Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Development of productivity and its components in Slovak agriculture before and after EU accession: Analysis of the impact of CAP introduction on the performance indicators of Slovak crop and livestock farms

The common agricultural policy affects a broad range of issues on farms. Their productivity is no exception and CAP can affect it with different intensities and in different directions. CAP was introduced in the Slovak Republic after its accession to the EU in 2004. From that moment there was a significant increase in number of farms receiving subsidies. The aim of this paper was therefore to analyze the impact of these changes on the development of productivity and its components on the Slovak farms. The research consisted of two stages. The first stage we got a detailed picture of the evolving nature of the performance of Slovak crop and livestock farms in the period 2000-2012 by applying two approaches to evaluation of change in total factor productivity and its components, namely Malmquist Productivity Indices and Luenberger Productivity Indicators. We found that on average both types of farms increased their total factor productivity during the specified period. The driving force behind this development was the technological progress, the slowing factor was deterioration of technical efficiency of farms. By way of further decomposition of Malmquist indices we have also revealed Hicks-non-neutral technical change in the character of Slovak agriculture since the industry increasingly opted for automation and mechanization of production and mitigated use of the workforce. In the second stage we applied Random Effect Models for analyzing panel data to examine the effects of accession to the EU on the development of performance indicators of Slovak farms and input bias of technical change. We found that dependence on farm subsidy policy was significantly higher after joining the Union, while total factor productivity after 2004 developed worse for both types of farms. The effect of changes in the share of total subsidies received on total farm income was the net effect of investment induced productivity growth and the negative effect of efficiency loss. The first prevailed in the case of crop and the second one in the case of livestock farms.
The Relationship of Autonomic Tone and Sympathoadrenal System in The Growing Organism

The autonomic nervous system in children undergoes significant structural and functional changes, followed by tension of the compensatory mechanisms of the cardiovascular system caused by their adaptation to physical and mental stress. Studying the functional state of the sympathetic-adrenal system with taking into account the features of vegetative regulation of heart rate allows us to register early functional changes in the state of neurohumoral regulation of autonomic functions. Objective of the research was to determine the characteristics of the functional state of the sympathetic-adrenal system in primary school children with different initial autonomic tone. We selected boys and girls aged 7, 8 and 9 years, each group of 60 persons. To assess the initial autonomic tone, we used the method of variation pulsometry, the state of the sympathetic-adrenal system was determined by the content of epinephrine, norepinephrine, dopamine and DOPA in batch urine based on the fluorimetric method. To assess the significance of differences, standard Student t-test values were calculated. Based on histogram data we have found that the vast majority of primary school children have sympathicotonic \variant of the initial autonomic tone, characterized by a decrease in the mode, variation range, an increase in the mode and the tension index. Kids with a predominance of sympathetic influences show significantly higher levels of excretion of norepinephrine, increase in the norepinephrine / epinephrine ratio and a persistent reduction in dopamine, which indicates the tension in the system of catecholamine’s biosynthesis and decrease in their reserves, as well as allows us to consider such features to be authentic humeral criteria for assessing autonomic tone in children aged 7-9 years.
CMAR_A_195726 3899..3908

Du-Jiang Yang * Jun-Jie Xiong * Xue-Ting Liu 2 Jiao Li 3 Kanagarathna Mudiyanselage Dhanushka Layanthi Siriwardena 4 Wei-Ming Hu 1 1Department of Pancreatic Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Emergency, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China; 4West China School of Medicine, Sichuan University, Chengdu 610041, Sichuan Province, People’s Republic of China
Confronting uncertainties in stellar physics II. exploring differences in main-sequence stellar evolution tracks

