Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In-vitro assessment of the nutritive value of vegetable wastes as feed supplement for ruminants

The need to optimize livestock production to meet the growing demand for animal products has necessitated the efficient use of available resources, including crop wastes to enhance livestock productivity. Fifteen vegetable waste samples were analyzed to determine their nutritive value as ruminant feed. The chemical composition was determined using standard methods, and a 24-hour in-vitro fermentation was done to determine the dry matter degradability (DMD), short chain fatty acid (SCFA), and enteric methane (CH4) emission of each sample. Talinum triangulare leaf had the highest (p<0.05) crude protein value (31.50%) and Cucumis sativa had the lowest value (11.51%). A significant difference (p<0.05) was observed among the values of the proximate composition of the samples. Cucumis sativa had the highest CH4 percentage (36.75%) while the lowest CH4 percentage (10.00%) was observed in Cochorus olitorius stem. There was no significant difference (p<0.05) observed among the DMD values of the samples. The value of SCFA was highest for Daucus carota (0.33) and lowest for Talinum triangulare stem (0.07). The results of the proximate composition, CH4 percentage, and dry matter degradability of the samples observed in this study revealed that they could be further investigated through in-vivo trials to establish their suitability as alternative feedstuffs in ruminant diets. La nécessité d’optimiser la production animale pour répondre à la demande croissante de produits animaux a nécessité l’utilisation efficace des ressources disponibles, y compris les déchets de récolte pour améliorer la productivité de l’élevage. Quinze échantillons de déchets végétaux ont été analysés pour déterminer leur valeur nutritive en tant qu’aliments pour ruminants. La composition chimique a été déterminée à l’aide de méthodes standard et une fermentation in vitro de 24 heures a été effectuée pour déterminer la dégradabilité de la matière sèche (DMS), les émissions d’acides gras à chaîne courte (AGCC) et de méthane entérique (CH4) de chaque échantillon. La feuille de Talinum triangulare avait la valeur de protéines brutes la plus élevée (p < 0,05) (31,50 %) et Cucumis sativa avait la valeur la plus faible (11,51 %). Une différence significative (p<0,05) a été observée entre les valeurs de la composition approximative des échantillons. Cucumis sativa avait le pourcentage de CH4 le plus élevé (36,75%) tandis que le pourcentage de CH4 le plus bas (10,00%) a été observé dans la tige de Cochorus olitorius. Aucune différence significative (p < 0,05) n’a été observée entre les valeurs DMS des échantillons. La valeur de AGCC était la plus élevée pour Daucus carota (0,33) et la plus faible pour la tige de Talinum triangulare (0,07). Les résultats de la composition approximative, du pourcentage de CH4 et de la dégradabilité de la matière sèche des échantillons observés dans cette étude ont révélé qu’ils pourraient être étudiés plus avant par des essais in vivo pour établir leur pertinence comme aliments alternatifs dans l’alimentation des ruminants.
Remote consultation – The new norm?

Remote consultations are now part of everyday clinical practice. The extent to which these are person focused and how well practitioners are able to meet patient needs in a safe and effective way using technology are fundamental to successful clinical outcomes. In order for this to become a reality, both patients and practitioners need to be adequately prepared, equipped and supported for the challenges of these emerging forms of patient/clinician interaction. This article looks at a range of critical perspectives and discussions which underpin this emerging clinical practice as increased use of remote consultations takes place at this point in the coronavirus pandemic and beyond.
Energy transfer eﬃciency rather than productivity determines trophic cascades

Trophic cascades are important determinants of food web dynamics and functioning, yet mechanisms explaining variations in trophic cascade strength remain elusive. Here we combine a mesocosm experiment (phytoplankton-zooplankton-shrimp) and theoretical models to disentangle the relative importance of two processes driving trophic cascade: primary productivity (productivity hypothesis) and energy transfer eﬃciency (energy transfer hypothesis). Our experimental systems showed consistently positive eﬀects of trophic cascade across mesocosms with diﬀerent nutrient inputs and zooplankton communities. Moreover, the strength of trophic cascade increased with the energy transfer eﬃciency between herbivores and predators, but did not change with the primary productivity. These ﬁndings are further corroborated by our analyses of food chain models in more general settings. Combined, our results support the energy transfer hypothesis but falsify the productivity hypothesis. Our study contributes an integrative perspective to reconcile energetic and population dynamics in food webs, which has useful implications for ecosystem management.
The relation between students’ educational performances and their access test results: a focus on an Italian case

