Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Learning what the Higgs boson is mixed with

Last year’s discovery at the CERN Large Hadron Collider (LHC) of a new particle h [1] consistent with the Higgs boson of the Standard Model (SM) marks the start of a long-term experimental program of measurements of Higgs properties. Through this program we hope to learn the nature of the particle itself and understand the underlying physics responsible for the breaking of the electroweak symmetry. Many extensions of the SM contain one or more additional scalar particles that can mix with the SM Higgs boson. Such scenarios can be tested experimentally through measurements of the couplings of the discovered Higgs boson, which will be modied in general from their expected SM values, as well as through direct searches for the additional scalar particles. Measurements of the couplings of such a mixed Higgs provide some information about the degree of mixing between the SM Higgs and the additional scalar and the additional scalar’s contribution to electroweak symmetry breaking. If the additional scalar couples to charged fermions (this is possible only for scalars that originate from an SU(2) doublet), coupling measurements will also shed light on the fermion coupling pattern. Information about the electroweak quantum numbers of the additional scalar, however, cannot generally be obtained from measurements of the three-point couplings of the discovered Higgs boson to pairs of fermions or gauge bosons. This is easiest to see in the case that the additional scalar does not contribute to electroweak symmetry breaking (we also assume that it does not couple to fermions); in this case, the couplings of the discovered Higgs boson to a pair of SM fermions or gauge bosons are all modied by a common multiplicative factor that depends on the mixing angle between the SM Higgs and the additional scalar. Measurements of these couplings provide no information about the electroweak quantum
High-throughput simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers development for the kelp grouper (Epinephelus bruneus) and cross-species amplifications for Epinephelinae species

The kelp grouper (Epinephelus bruneus), belonging to one of the largest genera among the subfamily Epinephelinae, is a commercially important fish in Japan. There are limited data about the genomics of this species. To provide tools for addressing both population genetics studies and gene mapping, dito pentanucleotide simple sequence repeat (SSR) markers were developed using 454 pyrosequencing. Among the 1466 SSR markers developed, 1244 primer sets produced strong PCR products, of which 905 (72.7%) were polymorphic in kelp grouper. Cross-species utility of the 905 polymorphic SSR markers was tested in four additional Epinephelinae species of Hyporthodus septemfasciatus, Plectropomus leopardus, Epinephelus lanceolatus and Epinephelus coioides. Results revealed that, respectively, 401 (44.3%), 136 (15.0%), 434 (49.0%) and 538 (59.4%) SSRs showed specific polymorphic products. Of these, 40 SSR markers (33 di-, 1 tri- and 6 tetra-nucleotides) showed polymorphism in all species tested. Additionally, three AGAT SSR motifs which accounted for 42.9% of the nondi-nucleotide markers were found in the 40 SSR markers. This indicates that the AGAT SSR motif has a high potential as a highly versatile SSR marker in grouper Epinephelinae. The SSR markers developed in this study can be employed to obtain reliable genetic variability estimates for groupers (Epinephelinae).
IN-VITRO REGENERATION OF CALENDULA MARITIMA GUSS. (ASTERACEAE), A THREATENED PLANT ENDEMIC TO WESTERN SICILY

Calendula maritima is a critically endangered endemic plant of Western Sicily. Besides habitat destruction, the hybridization with the contiguous congener species C. fulgida is a major threat to its conservation. For this reason, seedbased propagation and seed storage are not appropriate for conservation purposes. In the present paper we describe a rapid and prolific In vitro plant regeneration method by direct organogenesis from leaves of C. maritima. Leaf explants were cultured on solid Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium in the presence of several plant growth regulator combinations. The best shoot multiplication rate (2.5 shoots/explant) was obtained on the medium containing 4.4 µM 6-benzylaminopurine in combination with 10 µM s-naphthoxyacetic acid. Regenerated shoots were successfully rooted on solid MS medium supplemented with several auxins and the best result was obtained with 1.0 µM indole-3-acetic acid (35% of plantlets rooted). Plantlets were thereafter established in the greenhouse (survival frequency 75%) and no phenotypic variations were observed between regenerants and the mother plants.
Day of the week effect in the European emerging stock markets: recent evidence from the financial crisis period

This paper reports the results of regression analysis of the day of the week effects using daily observations on the five indexes representing the European emerging stock markets, the Czech PX Index, the Hungarian Budapest SE Index, the Polish Warsaw SE WIG Index, the Slovak SAX Index, and the Turkish Istanbul SE National 100 Index. In order to investigate 2008 financial crisis of the weekday effect anomaly, the period is divided into sub-periods. The first sub-period is covering from Monday 3rd January 2005 to Friday 30th May 2008 while the second sub-period is from Monday 2nd June 2008 to Friday 26th November 2010. The paper new reports anomalies on the examined stock markets appear only during the period of financial crisis.
A Theoretical Investigation of Polymer-Nanoparticles as Miscibility Improvers in All-Polymer Nanocomposites