We assess the systematic uncertainties in stellar evolutionary calculations for low- to intermediate-mass, main-sequence stars. We compare published stellar tracks from several different evolution codes with our own tracks computed using the stellar codes STARS and MESA. In particular, we focus on tracks of 1 and 3 solar masses at solar metallicity. We find that the spread in the available 1 solar mass tracks (computed before the recent solar composition revision by Asplund et al.) can be covered by tracks between 0.97-1.01 solar masses computed with the STARS code. We assess some possible causes of the origin of this uncertainty, including how the choice of input physics and the solar constraints used to perform the solar calibration affect the tracks. We find that for a 1 solar mass track, uncertainties of around 10% in the initial hydrogen abundance and initial metallicity produce around a 2% error in mass. For the 3 solar mass tracks, there is very little difference between the tracks from the various different stellar codes. The main difference comes in the extent of the main sequence, which we believe results from the different choices of the implementation of convective overshooting in the core. Uncertainties in the initial abundances lead to a 1-2% error in the mass determination. These uncertainties cover only part of the total error budget, which should also include uncertainties in the input physics (e.g., reaction rates, opacities, convective models) and any missing physics (e.g., radiative levitation, rotation, magnetic fields). Uncertainties in stellar surface properties such as luminosity and effective temperature will further reduce the accuracy of any potential mass determinations.
The Capital Structure through the Trade-Off Theory: Evidence from Tunisian Firm

The objective of this paper is to study the capital structure of firms and the explanation of their behavior in the context of trade-off theory. It analyzes the determinants of capital structure of Tunisian firms through the existence or not of a dynamic model of adjustment to target leverage ratio. This validation leads to test two complementary successive models, the first is a static, while the second is a dynamic model that incorporates transaction costs variable to see how we can talk about a speed adjustment allowing firms to get closer to the target ratio. The results of the first model show that the profitability and asset structure are the main explanatory variables of the level of leverage of Tunisian firms. While for the dynamic model, the most remarkable result is manifested at the level of the adjustment costs that are relatively high which engendered a slow adjustment towards the optimal ratio.
On the Propensity of Lignin to Associate; Static Light Scattering Measurements

CONTRERAS, IRMA. On the Propensity of Lignin to Associate; Static Light Scattering Measurements. (Under the direction of Dr. Lucian Lucia and Dr. Dimitris S. Argyropoulos). Lignin, the glue that keeps fibers together, is a complex three dimensional network polymer which has shown association phenomena in solution. Following the molecular weight of the biopolymer in solution as a function of time allow us to explore their observable de-association phenomena. These measurements were carried out using multiple angle light scattering (MALS) photometry in the static mode. EMAL (Enzymatic Mild Acidolysis Lignin) from hardwood and softwood were isolated and an additional method for the complete dissolution of such biopolymers in THF was further developed. Once the challenge of the measurement procedures were worked out, some rather accurate dn/dC values for lignin solutions were obtained as a function of time. This effort when coupled to additional work using static light scattering measurements (Zimm plots) for the same solutions offered an insight into the self-assembly processes operating within the lignin biopolymer. On the Propensity of Lignin to Associate Static Light Scattering Measurements by Irma Sofia Contreras Sulbaran A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty of North Carolina State University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Master of Science Wood and Paper Science Raleigh, North Carolina 2008
Anxieties over Elections, Stability and Democratisation in Burundi

iv 1.0 Introduction. 1 2.0 The Political Context of the 2010 Burundi Elections. 3 3.0 Burundi in January 2011 – A Situation Analysis. 5 4.0 Elections: Necessary but not sufficient for democracy. 7 5.0 The Conduct of Elections in Burundi; May-September 2010. 8 6.0 A Critical Assessment of the Electoral Process in Burundi. 11 6.1 Institutional Framework for Managing Elections. 11 6.2 The Role of Civil Society. 12 6.3 Voter Awareness & Civic Education. 13 6.4 Loopholes Identified in the Election Process. 13 6.5 The Regional Dimension & Context. 15 6.6 Legitimacy of the Regime in Power. 15 7.0 What is Burundi’s Future? 17 References. 19 Previous issues of ARRF occasional Paper series. 20
THE HOUSING MARKET AND BUSINESS STARTS

