Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determination of Seismic Lineaments In The Aegean Area

An attempt to determine the active seismic structures in the broader Aegean area is presented, in order to refine our knowledge about the active seismic faults associated with the generation of strong earthquakes. A statistical analysis aiming to define such linear structures was performed on the basis of the linear clustering of earthquakes using a complete and homogeneous catalog of instrumentally recorded earthquakes. Quality criteria, constraints and statistical tests have been proposed in order to obtain reliable results. Seismogenic regions were defined in the study area on the basis of the determined seismic lineaments and additional relevant information for the regions where the current analysis has not resulted in robust lineament determination. In each seismogenic region the seismic moment rate and the representative fault plane solution were calculated and used for the estimation of the deformation pattern. The obtained lineament orientation and spatial variation of deformation velocities contributes to our understanding on the tectonics and kinematics of the broader Aegean area.
Seasonal and Spatial Changes of Microorganism Communities in Constructed Wetlands: A Community Level Physiological Profiling Analysis

In constructed wetlands, microorganisms associated with plants are assumed to play a major role. A one-year survey was conducted in five vertical flow constructed wetland systems that had been operating from 2 months to 8 years in small French villages (100–500 People Equivalent) to provide a better understanding of microbiological activity. The objective of our study was to highlight the most important factor generating variability between microorganisms communities compared to treatment performances. Results of community level physiological profiling using Biolog Ecoplates were analyzed using principal component analysis. The greatest microbial activity was observed in the oldest wetland during summer. Profiles of fed and rest bed were differentiated by the nature of the main carbon source metabolized. Whereas carbohydrates and carboxylic acids appeared to be better assimilated with fed beds, it seemed that phosphate compounds as well as amines allowed better growth in the plates inoculated with samples of rest beds. In all fed beds, the most important parameters affecting the diversity were the season and the age of the wetlands. There were only slight profile differences between surface and subsurface samples and between the first and second stage samples.
Improved end-member characterisation of modern organic matter pools in the Ohrid Basin (Albania, Macedonia) and evaluation of new palaeoenvironmental proxies

Abstract. We present elemental, lipid biomarker and, in the supplement, compound-specific isotope (δ13C, δ2H) data for soils and leaf litter collected in the catchment of Lake Ohrid (Albania, Macedonia), as well as macrophytes, particulate organic matter and sediments from the lake itself. Lake Ohrid provides an outstanding archive of continental environmental change of at least 1.2 million years and the purpose of our study is to ground truth organic geochemical proxies that we developed in order to study past changes in the terrestrial biome. We show that soils dominate the lipid signal of the lake sediments rather than the vegetation or aquatic biomass. There is a strong imprint of suberin monomers on the composition of total lipid extracts and chain-length distributions of n-alkanoic acids, n-alcohols, ω-hydroxy acids and α, ω-dicarboxylic acids. Our end-member survey identifies that ratios of mid-chain length suberin-derived to long-chain length cuticular-derived alkyl compounds as well as their average chain length distributions can be used as new molecular proxies of organic matter sources to the lake. We tested these for the 8.2 ka event, a pronounced and widespread Holocene climate fluctuation. In SE Europe climate became drier and cooler in response to the event, as is clearly recognisable in the carbonate and organic carbon records of Lake Ohrid sediments. Our new proxies indicate biome modification in response to hydrological changes, identifying two phases of increased soil organic matter (OM) supply, first from soils with moderately degraded OM and then from more degraded soils. Our study demonstrates that geochemical fingerprinting of terrestrial OM should focus on the main lipid sources, rather than the living biomass. Both can exhibit climate-controlled variability, but are generally not identical.
Who are the Turkers? Worker Demographics in Amazon Mechanical Turk