This paper aims at analyzing the relationship between the university performances of freshman students, measured by the University Credits (CUs)1 gathered during the first semester, the results achieved in T.E. L.E.MA.CO. (TEst di Logica E MAtematica e COmprensione verbale) test and their social-demographic characteristics. Starting from the Bologna Declaration of 1999 (ministerial decree of November 3, 1999, no. 509), the Italian university system has seen important changes at the organizational, educational, and financial levels. The training credit model was introduced for harmonizing national and international university systems. Another change of major importance in the reform consisted of the reorganization of degree courses into homogeneous classes. The reform established a three-cycle higher education system comprising undergraduate (3-years bachelor’s degrees), master’s or specialist degrees (2-years master equivalent degrees), and doctoral studies. The education system also provides for the possibility of attending other courses such as first and second-level masters. Furthermore, in 2004 non-selective admission tests were introduced for all bachelor’s degrees. The Department of Economics and Business Studies (DIEC) of the University of Genoa (Italy), which has open-enrolment courses, adopted TE.L.E.MA.CO. test, a very important tool for verifying initial knowledge considered functional to the effective participation of a university course. It consists of two sections: a common core for all degree programs, aimed at proving the basic skills of comprehension of Italian texts (literacy), and logical reasoning skills (numeracy), and a differentiated section according to the chosen program2. Additional mandatory tasks will be assigned to students who gain a score lower than the established thresholds. Data are collected by the DIEC. The main dataset derives from three different sources: the first one contains information related to sociodemographic characteristics and students’ educational backgrounds; the second one is about information relating to the university career; the last one concerns the results of the TE.L.E.MA.CO admission test. The main dataset records information on 488 students enrolled in the Department of Economics of the University of Genoa; they are all pure freshmen (first matriculation in the university) and not exempted from the obligation to take the test3. The considered attributes are age, gender, high school, diploma grade, course of study, results of T.E. L.E.MA.CO. test, and average number of CUs. Once the main dataset has been assembled, we performed a descriptive analysis of the students’ characteristics. The average age of the students is 19 years, the females represent 31% of the sample. 55% of students are enrolled in Business Administration, 27% in Economics of Maritime Business, Logistics and Transport, and 18% in Economics. The average high school final grade is 74.78, and 25% of the students have a grade higher than 81. Women in the sample
Energy budget comparison of snowmelt rates in a deciduous forest and an open site

Daily snowmelt rates at a leafless deciduous forest site were 40–85% of those at an open site. Reduced snowmelt rates were caused by a difference in meteorological conditions at the forested site. Solar radiation, net radiation and wind speed were especially reduced in the forest, and relationships between them at the two sites were represented by linear functions. Snowmelt rates at the two sites could be predicted by an energy budget method, and net radiation was the major component in the snowmelt energy at both sites. Differences between snowmelt rates at the two sites were due to net radiation differences over many days, but dependency on net radiation at both sites was reduced under particular meteorological conditions. Parameteric analysis under fixed meteorological conditions indicates that this dependency is changed by wind speed, temperature and humidity, because wind speed is reduced in the forest and decrease of turbulent heat exchange in the forest will be notable under strong wind conditions.
DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS, MANAGEMENT AND STATISTICS UNIVERSITY OF MILAN – BICOCCA

In this paper we investigate the role of reciprocity in sustaining the emergence of implicit collusive agreements in hierarchical organizations. We conduct a laboratory experiment in which an agent hires, on behalf of the principal, one worker out of two candidates. The two candidates differ in their ability and, once employed, the worker chooses a level of non-contractible effort to exert in two tasks: one benefits the organization (that is both the principal and the agent) while the other one is less profitable, only benefits the agent and provides him with higher earnings. We provide evidence that: i) low ability workers are more likely to exert effort in the task that is exclusively beneficial to the agent; ii) as a consequence, agents distort the hiring process in favor of the low ability workers and iii) sharing a small part of the organization’s profits with the workers alleviates their effort distortion. JEL classification: C91, J50, L14, M52
This item is the archived preprint of: Relationships between female quality, egg mass and eggshell blue-green colouration in southern rockhopper penguins : a test of the sexual signalling hypothesis

