Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Pecking Order as a Dynamic Leverage Theory

Static tradeoff theories, which do not explicitly treat the impact of transaction costs, do not explain the policy of asymmetry between frequent small debt transactions and infrequent large equity transactions. Nor do these theories explain why the debt ratio is allowed to wander a considerable distance from its alleged static optimum, or how much of a distance should be tolerated. We offer a class of diffusion models that mimic this behaviour in a stochastic-dynamic framework and are designed to optimize a financing strategy using any static tradeoff theory as input. The models developed reveal the determinants of the size and frequency of equity transactions and the range of values over which leverage variations are tolerated in four generic scenarios. They also yield a new formulation of the cost of capital that recognizes stochastic transaction costs and a penalty for deviation from any static-optimal leverage. Our class of models augments the pecking order theory, provides a flexible quantitative framework for its implementation as a decision tool, and facilitates the formulation of additional hypotheses for its empirical validation. Symmetrically, our results show the importance of dynamic factors in designing and interpreting empirical tests of static tradeoff theories. The results presented have important implications for the role played by static tradeoff theories in a stochastic-dynamic framework. One such implication is that the static-optimal leverage has no direct effect on the firm's leverage policy in this setting. The target leverage for refinancing transactions is different from the static-optimal leverage, and the mean leverage is generally different from both. As a consequence, the latter cannot be used to estimate the former. Another implication is that even when the mean leverage equals the static optimum, mean reversion is not an optimal behaviour and therefore not a legitimate test for the existence of a static tradeoff in a dynamic context. Still another implication is that wide variations in leverage ratios cannot be interpreted as evidence of leverage indifference. It follows that the pecking order theory is consistent with static tradeoff theories and does not require the assumption of leverage indifference.
Cenozoic synthem stratigraphic architecture of the SE Brazilian shelf and its global eustatic context: evidence from the Pelotas Basin (offshore Brazil)

Abstract The Pelotas Basin, located on the SE Brazilian shelf, has evolved since the Aptian. Stratigraphical data from the basin can be used for delineation of the unconformity-bounded units (synthems) on the shelf, which is a first step towards a full understanding of its stratigraphic architecture, evolution, and hydrocarbon potential. Hiatuses in the Cenozoic succession of the Pelotas Basin are established with both biostratigraphic (planktonic foraminifers and calcareous nannofossils) and isotopic (87Sr/86Sr) data. The seven recognised hiatuses are dated respectively as (1) Palaeocene (Danian- Thanetian), (2) Palaeocene/Eocene boundary (Thanetian-Ypresian), (3) Eocene (Ypresian-Lutetian), (4) Eocene-Oligocene (Lutetian-Rupelian), (5) early-late Oligocene (Rupelian-Chattian), (6) early Miocene (Aquitanian-Burdigalian), and (7) middle-late Miocene (Serravallian-Tortonian). These intervals between the hiatuses are correlated with those of the Santos and Campos Basins north from the Pelotas Basin. The breaks in sedimentation that these basins have in common occurred (1) at the Palaeocene-Eocene and (2) Eocene-Oligocene transitions, (3) in the early Miocene, and (4) in the middle-late Miocene. These main unconformities outline five synthems on the SE Brazilian shelf, viz. the SEBS-1 (Palaeocene), SEBS-2 (Eocene), SEBS-3 (Oligocene), SEBS-4 (early-middle Miocene) and SEBS-5 (late Miocene-Holocene). The above unconformities are correlated with those established in the Cenozoic sedimentary successions of different regions such as Western Siberia, Arabia, NW and NE Africa, peninsular India, S Australia, the Gulf of Mexico, NW Europe, and South Africa. The only regional unconformity, near the Oligocene/Miocene boundary, coincides with the nearly-global sedimentation break. The latter was resulted from a climatic event, i.e., the ‘Mi-1 glaciation’. Thus, a eustatic origin is supposed for this regional unconformity. The other regional unconformities also correspond to global sea-level falls (probably with an exception for the Palaeocene/Eocene surface), which suggests that global eustatic movements controlled the development of the regional synthem architecture.
Efficiency of intrathecal glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor on nitric oxide and nitric oxide synthase activity in rat with neuropathic pain