Amazon Mechanical Turk (MTurk) is a crowdsourcing system in which tasks are distributed to a population of thousands of anonymous workers for completion. This system is becoming increasingly popular with researchers and developers. In this paper, we survey MTurk workers about their demographic make-up and usage behavior. We find that this population is diverse across several notable demographic dimensions such as age, gender, and income, but is not precisely representative of the U.S. as a whole. Indeed, certain homogeneous aspects of the population, such as education level and nationality, may impose limits on the appropriateness of Turkers as a target community for some interventions or research areas. An awareness of the demographics and behaviors of MTurk workers is important for understanding the capabilities and potential side effects of using this system.
Who Really Benefits from Mandatory Adoption of IFRS? A Closer Look at Preparers and Users of Financial Information

Since 1 January 2005, the European Union (EU) has mandated implementation of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) for preparation of consolidated financial statements for EU-listed firms. This paper analyzes the economic impact of mandatory adoption of IFRS on firms, investors, and creditors. Relying on the positive accounting theory, we study the economic impact of the new conceptual framework of financial information from IASB (2010), especially in paragraph OB2, where investors and creditors are designated as the main users of financial information, and QC 38, which assesses whether the benefits of financial information justify the costs associated with its production and use. Our sample is composed of 2,926 European firms that adopted IFRS in 2005. Results show that firm’s cost of capital declines when comparing data before and after IFRS adoption. For creditors, our results suggest that credit rating improves after IFRS adoption. However, we do not notice any significant difference in the quality of accounting earnings for investors. We also test if these results hold in the presence of asymmetric information, financial dependence and family ownership structure. Our results confirm the above trend. We conclude that the market anticipates the content of accounting data, and that mandatory adoption of IFRS has no impact on investors.
Time series analysis of factors affecting the demand for local rice in Malaysia

The own price, income and price of a substitute are the determinants of demand in the classical theory of consumer behavior. We used the theory to analyze the demand for local rice in Malaysia by using time series variables. We examined whether there is a long run relationship among the variables by using the unit root and cointegration tests. We then conducted the Granger causality, variance decomposition and impulse response function tests to examine their directions of causality as well as short term dynamics. The results show that there is a long run relationship among the variables and a unidirectional causality from price and income to demand. There are also lagged and short term dynamics among the variables.
Connectivity is a vital element of landscape structure

In a recent FORUM article, Dunning et al. (1992) put forward a framework of landscape processes that stimulated considerable discussion amongst us. We are in general agreement with their ideas, but feel that a more explicit recognition of the importance of movement as a component of landscape structure would add clarity and utility to the framework. We wish to build on their foundation by presenting some additional ideas. Dunning et al. (1992) outline four ecological processes acting at the landscape scale: 1) landscape complementation; 2) landscape supplementation; 3) sources and sinks; and 4) neighbourhood effects. Each process depends upon the distribution of resources in the landscape. Resources are distributed in patches. Implicit in the definition of each process is that animals move among the resource patches. In the first two, animals move among resource patches to: 1) acquire a full complement of resources to meet their needs; and 2) supplement their existing resources with those in additional patches. In the third, movement from sources to sinks is required for the maintenance of sink populations. The fourth process, neighbourhood effects, implies that individuals move between patches, but focuses on the permeability of the boundaries between contiguous patches. Dunning et al. (1992) assume thaf the ability of an organism to complement or supplement its resource requirements depends only on the distance to those resource patches. In a related paper, Pulliam et al. (1992) state: "When both landscape physiognomy and composition are incorporated into a population model, the dispersal of organisms across the landscape can be followed. ". However, an animal's ability to utilize a resource patch will also be dependent upon its ability to get there. This ability will be determined not only by the distance between patches (i.e. physiognomy), but also by the biophysical nature of the route(s) between two patches and the biology and behaviour of the organism (Henein and Merriam 1990). Some routes facilitate or allow unimpeded movement among patches; others impede to varying degrees the amount, or success, of movement. Because movement is so critical to animal population survival, we recognize a third measure of landscape structure (sensu Dunning et al. 1992) namely landscape 'connectivity' (Merriam 1984, Baudry and Merriam 1988, Merriam 1991). Landscape physiognomy and landscape composition measure the distribution of resource patches in a landscape (Dunning et al. 1992). Landscape connectivity is the degree to which the landscape facilitates or impedes movement among resource patches. Each of the components of landscape structure (landscape physiognomy, landscape composition and landscape connectivity) can be measured. Turner (1989) pre-
Lies And The Lying Liars Who Tell Them A Fair And Balanced Look At The Right

