Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seasonal distributions and fluxes of 210 Pb and 210 Po in the northern South China Sea

Vertical distributions of dissolved and particulate 210 Pb and 210 Po in the water column at the SouthEast Asian Time-series Study (SEATS, 18°00´ N and 116°00´ E) station in the northern South China Sea were determined from four cruises between January 2007 and June 2008. A large deficiency of 210 Pb, 379 ± 43 × 10 3 dpm m −2 , from the secular equilibrium was found within the 3500 m water column. On the other hand, a smaller deficiency of 210 Po, 100 ± 21 × 10 3 dpm m −2 , relative to 210 Pb was found in the water column. Time-series data showed insignificant temporal variability of the 210 Pb and 210 Po profiles. To balance these deficiencies, the removal fluxes for 210 Pb and 210 Po via particle settling ranging from 45 to 51 dpm m −2 d −1 and from 481 to 567 dpm m −2 d −1 , respectively, are expected at 3500 m. The 210 Pb removal flux is comparable with, whereas the 210 Po removal flux is much higher than, the flux directly measured by moored sediment traps. The discrepancy between the modeled 210 Po flux and the measured flux suggests that sporadic events that enhance 210 Po removal via sinking ballast may occur in the water column at the site.
Free Amino Acid and Reducing Sugar Composition of Pandan (Pandanus amaryllifolius) Leaves

Pandan leaves are commonly used to flavor desserts in Southeast Asia. The key aroma compound in pandan, 2-acetyl-1-pyrroline (ACPY), probably forms through Strecker degradation during cooking. This study investigated the composition of free amino acids and reducing sugars that could be precursors of ACPY in pandan leaves. Fresh pandan leaves contained 2.38 mg/g fructose and 1.77 mg/ g glucose. Major free amino acid in pandan was glutamic acid (0.41 mg/g). Proline, a precursor of ACPY in fragrant rice, was at 0.12 mg/g. Pandan samples were heated at 100 ∞C for 10 min at pH 7.0. Aroma impact compounds in heated pandan were ACPY and 3-methyl-2(5H)-furanone. In this experiment, glutamic acid, proline, ornithine, fructose and glucose were added to pandan samples separately. Addition of glutamic acid, proline, and ornithine increased ACPY and generated 4-vinylphenol and 3-ethyl-4-methyl-1H-pyrrole-2,5-dione that were not normally detected in heated pandan samples. Addition of fructose and glucose did not affect ACPY concentrations but decreased in 2-ethyl-5-methyl
In Vitro Evaluation of Phenolics Content, Antioxidant and Antimicrobial Activities of Three Centaurea L. Species from Iran

Background: Members of the genus Centaurea L. (Astraceae) are used in some countries for betterment of various ailments in the popular medicine. The main group of secondary metabolites in plants are phenolic compounds and flavonoids which are the main subset of phenolic compounds, possess a lot of biological properties such as antioxidant activity. The aim of present research is to determine in vitro total phenol and flavonoid contents, antioxidant potency and also antibacterial activity of the methanolic extracts of capitulla and aerial parts of three Centaurea species, namely C. sosnovsky Grossh. , C. irritans Wagenitz and C. kandavanesis Wagenitz. In addition, any relationships between the phenolics content and their antioxidant properties were discussed. Methods: To determine total phenol and flavonoid contents of the methanolic extracts, Folin-Ciocalteu and aluminum chloride methods were used, respectively. To evaluate antioxidant activity three different test systems, namely 2, 2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl free radical scavenging (DPPH), Cu-chelating and s-carotene/linoleic acid bleaching were used. In addition, disc diffusion method was used to assess antibacterial activity of the extracts against 6 gram positive and negative bacteria. Results: Results indicated that the highest total phenol content (98.91 ± 1.87mg GAE/g of dry extract) represented by the aerial part extract of C. kandavanensis. The highest total flavonoid content (5.382 ± 0.231mg GAE/g of dry extract) and also DPPH radical scavenging activity (IC50; 0.20 ± 2.02 mg/ml) were exhibited by the capitulla extract of C. sosnovsky. However, the aerial part extract of C. irritans had the most potency for β-carotene bleaching (74.74%) among the studied samples. In addition, the extracts had acceptable antibacterial activity against both gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria tested. Conclusion: Overall, high content of phenolic compounds and proper antioxidant activity of the examined Centaurea extracts may suggest them as potent antioxidants for special use in future.
Almen Response with Strain rate eects

