Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The gesture substratum of stone tool making: an experimental approach

In this paper, we present an experiment to evaluate the gestures that preceded stone knapping. The goal of the present research was to shed light into the emergence of stone tools. We compared the knapping performed by expert and novice knappers. From this comparison, we hypothesized about the role non-human primate-like technological behaviours, such as nut-cracking, play on the dawn of lithic technology. Our results point to some continuity between these activities and stone knapping. Consequently, they highlight the urgency of researches and experiments especially designed to evaluate the magnitude of this connexion.
Trino IB ameliorates the oxidative stress of cryptorchidism in the rat

The study examined the effect of Trino IB, a mixture of oleuropein and -lipoic acid, on the plasma concentration of g-glutamyl transpeptidase (GGT), malondialdehyde (MDA), sperm count and apoptotic degeneration of testicular germ cells in experimentally induced cryptorchidism in adult male rats. Oral administration of Trino IB (0.5 ml/kg body weight) for 56 days to rats caused significant reduction (P cryptorchidism.
Disentangling timing and amplitude errors in streamflow simulations

Abstract. This article introduces an improvement in the Series Distance (SD) approach for the improved discrimination and visualization of timing and magnitude uncertainties in streamflow simulations. SD emulates visual hydrograph comparison by distinguishing periods of low flow and periods of rise and recession in hydrological events. Within these periods, it determines the distance of two hydrographs not between points of equal time but between points that are hydrologically similar. The improvement comprises an automated procedure to emulate visual pattern matching, i.e. the determination of an optimal level of generalization when comparing two hydrographs, a scaled error model which is better applicable across large discharge ranges than its non-scaled counterpart, and "error dressing", a concept to construct uncertainty ranges around deterministic simulations or forecasts. Error dressing includes an approach to sample empirical error distributions by increasing variance contribution, which can be extended from standard one-dimensional distributions to the two-dimensional distributions of combined time and magnitude errors provided by SD. In a case study we apply both the SD concept and a benchmark model (BM) based on standard magnitude errors to a 6-year time series of observations and simulations from a small alpine catchment. Time–magnitude error characteristics for low flow and rising and falling limbs of events were substantially different. Their separate treatment within SD therefore preserves useful information which can be used for differentiated model diagnostics, and which is not contained in standard criteria like the Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency. Construction of uncertainty ranges based on the magnitude of errors of the BM approach and the combined time and magnitude errors of the SD approach revealed that the BM-derived ranges were visually narrower and statistically superior to the SD ranges. This suggests that the combined use of time and magnitude errors to construct uncertainty envelopes implies a trade-off between the added value of explicitly considering timing errors and the associated, inevitable time-spreading effect which inflates the related uncertainty ranges. Which effect dominates depends on the characteristics of timing errors in the hydrographs at hand. Our findings confirm that Series Distance is an elaborated concept for the comparison of simulated and observed streamflow time series which can be used for detailed hydrological analysis and model diagnostics and to inform us about uncertainties related to hydrological predictions.
Social Media and its Potential Impacts on Multicultural Education in Turkey

The purpose of this study is to learn the perceptions of social media users regarding multicultural education in Turkey. With this goal in mind, a short film was created that summarized the issue of multicultural education, which was shared via social media. After viewing the film, the views of the participants who had expressed comments concerning multicultural education were taken for evaluation, and 95.65% of participants harbored positive perceptions about multicultural education. Furthermore, the collected data were analyzed employing a thematic analytical method. The themes found were: alienation, social justice and equality, empathy and tolerance and cultural diversity and difference. On examining the results, it emerged that participants thought that, because multicultural education, discrimination, injustice and alienation would disappear and increased empathy, tolerance and justice would emerge.
What Contributes More to the Ranking of Higher Education Institutions? A Comparison of Three World University Rankings.

Recently, many universities have drawn attention to world university rankings, which reflect the international competition of universities and represent their relative statuses. This study does not radically contradict all types of global university rankings but calls for an examination of the effects of their indicators on the final ranking of universities. By using regression analysis, this study investigates the indicator contribution to the ranking of universities in world university ranking systems including the Academic Ranking of World Universities (ARWU), Times Higher Education ( THE ), and QS World University Rankings. Results showed that in the ARWU system, three indicators regarding faculty members who won Nobel Prizes and Fields Medals and papers published in Nature and Science and in the Science Citation Index and Social Science Citation Index journals predicted the ranking of universities. For the QS and THE systems, the more powerful contributors to the ranking of universities were expert-based reputation indicators.
Effect of Massage Therapy in Cancer Patients in Palliative Situation