Thank you for reading lies and the lying liars who tell them a fair and balanced look at the right. Maybe you have knowledge that, people have look hundreds times for their chosen novels like this lies and the lying liars who tell them a fair and balanced look at the right, but end up in harmful downloads. Rather than reading a good book with a cup of tea in the afternoon, instead they juggled with some malicious virus inside their laptop.
Published by the Wilson Ornithological Society Evaluating the Effectiveness of Select Visual Signals to Prevent Bird-window Collisions

—Billions of birds are estimated to be killed striking clear and reflective windows worldwide, and conservation, ethical, and legal reasons justify preventing this unintended human-associated avian mortality. Field experiments reveal that to be effective, UV signals used to prevent bird-window collisions must minimally reflect 20–40% from 300–400 nm. Field experiments reveal 3.175 mm parachute cord hung in front of clear and reflective windows separated by 10.8 cm and 8.9 cm are effective bird-window collision preventive methods. The results of the parachute cord experiment and those of previous studies support the importance of applying collision prevention methods to the outside window surface reflecting the facing habitat and sky. Comparison of field and tunnel testing experimental protocols to evaluate bird-window colli1 Acopian Center for Ornithology, Department of Biology, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, PA 18104, USA. 2 Corresponding author; e-mail: klem@muhlenberg.edu sion preventive methods suggest that tunnel testing is useful for initial assessment but not as a definitive measure of effectiveness. Received 6 January 2012. Accepted 19 December 2012.
Genetic studies for improvement of spike characters in bread wheat

Five generations each, of the three crosses viz. MACS2496 × Pavon 1 (C1), MACS2496 × Mexico wheat (C2) and Pavon1 × K9644 (C3), were evaluated for spike length (cm), number of spikelets per spike, number of grains per spike and 1000 grain weight (g). The generations involving P 1 , P 2 , F 1 , F 2 and F 3 were evaluated in a randomized block design. The 5 parameter model suggested by Jinks and Jones (1958) was used for generation mean analysis. Heritability and genetic advance were also estimated. The computation of genetic advance revealed that combinations MACS2496 x Pavon1 and MACS2496 x Mexico wheat were beneficial for the improvement of 1000 grain weight.
Elliptic Fourier analysis on the tympanic bullae in three Meriones species (Rodentia, Mammalia): its application in biosystematics

Abstract. The size and shape of the auditory bullae are investigated across three species of Meriones, in order to determine the biosystematic value of bulla characteristics in species recognition. This study is based on outline (geometric morphometric) with elliptical Fourier and eigenshape analysis of tympanic bullae in: (a) the suprameatal triangle, (b) the mastoid, (c) the auditory meatus, and (d) the ventral view of bullae. The results show that characters of the auditory meatus separate these three species from each other. The shape of different parts of the bullae within each species is also shown to vary such as in two populations of M. persicus. The shape of organs is important in the interaction between the organism and its environment. Tympanic bullae variation is similar in the Geno population of M. persicus (Geno is located in south of Iran), and in M. libycus which lives in similar climates. The results of this analysis of tympanic bullae differ from the characters described by CORBET (1978).
Establishment of ant communities in forests growing on former agricultural fields: Colonisation and 25 years of management are not enough (Hymenoptera: Formicidae)

