areas became exposed from under the Ross Ice Shelf. Our results demonstrate that investigations of abandoned penguin colonies can provide increased resolution to Holocene paleoclimatic records and paleoceanographic conditions in Antarctica.
Existence of a Unique Equilibrium in Asymmetric Contests with Interdependent Preferences

By relaxing the common assumption of purely self-interested preferences in contests, we study contests in which players care not only about their own material payoffs but also about other players’ payoffs, a scenario we term “interdependent preferences. ” In addition, we identify three possible types of heterogeneity among players in contests. First, players may have asymmetric preferences toward each other. Second, players may have various abilities to convert expenditures to productive efforts. Third, players may face various financial constraints. This paper presents a proof of the existence and uniqueness of a pure Nash equilibrium in asymmetric contests with interdependent preferences.
High genetic differentiation in marginal populations of European white elm (Ulmus laevis).

Studies on the amount of genetic variation in marginal populations and differentiation between them are essential for assessment of best gene conservation strategies and sampling schemes. Thirteen marginal populations of Ulmus laevis in southern Finland and one in Estonia were investigated for genetic variation in 20 allozyme loci. Population differentiation among Finnish stands was high, Fst = 0.290, and mean genetic diversity low, He = 0.088. The differentiation follows the isolation-by-distance structure within the core of the distribution area (lake Vanajavesi). Fairly high frequency of recurrent genotypes was observed, but this did not have an influence on the genetic parameters. The observed genetic structure is consistent with the central-marginal hypothesis. In the light of the results, the Finnish gene conservation strategy for U. laevis seems to be on a sound basis.
Modelling the Employment in Tourism – Case Study of Croatia

According to the data on the share of employees in the category Hotels and similar accommodation in the total employees (16.6% in 2015), it can be concluded that this percentage share is quite significant. In this paper the number of employees in tourism (in the category Hotels and similar accommodation) is modelled and predicted on the basis of monthly data from the period 2005 to 2015, collected from the First Release of the Croatian Bureau of Statistics. Taking into consideration the seasonal character of the phenomenon being analysed, taking into account the criteria of reliability of demonstrated forecasts, in this study following methods were used: the seasonal naive models, Holt - Winters Model trend seasonality exponential smoothing and Holt- Winters no seasonal exponential smoothing model. All obtained results were compared by forecasting error Mean Absolute Percentage error (MAPE). The obtained results indicate that forecasting methods which take into account the seasonal character of the phenomenon result in smaller forecasting error, and more reliable estimate, compared to models which don´t take into account the character of the phenomenon being analysed.
Effects of Yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.), Antibiotic and Probiotic on Performance, Immune Response, Serum Lipids and Microbial Population of Broilers

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of the medicinal plant yarrow (Achillea millefolium L.), a probiotic (Primalac) and an antibiotic (virginiamycin) on gastrointestinal tract (GIT) characteristics, microbial populations, immune response, serum lipids and growth performance of broiler chickens. A total of 250 one-day old male broilers (Ross 308) were randomly allocated to 5 treatments, 5 replicates with 10 birds in each in a completely randomized design. Experimental treatments included the control, yarrow powder at two different concentrations (1.5 and 3% of diet), Primalac (0.1% of diet) and virginiamycin (15 ppm). The highest feed conversion ratio (FCR) was observed in the control while the lowest FCR was seen in the virginiamycin group at 42 days of age (P 0.05). Relative weights of breast and thigh were similar among all treatments (P> 0.05). Relative weights of bursa Fabricius, spleen and primary immune response (total titer, IgG and IgM) against sheep red blood cells (SRBC ) were not affected by treatments. The serum cholesterol, triglyceride as well as high and low density lipoprotein (LDL and HDL) levels were different among treatments (P< 0.05). The lowest concentrations of the mentioned parameters were obtained in the group supplemented with 3% of yarrow (P< 0.05). The highest and lowest antibody titers (secondary immune response) against SRBC were observed by the yarrow (3%) and antibiotic supplementations, respectively (P< 0.05). The highest lactic acid bacteria (LAB) counts were detected in the crop, ileum and cecum of the Primalac group (P< 0.05). Inclusion of virginiamycin and yarrow (3%) caused a significant decrease in coliforms and total aerobic bacteria counts in crop, ileum and cecum (P< 0.05). The results of this study showed that the administration of yarrow (3%) can reduce the levels of serum lipids and boost the immune response in broilers. Moreover, it led to reduced pathogenic bacteria population in the GIT which could help to improve intestinal health and well being of poultry. It is proposed that yarrow can be used as an antibiotic alternative.
The Social Constitution of Perceiver-Environment Reciprocity