Almen intensity is used as a measure of the residual stresses, developed during shot peening. It is employed to ensure the repeatability of the peening process of identical parts. A unique FEM based approach that simulates the exact process of peening the Almen strip is presented in this paper. This approach employs hemispherical shots impacting on a slice of Almen strip. For improved accuracy, it includes strain-rate dependent target material properties and lateral deection of the strip. The intensity, the corresponding
On the nature of the break in the X-ray luminosity function of low-mass X-ray binaries

We analyze a flux-limited sample of persistent and bright (with 2–10 keV fluxes exceeding 1.4 × 10 −10 erg s −1 cm −2 ) low-mass X-ray binaries (LMXBs) in our Galaxy. It is demonstrated that the majority of binary systems with X-ray luminosities below logL(erg/s) ∼ 37.3 have unevolved secondary companions (except for those with white dwarf donors), while systems with higher X-ray luminosity harbor predominantly giant donors. Mass transfer in binary systems with giants significantly shortens their lifetime thus steepening the X-ray luminosity function of LMXBs at high luminosity. We argue that this is why the LMXB luminosity function constructed from observations of sources in our and distant galaxies demonstrates a break at logL(erg/s) ∼ 37.3.
Effect of salt stress (sodium chloride) on germination and seedling growth of durum wheat (Triticum durum Desf.) genotypes

The impact of salt stress under different salinity level (0, 50, 100, 150, 200 mMol of NaCl) on ten genotypes of durum wheat namely: Werd Bled, Hmira, Bidi, Arbi, INRAT 69, Agili, Derbassi and Bayatha, Karim and Maali was conducted. Germination rate were recorded daily using radicle extrusion as a criterion. Morphological studies root length, shoot length, fresh weight and dry weight of root and shoot were also measured. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed that germination rate of durum wheat genotypes was significantly affected by the salt stress. Results show a reduction of germination rate in response to the highest dose of NaCl for almost all the varieties except for Maali and Derbassi durum wheat cultivar in case150 and 200 mMol concentrations. After 6 days of germination, these lines showed germination percentage respectively of 70 and 60% against a rate of 0% for Bidi AP4 and Bayatha. For morphological traits, the effect of varieties was highly significant (P<0.01) on almost traits measured expect shoot dry weight, root fresh weight and root dry weight. Results show that all studied traits were significantly (P<0.001) reduced due to salt stress. The data showed that different level of salinity significantly affected the growth attributes by reducing root and shoot length for salinity below 50 mMol NaCl. Fresh weight and dry weight of root and shoot were reduced significantly with subsequent treatment. Key words: Durum wheat, germination, landraces, salt stress.
Collective Location Choice Model

In this paper, a methodology for incorporating social networks into models leisure activity location choice is discussed. Empirical work is discussed in order to establish a foundation for the methodology, and a hierarchical approach is presented. A simulated spatial social network based on empirical data is used for a collective location choice model. The results suggest that using a joint location choice model based on a social network can explain to some extent the gap between observed leisure trip length and the distance of the nearest leisure activity location measured in micro simulations.
The business of business is societal responsibility

