Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A 6-year comparison of nitrate leaching from grass/clover and N-fertilized grass pastures grazed by sheep

Nitrate leaching was measured over a 3-year period from rotationally grazed perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) pasture receiving 200 kg fertilizer-N/ha and from similarly grazed ryegrass/white clover (Trifolium repens L.) pasture that received no N fertilizer. The results are discussed together with those from the same plots in the preceding 3 years when they were stocked continuously. Under both managements, the numbers of grazing sheep were adjusted on the basis of the quantity of herbage available on the plots. During the whole 6 years, mean nitrate concentrations in soil water collected by porous cup samplers remained below the European Union limit of 11·3 mg N/l except for the fertilized grass plots in year 5 of the study. Quantities of nitrate leached ranged from 6 to 34 kg/ha per year from the grass/clover plots and 2·46 kg/ha from the fertilized plots. Leaching losses from both types of pasture were positively correlated with the numbers of lamb grazing days in the later part of the grazing season. This relationship and the high spatial variability associated with the measurements indicated that N derived from excreta was the main source of leached nitrate. It was concluded that, where pastures of equal productivity are compared, similar quantities of N are likely to be leached from grass/clover swards as from grass swards receiving N fertilizer.
Interactive comment on “Investigating the frequency and trends in global above-cloud aerosol characteristics with CALIOP and OMI” by R. Alfaro-Contreras et al

The submitted manuscript examines the multi-year variations, which has been referred to as ‘trend analysis’ in the paper, of the above-cloud aerosols (ACA) detected by two different sensors and techniques, i.e., one based on the space lidar CALIOP on board CALIPSO satellite, and one that relies on the columnar cloud and aerosol parameters measured from MODIS and OMI passive imagers. Author carries out ACA detection analysis on a global scale with emphasis on several aerosol laden regions and found discrepancies between the two techniques. Of the several interesting issues discussed in the manuscript and also raised by the anonymous reviewers, the trend in ACA fre-
Sea ice drift in the Arctic since the 1950s

Sea ice drift data (from Russian North Pole stations, various ice camps, and the International Arctic Buoy Program) and surface wind stress data from the NCAR/NCEP Reanalysis are analyzed to determine their long‐term trends and causality. The study finds that both parameters (ice drift and wind stress) show gradual acceleration over last 50 years. Significant positive trends are present in both winter and summer data. The major cause of observed positive trends is increasing Arctic storm activity over the Transpolar Drift Stream caused by a shift of storm tracks toward higher latitudes. It is speculated, with some observational evidence, that the increased stirring of the ocean by winds could hasten the transition of the Arctic toward a weakly stratified ocean with a potential for deep convection and a new sink for atmospheric CO2.
DIVIDEND POLICY IN AUSTRALIA

This study examined the determinants of dividends in an environment where tax was supposedly a main reason for paying dividends. The imputation tax system in Australia had led to the expectation that firms should pay the maximum possible franked dividends. Using panel data from January 1994 to December 2004, I found strong evidence that dividend payout ratio and likelihood of paying dividends were positively related to ownership concentration, profitability, firm size, the presence of dividend reinvestment scheme and tax paid, and were negatively related to leverage, growth opportunity, business risks and investment. My findings supported the conjecture that dividend policy could be explained by tax reasons, residual theory and agency relationship simultaneously.
Synthesis, Stability and Computational Study of some Ester Derivatives of Theophylline-7-acetic Acid with Antiproliferative Activity

