Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of black carbon aerosols: the role of shortwave cloud feedback

Using idealized climate model simulations, we investigate the effectiveness of black carbon (BC) aerosols in warming the planet relative to CO2 forcing. We find that a 60-fold increase in the BC aerosol mixing ratio from the present-day levels leads to the same equilibrium global mean surface warming (∼4.1 K) as for a doubling of atmospheric CO2 concentration. However, the radiative forcing is larger (∼5.5 Wm−2) in the BC case relative to the doubled CO2 case (∼3.8 Wm−2) for the same surface warming indicating the efficacy (a metric for measuring the effectiveness) of BC aerosols to be less than CO2. The lower efficacy of BC aerosols is related to the differences in the shortwave (SW) cloud feedback: negative in the BC case but positive in the CO2 case. In the BC case, the negative SW cloud feedback is related to an increase in the tropical low clouds which is associated with a northward shift (∼7°) of the Intertropical Convergence Zone (ITCZ). Further, we show that in the BC case fast precipitation suppression offsets the surface temperature mediated precipitation response and causes ∼8% net decline in the global mean precipitation. Our study suggests that a feedback between the location of ITCZ and the interhemispheric temperature could exist, and the consequent SW cloud feedback could be contributing to the lower efficacy of BC aerosols. Therefore, an improved representation of low clouds in climate models is likely the key to understand the global climate sensitivity to BC aerosols.
Does the Latest English Language Teacher Education Curriculum Develop Student Teachers’ Professional Competencies?

The fundamental goal of any EFL teacher education curriculum is to equip and prepare student teachers for their teaching career. The present study sought to explore how practicing teachers feel about the effectiveness of the latest English teacher education curriculum in the content, pedagogical content and pedagogical knowledge bases and the university education that the current student teachers go through. The participants of the study were 130 male and female high school EFL teachers who were selected through cluster random sampling. The study utilized a descriptive design to investigate the effectiveness of the curriculum. The data were collected via semi-structured interview and a Likert scale questionnaire which comprised 35 items on the detailed stated objectives and performance tasks for each specific course in the curriculum. Descriptive statistical analysis revealed that participants were satisfied with the latest curriculum and perceived it as adequate and effective in stated objectives. Qualitative analysis showed that participants complained that the curriculum is not so successful in providing the student teachers with the opportunity to experience real life teaching during their education, to make them aware of contextual challenges awaiting and strike a balance between ideals and actuals.
Speciation despite gene flow in two owls (Aegolius ssp.): Evidence from 2,517 ultraconserved element loci

New study systems and tools are needed to understand how divergence and speciation occur between lineages with gene flow. Migratory birds often exhibit divergence despite seasonal migration, which brings populations into contact with one another. We studied divergence between 2 subspecies of Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus), in which a sedentary population on the islands of Haida Gwaii, British Columbia (A. a. brooksi), exists in the presence of the other form (A. a. acadicus) during migration but not during the breeding season. Prior research showed fixed mtDNA divergence but left open the question of nuclear gene flow. We used 2,517 ultraconserved element loci to examine the demographic history of this young taxon pair. Although we did not observe fixed single nucleotide polymorphism differences between populations among our genotyped individuals, 100% of the birds were diagnosable and δaδI analyses suggested the demographic model best fitting the data was one of split-bidirectional-migration (i.e. speciation with gene flow). We dated the split between brooksi and acadicus to ~278 Kya, and our analyses suggested gene flow between groups was skewed, with ~0.7 individuals per generation coming from acadicus into brooksi and ~4.4 going the opposite direction. Coupled with an absence of evidence of phenotypic hybrids and the birds’ natural history, these data suggest brooksi may be a young biological species arising despite historic gene flow.
Assessment of Environment-friendly Usage of Spent Wash and its Nutritional Potential for Sugarcane Production

