Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Incorporating indirect ecosystem services into marine protected area planning and management

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs) are recognised as being the mechanism through which marine ecosystem services may be conserved to benefit human well-being. Planning and decision-making can be supported by the quantification and valuation of ecosystem services. To inform the development and management of MPAs a ‘service-orientated’ framework has been developed to use available data to spatially map and explore the pathways between ecosystem services, processes and the ecological functioning of benthic species for indirect ecosystem service provision within a case study area. The framework demonstrates that ecosystem service delivery is functionally interlinked and ecological function cannot be clearly mapped onto individual ecosystem services. The methodology developed here enables decision-makers to understand the links between benthic species, ecological function and indirect ecosystem services. There is currently no measure to quantify how much function is required to maintain human well-being. This lack of a measure, coupled with a large amount of uncertainty surrounding the links between ecosystem function and ecosystem service provision in marine systems, demonstrates that the inclusion of percentage targets for the conservation of broad-scale habitats in MPA planning and management should be considered within a precautionary approach to maintain the delivery of indirect ecosystem services.
Early Detection of High Risk Pregnancy

There are 30.939 pregnant women in Banyumas, with 6.206 cases referred due to high-risk pregnancies. Petahunan village in Pekuncen has the the highest incidence of high-risk pregnancies compared with other villages. The purpose of this study is to describe the implementation of early detection of high-risk pregnancies in Petahunan village, Pekuncen. This study used qualitative research methods with case study approach. Research instruments used in-depth interviews and focus group disscussion toward early detection of high-risk pregnancy issue. The informants were 7 people include pregnant women, health workers, midwives, head of village and village health forum chairman. The result showed only antenatal care implemented to detect high-risk pregnancy and no programs and community empowerment efforts in early detection of high-risk pregnancies.
Anticardiolipin antibodies do not mediate macrovascular complications of type 2 diabetes

The relationship of anticardiolipin antibodies (ACA), markers of the antiphospholipid syndrome, with vascular complications of diabetes mellitus is polemic. This cross-sectional study assessed the frequency of IgG, IgM, and IgA ACA in type 2 diabetics with and without history of vascular events for the last 5 years, and in healthy controls. ACA were detected by enzyme immunoassay. A total of 73 type 2 diabetics (33 with history of vascular events) and 54 healthy controls were tested. Most diabetics were female (p = 0.003), and older than controls (p 0.09). ACA positivity rates were also similar when diabetics with and without history of vasculopathy were compared (p > 0.47). After adjusting for gender, age, hypertension, and smoking status, a weak but statistically insignificant association between IgM ACA and diabetics with vasculopathy was found (adjusted OR 2.7; 95% CI 0.2 - 34.2; p = 0.441). Overall, levels of IgG (r = 0.25; p = 0.005) and IgM (r = 0.23; p = 0.010) ACA were associated with increasing age. In short, the frequency of a positive ACA test in type 2 diabetics (with or without previous macrovasculopathy) was not significant as compared to healthy controls. There was no association of ACA with vascular events in patients with type 2 diabetes.
Exploring the Potential to Penetrate the Energy Markets for Tennessee-Produced Switchgrass

Growing biomass crops for energy production on low productivity lands that are not used for food production has been suggested as an alternative to reduce dependence on fossil fuels and to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from transportation fuel. Switchgrass is considered a potential feedstock in various states, including Tennessee, because of its good yields on poor soils. However, its low density relative to its energy value and resulting high logistics costs impedes the profitability of switchgrass-based bioenergy. The objective of this study is to determine the optimal logistics configuration for a collection/distribution hub to market Tennessee-produced switchgrass for bioenergy production. A mathematical programming model integrated with the geographic information system is used to maximize the net present value (NPV) of profit of the hub that serves switchgrass producers and bioenergy markets. A total of six logistics configurations delivering switchgrass to local or international bioenergy markets are evaluated. The results highlight the economic challenges of penetrating the energy market for the collection/distribution hub of switchgrass: only one logistics configuration for the local market is profitable. However, serving international markets becomes feasible when investment risk is lowered. This information implies that certainty of bioenergy policies is crucial to the development of biomass feedstock for bioenergy industry.
Natural disturbances and the physiognomy of pine savannas: A phenomenological model