Within brand research there is a debate regarding if multinational companies will benefit most from emphasizing their product brand or their corporate brands. The past decade has also brought increased market awareness of sustainability. Against this background it is interesting that major FMCGs have recently engaged in corporate brand endorsement. The aim of this paper is to contribute to this debate by answering the research question of why FMCGs recently have engaged in corporate brand endorsement. This is done by exploring the various drivers and goals for FMCGs adopting corporate brand endorsement and how this relates to sustainability demands from stakeholders. A multiple case study was built through observations and in-depth interviews with brand managers from three market leading global FMCGs. The results reveal internal drivers related to change of leadership and restructuring of core business that result in an emphasis on sustainability. External drivers include increasing pressure from consumers and potential employees regarding sustainability and business purpose. Goals revolve around communication and building the corporate brand towards consumers and communicate sustainability, thus reaching reassurance. Key words: FMCG, corporate brand endorsement, corporate reputation, sustainability, corporate identity, corporate image
Screening and evaluation of herbicidal metabolites produced by Trichoderma spp.

Laboratory bioassays were conducted to screen and evaluate the potential herbicidal metabolites produced by Trichoderma.longibrachiatum (Tr673), T. harzianum (Tr319), T. viride (Tr347) T. koningii (Tr324) and T. asperellum (Tr85) on inhibiting seed germination (SGe) and shoot/root growth (SGr/RGr) of seedlings of Porslane (Portulaca oleracea), Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli), and Amaranthus retroflexus L. The culture filtrates generated from fermented liquids with each of the Trichoderma strains were diluted into 10 and 20% by adding sterilized water, which was then applied onto the weed seeds individually. The IR (%) of SGr/RGr of seedlings were significantly higher (P≤ 0.05) in the treatments with Tr673 culture filtrate generated from potato dextrose broth (PDB) for all treated weed seeds compared to those in the treatments generated from other culture media with Tr673 or Tr347. The IR (%) on SGe and SGr/RGr of seedlings in the treatment with Tr673 culture filtrate generated from PDB + 0.4% sodium glutamate were significantly higher (P≤ 0.05) than those generated from PDB alone. The result of the bioassay with the crude extract (62.5 mgˑL-1) generated from Tr673 culture filtrate showed a similar effect on decreasing the SGr/RGr rates (%) of the weeds and cucumber compared to those with the chemical herbicide-glyphosate. Key words: Trichoderma, herbicidal activity, metabolites, inhibiting, crude extract.
Determinants of Banking Distress and Merger as Strategic Policy to Resolve Distress

This paper studies bank distress in MENA country and addresses the question of whether mergers are commonly considered as a solution for resolving individual bank distress. Both specific bank levels and macro variables are deployed to predict banking distress. In line with other recent papers, we challenge the view that specific bank indicators such as CAMEL category and bank size are significant determinants of banking distress. Our findings indicate that monetary policy indicators do not really affect banking distress in MENA countries. Overall, we suggest that bank capitalization and regulatory supervision needs to be given enough consideration to avoid individual distress in the banking sector. Our empirical study shows that 67% of the distressed banks in our sample are involved in merger transactions and that poor financial status systematically increases the likelihood of a bank being involved in a merger. Distressed state-owned banks and large-sized banks are less likely to be a target in a merger transaction. However, global economic conditions do not affect the decision of distressed banks to initiate a merger policy.
The firm specific determinants of capital structure and the influence of the financial crisis: Evidence from Dutch firms.

This paper aims to identify whether the financial crisis had an influence on the determinants of capital structure for Dutch firms. It does so by comparing data of two timeframes namely the pre-crisis period (2006-2007) and crisis period (2008-2009). The determinants that are of interest for the study include; profitability, tangibility, size, growth opportunities and liquidity. The variables are regressed against the dependent variable leverage. The results hold that the mean value of leverage increased during the financial crisis. This indicates that companies searched for external financing when profitability and liquidity levels were diminishing. Furthermore the determinants profitability, tangibility, size and liquidity all seem to be positively related to leverage before the crisis. Whilst the variable growth opportunities appears to be negatively related to leverage. During the crisis the value of the coefficients changed although the direction of the relationship stays the same for all variables except profitability.
FISSION-TRACK ANALYSIS OF DETRITAL APATITES FROM SITES 717 AND 718 , LEG 116 , CENTRAL INDIAN OCEAN 1