Although animal—environment reciprocity is central to ecological psychology, one facet of this viewpoint remains underappreciated: organisms alter environments so as to better function in them. In many species this activity of “niche construction” includes coordinated actions by individuals jointly working toward common ends. Mounting paleontological and archeological evidence indicates that human evolution should be viewed in the light of such social considerations. The environment of our immediate human ancestors was marked by, among other things, group settlements, manufactured stone tools, and extensive migration. An emerging species such as ours, whose distinctive psychological qualities offered a selective advantage relative to these conditions, would flourish particularly if it could preserve the gains of prior generations even as its members continued to transform econiche features in functionally significant ways. This evolutionary perspective, with its due recognition of sociocultural processes, highlights 3 factors of importance for ecological psychology: (1) the history of person-environment reciprocity results in human environments whose natural and sociocultural factors are inextricably intertwined. (2) developing individuals enter human environments not as solitary explorers but through the guidance of more experienced persons with the result that much development takes shape through social mediation; and (3) a distinguishing and ubiquitous feature of human environments that is a product of collective human actions is places. Nearly all human activity, including most psychological research, occurs in places, and owing to their psychological significance, it would seem impossible to disentangle psychological and social processes. These 3 factors illuminate that a fully-realized ecological psychology will be one that includes recognition of the constitutive role played by social processes.
Improved field emission characteristics of large-area films of molybdenum trioxide microbelt

We study the field emission characteristics of large-area films of crystalline MoO3 microbelt grown on silicon substrate by thermal evaporation in air using a commercial infrared sintering furnace. It is found that their turn-on field, threshold field, resistance to microdischarge and field emission current stability are better than MoO3 nanowires, MoO3 nanobelts and MoO3 nanoflower. In addition, good uniformdistribution of field emission sites can be observed. The physical reasons are explained responsible for such improvements on field emission characteristics of MoO3 material. These results indicate that large-area MoO3 microbelts may be suitable for cold-cathode electron source application.
The convex real projective orbifolds with radial or totally geodesic ends: a survey of some partial results

A real projective orbifold has a radial end if a neighborhood of the end is foliated by projective geodesics that develop into geodesics ending at a common point. It has a totally geodesic end if the end can be completed to have the totally geodesic boundary. The purpose of this paper is to announce some partial results. A real projective structure sometimes admits deformations to parameters of real projective structures. We will prove a homeomorphism between the deformation space of convex real projective structures on an orbifold $\mathcal{O}$ with radial or totally geodesic ends with various conditions with the union of open subspaces of strata of the corresponding subset of \[ Hom(\pi_{1}(\mathcal{O}), PGL(n+1, \mathbb{R}))/PGL(n+1, \mathbb{R}). \] Lastly, we will talk about the openness and closedness of the properly (resp. strictly) convex real projective structures on a class of orbifold with generalized admissible ends.
Testing the Sensitivity and Specificity of right hand and foot pulse oximetryfor the detection of congenital heart defects in Saudi Arabia.

Background: Congenital Heart Defects (CHDs) are considered to be major health issues, as onefourth of affected infants develop critical illnesses that require urgent interventions. The early detection and treatment of CHDs are important for the prevention of serious complications that can be difficult to manage before the spontaneous closure of the ductus arteriosus, which maintains circulation of oxygenated blood. Pulse Oximetry (POX), which involves the use of a monitoring device to measure transcutaneous oxygen saturation, can be used as an inexpensive screening tool for CHDs. the present study aimed to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of POX in the screening of CHDs among neonates in our institution. Methods: The study included all newborn neonates at King Abdulaziz University Hospital, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, between December 2015 and December 2016. Oxygen saturation was measured at 24 h after birth and before discharge. Negative screening: oxygen saturation (SaO2) was ≥ 95% in the right hand and foot, with a difference in ≤ 3%. Positive screening: if the SaO2 was ≤ 90% in the right hand, or was ≤ 90% in the right foot, SaO2 was between 90% and 95% after three readings separated by an interval of 1 h in the right hand or foot, or the difference in SaO2 between the right hand and right foot was>3% after three readings separated by an interval of 1 h. Results: The 3326 neonates were included in this study. The calculated sensitivity was 70%, and the calculated specificity was 99.8%. There was a significant relationship between the number of positive cases and the number of confirmed cases by echocardiography (p=0.01). Conclusion: there was a simultaneous assessment of POX in the right foot and right hand at 24 h after birth and before discharge. POX is a sensitive and specific screening approach for the early detection of CHDs in neonates.
Using Technology to Enhance a Project Management Course in the United Arab Emirates

