Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Patterns of tropospheric response to solar variability

Despite numerous reports of apparent climate responses to the 11‐year solar cycle, the Sun's role for weather and climate has remained a matter of controversy. One important reason is the difficulty of reliably attributing the observed atmospheric effects to solar variability, rather than to other forcing factors or intrinsic variability. Here we show that consistent patterns of statistically significant solar signals emerge in all major observables throughout the low‐ and mid‐latitude troposphere, when El Niño and volcanic signals are removed from meteorological data. Solar forcing is strongest in the tropics and at mid‐latitudes, and the heating and moistening of the troposphere during solar maximum is accompanied by a modulation of the large‐scale tropospheric circulation systems. These findings have implications for the question of where and how the Sun exerts its influences in the climate system.
Removal of heavy metals from metal-containing effluent by yeast biomass

The aim of this study was to investigate the biosorption of heavy metals, chrome (Cr) and tin (Sn) from metal-containing effluent by waste brewer’s yeast. Biosorption of Cr and Sn was studied under batch conditions at a pH value of 6.5. The biomass, non-viable cells of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, is able to adsorb tin from a tin effluent, containing trace amounts of other metals. The uptake proceeded quickly over the first 30 min and slowed down over the following 30 min. Research studies have described this phenomenon of fast initial sorption with a second slower phase. Also, a study has been conducted in this regard and states that initial removal is almost entirely dependent on biosorption of metal cations to the cell wall. The yeast can adsorb both chrome and tin from the respective effluents, but removal of tin is faster initially during the first 40 min. Removal of chrome after 60 min is higher than that of tin at the same time. This can likely be ascribed to the difficulty of removing tin from metalcontaining waste water. The yeast, S. cerevisiae, in a non-viable state, is able to adsorb chrome and tin from the chrome and tin effluents of a local iron and steel industry.
Growth Determinants Revisited; Alin Mirestean and Charalambos Tsangarides; IMF Working Paper 09/268; December 1, 2009

This Working Paper should not be reported as representing the views of the IMF. The views expressed in this Working Paper are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the IMF or IMF policy. Working Papers describe research in progress by the authors and are published to elicit comments and to further debate. This paper revisits the cross-country growth empirics debate using a novel Limited Information Bayesian Model Averaging framework to address model uncertainty in the context of a dynamic growth model in panel data with endogenous regressors. Our empirical findings suggest that once model uncertainty is accounted for there is strong evidence that initial income, investment, life expectancy, and population growth are robustly correlated with economic growth. We also find evidence that debt, openness, and inflation are robust growth determinants. Overall, the set of our robust growth determinants differs from those identified by other studies that incorporate model uncertainty, but ignore dynamics and/or endogeneity. This underscores the importance of accounting for model uncertainty and endogeneity in the investigation of growth determinants. JEL Classification Numbers: O40, C11, C15, C23, C52.
The effects of temperature and light on the gametogenesis and spawning of four sea urchin and one sea cucumber species on coral reefs in Kenya

Seasonality in reproduction in temperate marine invertebrates is well recognized, but reproduction at the equator where environmental variability is lower is typically assumed to be continuous. This paper reviews studies of the reproductive cycles of four species of sea urchins and one species of sea cucumber to test for seasonality and sexual synchrony along the Kenyan coast (1S 5S). Gonad index measurements and macro and microscopic observations of gonads were used to evaluate monthly changes in gonad growth. The urchin Echinometra mathaei and sea cucumber Holothuria arenacava displayed a seasonal reproductive pattern with gametogenesis commencing in July during the southeast monsoons and spawning peaking between March-April during the northeast monsoons. Monthly temperature and light significantly correlated with gonad index in these species but light displayed a stronger response. The sympatric urchins Diadema savignyi and D. setosum had a monthly gametogenic cycle with D. savignyi spawning after full moon and D. setosum spawning in the last quarter. These species also showed seasonal gonad growth with D. savignyi following a pattern similar to E. mathaei. The life history strategies of these species included a high level of sexual synchrony and spawning at the time most favorable for larval growth.
Seasonal Distributions of Satellite-Measured Phytoplankton Pigment Concentration Along the Chilean Coast