The aim of this study was to investigate the efficiency of intrathecal glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor (GDNF) on nitric oxide (NO) and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity following a spinal nerve ligation (SNL) of male Sprague Dawley rats. The rats were randomly divided into four groups: normal (control), sham-operated, SNL (SNL followed by a physiological saline injection into the subarachnoid space), and GDNF (SNL followed by a GDNF injection into the subarachnoid space). Each group was divided into three subgroups (n = 10). The rats in each subgroup were euthanised 3, 7, and 14 days after the operation. Rat behaviour was evaluated before euthanising, and the ipsilateral spinal cords were harvested after euthanising to determine the NO content and NOS activity. Compared with the control and sham-operated groups, the NO content and NOS activity in the SNL group increased significantly 3 days after the operation; this increase was maintained until 14 days after the operation (P < 0.01 or 0.05). A significant decrease was observed in the NO content and NOS activity in the GDNF group compared with the SNL group. The decrease continued until 14 days after the operation (P < 0.01 or 0.05). The results indicated that the NO and NOS activity in the rat spinal cord are associated with SNL-induced neuropathic pain. The decreased neuropathic pain from the intrathecal GDNF is correlated with the decrease in NO content and NOS activity in the spinal cord. Key words: Glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor, neuralgia, nitric oxide, nitric oxide synthase.
Investment Behaviour of EU Arable Crop Farms in Selected EU Countries and the Impact of Policy Reforms

This deliverable provides a comparative analysis, among selected EU member states, of the investment demand of a sample of specialised field crop farms for farm buildings, machinery and equipment as determined by different types and levels of Common Agricultural Policy support. It allows for the existence of uncertainty in the price of output farmers receive and for both long- and short-run determinants of investment levels, as well as for the presence of irregularities in the cost adjustment function due to the existence of threshold-type behaviours. The empirical estimation reveals that three investment regimes are consistently identified in Germany and Hungary, across asset and support types, and in France for machinery and equipment. More traditional disinvestment-investment type behaviours characterise investment in farm building in France and the UK, across support types, and Italy for both asset classes under coupled payments. The long-run dynamic adjustment of capital stocks is consistently and significantly estimated to be towards a – mostly non-stationary – lower level of capitalisation of the farm analysed. By contrast, the expected largely positive short-run effects of an increase in output prices are often not significant. The effect of CAP support on both types of investment is positive, although seldom significant, while the proxy for uncertainty employed fails to be significant yet, in most cases, has the expected effect of reducing the investment levels.
Curved Rota-Baxter systems

Rota-Baxter systems are modified by the inclusion of a curvature term. It is shown that, subject to specific properties of the curvature form, curved Rota-Baxter systems $(A,R,S,\omega)$ induce associative and (left) pre-Lie products on the algebra $A$. It is also shown that if both Rota-Baxter operators coincide with each other and the curvature is $A$-bilinear, then the (modified by $R$) Hochschild cohomology ring over $A$ is a curved differential graded algebra.
Multiwavelength Studies of Hercules X-1 during Short High and Anomalous Low States: On-again, Off-again

We present results from multiwavelength observations of the Hercules X-1 system during a short high state (SHS) and during an anomalous low state (ALS). The magnitude of deviation from spin-up appears to be positively correlated with duration of the ALS. Such a correlation is consistent with an interpretation of the ALS in terms of a change in mass accretion rate that causes the disk to tilt and twist beyond the normal deviations that cause the 35 day cycle. A larger deviation from the average results in a stronger disruption of the disk and causes the disk to take longer to settle back to its "normal" 35 day behavior. Our model—which includes X-ray heating of the disk and companion star, shadowing of the X-ray flux by the disk, and a contribution to the continuum emission from the accretion stream or hot spot—can consistently explain the observed changes in X-ray, ultraviolet (UV), and optical continuum light curves for both the SHS and ALS. The Hubble Space Telescope (HST) and Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph (STIS) observations presented here are the first UV observations of sufficient spectral and temporal resolution to construct Doppler tomograms of the line emission. Doppler tomograms of the UV emission lines during SHS and ALS show the majority of the emission coming from the surface of the companion star rather than from the accretion disk. Tomograms made after separating the N V emission lines into broad and narrow components suggests that while the narrow component is associated with emission from the companion star, the broad component may be associated with emission from a distorted disk. The Doppler maps also show that heating over the inner face of HZ Her is not uniform and imply partial eclipse of the UV line emission by an accretion stream and/or hot spot.
The Impact of Insurance Literacy and Marketing Treatments on the Demand for Health Microinsurance in Senegal: A Randomised Evaluation

