Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Demographics of cooperation: Evidence from a field experiment in the Gori-Ganga Basin

The public goods problem (Hardin, 1968) either viewed as a problem of extraction or that of contribution has had a long history in the Social Sciences.Our experimental design uses a standard Voluntary Contributions Mechanism (VCM) game with a moderately large group of ten and face-to-face communication. The subjects, who are villagers in the Gori-Ganga Basin of the Central Himalayas, are not re-matched every period.Our results are somewhat different from laboratory experiments using a similar design such as Isaac and Walker (1988a, 1988b). A noteworthy general observation is that even with a relatively low Marginal Per Capita Return (MPCR = 0.2) and a large group we find a steady contribution rate around 55 percent, which diminishes slightly at the end of the session to around 45 percent. We also delve into the demographic characteristics of our subject pool and find that individual contribution to the common pool is determined by gender, age, caste, literacy and history of cooperation in the experiment. However, face-to-face communication is not seen to increase average individual contribution to the common pool.
Myrmica Ants and Their Butterfly Parasites with Special Focus on the Acoustic Communication

About 10,000 arthropod species live as ants' social parasites and have evolved a number of mechanisms allowing them to penetrate and survive inside the ant nests. Myrmica colonies, in particular, are exploited by numerous social parasites, and the presence of their overwintering brood, as well as of their polygyny, contributes to make them more vulnerable to infestation. Butterflies of the genus Maculinea are among the most investigated Myrmica inquilines. These lycaenids are known for their very complex biological cycles. Maculinea species are obligated parasites that depend on a particular food plant and on a specific Myrmica species for their survival. Maculinea larvae are adopted by Myrmica ants, which are induced to take them into their nests by chemical mimicry. Then the parasite spends the following 11–23 months inside the ants' nest. Mimicking the acoustic emission of the queen ants, Maculinea parasites not only manage to become integrated, but attain highest rank within the colony. Here we review the biology of Maculinea/Myrmica system with a special focus on some recent breakthrough concerning their acoustical patterns.
The Effect of Livestock Pilferage on Household Poverty in Developing Countries: Theoretical Evidence from Nigeria

Livestock contributes significantly to the livelihoods of people living in the rural areas of developing countries (Cornelis et al, 2001). Nigeria is no exception. Majority of stock owners reside in the rural areas, while only few stay in urban areas. Since poverty is a rural phenomenon it is also not totally wrong to say that rural people earn substantial proportion of their incomes from livestock, while the opposite is true of the rich. This suggests that stock pilferage presents a much more serious poverty related challenge for the poor than for the rich. Stock theft has been a problem in Nigeria for some decades but it has recently intensified, this triggered the first National seminar on pilferage in agriculture at the then Ogun State University, Nigeria November 13
Semigroups over real alternative *-algebras: Generation theorems and spherical sectorial operators

The aim of this paper is twofold. On one hand, generalizing some recent results obtained in the quaternionic setting, but using simpler techniques, we prove the generation theorems for semigroups in Banach spaces whose set of scalars belongs to the class of real alternative *-algebras, which includes, besides real and complex numbers, quaternions, octonions and Clifford algebras. On the other hand, in this new general framework, we introduce the notion of spherical sectorial operator and we prove that a spherical sectorial operator generates a semigroup that can be represented by a Cauchy integral formula. It follows that such a semigroup is analytic in time
Trends , Determinants and Constraints of Temporary Sheep Migration in Rajasthan — An Economic Analysis

