Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Food web complexity: Latitudinal trends, topological properties and stability

While the effects of latitudinal gradients on species diversity have been widely studied, their impact on community food web topology is poorly understood. The changes associated with latitude such as climate, habitat, productivity and resource availability have huge impacts on the nature of interactions that can occur within an ecosystem. In this account I examine how the topology of community food webs change with latitude. The analysis of 187 food webs reveals that those located near the equator tend to have shorter average path lengths higher clustering, higher modularity, and tend to be more robust against target attacks than those located toward the poles. The ratio off, intermediate and basal species appears to be independent of latitudinal effects. It was also found that certain local interactions tend to be correlated with latitude. These findings provide insights into the structural properties of community food webs and the dynamical behaviour they can support.
Free Cash Flow and Earnings Management in Brazil: The Negative Side of Financial Slack

The article investigates whether Brazilian firms with excess free cash flow (FCF) and low growth perspectives (Jensen. 1986), when there is excess FCF, accompanied by limited growth perspectives, managers have incentives to camouflage the impact of investments in projects with negative net present value (NPV) by presenting inflated profits. The study includes firms listed on the BMF&Bovespa in the period from 2008 to 2012. Discretionary accruals (DA) were estimated by the modified Jones model and then the relationship between FCF and DA was ascertained by multiple regression. The results indicate that firms with low growth perspectives and excess FCF are more likely to manage earnings to increase profits. Shareholding concentration and adoption of IFRS moderate this relationship (FCF x DA), i.e., in practical terms they restrict the propensity to engage in this type of earnings management. This study is relevant by identifying a tendency to manage earnings. Regulators and investors should pay particular attention to the accounting results disclosed in the presence of excess free cash flow and low growth perspectives.
A comparison of Cassia sturtii, Tripteris sinuatum and Sutherlandia microphylla: three fodder shrubs applicable to revegetation of degraded rangeland in the Northern Cape Province

Many arid and semi-arid areas have been degraded to bare patches and interventions are necessary to restore a productive state. Fodder shrubs, both exotic and indigenous, have been used for revegetation and reclamation. Ideally the species to be used should be adapted to arid conditions. This trial included one exotic (Cassia sturtii) and two indigenous (Sutherlandia microphylla and Tripteris sinuatum) species. The objective was to make a comparison of production and nutritional qualities over the growing season. Sutherlandia and Tripteris compared well in terms of both production and quality, with Cassia.
International Diversification and Return Predictability: Optimal Dynamic Asset Allocation

There is growing evidence that global economic indicators are capable of predicting international stock returns, and hence the use of such indicators should provide economic benefits in international asset allocation. The goal of this paper is to construct dynamically efficient strategies that optimally utilize this predictability, and study their performance. We find that there are significant in-sample gains from international diversification for a US investor utilizing term spread and the lagged world index as predictive instruments. More importantly, we show that these gains can be realized out-of-sample. We focus on two out-of-sample periods, capturing the emergence and subsequent collapse of the 'dot.com' bubble. Our dynamically optimal strategies beat the benchmark by a wide margin, and avoid any losses during the period where all country indices had negative returns. Unlike the commonly used myopically efficient strategies, our dynamically optimal strategies do not require extreme long and/or short positions and also incur considerably lower transaction costs. Our strategies thus could have been feasibly implemented by long-only portfolio managers.
The impact of hunting for biltong purposes on the SA economy