ABSTRACT Excessive and inappropriate use of fertilizers is a key factor of low sugarcane yield and degradation of soil. A two-year (2013–14 and 2014–15) field study was conducted to assess the impact of combined application of organic and inorganic fertilizers on sugarcane at research farm of Shakarganj Sugar Research Institute, Jhang, Pakistan. Experiment was conducted under randomized complete block design with three replications. Treatments were used as control (no exogenous application), spent wash (160 t ha−1), (nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium) NPK (168:112:112 kg ha−1), spent wash (120 t ha−1) + NPK (42:28:28 kg ha−1), spent wash (80 t ha−1) + NPK (84:56:56 kg ha−1), spent wash (40 t ha−1) + NPK (126:84:84 kg ha−1), and spent wash (160 t ha−1) + NPK (42:28:28 kg ha−1). Application of spent wash @ 80 t ha−1 + NPK @ 84:56:56 kg ha−1 resulted maximum crop growth rate (11.35 g m−2 d−1), leaf area index (7.78), and net assimilation rate (2.53 g m−2 d−1). Maximum number of millable canes (14), weight per stripped cane (0.90 kg), stripped cane yield (117.60 t ha−1) and unstripped cane yield (141.25 t ha−1) were observed with spent wash @ 80 t ha−1 + NPK @ 84:56:56 kg ha−1, followed by sole fertilizer application @ 168:112:112 kg NPK ha−1 and spent wash @160 t ha−1 + NPK @ 42:28:28 kg ha−1. Similar trend was observed regarding quality parameters. The maximum benefit–cost ratio (1.80) was achieved with integrated application of spent wash @ 80 t ha−1 + NPK @ 84:56:56 kg ha−1.
Identification of a lncRNA-associated competing endogenous RNA-regulated network in clear cell renal cell carcinoma

Long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) act as competing endogenous RNAs (ceRNAs) in the regulation of gene expression in various physiological and pathological processes. The present study aimed to explore the lncRNA-miRNA-mRNA interactions in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) using comprehensive bioinformatics analysis. RNA-seq data were downloaded from the TCGA Data Portal, and the differentially expressed lncRNAs (DElncRs), miRNAs (DEmiRs), and mRNAs (DEGs) between tumoral and control samples were identified using the edgeR package. The correlations between the DemiR/DElncR expression levels and clinical features were evaluated using nonparametric regression analysis. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to identify DElncRs associated with overall survival time. Then, the DElncR-DEmiR interaction pairs were predicted using miRcode and the starBase v2.0 database, and DEmiR-DEG pairs were predicted using the miRTarBase database. Then, a ceRNA-regulated network of ccRCC was constructed based on these interactions. Genes in the network were also assigned to functional categories in the KEGG pathway database. A total of 1,573 DEGs, 37 DelncRs, and 62 DEmiRs were identified. Moreover, several DElncRs were significantly associated with patient clinical variables; for example, TCL6 was significantly associated with tumor grade and AJCC pathological stage. Next, 38 pairs of DElncR-DEmiR interactions (13 DElncRs and 8 DEmiRs) were identified. Among the 8 DEmiRs that target DElncRs, six were found to target DEGs. Based on the identified DElncR-DEmiR interactions and DEmiR-DEG interactions, a ceRNA-regulated network comprising 203 nodes and 221 edges was constructed (with MIC >0.15 and MIC-p2 >0.15). The novel lncRNAs, DGCR5, MYCNOS, and PART1 may participate in the progression of ccRCC through cytochrome P450-mediated drug metabolism.
Monte Carlo Simulation of Sudden Death Bearing Testing

Monte Carlo simulations combined with sudden death testing were used to compare resultant bearing lives to the calculated bearing life and the cumulative test time and calendar time relative to sequential and censored sequential testing. A total of 30,960 virtual 50-mm bore deep-groove ball bearings were evaluated in 33 different sudden death test configurations comprising 36, 72, and 144 bearings each. Variations in both life and Weibull slope were a function of the number of bearings failed independent of the test method used and not the total number of bearings tested. Variations in L 10 life as a function of number of bearings failed were similar to variations in life obtained from sequentially failed real bearings and from Monte Carlo (virtual) testing of entire populations. Reductions up to 40% in bearing test time and calendar time can be achieved by testing to failure or the L 50 life and terminating all testing when the last of the predetermined bearing failures has occurred. Sudden death testing is not a more efficient method to reduce bearing test time or calendar time when compared to censored sequential testing.
Board IT Governance in Context: Considering Governance Style and Environmental Dynamism Contingencies