There is little doubt that advances in technology have provided unprecedented opportunities to develop more effective learning platforms, with the aim of ultimately providing better student learning outcomes. However, technological innovations on their own may provide little more than improvements in quality and productivity over previously used methods. Technology, regardless of how advanced the technology is, should never be used as a substitute for good teaching practice, but as a means of enhancing existing good teaching practices. This paper discusses how, over a period of 4 years, technology has been embedded into a project management course within the United Arab Emirates in order to provide students with a more effective learning experience. The various technologies used in this example include videos of a case study project used in the course, a working example of the application software that was developed for the case study, audio recording of lectures and the construction of videos containing power point slides overlaid with previously recorded audio files.
Age and gravitational separation of the stratospheric air over Indonesia

Abstract. The gravitational separation of major atmospheric components, in addition to the age of air, would provide additional useful information about stratospheric circulation. However, observations of the age of air and gravitational separation are still geographically sparse, especially in the tropics. In order to address this issue, air samples were collected over Biak, Indonesia in February 2015 using four large plastic balloons, each loaded with two compact cryogenic samplers. With a vertical resolution of better than 2 km, air samples from seven different altitudes were analyzed for CO 2 and SF 6 mole fractions, δ15 N of N 2 , δ18 O of O 2 , and δ ( Ar∕N 2) to examine the vertically dependent age and gravitational separation of air in the tropical tropopause layer (TTL) and the equatorial stratosphere. By comparing their measured mole fractions with aircraft observations in the upper tropical troposphere, we have found that CO 2 and SF 6 ages increase gradually with increasing altitude from the TTL to 22 km, and then rapidly from there up to 29 km. The CO 2 and SF 6 ages agree well with each other in the TTL and in the lower stratosphere, but show a significant difference above 24 km. The average values of δ15 N of N 2 , δ18 O of O 2 , and δ ( Ar∕N 2) all show a small but distinct upward decrease due to the gravitational separation effect. Simulations with a two-dimensional atmospheric transport model indicate that the gravitational separation effect decreases as tropical upwelling is enhanced. From the model calculations with enhanced eddy mixing, it is also found that the upward increase in air age is magnified by horizontal mixing. These model simulations also show that the gravitational separation effect remains relatively constant in the lower stratosphere. The results of this study strongly suggest that the gravitational separation, combined with the age of air, can be used to diagnose air transport processes in the stratosphere.
Investigation of the redox-conditions in the Nam Du well field, Hanoi, Vietnam, and their implications for mobilisation of arsenic

In 2005, a new well field along the Red River started pumping groundwater for production of drinking water in the Nam Du area south of Hanoi, Vietnam. Elevated concentrations of ammonium have been a well-known problem in the southern part of Hanoi area, but recently elevated concentrations of arsenic in the groundwater has also been of concern. The first study on elevated concentrations of arsenic in the Red River delta was published in 2001 (Berg et al., 2001). Peat has been discussed as a source for both ammonium and as a driver for the mobilisation of arsenic and this study aims to investigate the possible relationship between arsenic, ammonium, the peat and the redox conditions. Chemical analyses from this study resulted in total arsenic concentrations from 27 to 312 I¼g/l in the groundwater samples, which can be compared to the health-based guideline of 10 I¼g/l. Most of the arsenic in the groundwater is present as arsenite, the more toxic specie of arsenic. The analyses also showed elevated concentrations of ammonium in the groundwater ranging from 1.8 to 34.7 mg/l. The relationships between the different redox couples were studied with Visual Minteq, which showed that the redox potentials measured in the field were a little bit higher than expected from the model. This can probably be explained by contamination of oxygen during sampling and/or measurement. The lack of sulphate in combination with the present redox conditions indicated that oxidation of arsenic bearing sulphurous minerals is not likely to be the main source of arsenic. Instead, the relationship between arsenic and HCO3, indicates that a more probable source of the arsenic would be reductive dissolution of iron oxyhydroxides.
Can Heart Rate Variability Predict the Second Metabolic Threshold in Young Soccer Players

International Journal of Exercise Science 11(2): 1105-1111, 2018. Heart rate variability (HRV) is an effective method to assess the influence of the autonomic nervous system, which may be directly linked to metabolic demand. The aim of the study was to determine if the second metabolic threshold can be identified by HRV. Thirteen athletes were assessed in cardiopulmonary exercise test with concomitant gas analysis. The RR intervals (RRi) were plotted in a spreadsheet for graphics analysis and the point at which there was a shift in the RRi curve was determined as RRiT2. The second ventilatory threshold (VT2) was used as the gold standard technique. A positive correlation was found in the test time (r = 0.84), heart rate (r = 0.97) and VO2 (r = 0.97) between the VT2 and HRV second threshold (RRiT2). All parameters identified by RRiT2 were lower than predicted by VT2 (p < 0.05).
Study of a 1 eV GaNAsSb photovoltaic cell grown on a silicon substrate

