Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Birds and marine mammals in southwestern Foxe Basin, Nunavut, Canada

The southwestern part of Foxe Basin is a little known region of the Canadian Arctic, being difficult to access during the summer because of heavy and unpredictable ice conditions. Surveys of birds and marine mammals in the area were carried out by lightweight expeditions in the summers of 1994 and 1995, using sea-kayaks, as well as a Peterhead boat from the nearest community, at Repulse Bay. The area supports important populations of narwhal, bowhead whales and walrus, as well as significant concentrations of shorebirds, common eiders, black guillemots, and perhaps one third of the world's Thayer's gulls. New information was obtained on the status and abundance of these species and novel observations were made on the feeding ecology and breeding phenology of the gulls.
Reg Fd and the Competitiveness of All-Star Analysts

This paper examines the impact of Regulation Fair Disclosure (Reg FD) on the competitive advantage of All-Star analysts. We find that Institutional Investor All-Americans, chosen by the votes of institutional investors based on overall helpfulness to the buy-side, experienced a significant increase in turnover during the implementation and immediate aftermath of Reg FD. We do not observe a similar change in the Institutional Investor buy-side rankings of non-U.S. analysts or in the Wall Street Journal’s Best on the Street rankings which are based solely on returns generated from the analyst’s public stock recommendations. Furthermore, the significant change in All-American rankings is concentrated in those sectors identified by DIRI and Hutton (2005) as being most affected by Reg FD. By 2003, the competitive environment for All-Americans had stabilized, with turnover returning to (approximately) pre-Reg FD levels. This suggests that within a few years, All-Americans had built a new competitive advantage stressing aspects of performance less dependent on privileged communication with management.
Does Insider Trading Really Move Stock Prices?

Abstract Prior studies have reported a positive correlation between insider trading and stock price changes implying that insider (i.e., informed) trades affect price discovery differently than non-insider (i.e., uninformed) trades. Based on these results, various scholars have argued for the legalization of insider trading to facilitate rapid price discovery. We analyze the trading activity of a confessed inside trader, Ivan Boesky, in Carnation's stock just prior to Nestle's 1984 acquisition of Carnation, and find that our tests are unable to distinguish the price effect of Boesky's (i.e., informed) purchases of Carnation's stock from the effect of non-insider (i.e., uninformed) purchases. Our conclusion survives extensive robustness tests and has methodological and public policy implications.
Knowledge inventories and managerial myopia

Managing knowledge inventories is the central issue posed by the knowledge-based view of the firm. Because of future opportunities to switch among technologies and idle or deploy technologies over time, managing knowledge inventories requires valuing flexibility. Real option theory presents normative pricing formulas for valuing flexibility. These formulas assume managers consider the full time horizon of technologies as well as all available substituting and complementary technologies. This study considers the implications of violations of these assumptions (i.e., temporal and spatial myopia) for managers’ technology investment decisions. Specifying decision criteria under alternative forms of myopia suggests possible sources and patterns of technology investment decision errors.
Rates of regional denudation in the United States

Data, in large part collected since World War II, allow a recalculation of the rates of regional erosion in the United States. These data indicate a rate of denudation for the United States as a whole of 2.4 in. /1000 years, or about twice that of older estimates. The most rapid rate, 6.5 in. /1000 years, is recorded from the Colorado drainage. The slowest rate, 1.5 in. /1000 years, is found in the Columbia basin. Other drainage areas and their rates are the Pacific slopes, California, 3.6 in/1000 years; the western Gulf of Mexico, 2.1 in. /1000 years; the Mississippi River watershed, 2.0 in/1000 years; the South Atlantic and the eastern Gulf of Mexico, 1.6 in/1000 years, and the North Atlantic, 1.9 in/1000 years.
Quantitative Assessment of Vulnerability to Flood Hazards in Downstream Area of Mono Basin, South-Eastern Togo: Yoto District

The population located along Mono River in the Yoto district faces great challenges in terms of repeated flood disasters in recent years. This paper aims at assessing the conditions which influence flood damage in the study area by using indicators to compute a Flood Vulnerability Index (FVI). The study relies on Turner et al.’s vulnerability framework and distinguishes three main components (exposure, susceptibility and resilience) that allow a more in-depth analysis and interpretation of local indicators. As a result flood disaster in the study area is not only due to the extreme variability in terms of flood magnitude and frequency in the Mono River, but also to the interaction between human and the environment. The lack of vegetation along the river bank, the closeness of households’ farmlands to the river body, the type of construction and the position of settlements, the household size, the low level education of household head, the lack of diversification of livelihood strategies, the lack of adequate flood warning system, the lack of willingness and ability to take responsive actions coupled with inadequate emergency services, are identified as main determinants increasing communities’ vulnerability to flood disaster. Furthermore, the computation of Flood Vulnerability Index (FVI) offers easy comparison of communities’ vulnerability to flood disaster and pinpoints the most vulnerable communities. At the end of the study, flood exposure, susceptibility, resilience and vulnerability maps were generated.
Star Formation in Early‐Type Galaxies

