Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimation of ground-level particulate matter concentrations through the synergistic use of satellite observations and process-based models over South Korea

Abstract. Long-term exposure to particulate matter (PM) with aerodynamic diameters < 10 (PM10) and 2.5 µm (PM2.5) has negative effects on human health. Although station-based PM monitoring has been conducted around the world, it is still challenging to provide spatially continuous PM information for vast areas at high spatial resolution. Satellite-derived aerosol information such as aerosol optical depth (AOD) has been frequently used to investigate ground-level PM concentrations. In this study, we combined multiple satellite-derived products including AOD with model-based meteorological parameters (i.e., dew-point temperature, wind speed, surface pressure, planetary boundary layer height, and relative humidity) and emission parameters (i.e., NO, NH3, SO2, primary organic aerosol (POA), and HCHO) to estimate surface PM concentrations over South Korea. Random forest (RF) machine learning was used to estimate both PM10 and PM2.5 concentrations with a total of 32 parameters for 2015–2016. The results show that the RF-based models produced good performance resulting in R2 values of 0.78 and 0.73 and root mean square errors (RMSEs) of 17.08 and 8.25 µg m−3 for PM10 and PM2.5, respectively. In particular, the proposed models successfully estimated high PM concentrations. AOD was identified as the most significant for estimating ground-level PM concentrations, followed by wind speed, solar radiation, and dew-point temperature. The use of aerosol information derived from a geostationary satellite sensor (i.e., Geostationary Ocean Color Imager, GOCI) resulted in slightly higher accuracy for estimating PM concentrations than that from a polar-orbiting sensor system (i.e., the Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer, MODIS). The proposed RF models yielded better performance than the process-based approaches, particularly in improving on the underestimation of the process-based models (i.e., GEOS-Chem and the Community Multiscale Air Quality Modeling System, CMAQ).
Allelopathic effect of Prymnesium parvum on a natural plankton community

The allelopathic effect of Prymnesium parvum (Prymnesiophyta), which produces tox- ins with haemolytic, ichthyotoxic and cytotoxic properties, was investigated on a natural plankton community. Under controlled conditions, 3 laboratory bioassays were performed by adding cell-free filtrate from a P. parvum culture into different size fractions (<150, <100 and 20 to 150 µm) of a nat- ural Baltic Sea plankton community. The effect of P. parvum cell-free filtrate was determined by mea- suring chlorophyll a, cell numbers (phytoplankton, ciliates, bacteria), carbon ( 14 C) uptake by phyto- plankton and the incorporation of 3 H-leucine by bacteria. P. parvum cell-free filtrate affected the whole phytoplankton community, resulting in a decrease in both chlorophyll a and carbon uptake. Furthermore, the plankton groups present in the community exhibited different sensitivity to the cell- free filtrate. While growth of cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates was inhibited, that of diatoms and ciliates was not only completely suppressed, but no cells were present at the end of the experiment in the bottles with P. parvum filtrate. In all experiments, therefore, cyanobacteria and dinoflagellates were the most resistant groups, which led to their dominance in the treatments with filtrate compared to controls. Bacterial production was also negatively affected by P. parvum filtrate. The results show that compounds released by P. parvum induce changes in the plankton community structure, killing other members of the marine food-web, especially other phytoplankton (allelopathy), and suggest that secreted compounds of P. parvum are inhibitory to potential grazers (ciliates). It is proposed that allelopathy is an important process in the ecology of P. parvum.
Solving DSGE Portfolio Choice Models with Asymmetric Countries

This paper proposes a combination of bifurcation methods and nonlinear moving average as a tool to solve asymmetric DSGE models with portfolio choice. Its performance is compared to the workhorse routine developed by Devereux and Sutherland (2010, 2011). The proposed technique has two advantages. First, it captures the direct effect of uncertainty on portfolio holdings. Second, it reflects the presence of asymmetries by yielding risk adjusted asset positions that lie close to the ergodic mean of the global solution. In terms of Euler equation errors, the proposed method is shown to be on average at least as good as the standard approach.
Reduction of glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) and cost analysis of treatment with insulin analogues in the state of Paraná: a retrospective cohort study