16 Eggshell blue-green colouration (BGC) is caused by the pigment biliverdin which has anti-17 oxidant capacities. Eggshell BGC has therefore been interpreted as being costly for the 18 female, and therefore a signal of female quality (‘sexual signalling hypothesis’). 19 Southern rockhopper penguins Eudyptes chrysocome exhibit both a reversed hatching 20 asynchrony and a brood reduction strategy. First-laid (A)eggs are smaller and hatch on 21 average one day after second-laid (B)eggs, with B-eggs usually producing the only surviving 22 chick. According to the sexual signalling hypothesis, we predicted a positive relationship 23 between BGC and both female body mass and egg mass, and consequently within clutches a 24 stronger BGC in B-eggs than A-eggs. Furthermore, we expected a negative relationship 25 between BGC and clutch initiation date. 26 Contrasting these expectations, we found no effect of female body mass or egg mass 27 on BGC, and BGC in A-eggs increased with clutch initiation date, while there was no effect 28 in B-eggs. Within clutches, A-eggshells were more intensely blue-green coloured than B-29 eggshells. 30 Concluding, our results appear to contradict the sexual signalling hypothesis. We, 31 however, did not measure pigment concentrations and solely relied on BGC from eggshell 32 photospectrometry, assuming that biliverdin concentrations were positively correlated with 33 BGC. We therefore caution that before to preclude the sexual signalling hypothesis, future 34 studies that include measurements of eggshell pigment concentrations in addition to BGC are 35 necessary. Altogether, a better understanding of the biological meaning of biliverdin, its
Boundary spanning

What are the boundary spanning activities undertaken by the Corporate Headquarters (HQ) executives of a Multinational Corporation? We address this question through a five-year longitudinal case study of one company as it shifted from a traditional HQ in one location, to a dual HQ in two locations, to a virtual HQ split across multiple locations. By observing how HQ executives prioritized their time over the course of this transition, we identified four generic boundary spanning activities: two ( spearheading and facilitating ) focused on making connections across boundaries, two ( reconciling and lubricating ) focused on overcoming differences in worldview across boundaries. By considering these activities together, and how they vary in importance over time, we show how each boundary spanning activity adds value to the MNC and improves the effectiveness of the internal and external network. An important feature of our study is that we operationalize boundary spanning at the activity level , i.e. in terms of the specific actions taken by corporate HQ executives, to provide a more granular understanding of how boundary spanning works in practice.
Inverse procedure for mechanical characterization of multi-layered non-rigid composite parts with applications to the assembly process

In assembly process, non-rigid parts in free-state may have different forms compared to the designed model caused by gravity load and residual stresses. For non-rigid parts made by multi-layered fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites, this process becomes much more complex due to the nonlinear behavior of the material. This paper presented an inverse procedure for characterizing large anisotropic deformation behavior of four-layered, carbon fiber-reinforced polyphenylene sulphide, non-rigid composite parts. Mechanical responses were measured from the standard three points bending test and the surface displacements of composite plates under flexural loading test. An orthotropic hyperelastic material model was implemented as a UMAT user routine in the Abaqus/Standard to analyze the behavior of flexible fiber-reinforced thermoplastic composites. Error functions were defined by subtracting the experimental data from the numerical mechanical responses. Minimizing the error functions helps to identify the material parameters. These optimal parameters were validated for the case of an eight-layered composite material.
BearWorks BearWorks

Eisosomes, large protein complexes that are predominantly composed of BAR-domain-containing proteins Pil1 and its homologs, are situated under the plasma membrane of ascomycetes. A successful targeting of Pil1 onto the future site of eisosome accompanies maturation of eisosome. During or after recruitment, Pil1 undergoes self-assembly into filaments that can serve as scaffolds to induce membrane furrows or invaginations. Although a consequence of the invagination is likely to redistribute particular proteins and lipids to a different location, the precise physiological role of membrane invagination and eisosome assembly awaits further investigation. The present review summarizes recent research findings within the field regarding the detailed structural and functional significance of Pil1 on eisosome organization
The Effect of Good Corporate Governance on Firm Value

Theory of firm implies that shareholder wealth should continue to increase over time to the maximum However, the opposite can happen if we refer to agency theory. Based on agency theory, management will maximize its own wealth so that management will choose the use of principles and assumptions in accounting that suit their interests. Good corporate governance can be a way to protect the interests of shareholders as owners of the company. This study was conducted to re-examine the effect of good corporate governance on firm value by using purposive sampling method for companies that were ranked as the most trusted and trusted companies during 2017-2019. A total of 16 companies were observed for 3 years. The results of this study found that good corporate governance has no significant effect on firm value. This may occur because the intended external stakeholders in the capital market do not utilize information regarding good corporate governance as the main consideration in making short-term investment-related decisions.
Supporting the English Listening Comprehension Skill in a Costa Rica’s Rural High School: The Use of Teacher-Recorded Listening Exercises Modified with Background Noises