Two new esters of theophylline-7-acetic acid were synthesized and their structures were confirmed by elemental analysis, FTIR, 1H NMR spectral data. Structural analysis was also carried out using computational methods. The performed investigations on the spectral behaviour of the tested compounds show, that in comparison with the DFT calculations, the application of PM6 method is mainly limited to vibrations under 3000 cm-1. From the performed stability evaluations was established that compounds 3a-b are stable in acidic and weakly alkaline pH. In strong alkiline solution 3a-b hydrolize and the corresponding rate constants were established. The analysis of the calculated molecular descriptors defined by Lipinski prove that the studied compounds obey “rule of five” and is very probable to expect good biological activity manifestation after peroral administration.The pharmacological screening in three human tumor cell lines show, that 3a causes reduction of cellular viability at lower concentration as compared to 3b.
Nuclear and Mitochondrial Patterns of Introgression between the Parapatric European Treefrogs Hyla arborea and H. intermedia

Postglacial northward expansions from distinct southern European refugia have lead to the formation of several secondary contact zones between species. These zones are providing growing insights into the relevance of introgressive hybridization in shaping patterns of genetic diversity, and into the evolutionary processes involved in the completion of reproductive isolation barriers. Using both nuclear (9 allozyme loci) and mitochondrial (PCR-RFLP of a cytochrome b gene fragment) diagnostic markers we investigated the genetic patterns of variation across a zone of parapatry between the two European treefrogs Hyla arborea and H. intermedia. Neither F1 and F2 hybrids nor backcrosses were identified, indicating the lack of current gene exchange between the two species. However, introgressed alleles were observed in both species and in all markers analysed, which testifies to the occurrence of past events of introgressive hybridization. A wide variation in the frequencies of introgressed alleles was observed between loci and between the two species, suggesting the action of differential selective filtering. The historical context for the occurrence of secondary contact between the two species and its evolutionary implications are discussed, together with the possible role of human disturbance and/or reinforcing selection in leading to the observed absence of ongoing gene flow between them.
ASTROBIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF GAMMA-RAY BURSTS IN THE MILKY WAY GALAXY

A planet having protective ozone within the collimated beam of a gamma-ray burst (GRB) may suffer ozone depletion, potentially causing a mass extinction event to existing life on a planet’s surface and oceans. We model the dangers of long GRBs to planets in the Milky Way and utilize a static statistical model of the Galaxy, which matches major observable properties, such as the inside-out star formation history (SFH), metallicity evolution, and three-dimensional stellar number density distribution. The GRB formation rate is a function of both the SFH and metallicity. However, the extent to which chemical evolution reduces the GRB rate over time in the Milky Way is still an open question. Therefore, we compare the damaging effects of GRBs to biospheres in the Milky Way using two models. One model generates GRBs as a function of the inside-out SFH. The other model follows the SFH, but generates GRB progenitors as a function of metallicity, thereby favoring metal-poor host regions of the Galaxy over time. If the GRB rate only follows the SFH, the majority of the GRBs occur in the inner Galaxy. However, if GRB progenitors are constrained to low-metallicity environments, then GRBs only form in the metal-poor outskirts at recent epochs. Interestingly, over the past 1 Gyr, the surface density of stars (and their corresponding planets), which survive a GRB is still greatest in the inner galaxy in both models. The present-day danger of long GRBs to life at the solar radius (R⊙ = 8 kpc) is low. We find that at least ∼65% of stars survive a GRB over the past 1 Gyr. Furthermore, when the GRB rate was expected to have been enhanced at higher redshifts, such as z ≳ 0.5, our results suggest that a large fraction of planets would have survived these lethal GRB events.
Spider fauna (Arachnida, Araneae) from Sabah, Malaysia

This is the first series representing a total of 222 spider species from 30 families and 130 genera recorded in Sabah. The data was obtained from available literatures, scientific expedition and other field collections from November 2010 to December 2011. A total of 40 species is considered as new record for this state. This inventory aims to offer valuable information that can be used as general guidelines for future research of Sabah spider fauna.
Mandatory Audit Firm Rotation and Big4 Effect on Audit Quality: Evidence from South Korea