Five years (1979–1983) of Coastal Zone Color Scanner satellite ocean color data are used to examine seasonal patterns of phytoplankton pigment concentration along the Chilean coast from 20°S to 45°S. Four kilometer resolution, 2–4 day composites document the presence of filaments of elevated pigment concentration extending offshore throughout the study area, with maximum offshore extension at higher latitudes. In three years, 1979, 1981, and 1983, sufficient data exist in monthly composites to allow recreation of portions of the seasonal cycle. Data in 1979 are the most complete. Near-shore concentrations and cross-shelf extension of pigment concentrations in 1979 are maximum in austral winter throughout the study area and minimum in summer. Available data from 1981 and 1983 are consistent with this temporal pattern but with concentrations approximately double those of 1979. Seasonal, spatial patterns within 10 km of shore and 50 km offshore indicate a latitudinal discontinuity both in absolute concentration and in the magnitude of the seasonal cycle at approximately 33°S in both 1979 and in the climatological time series. The discontinuity is strongest in fall-winter and weakest in summer. South of this latitude, concentrations are relatively high (2–3 mg m−3 in 1979), a strong seasonal cycle is present, and patterns 50 km offshore are correlated with those within 10 km of shore. North of 33°S, concentrations are <1.5 mg m−3 (in 1979), and the seasonal cycle within 10 km of shore is present but much weaker and less obviously correlated with that 50 km offshore. The seasonal cycle of pigment concentrations is 180° out of phase with monthly averaged upwelling favorable winds. Noncoincident Pathfinder sea surface temperature data show that over most latitudes, coastal low surface temperatures lag wind forcing by 1–2 months, but these too are out of phase with the pigment seasonal cycle. These data point to control of pigment patterns along the Chilean coast by the interaction of upwelling with circulation patterns unconnected to local wind forcing.
Cardiovascular mortality in northwestern Russia in relation with geomagnetic disturbances

espanolEl objetivo del estudio fue identificar en el noroeste de Rusia los impactos de las perturbaciones geomagneticas, los factores socioeconomicos y antropogenicos en la mortalidad causada por enfermedades cardiovasculares (CVE, por sus siglas en ingles). Se analizaron 9,057 muertes por CVE en la ciudad de Kirovsk (peninsula de Kola, 67.6 N, 33.7 E), relacionadas con las estaciones del ano de 1948 a 2010. Se aprecian tres picos significativos en el numero total de muertes en varones por CVE: en mayo, septiembre e invierno. El pico maximo de mayo predomino para los varones, excepto en la poblacion de mayor edad 70 anos). Parece que se relaciona con cuestiones emocionales y fisicas derivadas del aumento de hormonas en primavera. En cuanto a las mujeres, se mostraron dos maximos significativos de muertes por CVE en otono e invierno, y un pico en primavera insignificante. La distribucion estacional de las tormentas geomagneticas moderadas (50 Ap100 nT) tenia un patron bimodal con picos de primavera y otono. Este patron bimodal derivado de la variacion estacional tambien se encuentra presente en los grupos mayores de edad ( 70 anos), tanto en hombres como en mujeres. El analisis con el Metodo Multi-Taper (MTM, por sus siglas en ingles) revelo periodos de 9-10 anos, 4.7 anos y 2.3 anos, con un nivel de certeza de 90%. Estos periodos parecen coincidir con los principales ciclos de variaciones del indice aa de la actividad geomagnetica. En la region de este estudio no se detecto una relacion significativa entre la contaminacion atmosferica y la mortalidad por enfermedades cardiovasculares. EnglishThe aim of the study was to identify the impact of natural (geomagnetic disturbances), socioeconomic and man-made factors on mortality from cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in Northwestern Russia. Data from 9057 CVD deaths in Kirovsk town (Kola Peninsula, 67.6 N, 33.7 E) were analyzed with respect to seasons of the year from 1948 to 2010. Total male CVD deaths showed three significant peaks in May, September and winter. The May maximum was dominant for all males, except for the oldest age (70 years) group and seemed to be caused by emotional and physical effects of increased hormones in spring. Total female CVD deaths showed two significant maxima in autumn and winter and one insignificant spring peak. Seasonal distribution of the moderate (50Ap100 nT) magnetic had a bimodal pattern with spring and autumn peaks. This bimodal pattern of seasonal variation is also present in the female and male oldest age (mayor o igual a 70 years) groups. Multi-Taper-Method (MTM) spectral analysis revealed periods of 9-10 years, 4.7 years and 2.3 years at confidence level of 90%. These periods seem to coincide with the main cycles of variations of the aa-index of geomagnetic activity. There is no significant association of air pollution and CVD mortality at the region.
Graduates job mobility: a longitudinal analysis

As part of the analysis of the external effectiveness of university education, a special area of attention is represented by graduates’ mobility for occupational reasons. Understanding whether or not the various types of degree courses affect mobility to a significant extent and estimating the net effect induced by individual and context-related characteristics as well as the tendency of this phenomenon over time will help provide information support to universities for use in their decision-making processes. This article proposes a multi-level longitudinal analysis to investigate the above aspects. The analysis draws upon the ALMALAUREA database relative to graduates from the years 2000, 2001 and 2002 interviewed at 1, 3 and 5 years from graduation.
IPO PERFORMANCE UNDER LOW INFORMATION ASYMMETRY AND LOW AGENCY CONFLICTS: THE CASE OF DEMUTUALIZED INSURERS