The increase in longevity and incidence of chronic diseases reveals an increased importance in terms of public health. The oncologic illness is a debilitating and progressive pathology with need for prevention and symptomatic relief. In order to find the answer to the question: “What is the effect of massage therapy in cancer patients? ” we have reviewed the empirical literature indexed in databases online, finding only 21 articles published between 1990 and 2015. It was possible to verify some of the effects of massage therapy, particularly in relieving pain, decreased anxiety, depression and nausea and increased well-being. However, it was not found the effect of this intervention on the relief of suffering and the quality of life of patients. With the heterogeneity of methodologies, studies suggest the development of more homogeneous research, materials and methods to assess the effects of massage therapy in cancer patients.
Earnings announcement lag and non-mandatory disclosure impact on the cost of debt: Hong Kong empirical evidence

Article history: Received September 18, 2014 Accepted 17 December 2014 Available online December 23 2014 This paper examines the association between voluntary disclosure, earnings announcement lag and the cost of debt in Hong Kong. The research sample consists of 20 listed companies in the Hong Kong Stock exchange over the period spanning from 2008 to 2011. A disclosure checklist is used to measure the extent of voluntary disclosure in companies ‘annual reports. Earnings announcement lag is proxied by the difference between the end of fiscal year and the publication date of financial statements. Results of this study confirm that voluntary disclosure and earnings announcements lag reduce the cost of debt in Hong Kong. These findings suggest that voluntary disclosures play an essential role in reducing cost of debt in Hong Kong context, and managers tend to disclose in early manner to reduce the information asymmetry between their firm and creditors. These findings may have policy implications for managers since they demonstrate that the extent of voluntary and timely disclosures affect the cost of debt. Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved. 5 © 201
Adaptation of De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale into Turkish

The aim of this study was to adapt the English version of De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale into Turkish language. In the adaptation process, translations done by five translators were evaluated by experts in English and Turkish language and psychology. The form prepared after the evaluation process was applied to a study group consisting of 613 students aged between 18 and 25. In order to test the suitability of the factor structure of the adapted scale, explanatory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis were conducted. As a result, it was observed that the obtained data confirmed the structure of the two factors as emotional and social. Factor loadings for the corresponding scale were between 0.52 and 0.83 and Cronbach Alfa Internal Consistency Coefficient was calculated . 873.
Safety KPIs - Monitoring of safety performance

This paper aims to provide brief overview of aviation safety development focusing on modern trends represented by implementation of Safety Key Performance Indicators. Even though aviation is perceived as safe means of transport, it is still struggling with its complexity given by long-term growth and robustness which it has reached today. Thus nowadays safety issues are much more complex and harder to handle than ever before. We are more and more concerned about organizational factors and control mechanisms which have potential to further increase level of aviation safety. Within this paper we will not only introduce the concept of Key Performance Indicators in area of aviation safety as an efficient control mechanism, but also analyse available legislation and documentation. Finally we will propose complex set of indicators which could be applied to Czech Air Navigation Service Provider.
Scattered Light Signatures of Magnetic Accretion in Classical T Tauri Stars

The magnetic accretion model as applied to T Tauri stars predicts the formation of hot spots or rings on the stellar surface where accreting disk material impacts the stellar surface at or near the magnetic poles. When the magnetic poles are not aligned with the stellar rotation axis, or the hot spots are nonuniform, brightness variations arise as the hot spots rotate into and out of view. We have investigated the effects on the scattered light images of a T Tauri star-plus-disk system of nonaxisymmetric illumination of the circumstellar disk by hot starspots. We find that changes in the scattered light pattern occur during a stellar rotation period. These changes are observable with current high-resolution imagery and provide a further observational test of the magnetic accretion theory. The observed brightening and dimming of HH 30's scattered light disk may be explained by such a model, although further synoptic observations are required to confirm this.
Research on Narrow Context ESP Course Design in Adult Education

The degree of social specialization demands the improvement of talents’ specialization level, which is manifested in the Adult Higher education. One of the most important aspects is the degree of trainee’s English specialization. It is English itself not the language teachers that decided its destiny and has become accountable to the scrutiny of the wider world. The traditional leisurely and purpose-free stroll through the landscape of the English language seemed no longer appropriate in the harsher realities of the social development, which arouse the development of ESP teaching in the adult higher education. How to tackle the fundamental questions in ESP practice and how to design and implement the ESP courses are the most important problems in EFL setting. This research focuses on the principles and practices in ESP course development and the implementation of ESP approach, including pedagogy, to provide the learners professional development with the background of internationalization. Keywords—ESP; English for Specific Purpose; Adult HigherEducation; course design; pedagogy
Improving English Listening Proficiency: The Application of ARCS Learning-Motivational Model.