In South Korea, due to concurrent financial scandals, Korean legislators implemented two major audit policies in the 2000s; the mandatory audit "partner" rotation policy in 2000 and the mandatory audit "firm" rotation policy in 2006. The mandatory audit "firm" rotation policy was introduced as a mean to improve audit quality based on the auditor entrenchment hypothesis. In this paper, we compare the audit quality of firms subjected to mandatory audit "firm" rotation with two benchmark groups, a sample that adopted the policy voluntarily; the second group consists of the mandatory "firm" rotation sample in years prior, a period firms were subject to mandatory audit "partner" rotation. Using accrual-based measures as proxies for audit quality, we find evidence that audit quality of the mandatory rotation firm sample is lower compared to firms that voluntarily adopted the policy. Furthermore, we find evidence that audit quality of the mandatory rotation firm sample is lower compared to the mandatory audit partner firm sample. Additionally, we also find evidence that the mandatory audit firms rotation sample whose auditors were rotated from Non-Big4 to Big4 are generally associated with lower levels of abnormal accruals consistent with the argument that the audit quality of Big4 accounting firms is superior to Non-Big4 firms. Finally, longer audit tenure and switches to Big4 audit firms generally have a positive effect upon audit quality. These findings suggest that extended audit tenure improves audit quality due to accounting firmâ€™s accumulated client specific knowledge. Thus, our evidence suggests that the mandatory audit firm rotation policy did not have the desired effect in a Korean context.
A new power line conditioner for harmonic compensation in power systems

This paper proposes a new power line conditioner consisting of two small rating series active filters and a shunt passive filter. The power line conditioner aims at a general filtering system which will be installed at the point of common coupling in a power system feeding harmonic-sensitive loads and unidentified harmonic-producing loads. One of the two active filters is connected in series with the supply, while another is in series with the shunt passive filter. The purpose of the power line conditioner is to reduce voltage distortion at the connection point, and is to eliminate harmonic currents escaping into the system upstream of the connection point. A control scheme of the two series active filters which play an important role is described in this paper. Its filtering characteristics are discussed with the focus on voltage and current distortion. A prototype model of 20 kVA is constructed to verify the functionality and performance of the power line conditioner. >
Muscidae (Diptera) of medico-legal importance associated with ephemeral organic substrates in seasonally dry tropical forests

Muscidae (Diptera) comprises one of the most important taxa in medical, veterinary and forensic entomology, especially due to their association with decomposing carcasses and cadavers. Yet, knowledge on their distribution and behaviour is still incipient in several biomes, which is the case of dry tropical forests. This study aimed to evaluate the attractiveness of different organic substrates to species of Muscidae in areas of seasonally dry forests (Caatinga) in Northern Brazil. Sampling was carried out in five Caatinga areas between 2015 and 2017, using suspended traps baited with bovine spleen, fish or human faeces. When all samplings were combined, 3,176 adults of nine species were collected. The assemblages of muscids had higher richness and abundances on bovine spleen, which attracted 66% of all specimens, when compared to the other substrates. Musca domestica was the most abundant species, and it was dominant in assemblages associated with spleen and fish. Assemblages attracted to spleen and fish had higher similarity, differing from those associated with faeces. Differences in food attractiveness are presented for species of medical interest as pathogen vectors (e.g., Synthesiomyia nudiseta (Wulp, 1883)) and of forensic relevance as colonizers of human corpses (e.g., Ophyra aenescens (Wiedemann, 1830)).
Relating pseudospin and spin symmetries through charge conjugation and chiral transformations: The Case of the relativistic harmonic oscillator

We solve the generalized relativistic harmonic oscillator in 1+1 dimensions, i.e., including a linear pseudoscalar potential and quadratic scalar and vector potentials which have equal or opposite signs. We consider positive and negative quadratic potentials and discuss in detail their bound-state solutions for fermions and antifermions. The main features of these bound states are the same as the ones of the generalized three-dimensional relativistic harmonic oscillator bound states. The solutions found for zero pseudoscalar potential are related to the spin and pseudospin symmetry of the Dirac equation in 3+1 dimensions. We show how the charge conjugation and {gamma}{sup 5} chiral transformations relate the several spectra obtained and find that for massless particles the spin and pseudospin symmetry-related problems have the same spectrum but different spinor solutions. Finally, we establish a relation of the solutions found with single-particle states of nuclei described by relativistic mean-field theories with scalar, vector, and isoscalar tensor interactions and discuss the conditions in which one may have both nucleon and antinucleon bound states.
Examining Ricardian Equivalence by estimating and bootstrapping a nonlinear dynamic panel model