The study has analysed the temporary migration of sheep as a response to the demand-supply disequilibrium of fodder and water and has explored its trends, determinants and constraints by using the data collected from rural areas of semi-arid Rajasthan. About 32 per cent of the farmers in the study area undertake temporary sheep migration. The migrating farmers have higher holding size of sheep, goat and buffaloes and are better in terms of adoption of improved sheep management practices than non-migrant farmers. The flock size, potential household labour supply and credit absorption behaviour have been reported to positively affect the odds of migration. The farmers face various en-route problems during migration, the major ones being increased morbidity, non-availability of veterinary medicines, resistance from local persons, theft and missing of sheep. The net return per animal per year has been found slightly higher in case of the non-migrant sheep flocks. The study has argued that migration of livestock is to be viewed as a method of production and adaptive mechanism evolved over the years. Efforts to sendentarise migrants without providing alternate fodder sources or productive assets of gainful employment may not be fruitful. In order to sustain the livelihood of the sheep farmers, institutional intervention to enhance accessibility to fodder and feed, veterinary services and strengthening of the extension services is needed.
Vibration Based Damage Identification of Masonry Structures

In the process of preservation of ancient masonry structures, damage evaluation and monitoring procedures are particularly attractive, due to the modern context of minimum re- pair and observational methods, with iterative and step-by-step approaches. High-priority re- search issues related to damage assessment and monitoring are global non-contact inspection techniques, sensor technology, data management, diagnostics (decision making and simulation), dynamic (modal) analysis, self-diagnosing / self-healing materials, and prediction of early deg- radation. On these concerns, the present paper aims to assess damage in masonry structures at an early stage. Replicates of historical constructions were built in virgin state. Afterwards, progres- sive damage was applied and modal identification analysis was performed at each damage stage, aiming at finding adequate correspondence between dynamic behavior and internal crack growth. Accelerations and dynamic strains were recorded in many points of the replicates. Comparisons between different techniques based on vibrations measurements are made to evaluate different damage identification methods.
Activity of acetolactate synthase (ALS) of redroot pigweed in relation to imazethapyr application

Seed of weed species redroot pigweed for which there exist possibility of resistance occurrence were collected from different localities in Autonomous Province of Vojvodina, the northern part of the Republic of Serbia (Krivaja, Kikinda, Vrbas and Ka carevo). Studies on herbicide resistance were performed in the period of 2003 to 2009. Biological studies included whole plant studies on plants grown in net-house and biochemical researches confirmed the activity of acetolactate synthase enzyme in vivo . In order to study the occurrence of resistance during the tests, herbicide products based upon active ingredient imazethapyr were used. Values of resistance index were calculated in relation to the referent population collected from the ruderal sites. Based upon the results of biological studies in the redroot pigweed plants from the locality of Krivaja, the presence of resistance was established. Immunological tests confirmed the results of biological assays given that the activity of ALS enzyme was found in all the studied populations. Established resistance is a consequence of physiological changes and accelerated metabolism.
Impact of predators and resource abundance levels on physiological traits of Fissurella crassa (Archeogastropoda)

The effects of predators on the density of prey and their resources have been widely studied; however, there is little evidence on the effects of the predators in conjunction with the availability of resources on the traits of the prey, which could affect foraging activities. In this study, the physiological state and the escape response of the intertidal herbivore Fissurella crassa were evaluated in two sites which differ in terms of the abundance of its predator Heliaster helianthus. The results suggest that the escape response of F. crassa in the site with greater predator density and lower resource availability could require a better body condition that is compensated with increments in foraging. The results highlight the need to address the physiological perspective in community ecology in order to understand the interactions within these communities.
Crossing Ethnic Borders in Malaysia Measuring the Fluidity of Ethnic Identity and Group Formation