ABSTRACT We theorize that IT governance (ITG) by the board of directors is most effective when there is a fit between the dynamics of the business environment and the governance style through which board ITG is delivered. Survey findings from 110 board members largely supported these assertions. Findings show that authoritative governance style and environmental dynamism represent important boundary conditions for the efficacy of board ITG to achieve performance gains. Research and practical implications are discussed.
A Practical Guide to Harnessing the HAR Volatility Model

The standard heterogeneous autoregressive (HAR) model is perhaps the most popular benchmark model for forecasting return volatility. It is often estimated using raw realized variance (RV) and ordinary least squares (OLS). However, given the stylized facts of RV and wellknown properties of OLS, this combination should be far from ideal. One goal of this paper is to investigate how the predictive accuracy of the HAR model depends on the choice of estimator, transformation, and forecasting scheme made by the market practitioner. Another goal is to examine the effect of replacing its high-frequency data based volatility proxy (RV) with a proxy based on free and publicly available low-frequency data (logarithmic range). In an out-of-sample study, covering three major stock market indices over 16 years, it is found that simple remedies systematically outperform not only standard HAR but also state of the art HARQ forecasts, and that HAR models using logarithmic range can often produce forecasts of similar quality to those based on RV.
Dependence Structure between China’s Stock Market and Other Major Stock Markets before and after the 2008 Financial Crisis

ABSTRACT To investigate changes in the dependence structure between China’s stock market and other important international stock markets as a result of the 2008 global financial crisis, the ARMA-GARCH skewed-t Vine Copula method is used and an empirical study is undertaken using daily closing prices for seven key international stock markets from 4 January 2002 to 29 December 2017. The results indicate that the CAC and the HSI are the key indices connecting all the other indices in Europe and Asia, respectively. In addition, the financial crisis resulted in significant changes to the dependence structure, and the FTSE has gradually become more important in connecting European stock markets with Asian markets. Moreover, Tree 2 of the Vine Copula shows that the entire high-dimensional dependence structure has been modified by the crisis, and the indices are now more correlated than they were before the crisis.
Effect of Mix Proportion Parameters on Behaviors of Basalt Fiber RPC Based on Box-Behnken Model

Basalt fibers are widely used in the modification of concrete materials due to its excellent mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. In this study, the basalt fibers were used to modify reactive powder concrete (RPC). The effect of four mix proportion parameters on the working and mechanical properties of basalt fiber reactive powder concrete (BFRPC) was evaluated by the response surface methodology (RSM). The fluidity, flexural and compressive strength were tested and evaluated. A statistically experimental model indicated that D (the silica fume to cement ratio) was the key of interactions between factors, affecting other factors and controlling properties of BFRPC. The increase in basalt fiber content had a remarkable effect on increasing the flexural and compressive strength when D = 0.2. The addition of basalt fiber obviously improved the mechanical properties of RPC. While when D = 0.4, the decrease of fiber content and the increase of quartz sand content could increase the compressive strength.
Seasonal and diurnal relationship of forage nutritive value and mass in a tall fescue pasture under continuous stocking

