Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of the Kuroshio Current on the South China Sea based on a 115 000 year diatom record

We used the tropical oceanic planktonic diatom species Nitzschia marina, Rhizosolenia bergonii and Azpeitia africana/Azpeitia neocrenulata, most commonly found in the surface sediments of the northeasternmost South China Sea (SCS) where the Kuroshio Current enters the SCS through the Bashi Strait north of Luzon, to analyse the influence of the the Kuroshio Current on the SCS. The impact of the Kuroshio Current seems to be relatively strong during major warm periods and, to a lesser degree, in minor warm periods during the last 115 000 years. The strongest influence took place during the main part of the Holocene and during the very late phase of Marine Isotope Stage (MIS) 5e. It is possible to distinguish two magnitudes of change in the impact of the Kuroshio Current on the SCS: large changes occurred at shifts between glacial and interglacial conditions, while smaller changes seem to have recurred in both glacial and interglacial episodes as well as during the Holocene. Climatic/oceanographic changes and sea‐level variations were possibly the two most important mechanisms for the varying influences of the Kuroshio Current on the SCS. The interaction between the Kuroshio Current and monsoon‐related processes may also have played a role. However, because of restricted knowledge of the present‐day Kuroshio Current and the absence of a modern analogue to the ancient SCS due to the marked changes in palaeogeography, this relationship is difficult to establish. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The Role of Behavioural Factors in the Investment Decisions of Household Investors

The process of investment requires investors to take various types of decisions and the quality of those decisions determines the outcomes of the investment process. Standard finance theories and behavioural finance theories present different views on investment decision making based on the concept of rationality. Behavioural finance theories indicate that investors fail to perform in a completely rational manner when making investment decisions due to various biases. The objective of the study is to identify the behavioural finance based factors influence the investment decisions of household investors in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka. The necessary data for the study were collected from 1810 household investors in the Northern Province of Sri Lanka and the sample respondents were selected under Proportionate stratified random sampling method. The analytical tools of exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were used to analyze the data. The current study concluded that Representativeness bias, Overconfidence bias, Availability Bias, Loss Aversion bias, Regret Aversion bias and Herding influence the investment decisions of household investors.
The impact of organisational culture on attitudes concerning change in post-soviet organisations*

906 employees from Estonian companies were studied in order to explore how task-orientation and relationship-orientation of organisational culture influence attitudes to the process of organisational change among employees in post-socialist organisations. The current survey indicates that people who begati working in the former Soviet Union differ from those who started their careers during the subsequent transition period according to the way they form their attitudes toward change. Relationship-orientation of organisational culture predicts a belief in the benefits of change only in the group of people who started their work life in Soviet organisations. In einer Studie wurden 906 estnische Mitarbeiter von Firmen studiert um zu untersuchen, wie die Aufgabenorientierung und Beziehungsorientierung in der Organisationskultur die Einstellungen von Angestellten zum Prozess von organisatorischen Veranderungen in post-sozialistischen Organisationen beeinflusst. Die neueste Studie zeigt einen Unterschied hinsichtlich der Einstellung zu Veranderungen zwischen jenen die in der fruheren Sowjetunion zu arbeiten begannen und jenen die ihre Karriere in den darauf folgenden Jahren des Ubergangs starteten. Die Beziehungsorientierung in einer Organisationskultur sagt nur einen Glauben an Vorteile von Veranderungen in der Gruppe von Menschen voraus, die ihr Arbeitsleben in sowjetischen Organisationen begannen.
Study of flapping actuator modules using IPMC

The Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (IPMC), an electro-active polymer, has many advantages including bending actuation, low weight, low power consumption, and flexibility. These advantages coincide with the requirements of flapping-wing motion. Thus, IPMC can be an adequate smart material for the generation of the flapping-wing motions. In this research, a flapping actuator module operated at the resonant frequency is developed using an IPMC actuator. First, IPMC actuators are fabricated to investigate the mechanical characteristics of IPMC as an actuator. The performances of the IPMC actuators, including the deformation, blocking force and natural frequency, are then obtained according to the input voltage and IPMC dimensions. Second, the empirical performance model and the equivalent stiffness model of the IPMC actuator are established. Third, flapping actuator modules using the first resonance frequency are developed, and their flapping frequency and stroke characteristics are investigated. Fourth, adequate flapping models for a flapping actuator module are selected, and dimensional data such as wing area and wing mass are obtained. Finally, the flapping actuator module is designed and manufactured to adjust the flapping models and its performance is tested. Experimental results demonstrate the potential IPMC has for use as a flapping actuator.
Effect of using ground waste tire rubber as fine aggregate on the behaviour of concrete mixes