The proceedings of this meeting will provide a great deal of information concerning current views on early-type galaxies, covering a broader perspective than their star formation history (SFH). Throughout the meeting, three questions were continuously posed by the speakers: (1) Do we need a new definition of early-type galaxies? (2) Are normal E galaxies those in clusters or in the field? and (3) Where do all these data fit in? Contrary to early beliefs, the notion that early-type galaxies may belong to different families is gaining increasing support. Observational evidence indicates that there are wide ranges of values allowed for most properties observed in early-type galaxies (e.g., luminosity, radius, density, isophotal shape, brightness profile, central vs. global properties, surface brightness variations, stellar populations, merger and interaction history, etc.). Both age and metallicity seem to vary along the early-type galaxy sequence, with most luminous ellipticals being the oldest and most metal-rich systems. The observed points to a nonhomologous 0.12 0.15 M/L ∝ M –M formation process, with differences in SFH among mergers. More luminous ellipticals may form from mergers of more massive spirals, resulting in higher star formation rates (SFRs) as well as stronger color and metallicity gradients in these systems. Solar scale abundance ratios are inconsistent with the observations: Mg and other a elements are enhanced with respect to solar values. The presence of dark matter, less concentrated than the luminous matter, seems well established in most ellipticals. However, NGC 404 seems to have no dark matter! Early-type galaxies have an ISM that is reminiscent of later types. Hot, warm, cool, and cold gas and dust have been detected in these galaxies. In general, the amount of gas detected is less than expected from stellar evolution during . S0 and pE galaxies show a 45% detection rate of H i 1 H0 (accreted disk? ), whereas normal E galaxies show only a 5% detection rate. CO has been detected in 40% of E galaxies, including pE galaxies. The amount of molecular gas in some dE galaxies is higher than expected from their H i content. H i is centrally concentrated in low-mass E-type galaxies but not in gE galaxies. Star formation has been detected in some galaxies with an unusually high central density of H i. In most
Evolutionary trends in coiling of tropical Paleogene planktic foraminifera

Abstract Populations of planktic foraminifera display “proportionate” coiling (approximately 50% sinistral and dextral individuals given the data at hand) or may have “biased” coiling, in which populations are dominated by either sinistral or dextral individuals. The major radiations of planktic foraminifera in the Late Cretaceous, the Paleocene to early Eocene, the middle Eocene, and the Neogene were each initiated by clades with proportionate coiling but subsequently accumulated sinistral and dextral species over time. Upper Maastrichtian foraminifera were predominantly dextral, but only the small number of species with proportionate coiling actually survived the Cretaceous/Paleogene mass extinction. The first Paleocene species with biased coiling appeared about four million years after the extinction and gradually came to represent as much as 50–60% of the tropical species diversity by the latest Paleocene. Tropical taxa with biased coiling suffered a second extinction in the late early Eocene and renewed a trend toward an increased abundance of species with biased coiling in the middle Eocene. Our results for the Paleogene reflect a recurring theme in foraminifer evolution. In each radiation, once the founding species of a clade developed a biased-coiling mode, the descendants tended to maintain biased coiling until the extinction of the clade. The iterative evolution of biased coiling appears to represent an example in which a fundamental feature of development becomes fixed in a clade and inhibits reversion to an ancestral state. Apparently, coiling patterns are heritable in contrast with previous interpretations that coiling is environmentally controlled. On evolutionary timescales, species with proportionate coiling are less susceptible to extinction than species dominated by sinistral or dextral forms. Differential survivorship ensures that each radiation is initiated from founders with proportionate coiling following mass extinction. Hence, coiling preferences represent a case where the establishment of an evolutionary trend is caused by drift away from a “limiting boundary,” much like the evolution of large body size from ubiquitous small ancestors.
Agglomerations in a multi-region economy: Poly-centric versus mono-centric patterns

Agglomeration externalities have been recognized as major sources of lumpy spatial distributions of industries and population. While the abstraction of interregional space has been a common exercise, recent increasing availability of disaggregated geographical data and more sophisticated computational techniques have promoted counterfactual analyses based on many-region models of agglomeration externalities with explicit interregional space (e.g., Redding and Sturm, 2008; Allen and Arkolakis, 2014). A caveat is that incorporating interregional space to a many-region model with agglomeration externalities does not by itself warrant the formation of polycentric agglomerations in stable equilibria—a crucial property in order to replicate the observed geography of agglomerations. We elaborate this point by comparing a pair of new economic geography models, Forslid and Ottaviano (2003) and Helpman (1998). In a two-region economy, these models exhibit both “agglomeration” (i.e., a relative concentration of mobile agents in one of the regions) and “dispersion” (i.e., a uniform distribution of mobile agents across the two regions). But, if the location space were more disaggregated, only the former admits poly-centric agglomerations in stable equilibria, while in the latter, only a mono-centric agglomeration can occur if any.
PTEROSAUR BONES FROM THE PORTEZUELO FORMATION (CRETACEOUS), NEUQUÉN GROUP, PATAGONIA, ARGENTINA 1