We examine the Ricardian Equivalence proposition for a panel of OECD countries in the 80s and 90s by estimating a nonlinear dynamic consumption function. We estimate this function with the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) using moment conditions that allow us to use information from the levels of the variables included in the consumption function. To examine the performance of this nonlinear GMM estimator and to obtain small sample critical values for the test statistics we apply both one-level and two-level bootstraps. Ricardian Equivalence is rejected since we find a significant number of current income consumers and since permanent income consumers seem to consume less in each period than what would be expected under certainty equivalence.
Community concordance between the fish and aquatic birds of lakes in northern Alberta, Canada: the relative importance of environmental and biotic factors

SUMMARY 1. Community concordance measures the degree to which patterns in community structure in a set of sites are similar between two different taxonomic groups. Although seldom incorporated into studies of lake ecosystems, aquatic birds can be influenced by the same environmental features of lakes which affect fish and invertebrates, and can interact with these organisms directly as predators, competitors or prey. We surveyed lakes in north-central Alberta, Canada, to determine if co-occurring fish and aquatic bird assemblages displayed concordance, and assessed the relative importance of environmental and biotic factors in contributing to observed concordance. 2. In 41 lakes (3‐305 ha), we encountered seven species of fish and thirty-one avian taxa which subsequently were used in multivariate analyses. Fish assemblages dominated by large piscivores were in large deep lakes, whereas fishless lakes and lakes with only smallbodied fish were small and shallow, and thus, prone to winter hypoxia. Bird assemblages displayed three general patterns: (a) small shallow lakes supported a ‘core’ of widespread species (between three and eight species per lake); (b) large, deep lakes supported more species (between 11 and 16), including large, aerially foraging piscivores; and (c) large, shallow lakes supported the most species (between 15 and 23), including many ducks. 3. Randomization tests of matrix concordance and Mantel tests both showed that fish and bird assemblages were significantly concordant. Concordance reflected the fact that both groups were strongly affected by the same key environmental factors, principally lake size and maximum depth, and to a lesser extent, productivity and geographic isolation. Direct interactions between birds and fish, such as predation and competition, appeared to play much smaller roles in shaping the two assemblages.
Reflecting on Novelty Production and Niche Management in Agriculture

Since the early 1990s, we have witnessed a comprehensive and far reaching transformation of agriculture throughout Europe. It has gained its momentum as a counter-force to the sometimes disastrous side effects of an over-modernised agriculture and over-industrialised food supply chain. This is not only happening in marginalised areas, unsuitable for modern industrialised agriculture, but also, if not more so, in the most successful growth poles of modernisation, such as the Netherlands. This drive for a radical turn can be understood as a quest to once again rebalance agriculture with societal needs. Although the need for a radical turn has become more or less commonly accepted, the route to follow is still subject to dispute. There are many different interests at stake and many threats to vested positions. So we find ourselves in a difficult transition from a specific way of ordering, with its evolving socio-material order, to another; in other words, from the socio-technical regime (see Moors et al. in this volume) connected with modernisation, that has been dominant for several decades, to an alternative regime. This alternative mode of ordering (Law 1994) has to be built up from scratch by experimenting with promising ideas that will bring forth all kinds of working bits and pieces (novelties). In turn these have to be welded together into a properly working whole (Roep 2000). The new regime is shaped when moving along the track. This is a recursive process, with feed backs, feed forwards, set backs and inevitable detours. Success and failure go hand in hand, depending on ones perspective and may change over the course of time.
Magnetohydrodynamic kink waves in two-dimensional non-uniform prominence threads