Purpose: The purpose of this article is to estimate the economic impact of biltong hunting in South Africa. Problem investigated: Higginbottom (2004), indicate there are no reliable global estimates of the economic impact of wildlife tourism, but one thing is certain, it generates considerable sums of money. This same accounts for South Africa's game industry, especially biltong hunting, where there is little to no information regarding the economic impact. Therefore the question to be investigated was what is the economic impact of biltong hunting in the South African economy. Research methodology: A non-probability method was used and a convenience sample was drawn from all the members (N = 17066) of the South African Hunters and Game Conservation Association (SAHGCA). A pilot study of 87 questionnaires was conducted in August and September 2004 in the North West Province at the Hartbees branch of SAHGCA. For the national survey, the questionnaires were mailed together with the members' monthly magazine (named SA Hunters/Jagters) during July 2005. A total of 1 024 (n) questionnaires were received back. Data was captured in Microsoft ™ Excel ™ and a Computable General Equilibrium (CGE) modelling approach was thereafter used to determine the economic impact of biltong hunting in the South African economy. Findings/implications: The contribution to real GDP is estimated to be in excess of R6 billion, with thousands of jobs being created by the increase in activities/services. In addition, the related improvements to the infrastructure of the country, especially the transport sector, will benefit productivity in the longer term and so lead to further increases in GDP. Originality: A significant contribution that this article has made is that this is the first time that the economic impact of biltong hunting in South Africa has been determined. It is also the first time that CGE modelling has been completed with regard to research in this sector in South Africa. Conclusion: This supports the opinion that biltong hunting is a viable and important sector of the tourism industry. The results clearly show that more should be done to expand hunting in South Africa as hunting affects, not only the economy, but also the price (and therefore the value) of game.
Volcanic ash as fertiliser for the surface ocean

Abstract. Iron is a key limiting micro-nutrient for marine primary productivity. It can be supplied to the ocean by atmospheric dust deposition. Volcanic ash deposition into the ocean represents another external and so far largely neglected source of iron. This study demonstrates strong evidence for natural fertilisation in the iron-limited oceanic area of the NE Pacific, induced by volcanic ash from the eruption of Kasatochi volcano in August 2008. Atmospheric and oceanic conditions were favourable to generate a massive phytoplankton bloom in the NE Pacific Ocean which for the first time strongly suggests a connection between oceanic iron-fertilisation and volcanic ash supply.
Concentrations of some metals in sediment, Macrobrachium macrobrachion, and Tympanotonus fuscatus obtained from the Great Kwa River, Calabar, Nigeria

This study was carried out to determine the concentrations of some metals in sediment and flesh of Macrobrachium macrobrachion and Tympanotonus fuscatus obtained from the Great Kwa River, Calabar, Nigeria. Sampling and analyses were done between June and September, 2014 and the samples were collected from three sampling locations (location 1: Esuk Ekpoeyo; location 2: Esuk Atu; location 3: Obufa Esuk). The analysis was done through the buck scientific atomic absorption spectrophotometer model VGP210 after digestion of the samples. The concentration values obtained across the different sampling locations and between specimens were recorded. Mean concentration values of metals in sediment were: cadmium (Cd), 0.129±0.045 mg/kg; chromium (Cr), 0.112±0.020 mg/kg; copper (Cu), 0.061±0.012 mg/kg; manganese (Mn), 0.038±0.004 mg/kg; nickel (Ni), 0.062±0.006 mg/kg; lead (Pb), 0.143±0.047 mg/kg and zinc (Zn), 0.088±0.014 mg/kg. The concentration values of metals recorded in M. macrobrachion were: Cd, 0.0076±0.001 mg/kg; Cr, 0.016±0.005 mg/kg; Cu, 0.033±0.002 mg/kg; Mn, 0.02±0.001 mg/kg; Ni, 0.005±0.005 mg/kg; Pb, 0.032±0.002 mg/kg and Zn, 0.037±0.02 mg/kg while the values in T. fuscatus, were: Cd, 0.008±0.006 mg/kg; Cr, 0.017±0.004 mg/kg; Cu, 0.024±0.004 mg/kg; Mn, 0.023±0.0015 mg/kg; Ni, 0.008±0.006 mg/kg; Pb, 0.119±0.176 mg/kg and Zn, 0.035±0.017 mg/kg. There was no significant difference (P ˃ 0.05) in the concentrations of metals across stations (1-3) and amongst samples (sediment, M. macrobrachion and T. fuscatus ). The concentrations of some metals in the samples were below acceptable limits except Cr which was slightly higher in all the samples, Cd and Ni in sediment, Cu in M. macrobrachion and Pb in T. fuscatus . This suggests that there is a slight deviation from the acceptable limit of metals in benthos from the Great Kwa River and the sediment is moderately unhealthy to support aquatic biota. However, activities resulting to anthropogenic input of metals in the Great Kwa River should be prohibited in other to avoid possible deleterious effects of these metals after a long period of accumulation. work was presented at the Biosciences Research Support Foundation (BRSF)’s 1 st International Conference on Biosciences Research (ICBR), Awka, Nigeria, 25-27 May 2015.
VERTICAL INTEGRATION TOWARDS DIFFERENT SOURCES OF RAW MATERIAL