We report the performance of a 1 eV GaNAsSb photovoltaic cell grown on a Si substrate with a SiGe graded buffer grown using molecular beam epitaxy. For comparison, the performance of a similar 1 eV GaN0.018As0. 897Sb0.085 photovoltaic cell grown on a GaAs substrate was also reported. Both devices were in situ annealed at 700 °C for 5 min, and a significant performance improvement over our previous result was observed. The device on the GaAs substrate showed a low open circuit voltage (VOC) of 0.42 V and a short circuit current density (JSC) of 23.4 mA/cm2 while the device on the Si substrate showed a VOC of 0.39 V and a JSC of 21.3 mA/cm2. Both devices delivered a quantum efficiency of 50%–55% without any anti-reflection coating.
Real-Time Macro Monitoring and Fiscal Policy

This paper considers the effects of inaccurate real-time output data on fiscal management, both with respect to budgetary planning and fiscal surveillance. As newer and better information becomes available, output data available in real time get revised and are likely to conflict with final figures that are only released some years later. Nevertheless, fiscal policy needs to be inevitably based on real-time figures. The paper develops a simple modeling framework to formalize these linkages and combines it with a newly compiled dataset from the International Monetary Fund's World Economic Outlook, comprising final and real-time output data for 175 countries, over a period of 17 years. We simulate the effects of output revisions on revisions of the overall balance, the structural balance and debt accumulation. It finds that output revisions may have substantial effects on the ability of governments to correctly estimate the overall balance and the structural fiscal balance in real time, and that the effects may imply substantial debt accumulation.
Political Instability and Economic Growth: UK Time Series Evidence

This paper tests for the influence of political instability on UK economic growth between 1961 and 1997. We construct six variables that quantify political instability and examine the effect on growth. The results suggest that there is a strong link. GARCH-M models reveal negative effects of instability on growth and positive effects on growth uncertainty. Uncertainty in itself does not affect growth. Copyright 2001 by Scottish Economic Society.
Superluminal apparent velocities of relativistic electron beams in the solar corona

We present spectral and imaging observations of high frequency type III bursts appearing in pairs: a primary fast drifting component and a secondary "normal" drifting component. The primary bursts have generally higher frequency drift and start at higher frequencies. They show superluminal velocities up to 2.5 c (c, speed of light), while the secondary component shows the usual<0.5 c velocity expected for type III burst exciters. These superluminal velocities are explained as apparent velocities of relativistic electron beams propagating nearly along the line of sight towards the observer with velocities close to the speed of light. A model of type III burst pairs consisting of subsequent fast drifting and "normal" drifting components is presented.
Effect of picking maturity, storage technology and shelf-life on changes of apple firmness of Elstar, Jonagold and Gloster cultivars

Firmness changes of 'Elstar', 'Jonagold' and 'Gloster' apples were investigated for three seasons on fruits harvested on three different dates in each season and then stored in a cold room at 3 °C at normal atmosphere, standard CA (5% CO 2 : 3% O 2 ) and ultra-low oxygen atmosphere ULO (1.5% CO 2 1.5% O 2 ). At normal atmosphere fruits were stored for 3 months, whereas at CA and ULO for 7 months. After removing from the store fruits were kept at 18 °C for 1, 7 and 14 days to simulate shelf-life. Changes of apple firmness during cold storage depended first of all on storage atmosphere, whereas during shelf life the effect of its duration and picking date were also significant. The firmness of 'Elstar' and 'Jonagold' apples during storage in all seasons was related to their initial firmness; fruit that was firmer after picking was also firmer after storage. 'Gloster' cultivar showed a high variability between seasons and there was no clear relationship between harvest date and apple firmness changes. Positive effect of ULO conditions, compared to the standard CA, was found only for 'Gloster' although during shelf-life it diminished. In the case of 'Elstar' and 'Jonagold' apples the positive effect of storage under controlled atmosphere at 3 °C was shown after 14 days of shelf-life. For 'Gloster' there was no such relationship because during shelf-life, irrespective of storage technology, this cultivar revealed a propensity to extremely fast softening. It was also found, that the changes of firmness during simulated shelf-life were more pronounced for those apples, which showed least changes of firmness during storage.