Business starts have received much attention from policy makers with regard to their possible role as economic stimulants. From the many studies that have attempted to identify drivers of small business formation, it is clear that access to finance is critical. In this respect the present study examines the possible role of home ownership and its potential to serve as a collateral for business starters loans. Using a panel data set for 18 countries over the period 2004 to 2009, which covers both boom and slump years, the study supports findings that home ownership may crowd out other investment because acquiring a home requires a large investment. High levels of mortgage indebtedness appear to be related to low levels of new business formation. NEUJOBS Working Documents are intended to give an indication of work being conducted within the NEUJOBS research project and to stimulate reactions from other experts in the field. Texts published in this series are ultimately destined for academic publishing. The views expressed in this paper are those of the author and do not necessarily represent any institution with which he is affiliated. See the back page for more information about the NEUJOBS project.
Towards a Phylogeny of Entelegyne Spiders (Araneae, Araneomorphae, Entelegynae)

We propose a phylogeny for all entelegyne families with cribellate members based on a matrix of 137 characters scored for 43 exemplar taxa and analyzed under parsimony. The cladogram confirms the monophyly of Neocribellatae, Araneoclada, Entelegynae, and Orbiculariae. Lycosoidea, Amaurobiidae and some included subfamilies, Dictynoidea, and Amaurobioidea (sensu Forster & Wilton 1973) are polyphyletic. Phyxelidinae Lehtinen is raised to family level (Phyxelididae, NEW RANK). The family Zorocratidae Dahl 1913 is revalidated. A group including all entelegynes other than Eresoidea is weakly supported as the sister group of Orbiculariae. The true spiders or Araneomorphae (ara? neae verae of Simon 1892) comprise more than 30,000 described species. The classifi- cation of this group has undergone a revolu- tion in the last 30 years, sparked by Lehtinen's (1967) comprehensive reassessment of ara- neomorph relationships and steered by Hen- nig's phylogenetic systematics (Hennig 1966; Platnick & Gertsch 1976). Spider classifica- tion, portrayed by some authors as chaotic (Head 1995; Elgar et al. 1990; Vollrath &
Variations in essential oils composition and potential as fumigants against stored date moths Ectomyelois ceratoniae and Ephestia kuehniella.

Yousfi, S. , Haouel-Hamdi, S. , Bessi, H. , Assoudi, C. , Elimem, M. , Messaoud, C. , Flamini, G. , and Mediouni-Ben Jemâa, J. 2019. Variations in essential oils composition and potential as fumigants against stored date moths Ectomyelois ceratoniae and Ephestia kuehniella. Tunisian Journal of Plant Protection 14 (1): 33-53. Rosmarinus officinalis and Eucalyptus viminalis essential oils (EO) were analysed using Solid Phase Micro-Extraction (SPME) and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) techniques and assessed for their fumigant toxicity against eggs and last instar larvae of Ectomyelois ceratoniae and Ephestia kuehniella. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) and Hierarchical Cluster Analysis (HCA) revealed quantitative and qualitative differences in oil composition in relation to plant species and the technique that was used in the analysis. The major common compounds were identified as 1,8-cineole, α-pinene, β-pineneand and p-cymene. Ovicidal and larvicidal activities were highly dependent upon insect species and oils. E. viminalis EO was more effective compared to that of R. officinalis. In larval bioassays, LC50 values were respectively 25.80 μl/l air and 33.05 μl/l air for E. ceratoniae versus 12.92 μl/l air and 12.47 μl/l air for E. kuehniella. Moreover, ovicidal activity was lower against eggs of E. kuehniella than that of E. ceratoniae. This work clearly defends the interest in the efficacy of EOs both as ovicidal and larvicidal insecticides against stored date moth pests.
A Strategy to Mitigate the Ionospheric Scintillation Effects on BDS Precise Point Positioning: Cycle-Slip Threshold Model