Abstract Question: The decline of the Pinus palustris ecosystems has resulted from anthropogenic influences, such as conversion to pine plantation forestry, agriculture and land development, all of which are closely related to increases in human populations. Other effects, however, have arisen from alterations in disturbance regimes that maintain the structure and function of these ecosystems. How have alterations of the disturbance regime altered the physiognomy of ‘old-growth’ stands, and what are the implications for ecosystem conservation and restoration? Methods: In contrast to models that emphasize close interactions among the vertically complex strata, we develop a conceptual phenomenological model for the physiognomic structure of Pinus palustris stands. We relate two natural disturbances (tropical storms and fire) that affect different stages of the life cycle to different aspects of the physiognomic structure. We then compare overstorey stand structure and ground cover composition of two old-growth longleaf stands near the extremes of different composite disturbance regimes: the Wade Tract (frequent hurricanes and fire) and the Boyd Tract (infrequent hurricanes and long-term fire exclusion). Results: We predict that tropical storms and fires have different effects on stand physiognomy. Tropical storms are periodic, and sometimes intense, whereas fires are more frequent and less intense. Hurricanes directly influence the overstorey via wind-caused damage and mortality, and indirectly influence the herb layer by altering the spatial distribution of shading and litter accumulation. Fire exerts direct effects on juvenile stages and indirect effects on the herb layer via fine fuel consumption and selective mortality of potential competitors of P. palustris juveniles. These differences in effects of disturbances can result in widely different physiognomies for P. palustris stands. Finally, some global climate change scenarios have suggested that changes may occur in tropical storm and fire regimes, altering frequency and severity. Such changes may greatly affect pine stands, and ultimately entire pine savanna ecosystems. Conclusions: Our phenomenological model of disturbance regimes in Pinus palustris old-growth produces very different physiognomies for different disturbances regimes that reflect natural process and human management actions. This model can be used to derive restoration strategies for pine savannas that are linked to reinstitution of important ecological processes rather than specific physiognomic states. Nomenclature: Anon. (2006).
Assessment of healthcare waste generation and its management systems: A prevalence survey of the healthcare facilities in Madagascar

Healthcare waste is a major public health hazard in developing countries. The aim of this study was to assess healthcare waste management (HCWM) system currently employed in selected healthcare facilities (HCFs) in Madagascar.Data was collected through a questionnaire and field visit in 2009. Seventeen HCFs were randomly selected from seventy six HCFs whose staff had undergone HCWM in 2006. The quantity of infectious waste generated per day at the HCFs was in proportion to the number beds (r= 0.838 and p<0.05). Non-sharps infectious waste was positively correlated with sharps (r=0.709, p=0.001). The availability of waste management plan was reported in 52.9% while the implementation of color coding system for waste segregation was reported in 76.5% HCFs. Waste segregation was reported by majority of HCFs (82%). Moreover, the most common disposal method was Montfort incinerator (65%). In general, there was improved HCWM system in HCFs surveyed, although certain HCFs still had poor management due to inadequate infrastructure and equipment for segregation, collection, transport, and disposal of medical waste (MW) as well as poor waste generation records. Interventions strategies should include adherence to national regulatory framework, periodic training and sensitization of healthcare worker and increased allocation of resources for HCWM.
Guilt and focusing in decision-making

In this paper we examined the impact of a specific emotion, guilt, on focusing in decision-making. Through the focusing mechanism, when making decisions, individuals tend to restrict their thoughts to what is explicitly represented in the decisional task, disregarding alternatives. In this paper, three experiments are performed to investigate whether an emotional state of guilt can critically guide individuals' focusing, and even prevailing over the focusing mechanism. Guilty emotional state was induced by asking participants to write about a guilty related life event. The emotional state was thus neither generated by nor related to the tasks used in the experiments. Results of the first two studies show that guilt affects focusing in decision-making in the case of only one explicitly specified option (a positive or a negative one). Guilty participants, when presented with a stated option that has predominantly positive characteristics, prefer other, unspecified options over the positive one. Guilty participants faced with a stated option that has predominantly negative features tend to prefer it to other, unspecified, options, instead. Finally, experiment 3 shows that guilty participants presented with two different options (a negative vs. a positive one) having different degrees of explicitness (i.e. they are not equally represented in the decision frame), focus on the negative option, even though the latter was not explicitly represented but only hinted at the end of the text. Overall, these results suggest that guilt emotion state can play a crucial role in either strengthening or reducing the focusing mechanism. Copyright © 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Imagined Infidelity Scenario Forgiveness and Distress: The Role of Method of Discovery and Specific Cheating Behavior