One of the hypotheses put forth to explain the post-issue underperformance of IPO stocks is that managers take advantage of windows of opportunity by timing the offerings when shares are overvalued. This study investigates the hypothesis by examining the post-IPO performance of insurance firms that went public after going through a process called demutualization, a structural conversion from mutual to stock company. Because the demutualization process is highly regulated, managers of these insurers have little discretion to time the issue. Furthermore, the demutualization process is very transparent so these IPOs should have lower information asymmetry. Empirical results show that, on average, demutualized insurance IPOs do not exhibit poor performance compare to various benchmarks. The results yield indirect support to the notion that managers of other types of IPO firms take advantage of “window of opportunity” which, in turn, leads to poor long-run
A Review on Encapsulation of Oils

Heat, oxygen, moisture and light are the main causes of oxidation reactions in lipid containing foods. In particular, lipid oxidation is a major problem for unsaturated lipids. Until recent years, natural or synthetic antioxidants have been widely used in oils to retard oxidative deteriorations. Nowadays, encapsulation of oils like other sensitive materials such as vitamins, colorants, phenolic compounds or probiotic bacteria by various techniques have become increasingly popular as a promising preservation method. On the other hand, encapsulation improves handling properties of oils as well as protecting oils against oxidation. Spray drying is the most preferred encapsulation technique due to its lower operating costs and simplicity. Freeze–drying, coacervation and emulsification are the other well–known encapsulation methods. However, process parameters of these methods have extremely important effect on storage stability of encapsulated oils. As for encapsulated oils by drying, also the characteristics of powder products are greatly influenced by process variables. Many studies have been carried out to optimize process factors for encapsulation of oils with a maximum efficiency. In this review, common practices used for oil encapsulation and the oxidative stability of encapsulated oils are discussed in detail. Furthermore, effects of environmental conditions on storage stability of encapsulated oils during storage are also reviewed.
Do your Rivals Enhance your Access to Credit? Theory and Evidence

In this paper, we unveil a disregarded benefit of product market competition for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). In a model where firms are financed through collateralized bank loans and compete a la Cournot, we introduce a probability of bankruptcy. We investigate how the number of rivals and the existence of outsiders willing to acquire productive assets of distressed incumbents affect the equilibrium share of investment financed with bank credit. Using a sample of Italian SMEs, we find evidence that product market competition impacts positively on the share of investment financed with bank credit only when outsiders are absent. (A shorter version of this working paper has been published in SMALL BUSINESS ECONOMICS)
Verbal agreement with collective noun-based constructions: syntactic and lexical implications of of-dependents

This corpus-based study analyses the number mismatches found in English collective nounbased subjects taking of-complementation (i.e. determiner + collective + of N). The plural ofPPs in these constructions have proved to be a determinant factor of verbal number, as evinced by the overrides of canonical (i.e. singular) agreement with the singular collective noun that they favour. This paper aims at measuring the impact on verbal number of both the morphology of the plural noun in the of-dependents (i.e. overt vs. non-overt plurality as in boys vs. people) and the (syntactic and structural) complexity of the of-PPs (i.e. structural design of of-PPs in terms of constituency and in number of words). The results obtained show a strong correlation between the influence that of-dependents exert on the number of the verb and their complexity, thus attesting that the rate of plural verbal agreement diminishes significantly with increasing (syntactic and structural) complexity.
SAUDI EFL LEARNERS’ ATTITUDE TOWARDS INTEGRATION OF VIDEO-PODCASTS IN LISTENING COMPREHENSION

The use of podcasts is growing in the instructions of listening comprehension. However, the success of computer technology generally depends on learners positive attitudes towards it. The present study explored attitudes of Saudi EFL undergraduates toward the use of video-podcasts integration in listening comprehension. Moreover, the study also examined students’ attitude from the perspective of the number of video-podcasts they received in their instructions. Samples included 90 English major male undergraduates divided into three groups. The three groups received five (5), ten (10) and 15 video-podcasts in their listening classes before they answered an attitude questionnaire. ANOVA results revealed that the students had positive attitudes towards the use of video-podcasts in listening. However, no significant difference was found between the attitudes of the three experimental groups who received varied number of video-podcasts in their instructions. Article visualizations:
Financial Liberalization, Foreign Ownership and Corporate Operational Efficiency: The Case of Taiwan Market

Using a non-parametric data envelopment analysis (DEA) method, this paper investigates the investment allocation choices of foreign investors and how the foreign ownership and corporate operational efficiency play roles in Taiwan market with more financial liberalization. Empirical results suggest a possible channel. Through this channel, a high level of foreign ownership significantly positively affects corporate operational efficiency, and then higher operational efficiency triggers better performance. With more liberalization, some foreign investors are not only speculators, but also they play the role of monitoring or disciplinary. They improve corporate operational efficiency and performance, and thus in turn their investment profits, especially high-tech and exporting companies. These two roles are not mutually exclusive. The case of Taiwan market may have established a paradigm for developing countries to follow.
EVALUATION OF MOLAR SIZE AS A BASIS FOR DISTINGUISHING WILD BOAR FROM DOMESTIC SWINE: EMPLOYING THE PRESENT TO DECIPHER THE PAST