Scholars studying ethnic and race relations often locate the question of identity and group formation as given and unaltered (Geertz 1963) while Barth (1969), Banton (1983) and Shamsul (1996) have been arguing that no group maintains itself. This article belongs to the latter academic tradition in having to understand the multi-ethnic Malaysian society not only at the macro but also the micro levels; it analyses both the group and individual alignments, as well as the authority-defined and the everyday defined identities. Data collected from five studies carried out in the Klang Valley and Penang between 1990 and 1998 is utilised to show that universalistic norms of self interest over-ride the concern for ethnic preference. Respondents show that they share some common values and their interactions cross ethnic borders. Pluralism is an accepted social reality in Malaysia and ethnicity is secondary rather than primary. Key words: identity, group formation, universalistic norms, ethnic preference, ethnicity ABSTRAK Para sarjana yang mengkaji hubungan etnik dan ras sering mengatakan persoalan identiti dan pembentukan kumpulan sesuatu yang terberi dan tidak berubah (Geertz 1963) manakala Barth (1969), Banton (1983) dan Shamsul (1996) telah mengutarakan hujah bahawa tiada kumpulan yang boleh kekal. Artikel ini tergolong dalam tradisi akademik yang kedua dalam percubaannya untuk memahami masyarakat Malaysia yang berbilang etnik. Artikel ini meneliti peringkat makro dan juga mikro, peringkat ikatan kumpulan dan juga individu, dan peringkat takrifan penguasa dan juga takrifan harian. Data daripada lima kajian yang dijalankan di Lembah Kelang dan Pulau Pinang dari tahun 1990 hingga 1998 digunakan untuk membuktikan bahawa norma sejagat tentang kepentingan diri lebih diutamakan daripada pilihan etnik. Responden juga menunjukkan mereka berkongsi nilai dan perhubungan mereka melintasi batas etnik masing-masing. Pluralisme telah diterima sebagai satu realiti sosial negara dan identiti etnik adalah sekunder dan bukan primer. Kata kunci: identiti, pembentukan kumpulan, norma sejagat, pilihan etnik, etnisiti
Agency Problems and Dividend Policy in Private Family Firms

In this paper, we build on the theoretical literature to develop a framework that yields predictions on the payout policy of private family firms. We argue that two forces primarily drive dividend policy in private family firms: (1) non-value-maximizing behavior as described by Chen et al. (2005) and (2) a private family firm variant of the managerial entrenchment hypothesis. Our empirical analysis supports the predictions. Based on a subsample of 1180 Belgian private family firms for which ownership data are available, we find a significant positive relation between the payout and controlling shareholder ownership above 50%. This finding illustrates that large controlling shareholders are extracting a relatively high amount of resources out of the firm in the form of dividends. We also find that the payout is negatively related to the CEO power balance in the board of directors, measured as the combined effect of CEO duality and the number of board directors. The latter finding is consistent with more powerful CEOs enjoying more discretion over the use of the assets remaining within the firm compared to less powerful CEOs.
A bare ground evaporation revision in the ECMWF land-surface scheme: evaluation of its impact using ground soil moisture and satellite microwave data

In situ soil moisture data from 122 stations across the United States are used to evaluate the impact of a new bare ground evaporation formulation at ECMWF. In November 2010, the bare ground evaporation used in ECMWF's operational Integrated Forecasting System (IFS) was enhanced by adopting a lower stress threshold than for the vegetation, allowing a higher evaporation. It results in more realistic soil moisture values when compared to in situ data, particularly over dry areas. Use was made of the operational IFS and offline experiments for the evaluation. The latter are based on a fixed version of the IFS and make it possible to assess the impact of a single modification, while the operational analysis is based on a continuous effort to improve the analysis and modelling systems, resulting in frequent updates (a few times a year). Considering the field sites with a fraction of bare ground greater than 0.2, the root mean square difference (RMSD) of soil moisture is shown to decrease from 0.118 m 3 m −3 to 0.087 m 3 m −3 when using the new formulation in offline experiments, and from 0.110 m 3 m −3 to 0.088 m 3 m −3 in operations. It also improves correlations. Additionally, the impact of the new formulation on the terrestrial microwave emission at a global scale is investigated. Realistic and dynamically consistent fields of brightness temperature as a function of the land surface conditions are required for the assimilation of the SMOS data. Brightness temperature simulated from surface fields from two offline experiments with the Community Microwave Emission Modelling (CMEM) platform present monthly mean differences up to 7 K. Offline experiments with the new formulation present drier soil moisture, hence simulated brightness temperature with its surface fields are larger. They are also closer to SMOS remotely sensed brightness temperature.
Optical properties of atmospheric fine particles near Beijing during the HOPE-J 3 A campaign