Monitoring forage mass and nutritive value of pastures are encouraged to ensure adequate and efficient grazing management. For on‐farm monitoring, reliable instruments such as the rising plate meter (RPM) are useful and easy to achieve. The objective of this research was to verify the relationship between measurements of RPM (MRPM) to forage nutritive value based on seasonal and diurnal changes within a tall fescue sward under continuous stocking management. The study was conducted at the Plateau AgResearch and Education Center in Crossville, TN, from January 2015 to December 2016. The experiment was conducted in two 9‐hectare pastures consisting of a tall fescue [Schedonorus arundinaceus (Schreb.) Dumort. , nom. cons. , formerly Festuca arundinacea Schreb. ] sward. During the 12‐month grazing period each year, total aboveground available forage was measured monthly in each pasture with a calibrated RPM. In addition, each month, several randomly placed 1‐m² sample areas were collected at 7 a.m., 9 a.m., 12 p.m. and 4 p.m. to characterize forage nutritive value. Neutral detergent fiber, crude protein and in vitro total dry matter digestibility (IVTDMD) were predicted by means of near‐infrared spectroscopy. During the entire year of 2015, all correlation coefficients of forage nutritive value variables with MRPM were significant. However, in 2016, only IVTDMD showed a significant correlation with MRPM. Of the nutritive value variables, we chose to focus on the IVTDMD and MRPM relationship because it had one of the highest correlations for most seasons and different times of day, especially in 2015. There was a strong relationship between RPM measurements of herbage mass with IVTDMD, and this relationship is especially useful during the spring, where rapid growth is occurring. The same relationship was not found to be consistent during periods of slow forage growth, especially if recovering from a drought event.
Multi‐model analysis of climate impacts on plant photosynthesis in China during 2000–2015

Differences, arising from differences in gross primary production (GPP) model structures and driving forces, have fuelled arguments concerning interannual changes of GPP in China since 2000. To better investigate the interannual variability of GPP and its covariance with climate factors in China, this study adopted a multi‐model analysis based on three GPP models (i.e., Terrestrial Ecosystem Carbon flux model [TEC], Breathing Earth System Simulator model [BESS], and MOD17 GPP model). The results show that annual GPP in China increased by 0.021–0.057 Pg C year−1 from 2000 to 2015 attributable to atmospheric‐CO2 fertilization effects and favourable climate change, that is, increasing precipitation (Pr) and temperature (Ta). However, northern China and southern China had a large difference in the amplitude of these GPP changes; annual GPP increased by 0.017–0.039 Pg C year−1 in northern China but only 0.001–0.018 Pg C year−1 in southern China. Northern China and southern China occupy contrasting climate zones and this contrast produced different interannual variability of GPP through different mechanisms. Northern China has a dry climate with GPP changes sensitive to Pr. As a result, more Pr along with higher Ta in northern China produced the strong uptrend of GPP from 2000 to 2015. In contrast, southern China has a wet climate with its GPP sensitive to solar radiation and Ta. For the interval of 2000–2015, decreasing radiation plus drought exerted a negative influence on GPP in southern China. This study highlights the diverse mechanisms in which climate change affects GPP in dry and wet climate zones. A robust multi‐model analysis is preferred to reduce uncertainties arising from a single GPP model and its driving data.
Lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI) as a strong and independent predictor for non-locoregional recurrences in endometrial cancer: a Danish Gynecological Cancer Group Study

Objective To evaluate the effect of lymph-vascular space invasion (LVSI) on location of recurrences in Danish patients with endometrial cancer. Methods This national cohort study (2005–2012) included 4,380 radically operated patients (no visual tumor, all distant metastasis removed). LVSI status was recorded in 3,377 (77.1%). In stage I patients, 2.6% received adjuvant radiotherapy and 1.4% adjuvant chemotherapy. Adjusted Cox regression was used to compare actuarial recurrence rates. Results LVSI was present in 18.7% of 3,377 patients with known LVSI status. Of these, 7.6% stage I patients with LVSI experienced an isolated locoregional and 19.4% a non-locoregional recurrence. Compared to no LVSI, 5-year recurrence rate was higher (25.5% vs. 8.5%) in patients with LVSI and the frequency of distant recurrences was strikingly higher (stage I: 15.2% vs. 2.7%), the effect being similar across International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics stages and histological types. In intermediate-risk stage I patients with LVSI, 8.0% experienced an isolated locoregional recurrence compared to 20.1% with non-locoregional recurrence, giving these patients a seriously adverse risk of survival. A separate analysis in patients with recurrences demonstrated that those with LVSI had significantly more distant recurrences (55.4% vs. 29.9%) and fewer isolated vaginal recurrences (24.3% vs. 42.8%) than patients with no LVSI. Conclusion LVSI is a strong independent risk factor for the development of non-locoregional recurrences even in intermediate-risk stage I endometrial cancer. The non-locoregional recurrence pattern suggests a future focus for optimization of postoperative treatment in these patients.
Calidad de los sitios web en el sector agroalimentario ecológico y sus factores explicativos: el papel del cooperativismo