Ants are often considered as good indicators of change of management in different habitats. They have been used sporadi- cally to evaluate large scale transformations involving reafforestation. In the present study, the ant assemblages at 15 forest sites are compared. The sites differ in history, age and forest management. Our results show that there are clear changes in ant assemblages with developmental stage but even after 25 years not all forest species are present. Natural succession and planting of trees with or without any other management, resulted in only open country species, and some from forest and wet grassland colonizing these new forests. Sometimes gynes of target forest species arrived in new forests from nearby mature forest, but apparently were unable to start a colony. We attribute this findings to the lack of appropriate vegetation structure and litter characteristics, which determines the forest ant fauna, more than the dispersal of ant gynes. Further investigations should enable us to predict if these conditions can be produced by 50-100 or more years of forest succession and adequate management.
Studying Transfer Of Scientific Reasoning Abilities

Students taking introductory physics courses not only need to learn the fundamental concepts and to solve simple problems but also need to learn to approach more complex problems and to reason like scientists. Hypothetico- deductive reasoning is considered one of the most important types of reasoning employed by scientists. If-then logic allows students to test hypotheses and reject those that are not supported by testing experiments. Can we teach students to reason hypothetico-deductively and to apply this reasoning to problems outside of physics? This study investigates the development and transfer from physics to real life of hypothetico-deductive reasoning abilities by students enrolled in an introductory physics course at a large state university The abilities include formulating hypotheses and making predictions concerning the outcomes of testing experiments. (The work was supported by NSF grant REC 0529065.)
Assessment of the antifungal activities of polyhexamethylene-guanidine hydrochloride (PHMGH)-based disinfectant against fungi isolated from papaya (Carica papaya L.) fruit

The antifungal activity of the Polyhexamethylene-guanidine hydrochloride (PHMGH)-based disinfectant against fungi isolated from papaya fruit was evaluated. The aim of this work was to show that the PHMGH can be used as a disinfectant for papaya preservation. Thirty one strains of fungi were isolated as Mucor sp. , Botrytis sp. , Penicillium sp. , Geotrichum sp. , Aspergillus sp. and Colletotrichum sp. Mucor sp. was the most isolated with a frequency of 52.77% followed by Botrytis (47.22%), Aspergillus and Penicillium (8.33%), Colletotrichum (5.56%) then, Geotrichum (2.78%). The antifungal activity of the PHMGH was tested through the determination of the minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) and the minimal fungicidal concentrations (MFCs). All the strains tested were sensitive to the disinfectant. However, the activity of PHMGH varies according to the strain tested. The values of the MIC and the MFC were between <0.01 and 1.9 mg/ mL. Aspergillus sp. was the least susceptible fungi with a MIC and MFC of 1.9 mg/ mL whereas the most sensitive to PHMGH were the genera Botrytis and Colletotrichum with a MIC <0.01 mg/ mL. No matter the strains of fungi studied, the MIC and MFC values were equal. The PHMGH could therefore be considered as a fungicidal agent that could serve for the preservation of papaya fruit after harvesting. Key words: Antifungal activity, minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs), minimum fungicidal concentrations (MFCs), papaya preservation, polyhexamethylene-guanidine hydrochloride.
FENTANYL VERSUS MAGNESIUM SULPHATE AS ADJUVANT TO HYPERBARIC BUPIVACAINE IN SPINAL ANESTHESIA FOR ELECTIVE CESAREAN SECTIONS

Background: Subarachnoid block achieved a wide spread popularity as a simple and effective method of anesthesia for elective cesarean sections.The use of intrathecal adjuvants has gained popularity, with the intention of reducing the dose of local anesthetics, maintaining hemodynamic stability and delaying the onset of pain during the postoperative period The present study compared between fentanyl and magnesium sulphate as adjuvant to hyperbaric bupivcaine in subarachnoid block for patients undergoing elective cesarean sections. Subject and Methods: A total of 56 consented pregnant females undergoing elective cesarean sections, ASA grade I and II, were randomized into two groups of 28 patients each. Group F received 12.5 mg of intrathecal 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine ( 2.5 ml ) + 12.5 μg (0.25 mL) fentanyl + . 75 ml normal saline, Group M 12.5 mg of intrathecal 0.5% hyperbaric bupivacaine ( 2.5 ml ) + 100 mg (1 ml) magnesium sulfate. The two groups were assessed for character of the block, haemodynamic changes, duration of post operative analgesia, the side effects. Results: The onset of both sensory and motor block was slower in the magnesium group. The duration of spinal anesthesia and motor block were significantly longer in the magnesium group. Total analgesic dose requirement was less in Group M. Hemodynamic parameters were comparable in the two groups. Intrathecal magnesium caused minimal side effects. Conclusion: The addition of magnesium sulfate 100 mg to bupivacaine for sub-arachnoid block in patients undergoing elective cesarean section prolongs the duration of analgesia and reduces postoperative analgesic requirements without additional side effects and adverse neonatal outcomes.
The characterization of leadership within undergraduate engineering design teams through case study analysis