Because of the special design of BeiDou navigation satellite system (BDS) constellation, the effects of ionospheric scintillation on operational BDS generally are more serious than on the global positioning system (GPS). As BDS is currently providing global services, it is increasingly important to seek strategies to mitigate the scintillation effects on BDS navigation and positioning services. In this study, an improved cycle-slip threshold model is proposed to decrease the high false-alarm rate of cycle-slips under scintillation conditions, thus avoiding the frequent unnecessary ambiguity resets in BDS precise point positioning (PPP) solution. We use one-year (from 23 March 2015 to 23 March 2016) BDS dataset from Hong Kong Sha Tin (HKST) station (22.4°N, 114.2°E; geomagnetic latitude: 15.4°N) to model the cycle-slip threshold and try to make it suitable for three types of BDS satellites and multiple scintillation levels. The availability of our mitigation strategy is validated by using three months (from 1 September 2015 to 30 November 2015) BDS dataset collected at 10 global navigation satellite system (GNSS) stations in Hong Kong. Positioning results demonstrate that our mitigated BDS PPP can prevent the sudden fluctuations of positioning errors induced by the ionospheric scintillation. Statistical results of BDS PPP experiments show that the mitigated solution can maintain an accuracy of about 0.08 m and 0.10 m in the horizontal and vertical components, respectively. Compared with standard BDS PPP, the accuracy of mitigated PPP can be improved by approximately 24.1%, 38.2%, and 47.9% in the east, north, and up directions, respectively. Our study demonstrates that considering different scintillation levels to establish appropriate cycle-slip threshold model in PPP processing can efficiently mitigate the ionospheric scintillation effects on BDS PPP.
NITROGEN OXIDE TRACE GAS TRANSPORT AND TRANSFORMATION: II. MODEL SIMULATIONS COMPARED WITH DATA

The development of process-based models describing N oxide trace gas emissions from agricultural soils will assist in the assessment of present sources, prediction of future trends, and development of mitigation strategies. We compare the predictions of a transport and transformation model with data from intact soil core experiments and then use the model to evaluate the relative importance of individual processes after application of anhydrous ammonia to moderately acidic soil. Soil-gas concentrations of NO and N2O are adequately described using previously obtained kinetic expressions. Net NO surface fluxes are shown to be the result of high rates of subsurface gross NO production (>100 mg N m−2 h−1) balanced by gross consumption rates equivalent to 92–97% of gross production. The overall temperature dependency of NO emissions is described adequately as the net result of individual temperature-dependent processes. Denitrification was estimated to contribute only 8–14% of the total N2O source under primarily aerobic conditions, with the balance caused by abiotic nitrous acid decomposition. The bulk soil reactivity of NO2 was estimated to be at least 500 times greater than the reactivity of NO. The potential for nonbiological nitrate formation is examined, and the effectiveness of pH control and subsurface fertilizer injection for minimizing gas losses are evaluated.
Lipödem – Mythen und Fakten Teil 4 Lipedema – Myths and Facts Part 4

Zusammenfassung Um das Lipödem ranken sich zahlreiche Mythen! In diesem vierten Beitrag unserer Artikelserie setzen wir uns mit dem Stellenwert der Liposuktion beim Lipödem auseinander. Wir diskutieren das von vielen die Liposuktion durchführenden Ärzten verbreitete Statement: „Die Liposuktion führt zu ausgeprägter und dauerhafter Verbesserung des Lipödems“. Wir konnten zeigen, dass zwischen den oft euphorischen Versprechungen der chirurgisch tätigen Kollegen und der aktuellen Studienlage zur Liposuktion eine erhebliche Lücke klafft. Sowohl Studienqualität als auch Studiensetting weisen erhebliche Mängel auf, Mängel, die Zweifel an diesem verbreiteten Statement aufkommen lassen. Eine ähnliche Lücke klafft darüber hinaus zwischen den Empfehlungen der S1-Leitlinie Lipödem und der tatsächlichen „Absaugpraxis“ bei adipösen Lipödempatientinnen. Die in den Leitlinien empfohlene „kritische Indikationsstellung“ bei gleichzeitigem Auftreten von Lipödem und Adipositas findet kaum Gehör. Es kann daher nicht genug betont werden, dass Liposuktion keine Methode ist, um Adipositas zu behandeln. Gleichwohl kann die Liposuktion durchaus zu einer Verbesserung des Lipödems beitragen. Entscheidend für den Therapieerfolg ist die Auswahl der Patientinnen, die aufgrund – medizinischer – Kriterien erfolgen muss. Darüber sollte die Liposuktion in ein Gesamtkonzept eingebunden werden, welches psychosoziale, ernährungs- und sportmedizinische Gesichtspunkte berücksichtigt. Abstract Lipedema is associated with numerous myths. In this fourth part of our series of articles we will examine the value of liposuction in the treatment of lipedema. We discuss the common statement amongst doctors who offer this procedure, that “liposuction leads to comprehensive and long-term improvement of lipedema”. We have been able to show that there is a considerable gap between the often euphoric promises made by surgeons, and the current findings on liposuction. There are deficits in the quality and settings of many studies, deficits which lead to doubt with regards to these statements. There is a similar gap between the recommendations in the S1-guideline for lipedema and actual practise, as performed on obese lipedema patients. The “critical indication assessment” recommended in the guideline is often not adhered to in patients simultaneously presenting with obesity and lipedema. It can not be emphasised enough that liposuction is not a method to be used for treating obesity. Liposuction can however lead to an improvement in a patient’s lipedema, but the correct selection of patients according to medical criteria is the decisive factor for therapeutic success. Liposuction should thus be embedded in a unifying concept which encompasses psychosocial, nutritional and sports medicinal aspects.
Local IFN-γ Therapy of HPV 16-Associated Tumours