This paper presents fission-track ages and confined track-length measurements from detrital apatites recovered from Ocean Drilling Program Leg 116 Site 717 and 718 cores. We interpret these data in terms of the post-depositional thermal history at these two sites and the thermotectonic history of apatite source areas. Composite apatite samples were derived by combining fine-grained sand samples from Sites 717 and 718 cores over 70to 120-m intervals over the total depth penetrated at Sites 717 (T.D. = 820 mbsf) and 718 (T.D. = 960 mbsf). Thirty apatite grains per composite sample from ten samples (at least every other sampled interval) were dated and track-length measurements (20-50 per sample) were obtained for all samples. Mean track lengths from Site 717 samples are statistically identical, ranging from 14.4 ± 0.4 to 14.8 ± 0.3 μm (all errors are the 95% confidence interval), and mean fission-track ages increase monotonically downhole from 4.8 ± 1.1 to 14.3 ± 2.3 Ma. For Site 718, located approximately 7 km to the south of Site 717 on an adjacent fault block, mean track lengths to 560 mbsf are equivalent to those measured from Site 717 samples. A decrease in mean track length (14.6 ± 0.3 to 13.2 ± 0.4 μm) and a corresponding decrease in mean fission-track age (21.1 ± 2.9 to 15.8 ± 2.4 Ma) with depth for samples between 560 and 960 mbsf from Site 718 indicates that post-depositional downhole shortening of fission tracks at elevated temperatures has taken place. Track-length shortening, based on mean track lengths relative to an unannealed mean track length of 16.3 μm, is approximately 10% for all Site 717 samples and for samples from the upper 560 m of Site 718. The total amount of shortening of the lowermost sample from Site 718 is approximately 20%. Based on extrapolation of published laboratory annealing experiments, maximum isothermal time-temperature condition extremes that could produce this degree of annealing at the base of Site 718 are estimated to range from 50°C for a duration of 17 m.y. (since deposition) to 55°C for a duration of 7.5 m.y. (since the onset of deformation). These estimates argue against regional thermal conduction as the only mechanism for post-depositional heating and support seafloor heat flow and shipboard geochemical evidence for local convective heat transfer in the vicinity of Site 718. In terms of source-area implications, dated samples have mean apatite fission-track ages that are only 0 to 10 m.y. older than depositional ages. These young ages imply rapid transport of sediment to the distal Bengal Fan and source areas characterized by high denundation rates (<300 m/m.y.). These rates suggest that source areas similar to parts of the present-day Himalayas supplied sediment to the distal Bengal Fan since at least 17 Ma.
Modelling polycrystalline solidification using phase field theory

We review recent advances made in the phase field modelling of polycrystalline solidification. Areas covered include the development of theory from early approaches that allow for only a few crystal orientations, to the latest models relying on a continuous orientation field and a free energy functional that is invariant to the rotation of the laboratory frame. We discuss a variety of phenomena, including homogeneous nucleation and competitive growth of crystalline particles having different crystal orientations, the kinetics of crystallization, grain boundary dynamics, and the formation of complex polycrystalline growth morphologies including disordered ('dizzy') dendrites, spherulites, fractal-like polycrystalline aggregates, etc. Finally, we extend the approach by incorporating walls, and explore phenomena such as heterogeneous nucleation, particle? front interaction, and solidification in confined geometries (in channels or porous media).
Origin Cancer Cells Using a cDNA Microarray Determination of Genes Related to Gastrointestinal Tract