Vertical integration (VI) is a frequently applied strategy to secure adequate and timely supply believed to influence firms’ performance. Empirical findings are, however, so far inconclusive. It has been suggested that the ambiguous results may be due to factors such as variations in uncertainty developments in the industry studied. This paper develops two theorydriven hypotheses related to primary uncertainty and industry age (life cycle) respectively. The hypotheses are tested within the Norwegian fish processing industry, a research setting characterised by variety in both uncertainty and age. We find that the traditional part of the industry, which demonstrate a greater element of primary uncertainty, has to a larger extent than the younger processing industry, which utilises farmed fish, employed VI as a strategic tool in securing the raw material supply. Further, VI seems to have minor impact on performance in both young industries and industries exposed to high degree of “state of nature” uncertainty.
Simplified Analysis Of Square Plates UnderExplosion Loading

The methods most frequently used for preliminary evaluation of explosion damage are the empirically based pressure-impulse charts of constant damage levels, single-degree-of-freedom dynamic analysis of equivalent spring-mass systems, and the energy and rigid-plastic theoretical solutions. Experimental data for the explosion loading of square plates having nominal dimensions of 125 mm, 1 m and 3 m will be discussed and compared with some simplified theoretical predictions. Some comments will be offered on scaling effects and on the accuracy of simple methods of analysis for dynamic loadings ranging from those characterised as quasi-static to impulsive loadings.
Islamic Financial Institutions and Corporate Governance: New Insights for Agency Theory

Manuscript Type: Empirical Research Question/Issue: This paper takes a theory building approach to highlighting variations of agency theory in the unique and complex context of Islamic banks, mainly stemming from the need to comply with Sharia and the separation of cash flow and control rights for a category of investors. Research Findings/Results: The paper provides insights that agency structures in the context of Islamic banking might give rise to trade-offs between Sharia compliance and mechanisms protecting investors’ rights. Alternative models of idiosyncratic governance might be effective in balancing the two cornerstones of the agency dynamic. In practice, the paper finds that most of the surveyed Islamic banks appear to recognize the value of governance and institute some basic mechanisms. Nonetheless, some governance flaws relating to audit, control, and transparency are observed, a situation further exacerbated by the fact that investment account holders are not represented on the board, and are not granted control or monitoring rights. This leads to a discussion on the tradeoff between the costs and benefits of such a practice. Theoretical Implications: This study contributes to the agency theory literature by providing theoretical propositions highlighting challenges to this theory whereby mechanisms with the purpose of mitigating agency problems might lead to a divergence from Islamic principles of Sharia. Practical Implications: The paper motivates Islamic banks to improve governance practices currently in place. It alerts policy makers to the need to tailor the regulations to safeguard the interests of all investors without violating the principles of Sharia.
ESP after thirty years: an overview of the position of ESP in the 1990s

L'anglais de specialite est une branche recente dans l'enseignement de l'anglais. Apparu en 1962, il repond generallement a des besoins particuliers en association a une filiere d'enseignement ou a une profession. A l'occasion des trentes ans de cet enseignement, l'A. propose de jeter un regard sur son developpement et ses objectifs
The Effect of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Pain Medication Use After Joint Replacement