Los objetivos de este trabajo son examinar en qué medida las empresas españolas del sector de la agricultura ecológica están aprovechando el sitio web como canal de venta, identificar los factores que explican la calidad de estas plataformas virtuales y estudiar la relación de dicha calidad sobre los rendimientos empresariales. Para ello, se ha analizado la website de las empresas de aceite de oliva ecológico españolas, la mayoría de ellas cooperativas, identificando los factores relacionados con la calidad de sus sitios web. Entre dichos factores, se ha prestado una especial atención a la influencia de la forma jurídica cooperativa. Para alcanzar estos objetivos se ha utilizado la técnica QCA (Quality Comparative Analysis) en su variante fuzzy set (fsQCA), junto con otras técnicas estadísticas. Los resultados sugieren que las empresas oleícolas ecológicas, especialmente las cooperativas, presentan una escasa calidad de sus sitios web y que esta calidad está relacionada directamente con la obtención de unos mejores ingresos de explotación. Cabe destacar, que, entre los distintos elementos utilizados para valorar la calidad del sitio web, es la información sobre responsabilidad social corporativa la que se relaciona con más intensidad con los resultados empresariales.
Challenges of Monitoring Tax Compliance by Multinational Firms: Evidence from Chile

This paper reviews common challenges of taxing multinational firms, using Chile as a case study. We briefly describe key international tax avoidance methods: profit shifting to low-tax jurisdictions through transfer pricing and debt shifting. We discuss the prevalent policy to tax multinationals--the arm's length principle--and alternative proposals using apportionment formulas. Novel data from Chile show that multinationals make up a large share of GDP but report lower profit and effective tax rates than local firms. In 2011, Chile implemented a reform following OECD guidelines to enforce the arm's length principle. We discuss potential effects on tax collection and welfare.
Admissible diagrams in quantum nilpotent algebras and combinatoric properties of Weyl groups

Consider a complex simple Lie algebra g of rank n. Denote by Π a system of simple roots, by W the corresponding Weyl group, consider a reduced expression w = sα1 ◦ · · · ◦ sαt (each αi ∈ Π) of some w ∈ W and call diagram any subset of 1, . , t . We denote by U+[w] (or Uw q (g)) the “quantum nilpotent” algebra as defined by Jantzen in 1996 We prove (theorem 5.3.1) that the positive diagrams naturally associated with the positive subexpressions (of the reduced expression of w chosen above) in the sense of R. Marsh and K. Rietsch (or equivalently the subexpressions without defect in the sense of V. Deodhar), coincide with the admissible diagrams constructed by G. Cauchon which describe the natural stratification of Spec(U+[w]). This theorem implies in particular (corollaries 5.3.1 and 5.3.2): (1) The map ζ : Δ = {j1 < · · · < js} → u = sαj1 ◦ · · · ◦ sαjs is a bijection from the set of admissible diagrams onto the set {u ∈ W |u ≤ w}. (2) For each admissible diagram Δ = {j1 < · · · < js}, sαj1 ◦ · · · ◦ sαjs is a reduced expression of u = ζ(Δ). (3) The map ζ′ : Δ = {j1 < · · · < js} → u′ = sαjs ◦ · · · ◦ sαj1 is a bijection from the set of admissible diagrams onto the set {u ∈ W |u ≤ v = w−1}. (4) For each admissible diagram Δ = {j1 < · · · < js}, sαjs ◦ · · · ◦ sαj1 is a reduced expression of u′ = ζ′(Δ). If the Lie algebra g is of type An and w is chosen in order that U+[w] is the algebra of quantum matrices Oq(Mp,m(k)) with m = n − p + 1 (see section 2.1), then, the admissible diagrams are the Γ -diagrams in the sense of A. Postnikov (http://arxiv.org/abs/math/0609764). In this particular case, the assertions 3 and 4 have also been proved (with quite different methods) by A. Postnikov and by T. Lam and L. Williams.