Abstract. The optical properties and chemical composition of PM1.0 particles in a suburban environment (Huairou) near the megacity of Beijing were measured during the HOPE-J3A (Haze Observation Project Especially for Jing–Jin–Ji Area) field campaign. The campaign covered the period November 2014 to January 2015 during the winter coal heating season. The average values and standard deviations of the extinction, scattering, absorption coefficients, and the aerosol single scattering albedo (SSA) at λ = 470 nm during the measurement period were 201 ± 240, 164 ± 202, 37 ± 43 Mm−1, and 0.80 ± 0.08, respectively. The average values for the real and imaginary components of the effective complex refractive index (CRI) over the campaign were 1.40 ± 0.06 and 0.03 ± 0.02, while the average mass scattering and absorption efficiencies (MSEs and MAEs) of PM1.0 were 3.6 and 0.7 m2 g−1, respectively. Highly time-resolved air pollution episodes clearly show the dramatic evolution of the PM1.0 size distribution, extensive optical properties (extinction, scattering, and absorption coefficients), and intensive optical properties (SSA and CRI) during haze formation, development, and decline. Time periods were classified into three different pollution levels (clear, slightly polluted, and polluted) for further analysis. It was found that (1) the relative contributions of organic and inorganic species to observed aerosol composition changed significantly from clear to polluted days: the organic mass fraction decreased from 50 to 43 % while the proportion of sulfates, nitrates, and ammonium increased strongly from 34 to 44 %. (2) Chemical apportionment of extinction, calculated using the IMPROVE algorithm, tended to underestimate the extinction compared to measurements. Agreement with measurements was improved by modifying the parameters to account for enhanced absorption by elemental carbon (EC). Organic mass was the largest contributor (52 %) to the total extinction of PM1.0, while EC, despite its low mass concentration of ∼ 4 %, contributed about 17 % to extinction. When the air quality deteriorated, the contribution of nitrate aerosol increased significantly (from 15 % on clear days to 22 % on polluted days). (3) Under polluted conditions, the average MAEs of EC were up to 4 times as large as the reference MAE value for freshly generated black carbon (BC). The temporal pattern of MAE values was similar to that of the OC / EC ratio, suggesting that non-BC absorption from secondary organic aerosol also contributes to particle absorption.
Evaluation of Long Stress-Induced Non-coding Transcripts 5 Polymorphism in Iranian Patients with Bladder Cancer

Corresponding Author: Mahboobeh Nasiri Department of Biology, Islamic Azad University, Arsanjan Branch, University Blvd., Arsanjan, Fars. Phone: +98-71-43523907-9 E-mail: nasiri@iaua.ac. ir Abstract Background: Bladder cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed genitourinary cancer in Iran, presented in both men and women. BC is a multifactorial trait resulting from the complex interaction between several genes and environmental factors. Long stress-induced non-coding transcript 5 (LSINCT5), a member of the long non-coding RNAs, is abundantly expressed in high proliferative cells, as well as the cells vulnerable to cellular stress in response to chemical carcinogens. This case-control study aimed to determine any association between LSINCT5 rs2962586 polymorphism and bladder cancer. Materials and Methods: A group of 150 patients with BC were compared with 143 subjects as a control group. Genotyping of the rs2962586 polymorphism was done using tetraprimer amplification refractory mutation system-polymerase chain reaction (T-ARMS PCR) method. Results: Genotype and allele distribution were not significantly different between the case and control groups. Smoking was found to be the confounding risk factor for bladder cancer. Conclusion: Considering the result of our analyses, it seems that LSINCT5 could not affect individual susceptibility to BC among Iranian patients, however, it can be considered as a disease predictor among smokers.
Using OpenOffice.org in an educational environment A feasibility study