This project aimed at reinforcing the English listening skill of a group of seventh students from a high school in Cartago using teacher-recorded listening exercises modified with background noises. On the day one, participants of the control and experimental group were respectively exposed to two versions of the same podcast, one without the background noises and the other with them. A pre-test followed to record the performance of both groups on day one. The exposure continued during the following days, and on day six both groups listened to an English podcast with background noises included. A post-test followed to compare the results with those of the pretest. The results of the study indicated that the participants of the experimental group which, had been exposed to the listening material modified with background noises during a week, scored higher in the posttest, and experienced a sense of more confidence while completing the task. On the other hand, the performance of the control group (which was not exposed to modified podcasts until day six) was deficient, and participants expressed discomfort and lack of familiarity with the task. The results of this study could open a new way to understand and approach the creation of listening exercises which have been traditionally deprived from noises external to the speakers’ voices.
2014 International Conference on Lightning Protection ( ICLP ) , Shanghai , China FDTD-Based Lightning Surge Simulation of a Microwave Relay Station

In electric power systems, microwave relay stations are employed to exchange information using electromagnetic radio waves to control the systems. Some microwave relay stations are built on tops of mountains, which causes a high incidence of lightning strikes to microwave towers, and the lightning strikes may result in disturbances of microwave radio equipment. To protect microwave radio equipment from lightning, it is required to analyze surge phenomena in microwave relay stations and evaluate the effectiveness of lightning protection methodologies. Nowadays, the finite-difference time-domain (FDTD) method to solve Maxwell’s equations directly, has been widely and successfully applied to the surge analysis of three-dimensional structures and grounding structures. In this study, setting up a reduced-scale microwave relay station model with a microwave tower of 10 m height, we calculate the distribution of lightning impulse currents in the model and compare the calculated results with measured ones for validation. Secondly, we calculate the magnetic fields inside the microwave relay station in the case of direct lightning strikes to the microwave tower to study the effect of the layout of the microwave relay station and the effectiveness of the reinforcing bars used for grounding. Keywords-lightning surges; microwave relay stations; FDTD
Additive manufacturing technology and business model change – a review of literature

This paper is a literature review on business models used in the additive manufacturing industry. We focus the investigation by categorizing the effects additive manufacturing into four classes by looking at incremental and disruptive applications in closed and in open market models. The economic feasibility of these applications is critically discussed on the background of the existing literature. Additive manufacturing business models is an emerging area of research, where tangible, case-based evidence is still rare, and the views on the business potential of additive manufacturing technologies are strongly divided.
Intimate Femicide

This exploratory study identifies intimate femicide as a missing link in social science research on violence against women. This study examines women killed in the United States. Results indicate that approximately four women were killed by intimate partners every day during 1980, 1981, and 1982. Information is presented on the age of the victims and offenders, the weapons used to kill female intimate victims, the situation and circumstances surrounding the homicide, and the racial and ethnic backgrounds of victims. It is suggested that intimate femicide is a social problem that merits informed discussion, as well as additional research to explore in more depth the killing of women by male intimate partners.
Managing Consumers’ Adoption of Artificial Intelligence-Based Financial Robo-Advisory Services: A Moderated Mediation Model

Introduction/Main Objectives: This study investigates the determinants of willingness to use financial robo-advisory services. The study aims to identify the intertwined roles of perceived value, perceived risk, and perceived financial knowledge in consumers’ acceptance of financial robo-advisory services. Background Problem: Fintech and AI-based applications have opened up new prospects for financial management, but studies into the adoption and implementation of robo-advisors are limited and scant. Novelty: The study offers novel insights by exploring the direct and indirect effects of perceived value and risk on consumer deci­sions around adopting robo-advisory services. The study also identifies other major drivers of robo-advisory service adoption and formulates a comprehensive model. Research Methods: A quantitative method using a deductive approach was applied, with PLS-SEM performed on a sample of 285 respondents from Bangladesh. The sample was gathered using a purposive sampling method. Findings/Results: Findings revealed that while relative advantage and perceived innovativeness positively affected perceived value and adoption intention, complexity negatively impacted perceived value and adoption intention. The findings also highlighted that attitude had a negative effect on perceived risk and intention to adopt robo-advisory services. The mediating impact of perceived value and risk in predicting the relationship between relative advantage, attitude and behavioral intention to adopt robo-advisory services was also identified. Moreover, the study revealed that perceived financial knowledge moderated the relationship between perceived value and behavioral intention. Conclusion: This study contributes to the existing body of literature by showing the intertwined roles of perceived value, perceived risk, and perceived financial knowledge in consumer acceptance of robo-advisory services. The study provides meaningful insights for financial institutions, and policymakers seeking to make robo-advisory services more reliable and acceptable to consumers through innovative service design and positioning.