The development of environmentally accepted methods of used tire disposal is one of the greatest challenges that waste management experts face today. Using of wastes and by-products as concrete aggregate has attained great potential in the last few years. The aim of this work is to investigate the possibility of the usage of ground waste tire rubber (GWTR) in the civil construction as a partial replacement for fine aggregates and the influence of these wastes on the properties of ordinary concrete. The cement content for concrete mixes is 300, 400, and 500 kg/m 3 . The total fine aggregate (TFA) in all mixes is sand, which is partially replaced by GWTR particles. The percentages by volume of GWTR/TFA are 5%, 10%, 15% and 20%. The physical and mechanical properties of rubberized concrete arc compared with those of ordinary concrete mixes. Also, three treated materials, polyvinyl acetate, silica fume and sodium hydroxide (PVA, SF and NaOH) are used for treatment the ground waste tire rubber to improve the interface friction between rubber particles and cement matrix. The results show that the mass density (bulk density) of hardened rubberized concrete decreases with increasing rubber content, this is an advantage for that concrete application. Also concrete specimens containing rubber particles are much tougher than those without rubber particles. The damping ratio of the rubberized concrete containing 20% rubber is much higher than those of normal concrete by about 63.2%. Rubberized concrete incorporating treated rubber particles gives better results than concrete incorporating normal rubber.
Running head: PARENTAL ASPIRATION Don’t Aim too High for Your Kids: Parental Over-Aspiration Undermines Students’ Learning in Mathematics

Previous research has suggested that parents’ aspirations for their children’s academic attainment can have a positive influence on children’s actual academic performance. Possible negative effects of parental over-aspiration, however, have found little attention in the psychological literature. Employing a dual-change score model with longitudinal data from a representative sample of German schoolchildren and their parents (N = 3,530; grades 5 to 10), we showed that parental aspiration and children’s mathematical achievement were linked by positive reciprocal relations over time. Importantly, we also found that parental aspiration that exceeded their expectation (i.e., over-aspiration) had negative reciprocal relations with children’s mathematical achievement. These results were fairly robust after controlling for a variety of demographic and cognitive variables such as children’s gender, age, intelligence, school type, and family SES. The results were also replicated with an independent sample of US parents and their children. These findings suggest that unrealistically high parental aspiration can be detrimental for children’s achievement.
Socioeconomic Progress Across the Major Indian States: Converging or Diverging

The purpose of this paper is to examine the progress in socioeconomic conditions across the major states of India by using convergence hypothesis. Earlier studies that examined regional disparities of development used per capita State Net Domestic Product (SNDP) as an important proxy for assessing human well-being. This study attempts a more comprehensive assessment of socioeconomic convergence in terms of critical indicators of economic inequality, poverty ratios, literacy rate and Human Development Index (HDI) along with per capita SNDP. The results reveal that in the period between 1981 and 2011, statistically significant absolute and conditional Beta (β)-convergence in literacy rates and HDI have been observed but only conditional β-convergence has been evident in case of per capita SNDP and poverty ratios. β-convergence estimates for the recent period (post-2001) show, a divergence in per capita SNDP and poverty ratios but convergence in literacy rates and HDI. Kernel density plots for socioeconomic indicators show the existence of convergence clubs but not absolute convergence among all the major states. Thus, this study suggests that use of the non-parametric convergence measures is crucial to gain more clear insights on socioeconomic progress and to identify the short-term divergent paths.
Technology Transfer and Diffusion among Manufacturing Small and Medium Enterprises in Indonesia

It is evident everywhere that in manufacturing industry, levels of productivity are higher in large enterprises (LEs), including foreign-owned firms or multinational companies (MNCs), than in small and medium enterprises (SMEs), partly because the former enterprises enjoy higher levels of technological capacity. Thus, for SMES, increased productivity might be facilitated through a scaling-up of knowledge or technology. The case study of the Tegal metalworking industry in Central Java presented in this article shows that the most important channels for the diffusion of knowledge/technology among domestic manufacturing SMEs include subcontracting arrangements with foreign direct investment (FDI). However, the importance of FDI as a source of technology/knowledge varies across the differing types of domestic firms. This study also shows that government agencies are currently the largest providers of training and similar assistance for manufacturing SMEs in the country. Such programmes, however, are rendered less effective by a low level of coverage, a lack of effective evaluation and assessment, and a supply rather than a demand orientation.
1 Interactions of Dust Bilayers in a GEC Plasma Environment

To further understand the ion wake field effect in dusty plasmas, the dependence of interlayer spacing and interactions upon system power and pressure of like-charged dust bilayer crystals was studied experimentally in a Gaseous Electronics Conference rf reference cell. These interlayer distances were analyzed in light of values predicted for the distance from the top layer of dust particles to the first potential maximum in the ion wake field generated by this layer. It was found that the vertical component of the wake field effect is relatively weak, and indeed was dominated by other forces in this experimental setup.
THERMOELECTRIC PROPERTIES OF Ni / TiO 2x COMPOSITES