ABSTRACT Animal-assisted therapy (AAT) has been used in a variety of healthcare settings and studies to evaluate the potential patient benefits are warranted. This retrospective study measured the impact of AAT on the use of oral pain medications by adults after total joint replacement surgery. One group of patients received care in a hospital with an AAT program and the comparison group was in a hospital without an AAT program. Adult patient cohorts were matched on: age, gender, ethnicity, length of stay, and Diagnosis Related Group code for type of total joint replacement. Pain medication doses, converted into morphine equivalent daily doses (MEDD), were compared. Pain medication use was significantly less in the AAT group: 15.32 mg vs. 21.16 (t(119) = 2.72, p = 0.007). The effectiveness of AAT in decreasing the need for pain medication and its effect on patient well-being in the post-operative period and in other settings deserves further study.
EPIDEMIOLOGY AND ETIOLOGY OF CORNEAL ULCER WORLDWIDE SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Received: 15 November 2016 Final Accepted: 17 December 2016 Published: January 2017 Background: Infectious keratitis (corneal ulcer) is defined as a corneal characterized as a corneal inflammatory process connected with an overlying epithelial damage and it’s a vision-threatening medical condition displaying in all age population and either sex that changes in morbidity rate through worldwide, its caused by bacteria, fungi, protozoa or viruses, and presents with pain, photophobia and redness. If left untreated, apart from scar formation, it can lead to endophthalmitis and even corneal perforation and blindness. Objectives: The aims of this corneal ulceration study was therefore to establish the incidence of different types infectious corneal ulcers and to discuss the evidence based treatment that were approved in different world wide studies. Methodology:we conducted a systematic review study that performed through Comprehensive literature search was performed in MEDLINE/PubMed and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials using combinations of the following search terms: "corneal diseases, corneal keratitis" or "corneal ulcer. Epidemiology, Etiology, treatment" our search was ended on 14th of July 2016. Conclusion: Corneal Keratitis is an important cause of ophthalmic disorders worldwide. Most common causes of corneal ulceration include including the infectious keratitis which is caused by bacterial, fungal, viral, and protozoan, the diagnosis of which is made on clinical examination aided by microbiological demonstration in smears or cultures from corneal tissues.
The Role of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Tourism Education: A Case Study of Higher Education Students

Tourism education is introduced as a formal program of study which enhances the economic contribution of the tourism industry to both public and private sectors. The ICT is one of the success tools in tourism in the future and the way it enhances the destinations of tourist. The proposed research aims to represent the impacts of Information and Communication Technology (ICT), as a pedagogical support tool, in tourism teaching, at Eastern Mediterranean University, School of Tourism and Hospitality Management (THM). Nevertheless, ICT is still considered as a limited tool to be integrated as an instructional tool. Based on the recent research, very limited academic research has been carried out on tourism subject at universities particularly in Northern Cyprus. The aim of this study is to find the perceptions of students regarding to use technology in tourism education. The research is designed as a quantitative study. The undergraduate students are participating in this research along with tourism instructors. Data is accumulated with close-ended questions during this study. According to the result the learners’ perceptions about using ICT in tourism education was quite positive. Majority of students approved that using ICT and computing devices could enhance their learning positively.
First record of Bombus (Alpigenobombus) wurflenii Radoszkowski, 1860 in the Kola Peninsula, NW Russia

In this paper we present the first record of Bombus wurflenii from northern Russia. This species was found in the southwestern part of the Kola Peninsula, near the town of Kandalaksha in 2016. The nearest confirmed record of the species is in northern Sweden. In Russia, B. wurflenii was known earlier but only from southern Ural. The status of the population of B. wurflenii in the Kola Peninsula is unknown and needs further research.
A continuum model of the growth of engineered epidermal skin substitutes

We present a porous medium model of the growth and deterioration of the viable sublayers of an epidermal skin substitute. It consists of five species: cells, intracellular and extracellular calcium, tight junctions, and a hypothesised signal chemical emanating from the stratum corneum. The model is solved numerically in Matlab using a finite difference scheme. Steady state calcium distributions are predicted that agree well with the experimental data. Our model also demonstrates epidermal skin substitute deterioration if the calcium diffusion coefficient is reduced compared to reported values in the literature.
Is the Home Bias in Equities and Bonds Declining in Europe?