Objective: Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a serious public health problem in Brazil. The goal of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of long-acting insulin analogues in controlling glycemia in type 1 DM patients and to analyze the direct costs of the treatment. Methods: A retrospective cohort study was undertaken with data collected from the State Health Secretary’s 2 Regional Health Center from the State of Paraná. After randomization, socio-demographic data, the source of their drug prescriptions, and the pharmacotherapeutic profiles of the drugs were collected, along with clinical outcome information, such as glycated hemoglobin (HbA 1c ) and fasting plasma glucose levels. The direct costs of treatment with analogue insulin were evaluated based on the drugs and supplies acquisition data from the Center for Drugs, Paraná Cemepar. Results: One hundred and forty-eight type 1 diabetes mellitus patients, older than 18 years of age, were included in the cohort study. The HbA 1c reduction after the insulin treatment was 0.36 ± 2.75, and the direct costs to reduce this parameter by 1% over a period of 24 months were U$ 1,806. The estimated costs to reduce HbA 1c by 1% are U$ 5,016. Conclusions: In this study, we were able to estimate the public health system costs of using insulin analogues to reduce HbA 1c by 1% in patients with type 1 DM. This information will assist clinicians in decision-making regarding insulin treatment.
In vitro degradation and total gas production of byproducts generated in the biodiesel production chain

This study aimed to evaluate the in vitro degradation and total gas production of different oil seed press cakes from a biodiesel production chain gas through the use of a semi-automatic technique of gas production in vitro. The treatments consisted of substituting elephant grass in increasing levels, 0%, 30, 50 and 70%, with the byproducts of Gossyypium hirsutum, Ricinus communis, Moringa oleifeira, Jatropha curcas and Helianthus annus. The oil seed press cakes of Moringa oleifeira had the highest rate of in vitro degradation of dry matter compared with other foods but did not result in a higher final volume of gases production. Gossyypium hirsutum, Pinhao manso curcas and Ricinus communis showed a higher in vitro degradability of similar dry matter. The highest total gas production was obtained by the oil seed press cakes of Helianthus annus. The oil seed press cakes of Moringa oleifeira can replace elephant grass up to 70% and therefore reduce both greenhouse gas emissions and energy loss for the animal.
The Interface between Self-Efficacy, Life Satisfaction, and Emotional and Informational Support for Korean Learners Acquiring English as a Second Language

The purpose of this study is to examine the interface between self-efficacy, life satisfaction, and emotional and informational support for Korean learners acquiring English as a Second Language. More specifically, the aim of this study is to explore the interface among psychological variables (e.g., speaking, reading, writing, and listening self-efficacy), mediating variables (e.g., emotional and informational support received from parents, teachers, and friends) and behavioral outcomes (e.g., life satisfaction within the family, at school/work, and in personal relationships with friends) by examining the linear structural model developed by Kim and Park (1998) and revised by Choe (2000). Self-efficacy is typically defined as a judgment of one’s ability to organize and execute a particular type of performance (cf.e.g. Bandura, 1986, 1997). Thus, self-efficacy is exercising control over one’s life (Bandura, 1986, 1997). ERIC Descriptors: Self-Efficacy English as a Second Language Emotional and Informational Support Life Satisfaction
A contingent model for evaluating enterprise systems' benefits using competing value approach

Enterprise Systems (ES) are complex IT systems adopted by organisations to support business and increased productivity and efficiencies from integration, automation and reengineering of processes, as well as management of large volumes of data. Although investment in ES implementations is large, not all organisations achieve the benefits anticipated from ES implementations. A critical review of literature suggests that contingency factors such as organisational learning and innovation have an impact on ES benefits achieved. The conceptual framework proposed in this paper extends an exploratory study on the impact of organisational learning and innovation on ES benefits realisation using the Competing Value Theory for evaluating ES benefits.
Is There Any Association Between the Efficacy of Imaging Techniques and the Age of the Patient in the Diagnosis of Acute Appendicitis