Language learning motivation is one of vital factors which strongly correlates to the success in second language acquisition. Listening proficiency, as one of the basic language abilities, is paid much attention in English instruction, but presently the college English listening teaching is a weak link in English language teaching in China, which means listening practice occupies so much time but the gains are so limited. Therefore, promoting the performance of listening proficiency is still a hot topic in English language teaching. The ARCS model, which includes four categories, is both motivational and also teaching model. So, this model can be utilized in college English listening teaching and learning to discuss how to stimulate the listening motivation and to improve listening proficiency as well as teaching performance.
Short-Term Disturbance Effects of Outdoor Education Stream Classes on Aquatic Macroinvertebrates

Outdoor education programs frequently offer stream classes that teach students how to assess water quality based on the composition of aquatic macroinvertebrate communities. Repeatedly using the same site for stream classes can cause disturbance that could negatively impact aquatic macroinvertebrates. However, the impact of outdoor education stream classes on short term temporal trends of aquatic macroinvertebrates has not been evaluated. Our objective was to quantify whether outdoor education stream classes caused localized and short-term impacts on the aquatic macroinvertebrate community. We sampled aquatic macroinvertebrates over a five day period in May 2014 from an impacted riffle subjected to repeated substrate disturbance by outdoor education stream classes and an unimpacted riffle that was not subjected to stream classes within an agricultural stream in central Ohio. We did not observe a difference in macroinvertebrate community response variables between different time periods or among days within the impacted riffle as part of our within riffle analysis. We documented that macroinvertebrate abundance and dorsoventrally flattened clinger abundance was greater within the unimpacted riffle than the impacted riffle. Macroinvertebrate evenness was greater in the impacted riffle than the unimpacted riffle. In the impacted riffle percent clingers was greater on Monday than on Friday. Conversely, in the unimpacted riffle percent clingers was greater on Friday than on Monday. Our results indicated that outdoor education stream classes did not alter short term temporal trends of macroinvertebrate community structure within an impacted riffle, but the stream classes resulted in differences in community structure between an impacted and unimpacted riffle. Our results suggest that outdoor education centers should avoid repeatedly using the same site for their stream classes to prevent negatively impacting aquatic macroinvertebrates.
Aspectos funcionais e epidemiológicos da deglutição na laringectomia supratraqueal extendida com traqueohiodoepiglotopexia

Introdução: A laringectomia parcial supratraqueal (LPST) é uma alternativa atual de intervenção cirúrgica, indicada para o tratamento de tumor laríngeo intermediário / avançado. Quando sua ressecção é mais ampla do que previsto, acrescentamos à nomenclatura o termo “extendida”. Sua reconstrução é feita por uma traqueohioidoepiglotopexia (THEP). As principais complicações conhecidas deste procedimento estão relacionadas à deglutição e respiração. Objetivo: Caracterizar a população selecionada e avaliar aspectos funcionais da deglutição na LPST extendida em reconstrução THEP. Método: Estudo observacional de corte transversal de pacientes de ambos os sexos com neoplasia de laringe submetidos à LPST extendida THEP de um hospital oncológico entre 1995 a 2017. Realizou-se estudo de prontuário, consulta ao sistema cirúrgico, videofluoroscopia da deglutição e aplicação da escala National Outcomes Measurement System da American Speech-Language Hearing Association (ASHA NOMS). Resultados: 10 homens, idade entre 52 e 83 anos (mediana 69), 80% tabagistas e etilistas ao diagnóstico; T2 [70%], T3 [30%]. Resultados da videofluoroscopia da deglutição: 100% de estase em base da língua, 80% em valécula, aritenóide(s) e recessos piriformes, 40% em esfíncter esofágico superior e 30% em parede posterior da faringe; 30% apresentou aspiração. Todos apresentaram alimentação e hidratação exclusiva por via oral. Conclusão: Indivíduos homens, majoritariamente idosos, etilistas e tabagistas com estadiamentos intermediários e avançados. Todos possuíam capacidade de nutrição e hidratação sem vias alternativas de alimentação. A função de deglutição foi satisfatoriamente restaurada com atendimento fonoaudiológico especializado em todos os momentos do tratamento. Os pacientes com mais de nove meses de cirurgia apresentaram melhores resultados funcionais.
Quantifying the biophysical climate change mitigation potential of Canada's forest sector