Finance theory suggests that investors should hold an internationally diversified portfolio. In practice, investors show a strong preference for domestic securities (equities and bonds). One of the explanations for this home bias is the existence of exchange rate risk. This paper tests whether the arrival of the euro has caused a decline in the home bias. Our empirical findings suggest that the home bias has declined in Europe. As expected, this decline is stronger in the EMU countries than in the non-EMU countries. We also find that EMU-based investors have switched from home to euro-area securities (regional bias).
Seasonal variation of testicular activity in European brown hare Lepus europaeus

Testicular activity in brown hare Lepus europaeus Pallas, 1778 was studied during the annual cycle. Testicular mass, spermatozoa and testosterone were estimated. Percentages of haploid, diploid and tetraploid cells were monitored using DNA flow cytometry and the proportions of somatic and spermatogenetic cells were determined after selective labelling of somatic cells. Testis mass was high from January to July and declined thereafter to the nadir in September. Testis growth was reactivated significantly in December. Changes in testis mass corresponded with the spermatogenic efficacy (spermatozoa/g testis). High spermatogenic activity was characterized by intensive meiotic transformation of spermatocytes to spermatids, high percentages of haploid cells and low proportions of cells in the G2/M phase of mitosis. Proportions of haploid cells declined rapidly during the testis involution. Spermatogenesis was newly activated from November. The proportions as well as the ratios of spermatogenic and somatic cells differed significantly between the periods of testis involution and recrudescence. Testosterone level showed a pronounced increase in autumn preceding the intensification of spermatogenesis; the lowest concentration was found during prominent testis involution in August. The results suggest tha t the regulation of seasonal testicular activity is characterized by co-ordinated shifts in the relationships between mitosis, meiosis and testosterone production.
University of Birmingham Thermal and structural stability of Zr–based amorphous thin films for potential application in hydrogen purification

Amorphous alloys are of particular interest due to their less susceptibility to hydrogen embrittlement and corrosion, superior mechanical properties and more importantly lower cost compared to the Pd ‒ based crystalline membranes. Amorphous thin films of Zr 40.5 Ni 59.5 , Zr 56.2 Cu 43.8 , Zr 30 Cu 57.7 Y 12.3 , and Zr 32 Cu 57.3 Ti 10.7 alloys are fabricated by the magnetron sputtering method. All alloys are thermally stable until above 400 °C under an inert atmosphere. Nevertheless, the thermal stabilities of all alloys are reduced by almost more than 150 °C under hydrogen with exception of the Zr 40.5 Ni 59.5 alloy showing comparable thermal stability under hydrogen and inert. Structural analyses by XRD under hydrogen and an inert atmosphere reveal decomposition of the studied amorphous alloys during the crystallisation process, leading to severe phase separation for Ni and Cu in Zr 40.5 Ni 59.5 and Zr 56.2 Cu 43.8 alloys. Such a phase separation seems to have an influence on the crystallisation path and products. However, Cu phase separation seems to be mitigated in Zr 30 Cu 57.7 Y 12.3 , and Zr 32 Cu 57.3 Ti 10.7 alloys despite their higher Cu content compared to Zr 56.2 Cu 43.8 alloy. The surface segregation tendency of Cu results in surface crystallisation in the Zr 56.2 Cu 43.8 alloy, whilst bulk nucleation and growth dominates the crystallisation process in the other alloys, evident by the non ‒ isothermal kinetic studies. The calculated activation energies show that more energy is required for nucleation compared to the growth process in the Zr 40.5 Ni 59.5 and Zr 56.2 Cu 43.8 alloys, whilst is the opposite case in Zr 30 Cu 57.7 Y 12.3 , and Zr 32 Cu 57.3 Ti 10.7 alloys.
Do Corporate Bond Rating Revisions Convey Information About Earnings?

We study the information content that corporate bond rating revisions convey regarding future earnings. Consistent with previous findings, we find that rating downgrades are associated with negative abnormal stock returns, while rating upgrades appear to be nonevents. For rating downgrades, earnings decline in the two years prior to and in the year of the rating downgrade announcement but increase in the year following the rating downgrade. While rating upgrades follow a period of rising earnings, they do not signal any increase in future earnings. These results, in conjunction with our multivariate regression results, indicate that rating agencies respond more to permanent changes in cash flows and provide little information, if any, about future cash flows.