There is a need to migrate to a new productivity suite within the primary education of Lilla Edet. The license fees for productivity suites are sky high and the administration seeks for a cheaper productivity suite of equal or greater quality as the current. In this paper, we show that OpenOffice.org would fill the shoes of Microsoft Office within the primary education.
Number and diameter of breast-height region branches in a Douglas-fir spacing trial and linkage to log quality

A Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii, Mirb. Franco) spacing trial, planted at 480, 540, 750, 840, 1100, and 1680 trees/ha was studied to investigate the relationship between planting spacing, number and diameter of branches in the breast-height region, and first 5 m log quality. The 540 and 840 tree/ha plantings were in a rectangular design with the distance between rows double that between trees within a row while the others planted in a square design. At age 18, number and diameter of branches 8 mm in diameter were measured in a 0.61 m region centered at breast height (BH, 1.3 m). There was no significant effect of planting density on number of BH region branches. The rectangular designs had significantly more branches than the square designs, but this difference was small. The mean diameter of BH region branches was significantly related to both planting density and type of design while the largest diameter of BH region branches and branch index of the BH region were related only to planting density. A subsample of trees was climbed to measure the diameter of the largest branch and branch index corresponding to the 5-m butt log. Highly significant relationships were found between the largest branch diameter and branch index of the butt log and the BH region counterpart measures of trees. Measuring the diameter of the largest branch in the BH region provided superior equations predicting the butt log and is a simple, fast measure to acquire in the field.
Exploring the eco-attitudes and buying behaviour of Facebook users

Eco-friendly consumers’ attitudes are becoming increasingly frequent, recent research indicating that pro-environmental purchase behaviour not only lower costs on the long term, but also enhance business stakeholders’ and consumers’ confidence in high added value products and services. This paper undertakes an interdisciplinary research on how social media (i.e. Facebook) can influence users’ perceptions and buying behaviour related to five categories of ecological products and services (eco-food, eco-tourism, eco-housing, eco-textiles and eco-beauty & cosmetics). This research investigates how ecological products and services could gain popularity and overpass the identified purchasing barriers (e.g. high prices, low awareness, low availability) via superior integration in consumers’ daily experiences with Facebook. The research findings indicate that Facebook represents an effective and innovative environment that could build the necessary links between green attitudes and consumers’ hearts and minds.
Uncertainty in flood damage estimates and its potential effect on investment decisions

Abstract. This paper addresses the large differences that are found between damage estimates of different flood damage models. It explains how implicit assumptions in flood damage functions and maximum damages can have large effects on flood damage estimates. This explanation is then used to quantify the uncertainty in the damage estimates with a Monte Carlo analysis. The Monte Carlo analysis uses a damage function library with 272 functions from seven different flood damage models. The paper shows that the resulting uncertainties in estimated damages are in the order of magnitude of a factor of 2 to 5. The uncertainty is typically larger for flood events with small water depths and for smaller flood events. The implications of the uncertainty in damage estimates for flood risk management are illustrated by a case study in which the economic optimal investment strategy for a dike segment in the Netherlands is determined. The case study shows that the uncertainty in flood damage estimates can lead to significant over- or under-investments.
What’s There In Our Genes? A Case For A More Inclusive And Multi-Disciplinary Outlook

It seems to be evident from all the data that studies of DNA from human beings, combining both ancient and the modern, give us a hope of finding out the mishmash between the various kinds of pathways, human admixtures have occurred. Sometimes, to understand this process, one has to use the ultimate politically incorrect term ‘race. ’ Thus, one may comment about the different ‘races’ of human beings, their migrations to different parts of the globe, and their genetic admixtures caused during the course of their journeys and the areas where they stayed. One attempt at looking at these admixtures would be the one by Jean M. Auel. However, geneticists feel that looking at gene sequences and then matching them with those they have in their libraries would show how much variation there has been between different groups and the probable causes for these could then be found. It was soon found that this created some problems. Genetic admixtures by themselves need not create large differences. Thus, some genes were found to be conserved over long periods of time whereas others changed rapidly giving rise to differences. If one used this as a marker to decide the passage of time, then one could be seriously wrong.