Aims. We analyse the oscillatory properties of resonantly damped transverse kink oscillations in two-dimensional prominence threads. Methods. The fine structures are modelled as cylindrically symmetric magnetic flux tubes with a dense central part with prominence plasma properties and an evacuated part, both surrounded by coronal plasma. The equilibrium density is allowed to vary non-uniformly in both the transverse and the longitudinal directions. We examine the influence of longitudinal density structuring on periods, damping times, and damping rates for transverse kink modes computed by numerically solving the linear resistive magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) equations. Results. The relevant parameters are the length of the thread and the density in the evacuated part of the tube, two quantities that are difficult to directly estimate from observations. We find that both of them strongly influence the oscillatory periods and damping times, and to a lesser extent the damping ratios. The analysis of the spatial distribution of perturbations and of the energy flux into the resonances allows us to explain the obtained damping times. Conclusions. Implications for prominence seismology, the physics of resonantly damped kink modes in two-dimensional magnetic flux tubes, and the heating of prominence plasmas are discussed.
Evaluation of intrapersonal and interpersonal factors of male adolescent smoking

The adolescence tobacco prevention is an especially important public health goal. The purpose of this study is evaluation of intrapersonal and interpersonal factors of cigarette smoking among male adolescents based on theory of planned behavior. A sample of 400 high schools students, were collected in a crosssectional survey.The outcome variable was cigarette smoking within the past 30 days preceding the survey while independent variables included intrapersonal factors (age, components of the TPB model, self-esteem) and interpersonal factors (Family members’ smoking, smoking friends, independent room, member of sport team, grade point average, parental educational status, parental occupation status). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, independent samples t-test and logistic regression analysis. The mean age of participants was 16.7 ± 1.5 years. The prevalence of current smoking was 14.7%. In regression analysis, cigarette smoking was associated with intrapersonal factors [selfefficacy (OR =.83; 95% CI: (.72-.97), normative beliefs (OR =.82; 95% CI: (.70-.95), behavioral beliefs (OR = .76; 95% CI: (.65-.89), self-esteem (OR = .71; 95% CI: (.61-.82), knowledge (OR =.63; 95% CI: (.39-1)] and some of interpersonal factors [having Family members’ who smokes (OR =3.6; 95% CI: (1.48.5), smoking friends(OR =2.3; 95% CI: (1.5-6.6), member of sport team(OR =1. 5; 95% CI: (1.2-5.4). Self-efficacy, normative beliefs, behavioral beliefs, self-esteem, knowledge, Family members’ Smoking, Smoking friends, member of sport team, were independently associated with current smoking among Zarandieh adolescents. We believe public health programs targeting adolescent smoking should consider these factors in their design and implementation of interventions.
INVESTIGATION OF THE PERFORMANCE OF VARIOUS MODAL CORRELATION CRITERIA IN STRUCTURAL DAMAGE IDENTIFICATION

Structural damage identification is a scientific field that has attracted a lot of interest in the scientific community during the recent years. There have been many studies intending to find a reliable method to identify damage in structural elements both in location and extent. Most damage identification methods are based on the changes of dynamic characteristics and static responses, but the incompleteness of the test data is a great obstacle for both. In this paper, the performance of different modal correlation criteria in structural damage identification is investigated. The structural damage identification problem is treated as an optimization problem which is solved using the differential evolution search algorithm. The objective functions used in the optimization process are based on different modal correlation criteria, providing a measure of consistency and correlation between estimations of modal vectors. The performance of each of the objective functions is evaluated by a number of damage scenarios for a simply supported beam. Although the results of the various criteria on the different damage scenarios vary, it is clearly shown that some modal correlation criteria exhibit excellent performance in detecting the structural damage even in the case of strong incompleteness of the modal data.