Purpose: We evaluated the genome-wide gene expression profiles of various cancer cell lines to identify the gastrointestinal tract cancer cell–related genes. Experimental Design: Gene expression profilings of 27 cancer cell lines and 9 tissues using 7.5K human cDNA microarrays in indirect design with Yonsei reference RNA composed of 11 cancer cell line RNAs were done. The significant genes were selected using significant analysis of microarray in various sets of data. The selected genes were validated using real-time PCR analysis. Results: After intensity-dependent, within-print-tip normalization by loess method, we observed that expression patterns of cell lines and tissues were substantially different, divided in two discrete clusters. Next, we selected 115 genes that discriminate gastrointestinal cancer cell lines from others using significant analysis of microarray. Among the expression profiles of five gastric cancer cell lines, 66 genes were identified as differentially expressed genes related to metastatic phenotype. YCC-16, which was established from the peripheral blood of one advanced gastric cancer patient, produced a unique gene expression pattern resembling the profiles of lymphoid cell lines. Quantitative real-time reverse transcription-PCR results of selected genes, including PXN , KRT8 , and ITGB5 , were correlated to microarray data and successfully discriminate the gastrointestinal tract cancer cell lines from hematologic malignant cell lines. Conclusions: A gene expression database could serve as a useful source for the further investigation of cancer biology using the cell lines. INTRODUCTION Established cancer cell lines actually differ from their tissues of origins, which are composed of various cell types in histologic or biological characters. However, because of the difficulty in accessing human cancer and normal tissues, cell lines are still the most useful tools for cancer research. Many efforts have been made to understand the basic biological and genetic characteristics of cell lines, which might be useful to determine the proper cell line model for the study purposes. Sixty National Cancer Institute (NCI) cancer cell lines have been used for drug screening for more than four decades, which significantly contributed to anticancer drug development (1–4). Based on their biological properties, the NCI’s Developmental Therapeutics Program did a comprehensive gene expression analysis of these 60 NCI cell lines, which resulted in the identification of the genetic characteristics of each cell line (5). Additional studies suggested that drug sensitivity genes could be identified by evaluating the correlation between the gene expression profiles and the drug responsiveness in each cell
Regularity conditions in the realisability problem with applications to point processes and random closed sets

We study existence of random elements with partially specified distributions. The technique relies on the existence of a positive ex-tension for linear functionals accompanied by additional conditions that ensure the regularity of the extension needed for interpreting it as a probability measure. It is shown in which case the extens ion can be chosen to possess some invariance properties. The results are applied to the existence of point processes with given correlation measure and random closed sets with given two-point covering function or contact distribution function. It is shown that the regularity condition can be efficiently checked in many cases in order to ensure that the obtained point processes are indeed locally finite and random sets have closed realisations.
A New Interpretation of the Mass–Temperature Relation and Mass Calibration of Galaxy Clusters Based on the Fundamental Plane

Observations and numerical simulations have shown that the relation between the mass scaled with the critical density of the universe and the X-ray temperature of galaxy clusters is approximately represented by M Δ ∝ T X 3 / 2 (e.g., Δ = 500 ). This relation is often interpreted as evidence that clusters are in virial equilibrium. However, the recently discovered fundamental plane (FP) of clusters indicates that the temperature of clusters primarily depends on a combination of the characteristic mass Ms and radius rs of the Navarro–Frenk–White profile rather than MΔ. Moreover, the angle of the FP revealed that clusters are not in virial equilibrium because of continuous mass accretion from the surrounding matter. By considering both the FP and the mass dependence of the cluster concentration parameter, we show that this paradox can be solved and the relation M Δ ∝ T X 3 / 2 actually reflects the central structure of clusters. We also find that the intrinsic scatter in the halo concentration–mass relation can largely account for the spread of clusters on the FP. We also show that X-ray data alone form the FP and the angle and the position are consistent with those of the FP constructed from gravitational lensing data. We demonstrate that a possible shift between the two FPs can be used to calibrate cluster masses obtained via X-ray observations.