Therefore, to improve the performance of thermoelectrics, the Seebeck coefficient S should be increased, the electrical resistivity ρ and the thermal conductivity κ should be decreased. In recent years, the composite methods have attracted much attention in enhancing the thermoelectric performance. The improvement of thermoelectric performance by adding metal powder, such as Au and Ag to oxide thermoelectrics, has been tried [1-5]. In these works, the electrical resistivity was largely decreased by adding metal powder. Indeed, the Seebeck coefficient had an increase in some works [1,2,4]. Consequently, it lad to enhancement of the power factor. In our previous work, it was revealed that the power factor gave the biggest value at the amount of adding 12%Cu into Cu/TiO2-x composite, at which the transition from semiconductor to metal appeared [6]. Besides, the sandwich-structured composite has been used thermoelectrics to enhance the power factor [7-10]. In those works, it was revealed that the power factor can be enhanced by the sandwich-structured composites with series structure of metal/semiconductor/metal. However, composite method is always accompanied with some negative effects including the increase of thermal conductivity. It seems necessary to investigate the composite effect and their influence of the added metals on thermoelectric properties. The metals used as the additives in composite thermoelectrics such as Cu, Ag and Au have very low electrical resistivity, while they have low thermoelectric performance due to small Seebeck coefficients and great thermal conductivities as listed in Table 1. However, Ni has high thermoelectric performance as its relative great Seebeck coefficient and small thermal conductivity.
Behavior of Dairy Cows Housed in Environmentally Controlled Freestall

Due to the importance of dairy production in Brazil and the losses that occur during hot weather conditions this study aimed to evaluate the thermal preference of dairy cows housed under two different evaporative cooling systems: sprinkler and fogging, associated with forced ventilation. The study was carried out in a commercial dairy farm located in Sao Pedro County, state of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The trial had two groups of 10 Holstein cows each in the same stage of milk production, and took place for six consecutive days starting on November 2003. Relative humidity and dry bulb and black globe temperatures were recorded in intervals of 15 min during all the experimental period. The behavioral pattern of the animals was used to evaluate their thermal preference. The area occupied by the cows (drinker, feeder, bedding close to cooling systems, bedding in the opposite side to cooling system, alley near the cooling system, and alley away from the cooling system) as well as their activities inside the building (eating, drinking, ruminating, idle, standing and lying) were monitored using video cameras between 9:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. The mean dry bulb temperature was 27.3°C while mean relative humidity was 60% during the trial. In both treatments Temperature and Humidity Index (THI) did not differ statistically and did not reach thermoneutral zone parameters. The cows generally spent more time were there was sprinkling systems, especially near the feeding area. From results it was not possible to select a specific type of cooling system because there are more variables influencing cow’s behavior than the ones studied. Further studies need to be implemented in this field of knowledge under hot weather conditions.
CEO Duality, Family-Control and Goodwill Impairment

Deterioration in performance may increase the likelihood of the recognition of goodwill impairment in firms. It is believed that the magnitude of discretion given in the new accounting standards FRS 136- Impairment of Assets gives managers an additional incentive to manage the perception of users of financial statements using the impairment of goodwill item, particularly during the transition period. This problem can be exacerbated when there is a high concentration of family ownership and when family owners have control over the management and Board of Directors at the same time. This paper argues that the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Chairman role duality, particularly in family-controlled firms, could enhance the effect of entrenchment and expropriation activities. This study uses a sample of 948 firm-years observations of public firms listed on Bursa Malaysia from years 2006 to 2008 to examine whether the combined effect of CEO duality and family-controlled firms is related to goodwill impairment. This study finds evidence that the combined effect of CEO duality and family-controlled firms have significant effect on the recognition of goodwill impairment.Keywords: CEO Duality, Corporate Governance, Corporate Reporting, Family-Controlled Firms, Financial Accounting, Goodwill ImpairmentJEL Classification: M41
Current status and future prospect of local food production in Hungary: a spatial analysis

ABSTRACT There is an increasing interest in Hungary to relocalize food. Spatial patterns and development potential of local food systems (LFSs) are analysed in this paper to help spatial planning practices. A composite Policy Intervention for Food Relocalization Index (PIFRI) is introduced to quantitatively reveal how rural development programme measures should be allocated efficiently to promote local food production. PIFRI points out lagging areas and hidden dimensions of development that need further support, and thus helps setting desirable and realistic policy goals. Besides socio-economic processes, biophysical limitations (availability of agricultural areas) are also accounted for. Results show that LFS development is at an early stage in Hungary. The present level of local food activity and future prospects mismatch. Eastern Hungary has the highest potential for further development as it has relatively widespread and intensive local food production activity. The few small-scale farmers operating in the Budapest area have been already engaged in short food supply chains to enjoy various benefits (and higher profit). Results imply a complex mix of several underlying causes behind the experienced patterns.
Nucleotide Binding to ARL2 in the TBCD.ARL2.beta-Tubulin Complex Drives Conformational Changes in beta-Tubulin