The Futalognko quarry, located 90km northwest of Neuquen city, Argentina, has yielded several fossil vertebrates. All come from the upper part of the Portezuelo Formation (Turonian-Early Coniacian) and include some pterosaur remains, the first ones from the Cretaceous strata of the Neuquen Group. The material consists of a proximal end of a large ulna (MUCPv-358), the proximal part of a wing-phalanx (MUCPv-359), and another ulna associated with a radius (MUCPv-600). All specimens are referred to the Pterodactyloidea, and possibly represent members of the Azhdarchoidea. Histological sections of the large ulna (MUCPv-358) indicate that it belonged to an animal that was still growing at time of death. Comparisons with more complete specimens indicate that MUCPv-358 represents an animal with a wingspan of six meters, making it the largest pterosaur known from Argentina.
A review of recent evaluation of satellite estimates sea surface salinity in the tropical Indian Ocean

Aquarius is mission that aims to measure Sea surface salinity (SSS) from the space in order to provide the global salinity for climate studies. Accurate estimation of SSS is useful for the hydrological cycle, oceanographic processes, and climate. Recently the new version (V4) of Aquarius data releases with the improving the quality of the data and achieving the mission accuracy requirement globally on monthly scale. This paper highlight the results of recently release Aquarius V4, and version 3 (V3) data with Argo observations on monthly time scale from 2012-2014 periods. The spatial distribution of mean SSS shows that both products capture the SSS variation very well. The Aquarius V4 SSS showed minor improvement over the Aquarius V3 SSS with less root mean square error over the central & eastern equatorial Indian Ocean (EEIO) & part of Bay of Bengal (BOB). The frequency distribution is also improved in Aquarius V4 compare to Aquarius V3 average over the different regions. However, both the versions overestimates/underestimates the frequency of low/high salinity values.
Identified Model Parameterization, Calibration, and Validation of the Physically Distributed Hydrological Model WASH123D in Taiwan

Typhoon-induced flood and inundation are among the major natural disasters in Taiwan. To understand and mitigate these hydrological hazards, adequate modeling tools on watershed scales are necessary. This paper describes the calibration and validation of a river basin using a physics-based watershed model, WASH123D. The key objective is to demonstrate the enable technology of using physics-based watershed models rather than lump parameter or statistical models. An ad hoc calibration procedure based on our understanding of the target river basin was employed. Systematic parameter optimizations would be addressed in subsequent studies. The Lanyang Creek basin situated in northeastern Taiwan is chosen as the study area. Two years of data (2004 and 2005) were used to examine event-based responses and long-term predictions. Both parametric work and hydrology issues are discussed. The simulated magnitude and time lag of the flow peak are compared with the observation. The results indicate that the proposed mode.
Exploring tourist’s attitude towards a greener future: do we really care?

Consumers are constantly reminded of their responsibility towards the environment in a world where words such as global warming, carbon footprint, recycling or going green has become common language. What was previously considered to be accepted practices are in many instances frowned upon today and consumers and corporations are expected to contribute towards a greener mother earth. However in South Africa, unused recycle bins, single travellers in luxury cars, busy airports and vast deforested areas for new developments may tell another story. The question arises whether the tourist takes the responsibility to balance the three pillars of sustainability: the planet, its people and profit. Undeniably tourism activities will impact on the environment where a healthy economy is needed in a fast paced global environment. The situation is further complicated in instances where a tourist is using resources which is already included in the product price. A prime example of this is luxurious large bath tubs, towels and bedding which is replaced daily, inclusive use of electricity and water to name a few. This research evaluates and compares environmentally friendly practices of tourists at home versus practices followed whilst on holiday. Data was collected from tourists in the arrival hall of a local airport. Results reveal that there is a general respect for others and one’s surroundings but re-use, re-cycle or switching off unused lights or appliances is practices which should be deeper engraved into the behaviour of consumers.
An architecture for behavioral locomotion