Dans cet article les AA exposent les methodes employees pour distinguer un sanglier sauvage d'un porc domestique. Pour cela, ils evaluent la taille des molaires des animaux. Ils exposent les techniques d'approche et les methodes utilisees et le choix des specimens. Il en resulte que, des cinq mesures utilisees ici, la taille des seconde et troisieme molaires est un element determinant dans la differenciation des sangliers sauvages eurasiatiques et des petits porcs domestiques.
Value Creation and Value Capture: A Multilevel Perspective

As an introduction to the special issue topic of value creation, we define value creation in terms of use value and exchange value and discuss some of the key issues related to its study, including the topic of value capture. Although the definition of value creation is common across levels of analysis, the process of value creation will differ based on whether value is created by an individual, an organization, or society. We use the concepts of competition and isolating mechanisms to explain how value can be captured at different levels of analysis.
A Note on Jackknife Variance Estimation for the General Regression Estimator

Let U  f1; . ;Ng be a ®nite population. Suppose that we know the total Tx of an auxiliary variable x of dimension p. A sample s is observed from a pps sampling plan. Let pk and pkl be the ®rst and second inclusion probabilities, respectively. Our goal is to estimate the total Ty  SU yk of a positive variable y with f xk; yk, k [ sg and Tx. The general regression estimator (GREG) of Ty is given by Ã TGREG  X
Developmental Dyslexia and Reading in Spanish as a Foreign Language

This paper deals with developmental dyslexia and the influence reading disabilities exert over the process of foreign language learning, placing a special emphasis on development of reading skills in Spanish as a foreign language. While trying to explain the aetiology of developmental dyslexia, one usually starts with cognitive reading processes and various reading disorder manifestations which depend on the characteristics of a foreign language. Reading disabilities are also observed in the context of a predominant communication-oriented language teaching paradigm. Further, and starting with the approaches to reading disorders applied nowadays, the elaborated exercises are oriented towards an additional stimulation of phonological, morphological, syntactic and orthographic awareness in learners of Spanish whose first language is Croatian.
Comparison among the Predictions of Energy Consumption for Sugar Beet by Using Artificial Neural Network and Regression Models in Iran

This research is done in Mahabad Township to estimate the amount of energy consumption for sugar beet and to compare two models, neural network with regression models. Required information is obtained randomly by completing questionnaires and face to face interviews with 95 farmers. Results show that the fertilizer, seed, and herbicide were the major energy consumers, and minor energy consumers were machinery depreciation and manufacturing. Energy productivity, net energy gain, and energy ratio were respectively 1.02 kg/MJ, 189238.6 MJ and 3.9. To estimate output energy MLP, RBF, SOM, GFFN networks by changing in the number of hidden layers, training algorithm and number of neurons were used. Results showed that, MLP network have the maximum determination coefficient of 98% and the minimum MSE of 0.001 with topology of 55-1 and LM training. Exponential model was the best model, among linear, quadratic, cubic and exponential functions. Coefficient of determination was estimated 94.5% and it has less accuracy rather than MLP model.
Long Memory Regressors and Predictive Regressions: A two-stage rebalancing approach

Predictability tests with long memory regressors entail both size distortion and potential regression imbalance. Addressing both problems simultaneously, this paper proposes a two-step procedure that rebalances the predictive regression by fractionally differencing the predictor based on a first-stage estimation of the memory parameter. A full set of asymptotic results are provided. The second-stage t-statistic used to test predictability has a standard normal limiting distribution. Extensive simulations indicate that our procedure has good size, is robust to estimation error in the first stage, and can yield improved power over cases in which an integer order is assumed for the regressor. We use our procedure to provide a valid test of forward rate unbiasedness that allows for a long memory forward premium. JEL classifications: C22, C12, F31
FOREIGN AID AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT : A QUANTILE REGRESSION APPROACH

This paper investigates the impact of foreign aid on human development as measured by the human development index (HDI). We apply quantile regression approach for the data from 124 developing countries covering the period 1980 to 2013. The findings show that in general, aid is positively associated with the human development index. The impact is much greater in countries with low level of human development. Similarly, we find statistically positive impact of aid on HDI income, health, and education indices. The results imply that since aid is positively related with HDI, and HDI is universally accepted as a quantitative measure of human development, then aid can significantly contribute to promoting human welfare. JEL Classification: O40, F21, F35