Male and female college students (N=437) from the U.S. read imagined scenarios of infidelity manipulated for discovery method (close friend tells, partner’s best friend tells, stranger tells, questioning partner, caught partner, and partner confesses) and infidelity act (sex, massage, falling in love, bought present, went out to dinner, and kissing). Participants rated how upsetting each scenario was and the likelihood they would forgive their partner if this were to happen. Sexual infidelity was rated the most upsetting and least forgivable imagined infidelity act by both men and women, especially when imagining the infidelity act being discovered in person. Discovering infidelity by means of a stranger was the least upsetting and most likely to be forgiven. Contrary to previous findings, men were less upset by all types of imagined infidelity than women and men were also more likely to forgive the indiscretions. Implications for relationships are discussed.
The Effects of Brand Experiences on Quality, Satisfaction and Loyalty: An Empirical Study in the Telecommunications Multiple-play Service Market

Este articulo busca contribuir al acervo de conocimiento sobre el papel de la experiencia de marca y su relacion con la satisfaccion, la confianza y la calidad en el servicio en la consolidacion de lealtad hacia la marca. A traves de modelos de ecuaciones estructurales se estudiaron 690 usuarios de servicios multiples dentro del mercado portugues de las telecomunicaciones. Los resultados obtenidos por los autores muestran que las experiencias de marca pueden ser empleadas para generar percepciones de lealtad, confianza y calidad; y que a pesar de que la satisfaccion se establece como el principal indicador de lealtad, la calidad en el servicio tiene un efecto indirecto importante. Con el fin de obtener la lealtad del cliente, los mercadologos deben gestionar experiencias de marca, la calidad en el servicio, la satisfaccion y la confianza. En este sentido, las experiencias de marca pueden ser abordadas como una manera de diferenciar servicios, cambiar las percepciones de los clientes hacia una marca y, en definitiva, conducir a la fidelizacion de clientes. Se senala ademas que la prestacion de servicios confiables es de suma importancia para los proveedores de servicios.
Micropropagation of Etlingera elatior (Zingiberaceae) by using axillary bud explants

Axillary bud explants of Etingera elatior were cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium, supplemented with various concentrations of cytokinin (BAP) or auxin (IAA) as plant growth regulators. The addition of 22.2 µM BAP to the MS medium produced the highest mean number of shoots (3.67) per explants as compared to other concentrations. The best shoots length (4.20 cm) was obtained from the medium containing 26.6 µM of BAP. For in vitro rooting of shoot, MS medium supplemented with 11.4 µM IAA produced the highest number of root, whereas 34.2 µM IAA gave the longest roots in the medium. The proliferated shoots were green and healthy in appearance. The Plantlets with well developed roots were hardened, acclimatized and planted out successfully with a survival rate of 75%.
Application of a Bioenergetics Model for Brown Trout to Evaluate Growth in Southeast Minnesota Streams

We examined the influence of water temperature, diet, and feeding sites on growth differences of brown trout Salmo trutta in southeast Minnesota streams. Streams were classi- fied as having either fast or slow growth based on back-calculated lengths at age and incremental growth measurements from scales collected in 2002 and 2003. Mean back-calculated lengths at age in fast-growth streams exceeded 141 mm at age 1, 229 mm at age 2, and 289 mm at age 3. In slow- growth streams, mean back-calculated lengths did not exceed 127 mm at age 1, 208 mm at age 2, and 268 mm at age 3. The frequency of feeding sites was low in both stream groups, although possibly higher in the fast-growth streams. Water temperatures were significantly warmer in the fast-growth streams in summer and somewhat cooler in winter. We used a Wisconsin-style bioenergetics model for brown trout to independently test the effects of water temperature and diet, holding other parame- ters constant. Differences in temperature regime alone were not sufficient to explain differences in growth, and, in fact, predicted slower growth in the fast-growth streams in summer. Different diets resulted in differing predicted weight gains when temperature was held constant; diets with the high- est energy densities always resulted in the greatest predicted weight gains. For younger cohorts, diet items with high energy densities included amphipods and mayflies (Ephemeroptera). Estimated con- sumption rates increased with summer temperatures. Our data suggested that growth differences among streams were likely due to differences in diet and prey availability, with more energy-rich di- ets available in fast-growth streams. We hypothesize that differences in diet and prey availability are mediated by water temperatures.
Semantic Resources and their Applications in Hungarian Natural Language Processing