Microtubules are highly dynamic tubulin polymers that are required for a variety of cellular functions. Despite the importance of a cellular population of tubulin dimers, we have incomplete information about the mechanisms involved in the biogenesis of αβ-tubulin heterodimers. In addition to prefoldin and the TCP-1 Ring Complex, five tubulin-specific chaperones, termed cofactors A-E (TBCA-E), and GTP are required for the folding of αand β-tubulin subunits and assembly into heterodimers. We recently described the purification of a novel trimer, TBCD•ARL2•β-tubulin. Here, we employed hydrogen/deuterium exchange coupled with mass spectrometry to explore the dynamics of each of the proteins in the trimer. Addition of guanine nucleotides resulted in changes in the solvent accessibility of regions of each protein that led to predictions about each’s role in tubulin folding. Initial testing of that model confirmed that it is ARL2, and not β-tubulin, that exchanges GTP in the trimer. Comparisons of the dynamics of ARL2 monomer to ARL2 in the trimer suggested that its protein interactions were comparable to those of a canonical GTPase with an effector. This was supported by the use of nucleotide binding assays that revealed an increase in the affinity for GTP by ARL2 in the trimer. We conclude that the TBCD•ARL2•β-tubulin complex represents a functional intermediate in the β-tubulin folding pathway whose activity is regulated by the cycling of nucleotides on ARL2. The co-purification of guanine nucleotide on the β-tubulin in the trimer is also shown, with implications to modeling the pathway.
How wide is the riparian zone of small streams in tropical forests? A test with terrestrial herbs

Abstract: Although it is well known that riparian zones can contribute strongly to between-habitat beta diversity, for most taxa it is not clear how far this ‘zone’ extends, and whether it corresponds to easily recognizable topographic features. Forty 200-m2 plots were installed in a terra firme tropical forest to detect compositional variation in terrestrial herbs from the margins of small streams to the uplands. Plots were ordinated by their dissimilarity in species composition with non-metric multidimensional scaling. The riparian zone around streams was distinct in understorey herb composition from upland areas for about 100 m from the streams, or about 70 m asl in elevation, the exact distance depending on the size of the stream valley. However, the only assemblage that was almost completely distinct occurred as a narrow band a few metres wide along the streams. The rest of the riparian zone appears to represent an ecotone with continuous change, most of which occurs out to a distance of about half the width of the riparian zone as we defined it. Although riparian zones are legally protected in Brazil, they are frequently degraded. The complex factors leading to zonation around streams need to be understood to effectively manage these areas.
Angioarchitectural Study on the IntrahepaticBlood Supply of Geese (Anser Anser Domesticus)with Special Reference to its Biliary System

Geese are from the lamellirostres because their bills have lamellae that fit with the bristles of the lateral margins of the tongue to sieve the food from the water [1,2]. Geese are used in guarding of the houses and belong to the tribe Anserini of the family Anatidae. This tribe comprises the genera Anser anser domesticus (grey geese), Branta (black geese) and Chen (the white geese). More distantly related members of the Anatidae family are swans, most of which are larger than true geese [3,4]. Published the economic importance of liver geese for production of foie gras.
Semen Parameters Associated With Male Infertility in a Sub-Saharan Black Population : The Effect of Age and Body Mass Index

Fathering a child at an advanced age of over 50 years is not rare among Black African population and it is assumed that each man can father a child from adulthood onwards. Anecdotal reports however indicate that certain percentage of the population in Africa suffer from infertility. Advanced Paternal Age (APA) is attributed to delay in setting up a family due to some factors among which are prolonged life expectancy, postponed marriage age, several socio-economic factors and a global transformation in women’s role in society [1]. More than before, females are now more exposed to both male and female contraceptive methods such as pills, Copper-T and condoms; a higher proportion of females are now more educated and there has been a global entry of females into the labor market [2]. Further, increase in life expectancy Abstract
What Does It Take? Deciphering Performance Indicators of NFL Running Backs through the Examination of Collegiate Performance and NFL Combine Results

This research uses a linear regression model to investigate the relationship between prospective NFL running backs’ NCAA FBS football statistics, NFL Combine measureables, and realized performance in the NFL as evaluated by Pro Football Focus. We observe 435 player-seasons from 2007-2014. The model suggests that collegiate conference affiliation, collegiate touchdowns, and NFL team passing strength are positively associated with NFL running back performance at statistically significant levels. Conference affiliation has the most substantial effect. NFL talent evaluators must appreciate that context is king when evaluating potential, and that pure stats are only a small piece of the puzzle.