Acute appendicitis (AA) is one of the most common causes that requires an operation in patients visiting hospital with an abdominal pain (1). These cases are usually seen in patients under 50 years of age and peak in the second and third decades (2). The developments in imaging methods that support the diagnosis of AA have reduced the number of patients who were operated unnecessarily and shortened the waiting period in the complicated cases before surgery. Although this is such a common case about which many studies have been done, there are still debates about the diagnostic methods for AA. Ultrasonography (US) and computerized tomography (CT) are the two basic imaging modalities used in AA; they are still the most important and valid diagnostic tools. Even though CT is considered more successful for diagnosis in many studies, we can never abandon US because of the radiation exposure aspect of CT (3, 4). To determine the imaging method that is used during diagnosis according to patient history and symptoms will also increase the effectiveness of the method. In this study, selected imaging modalities in the diagnostic process of cases operated on the basis of an AA diagnosis and whose histopathologic examinations were compatible with AA were retrospectively reviewed. The aim of this study was to examine whether
Approaches and achievements of biodynamic vegetable breeding by Kultursaat e.V. (Germany) using the example of RODELIKA one of the first certified biodynamic varieties

Since 1998 RODELIKA is officially registered as a newly bred carrot variety. It had been developed by positive mass-selection over a 13 year period, based on an old-established variety within a farm based biodynamic system. The goal was a fine root with good health and a focus on taste and ability of maturation. Thus a selection-scheme in organoleptic characteristics sweetness and aroma was created. Numerous investigations demonstrate the very high inner quality of RODELIKA. Property rights of this open-pollinated variety are held by the charitable association Kultursaat eV as a common heritage.
Essays on Trade Costs, Supply Chain Uncertainty and CEO Compensation

This dissertation consists of two chapters that examine high managerial pay and supply chain uncertainty. Chapter 1 constructs a game-theoretic model in which high CEO pay emerges as the outcome of an arms race, with each firm paying its CEO highly to protect its competitive position against rivals who also pay highly. For an arms race to emerge, highly-paid CEOs must generate idiosyncratic, privately-known internal effects on profit, and CEO pay disparities must also generate asymmetric profit differences from external effects beyond the simple differences in pay. If the distribution of internal effects satisfies a key uniformity condition, an arms race emerges as the only equilibrium of the game. Chapter 2 examines the impact of supply chain uncertainty and ordering costs on trade. Importers hold safety stock to hedge against delays in delivery. An increase in supply chain uncertainty raises safety stocks, increases inventory costs, and reduces imports from locations with high delivery time uncertainty. An increase in order costs reduces a firm’s shipping frequency and increases average inventory holding cost for the firm’s base inventory stock. As a result, firms import less from locations with high ordering costs to reduce average inventory holding costs. Detailed data on actual and expected arrival times of vessels at U.S. ports serve to measure supply chain uncertainty consistent with the theory. Combined with detailed data on U.S. imports, freight charges and unit values, a 10 percent increase in supply-chain uncertainty lowers imports by as much as 3.7 percent. This is evidence that delivery uncertainty
Effect of temperature, salinity and light intensity on the growth of Gracilaria spp. (Gracilariales, Rhodophyta) from Japan, Malaysia and India