Mutual health organisations have been present in Senegal for years. Despite their benefits, in most areas take-up rates remain low. Using randomised controlled trials, we evaluate the effect of an insurance literacy module, communicating the benefits and functioning of health microinsurance, as well as three cross-cutting marketing treatments. The results from our various marketing treatments indicate a positive and significant effect on health insurance adoption, particularly for poor households, increasing take-up by around 35–40%. The insurance literacy module does not seem to have a positive impact on take-up decisions. We attempt to provide different contextual reasons for this result.
An Experimental Study on Solute Transport in One-Dimensional Clay Soil Columns

Solute transport in low-permeability media such as clay has not been studied carefully up to present, and we are often unclear what the proper governing law is for describing the transport process in such media. In this study, we composed and analyzed the breakthrough curve (BTC) data and the development of leaching in one-dimensional solute transport experiments in low-permeability homogeneous and saturated media at small scale, to identify key parameters controlling the transport process. Sodium chloride (NaCl) was chosen to be the tracer. A number of tracer tests were conducted to inspect the transport process under different conditions. The observed velocity-time behavior for different columns indicated the decline of soil permeability when switching from tracer introducing to tracer flushing. The modeling approaches considered were the Advection-Dispersion Equation (ADE), Two-Region Model (TRM), Continuous Time Random Walk (CTRW), and Fractional Advection-Dispersion Equation (FADE). It was found that all the models can fit the transport process very well; however, ADE and TRM were somewhat unable to characterize the transport behavior in leaching. The CTRW and FADE models were better in capturing the full evaluation of tracer-breakthrough curve and late-time tailing in leaching.
Effect of Long-term Fertilization on the Quality of Wheat

Aim of the study was to investigate the effect of long-term fertilization on the quality of wheat grain including protein, starch, fat content and the amino acid was analyzed by cluster analysis. The effect of fertilization on the quality of wheat seed was investigated based on continues application of fertilizer for 26 and 36 years in Gleyic Cambisols. The results showed that the amounts of protein were 14.12% and 14.1% for N 2 and N2PK treatments which was higher than others. In addition, the total amounts of amino acid decreased by fertilization. However, the amounts of starch decreased and the less decreased treatment was N 2PK treatment for 0.07%. The highest fat was 0.17% for N 2PK treatment.
ISLAMIC LEADERSHIP PRINCIPLES ON MOSQUES PERFORMANCE IN LAGOS STATE, NIGERIA

Islamic leadership principles (ILP) involve the 4Cs models, which are Consciousness of Allah, Competency, Consideration, and Consultation. These principles are derived from the Holy Qurâ€™an and the tradition of Prophet Muhammad (ïº»ï» Ù‘ï»° ï·² ï»‹ï» ï¯¾ï®« Ùˆïº³ï» Ù‘Ù…), guided by the efforts of researchers to provide a philosophical background for leadership. The purpose of this article is to explain the ILP (Islamic leadership principles) on Masjid (Mosque) Performance (MP) in Nigeria. This research utilise quantitative methodology where it engage a cross sectional survey and administers 400 questionnaires to the Masjid leadership in Lagos. The regression results of the constructs of Islamic leadership principles (ILP), show that there are significant and positive relationships between Islamic leadership principles and mosque performance. The finding of this study showed that the relationship between ILP and MP is positive and significant. This showed that when Imams and other leaders of the Masjid demonstrated good attitudes and fairness, the followers would emulate them and consequently increase the performance of the Masjid. It was also found that Imams should meet the perspectives of Shura (mutual consultation) to possess good consultation qualities regarding all important affairs of the Masjid. Imams should possess leaderâ€™s traits such as being visionary, and communicate effectively with the Jamaâ€™ah (congregants) of the Masjid. This means that if the Imams adhere to the findings of this study, there will be more effectiveness and efficiency in mosque performance. For further research this study recommends that monitoring and the training system should focus on strengthening the leadership of the Masjid (Mosque).
Interjections and Emotion (with Special Reference to “Surprise” and “Disgust”)