The miscibility behaviour of polymer-nanoparticle / linear-polymer blends (all-polymer nanocomposites) has been investigated using an incompressible mean-field theoretical model that accounts for combinatorial, temperature-dependent exchange interaction energy and nanoparticle-driven effects. The theory is employed to predict the phase diagram of poly(styrene)-nanoparticle (PS-np) / linear-poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME) nanocomposites from room temperature to 675 K. Complete miscibility is predicted for PS-nanoparticles with radius < 6 nm blended with PVME (molecular weight 62 500 g/mol, nanoparticle volume fraction 20 %). The effect of PVME molecular weight and blend composition on the miscibility diagram is also addressed. When compared to the well-known experimental phase diagram of linear-PS / PVME blends displaying lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behaviour, the miscibility improving effect of sub-10 nm PS-nanoparticles is clearly highlighted. In terms of the model, this favourable nanoscale effect arises mainly from the reduced stretching induced by the sub-10 nm nanoparticles and the increased exothermic contacts when compared to nanoparticles with sizes > 10 nm.
The Economic Value Of Stock Recommendations : Evidence From An Online Stock Advice Platform

Stock recommendations are often questioned in terms of their economic value added. This thesis investigates the economic value of stock recommendations using data from a dutch investment platform. Previous research has shown that at least in the short-run there are significant abnormal returns, however, in the long-run there remains disagreement amongst academics. The purpose of this research is to establish whether these stock recommendations add economic value, tested in the Dutch market using recommendations from an online investment platform. The main findings of this paper suggest that there is no economic value added. I find evidence for a positive abnormal return by testing for the cumulative average return and the abnormal return on the event day itself. However, this positive return can not be monetized using a trading strategy. The return of such a strategy is not significantly positive after adjusting for the market risk and would require a great amount of trading, which combined with trading cost would diminish any returns left. The investor’s chief problem and even his worst enemy is likely to be himself. Benjamin Graham
Exploring the Self-Reported ICT Skill Levels of Undergraduate Science Students

Computers have taken an important place in the training of science students and in the professional life of scientists. It is often taken for granted that most students have mastered basic Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) skills; however, it has been shown that not all students are equally proficient in this regard. Starting from theories of socialization and technology acceptance we report how we constructed a structural equation model (SEM) to explore the variance in the basic ICT skill levels of science students. We also present the results of a test of this model with university bachelor’s science students. Basic ICT skills were measured using a new, elaborate instrument allowing students to rate their skills in detail. Our results show that science students score high on basic ICT skills and that our SEM explains a large part of the variation in the ICT skill levels of these students. The most explanatory power is coming from four variables: the perceived ease of use and the perceived usefulness of a personal computer, the anxiety for using a personal computer, and students’ belief that ICT is necessary for scientific research.
Incorporating Distance Learning into Counselor Education Programs: A Research Study.

The purpose of this study is to determine the number of counselor education programs that utilize distance learning, to identify the distance learning software delivery products used, and to identify features of software used. The researchers also attempt to identify faculty perceptions related to and experience with the importance of distance learning; the impact of distance learning on counselor education programs in terms of quality and enrollment, recruitment practices, course development, time commitment, supervision issues, and faculty compensation; and ethical and legal issues. All Council for the Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP) counseling programs, as well as other administrative units identified by Hollis and Wantz (1993), were surveyed, thus targeting a sample size that approximates the population. In this study, distance learning is defined as any type of technology utilized outside of-the traditional face-to-face classroom instruction. The study makes a distinction between courses that are delivered 100% via distance learning and courses taught in the classroom that are augmented by distance learning (e.g., technologyor web-enhanced). (Contains 19 references and 7 tables.)
Biodiesel from Sesame Oil: Base Catalyzed Transesterification

A process for the production of methyl ester from Sesame oil containing 6.1% free fatty acid (FFA) for the use as a biodiesel was studied. These studies were carried out on transesterification reaction of Sesame oil with methanol to produce biodiesel. The reaction parameters such as Methanol/Oil molar ratio, catalyst concentration and reaction time were optimized for the production of sesame oil methyl ester (SOME). Conversion of triglyceride has been monitored from viscosity measurement and also by measuring produced glycerin concentration. Pseudo first order kinetic model has been proposed for the transesterification of Sesame oil to biodiesel and the data are fitted with the model to evaluate the kinetic parameters. Biodiesel properties such as cetane number, kinematic viscosity, flash point, pour point, cloud point are measured and compared with biodiesel and petro-diesel standard.
Testing the utility of matK and ITS DNA regions for discrimination of Allium species