Species of Gracilaria Greville were collected from Japan, India and Malaysia. Growth rate experiments were conducted at different temperatures, salinities and light intensities. Gracilaria vermiculophylla was found to be the fastest growing species with a growth rate of 22.32%. The growth rates of all species varied with salinities, but most of them attained their optimum growth rates at a normal seawater salinity 35‰. During the temperature tolerance experiments, it was observed that only G. vermiculophylla had a high temperature tolerance limit of up to 35°C. The temperate and the tropical species of Gracilaria were divided into three groups depending upon their optimum growth rates at the optimum temperatures. Group I consisting of G. arcuata and G. textorii from Japan with optimum growth rates at 20°C. Group II consisting of G. vermiculophylla, G. incurvata from Japan and G. foliifera, G. corticata from India with optimum growth rates at 25°C, while group III consisting of G. edulis from India and G. lichenoides from Malaysia with optimum growth rates at 30°C.
Assesing the Economic Signi cance of the Intra-daily

It is a well established empirical fact that volatility follows approximately an inverted U-shaped pattern during the day. It is high in the morning, gradually decreasing, reaching a minimum at lunch time and then starting to increase again until the end of the trading day. In this paper we investigate the dynamic properties of these intra-daily volatility seasonalities. More speci cally, we divide daily volatility into several parts and model them separately. Our analysis shows that morning/afternoon volatility has a di¤erent time-series behaviour in comparison to lunch time volatility. Also, a substantial improvement in forecasting performance can be obtained by partitioning daily volatility into parts which correspond to the observed intra-daily seasonalities.
Melting of Major Glaciers in the Western Himalayas: Evidence of Climatic Changes from Long Term MSU Derived Tropospheric Temperature Trend (1979-2008)

Abstract. Global warming or the increase of the surface and atmospheric temperatures of the Earth, is increasingly discernible in the polar, sub-polar and major land glacial areas. The Himalayan and Tibetan Plateau Glaciers, which are the largest glaciers outside of the Polar Regions, are showing a large-scale decrease of snow cover and an extensive glacial retreat. These glaciers such as Siachen and Gangotri are a major water resource for Asia as they feed major rivers such as the Indus, Ganga and Brahmaputra. Due to scarcity of ground measuring stations, the long-term observations of atmospheric temperatures acquired from the Microwave Sounding Unit (MSU) since 1979–2008 is highly useful. The lower and middle tropospheric temperature trend based on 30 years of MSU data shows warming of the Northern Hemisphere's mid-latitude regions. The mean month-to-month warming (up to 0.048±0.026°K/year or 1.44°K over 30 years) of the mid troposphere (near surface over the high altitude Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau) is prominent and statistically significant at a 95% confidence interval. Though the mean annual warming trend over the Himalayas (0.016±0.005°K/year), and Tibetan Plateau (0.008±0.006°K/year) is positive, the month to month warming trend is higher (by 2–3 times, positive and significant) only over a period of six months (December to May). The factors responsible for the reversal of this trend from June to November are discussed here. The inequality in the magnitude of the warming trends of the troposphere between the western and eastern Himalayas and the IG (Indo-Gangetic) plains is attributed to the differences in increased aerosol loading (due to dust storms) over these regions. The monthly mean lower-tropospheric MSU-derived temperature trend over the IG plains (dust sink region; up to 0.032±0.027°K/year) and dust source regions (Sahara desert, Middle East, Arabian region, Afghanistan-Iran-Pakistan and Thar Desert regions; up to 0.068±0.033°K/year) also shows a similar pattern of month-to-month oscillation and six months of enhanced and a statistically significant warming trend. The enhanced warming trend during the winter and pre-monsoon months (December–May) may accelerate glacial melt. The unequal distribution of the warming trend over the year is discussed in this study and is partially attributed to a number of controlling factors such as sunlight duration, CO2 trends over the region (2003–2008), water vapor and aerosol distribution.
Impact of Community Engagement on Public Construction Projects -- Case Study of Hammanskraal Pedestrian Bridge, City of Tshwane, South Africa