“All languages have ‘emotive interjections’ (i.e., interjections expressing cognitively based feelings)” (Wierzbicka 1999, p. 276)—and yet emotion researchers have invested only a tiny research effort into interjections, as compared with the huge body of research into facial expressions and words for emotion categories. This article provides an overview of the functions, meanings, and cross-linguistic variability of interjections, concentrating on non-word-based ones such as Wow! , Yuck! , and Ugh! The aims are to introduce an area that will be unfamiliar to most readers, to illustrate how one leading linguistic approach (natural semantic metalanguage [NSM]) deals with interjectional meaning, and to start a discussion about an interdisciplinary research agenda for the study of emotive interjections. Examples are drawn from English, Polish, and Cantonese.
Farmers’ Production Constraints, Knowledge of Striga andPreferred Traits of Pearl Millet in Jigawa State, Nigeria

A participatory rural appraisal was performed in order to identify farmers’ pearl millet production constraints, preferred varietal traits and their knowledge about Striga hermonthica. This was conducted in Dutse (Madobi and Kudai), Birninkudu (Kantoga and Kafingana) and Kiyawa (Karfawa and Shuwarin) local governments of Jigawa state Nigeria. Questionnaires and focus group discussion were used to gather information from 143 respondents. Results shows that the five most important traits selected were resistance to Striga infestation, resistance to downy mildew, tolerance to shattering, good quality local beverage, and tolerance to lodging. The major constraints to production across all the districts were low soil fertility, Striga, downy mildew, and high labour costs. Farmers had a good knowledge about Striga and their control methods across the locations were hand-pulling and or hoe weeding.
The Effect of Accounting Conservatism on Value Relevance of Financial Statements An empirical research to the relationship between two accounting phenomena

Erasmus University Rotterdam (EUR) Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) Department of Business Economics Master Accounting, Auditing and Control (AAC) The Effect of Accounting Conservatism on Value Relevance of Financial Statements An empirical research to the relationship between two accounting phenomena Master Thesis Author: M.J.H. Wendt Studentnumber : 187677 Supervisor: Prof. Dr. M.A. van Hoepen RA Co-supervisor: Mr. E.A. de Knecht RA
Soil vulnerability in Uruguay: potential effects of an increase in erosive rainfall on soil loss

Climate change is likely to modify rainfall patterns and their interaction with the soil. This paper addresses soil vulnerability in terms of soil loss resulting from increases in the amount of rainfall. Four agricultural soils from Uruguay were studied: 2 'Vertisol Kuptico' soils (Typic Pelluderts), 1 'Brunosol Subeutrico Tipico' and 1 'Brunosol Subeutrico Luvico' (Typic Argiudolls). A field rainfall simulator was used to produce rain events of controlled intensity. Three of the soils were exposed to a constant rain of 70 mm h-', which is the intensity of 30 min erosive rain events with a return period of 2 yr. The remaining soil, which is characterized by a high infiltration rate, was exposed to 140 mm h-' rain. A 20 mm rainfall was applied on soil previously wet to saturation of the A horizon. The surface was prepared as bare soil seedbed on natural slopes (which are 2 to 5 % steep, depending on the soil). The results obtained were corrected for a constant slope according to the Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE). Soil losses (in kg ha-') for rainwater depths (amounts) of 5, 10, 15 and 20 mm respectively were: Vertisol (Serie Tala): 25, 136, 273 and 437; Vertisol (Serie Jesus Maria): 52, 291, 1233 and 2633; Brunosol (Serie Pando): 368, 961, 1725 and 2683; Brunosol (Serie Colonia Brause): 48, 60, 115 and 224. These results are indicative of: (1) a major difference in the degree of vulnerability among soils, and (2) an increase in the soil loss rate as a result of the increase in the amount of applied rainfall. The high sensitivity of the Uruguayan soils to climate-change-induced potential variations in rainfall pattern-is thus confirmed.
Partial Least-Squares Discriminant Analysis on Autofluorescence Spectra of Oral Carcinogenesis