This thesis is about the creation and application of semantic resources in Hungarian natural language processing. The first part of my work deals with applying automatic methods in order to generate a WordNet ontology – a hierarchical lexicon of word meanings – for Hungarian. I used several methods to generate automatic Hungarian translation for English WordNet synsets in what is called the expand model of building wordnets. I applied methods described in the literature and also developed new ones specific to Hungarian based on the available machine-readable dictionaries and other resources. The second part of my work focuses on word meaning in the context of polysemy and machine translation. I developed a word-sense disambiguation system to improve the lexical translation quality of an English-to-Hungarian rule-based machine translation system. My WSD system uses classifiers applying supervised machine learning, each trained with local and global features extracted from the training contexts. The classes are Hungarian translations of the ambiguous English lexical items, which improves disambiguation accuracy. I also showed a way to semi-automatically generate training instances for such classifiers using an aligned parallel corpus. In this approach, I have shown that it is essential to recognize idiomatic multi-word expressions formed with the target word in the corpus. In the third part of my work, I proposed a system for noun-phrase coreferenceand possessor-relationship resolution in Hungarian texts. The system uses rules relying on several knowledge sources, among them Hungarian WordNet. I also present shortly applications of my results both in research & development and in industrial projects.
Effect of molecular weight on the yield behaviour of EPY epoxy compound

A series of epoxy networks with molecular weight between crosslinks (Mc) ranging from 117 to 508 g/mol were investigated by employing as DSC and DMA methods and compression testing over a broad range of test temperatures (from 20 to 120°C) and strain rates (from 0.0208 to 20.8 min–1). Mechanical characteristics vs. testing temperature and strain rate developed in relation to working conditions of EPY compound applied for machine foundation chocks as well as effect of crosslinking on glass transition temperature (Tg) presented in this paper let to find out the effect of molecular architecture composed chiefly by Mc on the thermal and mechanical properties that govern yield behaviour of the material. The investigations carried out in a.m. ranges of testing temperatures and strain rates showed that whichever change of Mc is related to the change in crosslink density causing relative shift in the Tg of the compound. However, a sensitivity of the polymer material on changes in strain rate falls down with growth of testing temperature. Obtained results prove that yielding in EPY compound can be examined in categories of the Eyring’s plastic flow model in which yielding is described.
Does the Type of Neighbor Matter?: Evidence of Heterogeneous Export Spillovers on Domestic Companies in Mexico

This document examines whether the agglomeration of foreign processing firms (PCS) assembling imported inputs to make export products favors the incorporation to the export activity or market expansion of domestic companies. Similarly this situation is evaluated by considering ordinary foreign firms (ORD) or not manufactured processed products and non-local hybrid companies (HBR) that act in both regimes of commerce. The theoretical framework guiding the empirical evaluation is based on a simple model inspired by Melitz (2003), which is evaluated by means of a conditional logit model with panel data. The findings show evidence that the concentration of these types of foreign companies increases the probability that domestic companies show a presence in certain markets. Notwithstanding, these export spillovers widely heterogeneous in virtue of the fact that their existence and sphere of influence are associated with their specificity in terms of country or product, as well as with the regime of commerce and the technological capacity used by domestic companies vis-a-vis neighboring foreign companies.
Uncovering Preference Parameters with Higher-Order Consumption Moments

Empirical attempts using panel data to unveil preference parameters by a log-linearized version of the Euler equation have produced many puzzling results. Recent studies have shown that the approximation bias may be responsible for these anomalies. Motivated by its potential success in reducing the bias, we investigate the economic significance and empirical relevance of higher-order approximations to the Euler equation with simulation method. The approach mounted has the advantages of easy implementation and being less prone to misspecification. Our simulation results clearly reveal that the approximation bias can be significantly reduced when the higher-order moments are introduced, but at the cost of efficiency loss, the conventional tradeoff between bias reduction and efficiency loss. Our study contributes as well to the selection of the approximation order. With the selection criteria proposed in the paper, we find that the mean-squared errors may be substantially reduced simply by adding a small number of the higherorder moments to the second-order approximated consumption regression. Remarkably, when applying our approach to PSID, ‘reasonable’ preference parameter estimates, as suggested in the literature, can now be produced. JEL Classification Codes: E21, D91
Factors explaining the extent of use of management accounting practices in Malaysian medium firms / Kamilah Ahmad

There is little recent empirical research relating to what factors affected the use of specific management accounting practices in SMEs context. This research addresses the omission and report the findings derived from a survey of Malaysian firms in SME sector. Based on the 110 Malaysian medium firms in the manufacturing sector, the study indicates that size of the firm, intensity of market competition; commitment of owner/manager of firm and advanced manufacturing technology (AMT) have significant influence on the use of certain management accounting practices i.e costing system and performance evaluation system. The some use of more sophisticated MAPs (decision support system and strategic management accounting) is largely associated with the commitment of owner/manager. This research provides support for a contingency based explanation for the extent of use of MAPs and identifies new variable such as commitment of owner/manager as one of a key factor that affect the extent of use of management accounting practices in Malaysian medium firms.