We have examined whether peritumoral administration of IFN-γ can inhibit growth of HPV16associated, MHC class Iñ tumour MK16/1/IIIABC (MK16) transplanted in syngeneic mice. It has been found that peritumoral administration of recombinant IFN-γ performed on days 0-11 after tumour challenge inhibited growth of MK16 s.c. tumour transplants. If the therapy with IFN-γ was started when the tumours had already reached a palpable size, the IFN-γ administration was without any effect. To investigate the antitumour effects of IFN-γ in a clinically more relevant setting, surgical minimal residual tumour disease was utilized. Subcutaneously growing MK16 carcinomas, 8ñ12 mm in diameter, were removed and the operated mice were injected with IFN-γ on days 3ñ14 after the operation at the site of surgery. Treatment with IFN-γ resulted in a moderate, reproducible, but statistically insignificant inhibition of tumour recurrences. In the next experiments we have addressed the question whether the tumour-inhibitory effect of IFN-γ was due to the upregulation of MHC class I molecule expression on MK16 tumour cells. IFN-γ-treated and control mice were sacrificed, their tumours were explanted, and the expression of MHC class I molecules on the MK16 tumour cells was examined. As presumed, the MHC class I expression on the cells of IFN-γ-treated tumours, as well as on their lung metastases, was upregulated. However, an unexpected moderate upregulation of the MHC class I expression was also observed on MK16 tumours from the control, exogenous IFN-γ-uninjected mice. Cytofluorometric analysis of the in vivo transplanted MK16 tumours from both groups has excluded that the increased percentage of the MHC class I molecules on the tumour cell populations could be due to the infiltration of the tumours with MHC class I+ leukocytes, since no expression of MHC class II, CD11b, CD80/CD86, and CD11c molecules in the MK16 cell population was observed. In previous studies we have used an experimental model of a murine human papilloma virus type 16 (HPV16)-associated tumour MK16, which mimics human HPV16-associated neoplasms with regard to their aetiology, major histocompability complex (MHC) class I molecule negativity and ability to metastasize (ämahel et al., 2001), to asses whether despite the absence of the MHC class I molecules on the surface of tumour cells such a tumour is suitable for cytokine therapy. It has been found that the MK16 cells are sensitive to the therapy with immunomodulatory cytokines interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-12 and GM-CSF (BubenÌk et al., 1999; Indrov· et al., 2001, 2002; Mikyökov· et al., 2001; BubenÌk et al., in press), although to a lesser degree than MHC class I+ tumours of the same aetiology (Indrov· et al., submitted). We have also found that cultivation of the MK16 cells in medium supplemented with interferon γ (IFN-γ) resulted in upregulation of MHC class I molecule expression and in vitro induced the sensitivity of the MK16 cells to the cytolytic effect of lymphocytes from mice immunized with irradiated MK16 tumour cells (Mikyökov· et al., 2001; Indrov· et