A partial least-squares (PLS) discriminant analysis on the autofluorescence spectra of oral squamous cell carcinoma based on the cross-validation technique was conducted to discriminate among oral tissues at different cancer development stages. These tissues were obtained from hamsters of DMBA-induced buccal pouch carcinogenesis. The study on the fluorescence spectra of the cancer tissues revealed that 320 nm might be the optimal excitation wavelength, and it was selected for the discriminating analysis. The PLS discriminant plot based on cross-validation showed that tissues of oral carcinogenesis belonging to four clinically important cancer development stages—normal tissues, hyperplasia, dysplasia and early cancers, and frankly invasive cancers—could be classified by using the first two PLS factors that emerged from the fluorescence spectra at 320 nm excitation. The PLS factor loading plots of the first PLS factor of 320 and 360 nm excitations showed that the first PLS factor was correlated to the fluorescent structure changes. This study indicates that further development of the PLS discriminant analysis on the autofluorescence spectra may be useful for developing a simple and efficient discriminating algorithm for the identification of different stages of human oral carcinogenesis.
A state wide professional development program in engineering with science andmathteachersinAlabama: FosteringconceptualunderstandingsofSTEM

Dr. Christine Schnittka is an assistant professor in the College of Education and the Department of Curriculum and Teaching with a joint appointment in the College of Engineering. Her current research involves developing and evaluating engineering design-based curriculum units that target key science concepts and environmental issues through the contextual lens of problem-based learning. Prior to receiving her Ph.D. in science education at the University of Virginia, Dr. Schnittka was a middle school teacher and administrator for 10 years, and prior to that, worked as a mechanical engineer. She has published her work in journals such as the International Journal of Science Education, the International Journal of Engineering Education, Advances in Engineering Education, The Science Teacher, and Science Scope.
Global modeling analysis of tropospheric ozone and its radiative forcing from biomass burning emissions in the twentieth century

[1] This work evaluates the sensitivity of tropospheric ozone (O3) and its radiative forcing (RF) from 1890 to 1990 to different biomass burning (BB) emissions using a global tropospheric climate-chemistry model (CCM) with a modified chemical mechanism for anthropogenic volatile organic compounds (AVOC). The use of the most efficient simplified chemical scheme among three chemical mechanisms with different degrees of complexity is acceptable for global scale simulations of the radiative effects of tropospheric O3 changes in the CCM, since the differences in the results are small. The CCM model with simplified chemistry is implemented to study various aspects of the impact of BB emissions on tropospheric O3 and its RF. The backward emission model results are in good agreement with the present-day observations for regions downwind of BB sources, while the forward emission model may reasonably produce the distributions of regional emissions in the preindustrial period. The global mean RF due to tropospheric O3 increase from 1890 to 1990 is 0.41 W m 2 on a global average. When no anthropogenic emissions in the preindustrial period are considered, this forcing reaches 0.47 W m 2 . We find that the global mean BB forcing due to tropospheric O3 changes from 1890 to 1990 is 0.15 W m 2 on a global average. The preindustrial BB emissions need to be represented realistically when evaluating controls on the emissions of trace gases and aerosols for a sustainable society, because there are significant open biomass burning emissions in the preindustrial period. The significant regional differences in the surface O3 concentrations among three different BB data sets are found in the United States for 1890 and in Brazil for 1990. In these regions during the periods, the most common land uses in the forests are logging and conversion of primary or secondary forests to cattle pasture or shifting cultivation. Improvement in the data sets of historical land use changes and accurate representation of carbon dynamics are needed for improving the model calculation of biomass burning emissions.