We present a complete architecture for behavioral control of locomotion for both real and simulated agents and provide a design methodology for building the locomotion control systems that embody the architecture. A low-level locomotion engine controls an agent's actions directly based on intermediate-level reactive behaviors such as attraction and avoidance. High-level state machines schedule and control the reactive behaviors allowing for more "intelligent" decision processes, and an agent model provides a mechanism for varying locomotion according to agent state and personality attributes. In addition to providing specifications for a locomotion engine, we address the problem of selecting and organizing an appropriate set of behaviors. We present selection criteria and a method for partitioning the behaviors to aid in implementation. We discuss the challenges specific to human locomotion and explain how to overcome them in the system design process. Finally, we introduce the notion of anticipation to the field of behavioral control and use it extensively throughout the system to produce agents whose actions are more realistic.
Bacteriological Investigation of Well Water Samples from Selected Market Locations in Ibadan Nigeria

This study was carried in Ibadan, to investigate the bacteriological and physicochemical quality of selected well water sampled from 6 locations for the presence of coliforms, an index of faecal contamination of drinking water. All samples investigated were found to be heavily ladened with coliforms and other isolates; Pseudomonas and Klebsiella were obtained in varying percentage. The P H of the 24 well water sampled were progressively acidic with the exception of 2 well water with P H 7.0 . Though the regressive analysis to determine the significant of the extrinsic and intrinsic values of the sampled water extends beyond the P-value ≤ 0.5, the total viable count obtained from six well water elicited the water as grossly contaminated, therefore, it is unsafe for drinking to avoid water-borne infection.
Description of Four New Species of Limestone-associated Torresitrachia Land Snails (Mollusca: Pulmonata: Camaenidae) from the Katherine District of the Northern Territory, with Comments on Their Conservation

Four new species of land snails of the genus Torresitrachia (Pulmonata: Camaenidae) are described from the Northern Territory of Australia: 'T. darwini, T. wallacei, T. cuttacutta, T. alenae'. The species are distinguished on the basis of differences in shell and animal morphology, and 16S DNA analysis. All four species occur in the Katherine District Daly Basin Bioregion), and have remarkably small geographical ranges and fragmented populations. Though not all species of Torresitrachia are associates of limestone, these four species are obligately associated with limestone outcrops supporting monsoon/deciduous vine thicket vegetation. Annual grasses, which are replacing the natural vegetation, do not offer suitable habitat for these land snails and they are much more prone to the 'grass/fire cycle', thus threatening the snails' long term survival. Presently all the known populations of two of these new snails, 'T. wallacei' and 'T. alenae', appear to be under threat of extinction and none occurs within any reserve.
Impact of Grain Size Distribution on Bed Topography around a Groyne

This paper presented an experimental study on the impact of grain size distribution on the bed topography around an impermeable groyne. The importance of two governing parameters, i.e. the mean grain size D and the geometric standard deviation σg, was emphasized with quantitative evidences. It was found in the current experiments that with the increase of D, the maximum local scour depth decreased and the slope of the scour hole increased for a sediment bed with a uniform grain size distribution. The maximum local scour depth in a non-uniform sediment bed was smaller compared with that in a uniform one and generally decreased with the increase of σg.
Impact of a local host on the intercultural competence of expatriates

Intercultural competence is an essential asset for those who live abroad or who work with people from different cultural backgrounds. This longitudinal study examines the impact of contact with a local host on five attitudinal and behavioural aspects of intercultural competence. Sixty-five Western expatriates in the Netherlands were randomly divided into two groups: an experimental group (n = 33) that had contact with a Dutch host during 9 months, and a control group (n = 32) with no host. The Multicultural Personality Questionnaire was filled in at baseline and again after 9 months. A local host buffered a decrease in both attitudinal (Open-mindedness) and behavioural (Social Initiative) aspects of intercultural competence; although, in the case of Open-mindedness, this decrease was only buffered for expatriates with a partner. No effect was found for Cultural Empathy, Flexibility or Emotional Stability. The article concludes by discussing the various merits of contact with a local host as compared with cross-cultural training.
Mennonite Plautdietsch (Canadian Old Colony)

Mennonite Plautdietsch (ISO 639–3: pdt) is a West Germanic (Indo-European) language belonging to the Low Prussian (Niederpreußisch) subgroup of Eastern Low German (Ostniederdeutsch), a continuum of closely related varieties spoken in northern Poland until the Second World War (Ziesemer 1924, Mitzka 1930, Thiessen 1963). Although its genetic affiliation with these other, now-moribund Polish varieties is uncontested, Mennonite Plautdietsch represents an exceptional member of this grouping. It was adopted as the language of in-group communication by Mennonites escaping religious persecution in northwestern and central Europe during the mid-sixteenth century, and later accompanied these pacifist Anabaptist Christians over several successive generations of emigration and exile through Poland, Ukraine, and parts of the Russian Empire. As a result of this extensive migration history, Mennonite Plautdietsch is spoken today in diasporic speech communities on four continents and in over a dozen countries by an estimated 300,000 people, primarily descendants of these so-called Russian Mennonites (Epp 1993, Lewis 2009).