Molecular phylogenetic analysis of the genus Allium L. has been mainly based on the nucleotide sequences of the ITS region. In 2009, matK and rbcL were accepted as a 2-locus DNA barcode to classify plant species by the Consortium for the Barcode of Life Plant Working Group. The matK region was chosen as a DNA barcode because of its effective species discrimination power, high quality sequence recovery, and easy experimental procedures. Integration of matK sequences into Allium phylogeny could improve phylogenetic reconstruction of this genus. This study was carried out to test the utility of nucleotide sequences of matK for discrimination of Allium species and to compare topologies of the phylogenetic trees based on matK and ITS analyses. Topologies of the phylogenetic trees based on ITS and matK analyses were very similar but a few accessions were placed into distant phylogenetic groups. Neither ITS nor matK analyses were able to discriminate some closely related Allium species alone. However, we do not suggest the use of a concatenated data approach to increase resolving power of ITS and matK because of the presence of the paralogous sequences and different types of cytoplasm in different accessions of a species. Therefore, we can suggest use of the matK region as an additional tool for phylogenetic analysis in Allium because characterization of the nucleotide sequences of matK region was easier to recover and more cost-effective than those of the ITS region.
Knowing Finance or Knowing Those Who Know It? The Interrelation Between Financial Literacy and Investment Choices

This paper analyzes a static portfolio choice where the investor can choose to delegate her portfolio management to a professional intermediary, who can give biased advice due to a conflict of interests. The choice of delegation depends both on advisors’ and investors’ characteristics. The latter include the cost of information search and the level of “sophistication”, meaning investor’s ability to correctly account for the bias in her decisions. The model studies which investors are more likely to delegate, and what are the consequences of this choice on the ex-post portfolio performance. We find that not only more “naif ”investors are more likely to delegate, but they tend delegate to “worse” advisors, i.e. with higher bias. This results in a higher probability to suer ex-post losses.
Autoantibodies to tissue transglutaminase in children with celiac disease: comparison of guinea pig and human transglutaminase antigens

Tissue transglutaminase (tTG) has been identified as a main antigen of endomysial and antireticulin antibodies found in celiac disease (CD). To assess the diagnostic validity of serum anti-tTG antibody levels, commercial enzymatic linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) with human recombinant (h) and guinea pig (Gp) tTG were used. IgA anti- tTG antibodies were determined in 50 sera of patients with untreated CD, 55 sera of patients on gluten free diet (GFD) and 50 sera of non-celiac controls. Results were correlated with clinical and histological data. Anti-htTG antibodies were found in 47 patients of untreated CD group (sensitivity of the test 94%) and anti-GptTG in 46 (sensitivity 92%). All of controls were negative for htTG antibodies (specificity of the test 100%), whereas 6 control patients were positive for Gp-tTG antibodies (specificity 90%). The level of antibodies did not correlate with histological changes of jejunal mucosa, but the amount of both antibodies decreased in patients on GFD. Our results revealed that htTG assay is a better tool than GptTG one for diagnosis and screening programs of CD.
Asset Securitizations and Audit Effort

Asset securitizations increase audit complexity and audit risks, which are expected to increase audit effort. We predict auditors became more sensitive to banks’ asset securitization risks in light of their role in bank failures and the financial downturn that commenced in 2007. Using bank holding company data from 2003 to 2009, we find that asset securitization risks (retained interests) are associated with bank audit fees during, but not before, the global financial crisis. This suggests auditors were previously less attentive to securitization risks before the GFC. The results are consistent with auditors previously treating securitizations as asset sales rather than recourse debt.
Event-Related Potentials in Humans for Emotional Words versus Pictures

Along with self-reported emotional reactions, changes in brain activity occur when someone is exposed to emotionally-charged images related to pleasure and disgust, such as baby animals and flesh wounds. Previous studies have shown that event-related potentials (ERPs) are enhanced separately by emotional pictures and emotional words, but none have yet to consider related pictures and words in the same study. This study examined the effects that stimulus type and level of emotional valence had on brain activity. Electroencephalography (EEG) was used to record P300 and late positive potential (LPP) activity of 21 undergraduate students. Two stimulus types were used (pictures and words), and three levels of emotionality were also used (positive, neutral, and negative). Analysis showed that pictures generated higher magnitude P300 and LPP peaks as compared to words for all emotional states. In the channel involving the occipital lobe, which is responsible for basic visual processing, results showed an effect for stimulus type but not for emotionality. The second channel, involving an electrode over the parietal lobe (a brain area participating in emotional processing), revealed an effect associated with positive and negative stimuli compared to neutral stimuli, with the magnitude of the effect depending on stimulus type. It was found that pictures consistently led to a greater emotional response compared to related words. Further analysis took into consideration the possibility of individual differences in self-reported arousal in the LPP time range, though no significant effects based on individual differences were found on the magnitude of the LPP. The continued presence of main effects of stimulus type, however, was indicative of differential neural processing of pictures versus words. Overall the results indicated larger magnitude changes in brain activity when pictures were used as visual stimuli compared to related words, both in regards to basic visual processing and emotional processing.
Winter habitat associations of four grassland sparrows in Florida dry prairie