Construction projects in the public sector are often affected by major challenges with regards to project ownership by stakeholders particularly with the co-operation of local communities. Local community participation is a requirement for various development initiatives in South Africa. Various government policies and regulations exist, to support the free and fair participation of small and medium scale enterprises within the built environment, particularly with public sector projects. This research study seeks to investigate the influence of local communities on public sector construction projects and will focus on the impact of the local community involved in the construction of the Hammanskraal Pedestrian Bridge over the R101 in Hammanskraal, Pretoria. The sample population will consist of the main contractor, the professional team involved in the project and the municipality officials overseeing the project. This research will also focus on the engagement of the professional engineer and project managers with the project steering community.
Chemical Perspectives on Some Readily Consumed Spices and Food Condiments: A Review

Social changes, including food diversification, the desire for new flavours, increasing importance of “ethnic” food and the increased importance of processed food, which requires condiments and aromatic herbs for its preparation, are driving an increase in the demand for spices and food condiments. In recent years, there has been growing interests in monitoring heavy metal contamination of spices and food condiments. Research results on heavy metal contamination of spices in selected countries (Nigeria, Ghana, and Saudi-Arabia) were closely studied. The concentrations of lead, zinc, nickel, copper, iron, and mercury in some common spices available at local markets in these countries were determined using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS). The heavy metal levels in Ghana spices were acceptable, except for lead which was above the standard limit approved by World Health Organization (WHO) and FAO for some of the samples. Consumers of these spices would not be exposed to any risk associated with the daily intake of 10 g of spices per day for zinc, nickel, copper, iron and mercury. In Nigeria, the levels of lead and cadmium in the samples were generally low and below detection limit < 0.22 µg/g and demand periodic surveillance to avoid contamination. Keywords : trace metals, spices, food condiments
Null Prepositions in Wh-Questions andPassives

It has been reported that L2 learners often omit required prepositions in wh-questions and/or relative clauses even though they can supply the same prepositions in their declarative counterparts (e.g., Klein, 1993a, 1993b, 1995, 2001; Jourdain, 1996; Dekydtspotter et al., 1998; Klein & Casco, 1999). For instance, when the complement of the English preposition about in (1) undergoes wh-movement to form an interrogative, the preposition must be either stranded (2a) or pied-piped (2b). However, L2 learners of English (SLEs) often accept/produce wh-questions with no preposition, as in (2c), even when they correctly supply the very same preposition in declarative sentences as in (1).
Effects of concentrate input on nutrient utilization and methane emissions of two breeds of ewe lambs fed fresh ryegrass

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate if high-quality grass could sustain a similar feeding efficiency to concentrate meals for two breeds of lowland ewe lambs. Sixteen lowland ewe lambs of approximately 13 mo age and 61.5 ± 5.28 kg live weight were used in a 2 × 2 factorial study, with 2 diets (fresh perennial ryegrass [Lolium perenne] vs. fresh perennial ryegrass plus 0.5 kg/d fresh concentrate) × 2 breeds (Highlander vs. Texel). Grass was cut daily in the morning from a single zero-grazing sward and offered ad libitum. The animals were individually housed in pens and fed experimental diets for an adaptation phase of 19 d, and then transferred to respiration calorimeter chambers, remaining there for 5 d, with feed intake, feces and urine outputs, and methane (CH4) emissions measured during the final 4 d. There were no significant interaction effects between diets and breeds on any variables. Ewe lambs offered 0.5 kg/d concentrate supplementation had slightly greater DM intake and energy (GE, DE, and ME) intake, but had significantly higher N intake and N excretion in feces and urine than those fed the grass-only diet. However, diets had no significant effects on nutrient digestibility, energy or N utilization, or CH4 emission. Texel breed had a significantly lower DM intake and CH4 emissions per kg live weight, whereas the breed had no significant effect on nutrient digestibility or energy or N utilization. These results implicate that good quality grass could sustain high nutrient utilization efficiency as effectively as diets supplemented with concentrates for ewe lamb production. The two breeds of lowland ewe lambs can utilize good quality grass at a similar level of efficiency.