The potential of forests and the forest sector to mitigate greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions is widely recog- nized, but challenging to quantify at a national scale. Forests and their carbon (C) sequestration potential are affected by management practices, where wood harvesting transfers C out of the forest into products, and subsequent regrowth al- lows further C sequestration. Here we determine the miti- gation potential of the 2.3 ◊ 10 6 km 2 of Canada's managed forests from 2015 to 2050 using the Carbon Budget Model of the Canadian Forest Sector (CBM-CFS3), a harvested wood products (HWP) model that estimates emissions based on product half-life decay times, and an account of emis- sion substitution benefits from the use of wood products and bioenergy. We examine several mitigation scenarios with dif- ferent assumptions about forest management activity levels relative to a base case scenario, including improved growth from silvicultural activities, increased harvest and residue management for bioenergy, and reduced harvest for conser- vation. We combine forest management options with two mitigation scenarios for harvested wood product use involv- ing an increase in either long-lived products or bioenergy uses. Results demonstrate large differences among alterna- tive scenarios, and we identify potential mitigation scenarios with increasing benefits to the atmosphere for many decades into the future, as well as scenarios with no net benefit over many decades. The greatest mitigation impact was achieved through a mix of strategies that varied across the country and had cumulative mitigation of 254 Tg CO2e in 2030, and 1180 Tg CO2e in 2050. There was a trade-off between short- term and long-term goals, in that maximizing short-term emissions reduction could reduce the forest sector's ability to contribute to longer-term objectives. We conclude that (i) national-scale forest sector mitigation options need to be as- sessed rigorously from a systems perspective to avoid the development of policies that deliver no net benefits to the atmosphere, (ii) a mix of strategies implemented across the country achieves the greatest mitigation impact, and (iii) be- cause of the time delays in achieving carbon benefits for many forest-based mitigation activities, future contributions of the forest sector to climate mitigation can be maximized if implemented soon.
Work-family conflict An exploration of the differential effects of a dependent child ’ s age on working parents

Purpose – The purpose of this article is to explore the impact of life cycle stage, specifically parenting stage, on work-family conflict among working parents to determine whether discernible differences are evident among those individuals at the early stage of their parenting cycle compared with those with older children. Design/methodology/approach – An explorative study was undertaken among parents employed within the Irish hotel sector. The questionnaire was distributed to 22 hotels and 76 individuals who reported having children responded. A number of measures were used to assess the impact which a number of factors, namely job stress, job involvement, managerial support and colleague support, may have on working parents’ work-life conflict. Correlation and regression analysis are performed to test the hypotheses proposed. Findings – The research findings provide initial support for the possibility that the factors influencing work-family conflict differ for each of the parenting groups analysed. For all parents with dependent children it was found that job involvement, job stress and colleague support all have predictive powers in terms of explaining the antecedents of work-family conflict. Research limitations/implications – The findings provide a compelling case for the need to begin to address work-family conflict in a more holistic manner, examining both the immediate and long-term consequences for employees with childcare responsibilities. Practical implications – The ability to design and implement specific, targeted responses to employees’ work-life needs is an area where HRD can make a real and significant contribution. Strategic HRD has the potential to reduce the misappropriation of organisational resources by ensuring a focused and targeted response, thereby minimising the fruitless pursuit of “one size fits all” approaches to this complex issue. Originality/value – The paper seeks to lay the first key foundation-stones in framing the debate in relation to work-life balance in terms of the entire working lives of individuals and not just specific snapshots during the course of that employment. The paper is critical of current organisational thinking in relation to employees’ work-life balance needs and challenges HRD professionals to begin to examine this important and complex issue in a more holistic manner.
Target Ratcheting in Common and Unique Performance Measures

While most performance measurement systems use multiple measures, research on target revision in multi-measure systems is rare. Examining the target-setting practice in such a system, we hypothesize that the performance variances in common and unique measures are differentially informative of an agent’s effort level and this, in turn, affects a principal’s decision on the degree of commitment to incomplete incorporation of past performance information into new targets. We analyze proprietary data on the performance evaluation of strategic unit managers in a Korean conglomerate to report (1) intertemporal serial correlations of target achievement in both types of measures and (2) partial (full) target difficulty revision in common (unique) measures. We also confirm the results, while classifying measures into financial and nonfinancial ones. With the findings from outside an experimental setting, we contribute to the accounting literature on a common measures bias as well as on target ratcheting.