The paper explores leadership that exists within undergraduate engineering design teams. Often, leadership is described based on managerial styles, leadership types and styles, emotional intelligence, and work climate. However, little work explores leadership specifically within engineering and educational environment. The motivation of this research is further inspired based on the researcher’s own experience in undergraduate engineering design teams and the lack of formal leadership structure and training in typical engineering education programs. Leadership is identified in this research through conducting case study research by examining two undergraduate engineering design teams addressing different projects in different course settings. The results and conclusions from each study are extracted by triangulating within and across each of the data collection methods. Through these two case studies, leadership is clearly found present in both cases and with task-oriented leadership being the more prevalent type.
Electrical and optical characterization of the plasma needle

The plasma needle is a source to create a non-thermal radiofrequency plasma at atmospheric pressure. To improve the ease of working on biological samples, a flexible plasma probe was designed. In the new configuration, the needle was confined in a plastic tube through which helium flow was supplied. The new set-up was characterized by impedance measurements and emission spectroscopy. Impedance measurements were performed by means of an adjustable matching network; the results were modelled. The discharge was found to be entirely resistive; the measured voltage was in the range 140–270 Vrms and it was in excellent agreement with model results. From the resistance, the electron density was estimated to be 1017 m−3. Optical measurements showed substantial UV emission in the range 300–400 nm. Active oxygen radicals ( and ) were detected. Furthermore, the influence of helium flow speed was investigated. At low flow speeds, the density of molecular species in the plasma increased. UV emission and density of active species are important factors that determine the performance of plasma in the treatment of biological materials. Therefore, the new characterization will help us to understand and optimize the interactions of atmospheric plasma with cells and tissues.
Determination of some digestibility of nutrients, rumen and blood metabolites of Akkaraman rams fed low-tannin sorghum and other conventional feeds

Summary: In this study, some blood and rumen metabolites and digestibility of sorghum and other feedstuffs were determined. Four Akkaraman rams weighing 55 kg were fed barley (1200g barley +800 g clover), corn (1200 g + 800 g clover), sorghum (1200 g + 800 g clover), and low quality clover (1200 g) in a 4x4 Latin square design experiment. Each period consisted of 10-day of an adaptation phase and 14-day of a sample collection phase. Blood and rumen samples were collected at the end of sample collection periods. One-way ANOVA with Duncan’s Multiple Range Test was used in data analyses. pH values were 6.62, 6.80, 6.74, and 7.22 and NH3 levels were; 4.38, 3.12, 9.61 and 14.46 mg/dL for rams fed for sorghum, barley, corn and clover, respectively (p<0.05 for both). Nitrogen levels of blood serum were determined were 14.90, 8.55 10.00 and 18.70 mg/dL, respectively, in the same order (p<0.05). There was no significant difference in serum glucose and total protein levels. Apparent digestibilities were 83.06, 85.33, 69.01, and 59.34% for OM and 73.92, 67.92, 31.92, and 63.52 for CP in rams fed sorghum, barley, corn and clover, respectively (p<0.05 for both). There was no difference in digestibility of NDF, ADF and crude ash. In conclusion, due to presence of tannin, sorghum may not be suitable alternative to other grains as sole grain source for small ruminants.