Abstract North American grassland birds show long-term population declines that generally exceed the declines of other bird groups. Efforts to conserve grassland birds require knowledge of ecological and habitat requirements during both the breeding and nonbreeding periods of annual life cycles. Nonbreeding habitat associations may affect survival and the acquisition of resources needed for migration and breeding. We focused on the winter habitat associations of a suite of co-occurring grassland sparrows in the dry prairie of south-central Florida, an understudied region within the wintering range of Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum pratensis) and Henslow's Sparrows (A. henslowii). During the nonbreeding winter months, these two migratory sparrows commingle with resident Bachman's Sparrows (Peucaea aestivalis) and federally endangered Florida Grasshopper Sparrows (Ammodramus savannarum floridanus). We investigated sparrow habitat associations within two defined plant communities of the dry prairie ecosystem, the dry-mesic and wet-mesic prairie, for four prescribed fire treatments over two consecutive winters. Grasshopper and Henslow's sparrows showed higher relative abundance in wet-mesic prairie and Bachman's Sparrows were more abundant in dry-mesic prairie across all fire treatments. Florida Grasshopper Sparrows were detected only in the first and second years post-burn; samples were too small to yield information on potential preferences between the two prairie communities evaluated. We used an information-theoretic approach to select models that best predicted abundances for each species (except Florida Grasshopper Sparrows) based on time since fire and plant community. Abundances of Grasshopper and Bachman's sparrows were best predicted by plant community association and secondly by time since fire; whereas for Henslow's Sparrows, habitat and time since fire were equally important. This is the first concurrent study of these four sparrow taxa in peninsular Florida and indicates that time since fire influences the habitat preferences exhibited by wintering sparrows, but that this role differs across co-occurring species and dry prairie plant communities.
Intraspecific variation of a dominant Caribbean reef building coral, Montastraea annularis : genetic, behavioral and morphometric aspects.

We investigated intraspecific variation of the dominant Ca~ibbean reef building coral Montastrea annularis (Ellis & Solander) in terms of genetic variation (protein electrophoresis), intraspecific interaction and micro/macro morphometry. Our study included 3 sympatric morphotypes. 'Bumpy', 'Massive' and 'Columnar', distinguishable within M annularis populations on the leeward coasts of C u r a ~ a o and Bonaire (Netherlands Antilles). The gene t~c study demonstrated 8 polymorphic and 1 monomorphic loci. The mean number of alleles over all loci was 4.7, and the average heterozygosity (H) over all loci examined was high (0.36). One out of 9 taxonomic units showed a significant heterozygote deficiency; the others matched expectation. The M. annularis morphotypes showed a significant variation in allele frequencies but no fixed differences were found. The 'Columnar' and 'Bumpy' morphotypes were more similar with a genetic distance of 0.07. The 'Massive' morphotype demonstrated larger genetic distances: 0.13 with 'Columnar' and 0.16 with 'Bumpy' The 'Bumpy' morphotype was dominant over the other 2 morphotypes in the intraspecific interaction experiments, and 'Massive' was dominant over 'Columnar' The percentage of interactions was lower in intra-morphic experiments Of the 22 micro-morphometric parameters examined, 14 showed significant differences between the 3 morphs. In addition the mean number of polyps per cm2 was very different: values ranged from 28.55 for 'Bumpy' to 40.97 for 'Columnar'
Finite element simulation of temperature variation in grain metal silo

This research was conducted to study temperature variation in grain metal silo using Finite Element Method (FEM). A mathematical model was developed, based on conductive heat transfer expressed in Poisson and Laplace Differential models, by discretising the actual temperature variation at 8 hours storage interval for 153 days (May to September). The temperature variations were measured from specified radii (0, 3.25 m and 8.25 m) and at depth of 1.2 m from the base of the grain silo. The results of the simulation were compared with the ambient and measured values, and this agreed with each other. The pattern of temperature at the depth of 1.2 m from the radii of the metal silo did not differ from each other. This may imply that the silo will need aeration at an interval of 8 hours to curtail excessive heat buildup that may lead to deterioration of stored grains and possible structural failure.