Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Two New Continental Species of Goniurosaurus (Squamata: Eublepharidae) with a Phylogeny and Evolutionary Classification of the Genus

Two new continental species of Goniurosaurus, G. luii from the Guangxi Province and the Island of Hainan, China, and G. araneus from northern Vietnam, are described herein. An evolutionary classification consistent with the phylogenetic pattern (luii + araneus) + ((lichtenfelderi + hainanensis) + (yamashinae + ((orientalis + kuroiwae) + (toyamai + splendens))) is proposed, elevating the endemic insular subspecies of G. kuriowae and G. lichtenfelderi to full species. A historical biogeographical scenario is pre- sented invoking extinction of a continental ancestor of the kuroiwae and lichtenfelderi groups. Conservation efforts are needed to ensure the safety of the decreasing wild populations of G. luii and G. araneus which are being exported out of their respective countries for the international pet trade at an alarming rate. The genus Goniurosaurus, as it is currently constituted, contains two species; G. kuroiwae from the Ryukyu Archipelago, Japan, composed of five subspecies (Grismer et al., 1994), and G. lichtenfelderi from islands in the Gulf of Tonkin in the South China Sea and adjacent northern Vietnam (Ota, 1998), containing two subspecies (Grismer, 1987). Grismer et al. (1994) noted the likely occurrence of an unidentified continental Goniurosaurus from the Guizhou Province of
Feeding biology of Stichopus tremulus, a deposit-feeding holothurian

Abstract Aquarium experiments in the laboratory and a cage experiment on the sea bottom have shown S. tremulus (Gunnerus) to be selective in its feeding habits, selecting faecal pellets from benthic animals and other sediment aggregates, which are richer in organic content than the general surface sediment. Assimilation efficiency of organic material is close to 30 % but lower (17 %) during the spawning period. The species utilizes as nutriment about 2 % of the sediment consumed. An average animal consumes, annually, about 0.6 kg of sediment (dry weight) and the S. tremulus population at about 250 m depth in Raunefjorden, western Norway, reworks at least about 20 g of sediment per m2 per year.
The Characteristics of Top Management in Indonesia Manufacturing Company

This study aims to describe the characteristics of the Board of Commissioners in Indonesia. In this study the characteristics studied include Independence, Expertise, age and tenure of the Board of Commissioners. This research is a descriptive research. The sample of this study is 104 manufacturing companies listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange in the year of 2013-2016. The results of this study show that the independence of the Board of Commissioners shows an increase. The Board of Commissioners' expertise in this study shows improvement. The average age of the Board of Commissioners in this study is 54.9 years. The average tenure (term of office) of the Board of Commissioners is 6.8 years. These four characteristics show an increasing trend over the years.
Charge Asymmetry in Top Quark Pair Production

The top quark is the heaviest elementary particle known. It has been proposed many times that new physics beyond the current theory of elementary particles may reveal itself in top quark interactions. The charge asymmetry in the pair production of a fermion and its antiparticle has been known for many decades. Early measurements of such asymmetry in top quark pair production showed a disagreement with the prediction by more than 3 standard deviations. Many years of an effort on both experimental and theoretical side have allowed to understand the top quark pair charge asymmetry better and to bring back the agreement between the measurements and the theory. In this article, these efforts are reviewed together with the discussion about a potential future of such measurements.
Rhythm Quantization for Transcription

Automatic Music Transcription is the extraction of an acceptable notation from performed music. One important task in this problem is rhythm quantization which refers to categorization of note durations. Although quantization of a pure mechanical performance is rather straightforward, the task becomes increasingly difficult in presence of musical expression, i.e. systematic variations in timing of notes and tempo changes. For quantization of natural performances, we employ a framework based on Bayesian statistics. We demonstrate that some simple quantization schemata can be derived in this framework by simple assumptions about timing deviations. A general quantization method, which can be derived in this framework, is vector quantization (VQ). The algorithm operates on short groups of onsets and is thus flexible in capturing the structure of timing deviations between neighboring onsets and thus performs better than simple rounding methods. Finally, we present some results on simple examples.
You Can't Stay Here

In 2015, Reddit closed several subreddits-foremost among them r/fatpeoplehate and r/CoonTown-due to violations of Reddit's anti-harassment policy. However, the effectiveness of banning as a moderation approach remains unclear: banning might diminish hateful behavior, or it may relocate such behavior to different parts of the site. We study the ban of r/fatpeoplehate and r/CoonTown in terms of its effect on both participating users and affected subreddits. Working from over 100M Reddit posts and comments, we generate hate speech lexicons to examine variations in hate speech usage via causal inference methods. We find that the ban worked for Reddit. More accounts than expected discontinued using the site; those that stayed drastically decreased their hate speech usage-by at least 80%. Though many subreddits saw an influx of r/fatpeoplehate and r/CoonTown "migrants," those subreddits saw no significant changes in hate speech usage. In other words, other subreddits did not inherit the problem. We conclude by reflecting on the apparent success of the ban, discussing implications for online moderation, Reddit and internet communities more broadly.
Learning Tools Development of Blended Learning Model on Hydrocarbon Topics to Improve Students Self-Regulation

This study aims to evaluate the validity, practicality and effectiveness of learning tools using Blended Learning models to improve Self Regulation of student learning on hydrocarbons and petroleum materials. The development model used is the Tessmer Design which consists of stages 1) self evaluation, 2) expert opinions (3), 3) individual test, 4) small group test (small group) evaluation), and 5) Field test. The validation of learning tools, media, and self regulation questionnaires were each carried out by 3 expert validators. Research subjects in the one to one test amounted to 3 students aimed at analyzing the readability of teaching materials and LKPD, research subjects in small class tests totaling 12 people aimed at measuring the practicality and effectiveness of the learning device expectations. Research subjects in the field test totaled 36 students of class X A Multimedia SMK Negeri 3 Banjarmasin aimed at measuring the practicality and actual effectiveness of the learning device prototype. The results showed that the learning tools developed had a very valid category based on expert judgment, were very practical based on the feasibility of learning in class and student responses, and were very effective based on students' mastery learning with an N-gain of 0.36 of the moderate improvement category. Based on the results of research and development shows that the learning device developed is suitable for use in learning hydrocarbon and petroleum materials.
Party System Stabilisation during Times of Financial Crisis: The Paradox of the Baltic States

Because of the salience of economic voting (against incumbents) and protest voting (against established parties), economic crises can transform the party systems and destabilize the electoral trends. However, there are cases that contradict such expectations: despite the increase of unemployment and recession, financial crisis did not push the party systems in the Baltic States towards increasing electoral instability. In contrary, some stabilization trends were observed: incumbents achieved satisfactory results and electoral volatility stayed at moderate levels. This paper argues that economic crisis provides an opportunity to break a vicious circle of electoral volatility, government instability and changing supply side of the party system. Budget cuts and the risk of electoral demise devalue the spoils of office: since little incentive exists for government reshuffling and foundation of new parties, political competition becomes more structured. Analysis of individual level data from 2008 and 2012 parliamentary elections in Lithuania supports these macro-level considerations.
Aﬃrmative Action Subcontracting Regulations in Dynamic Procurement Auctions

I study aﬃrmative action subcontracting regulations in a model where governments use auctions to repeatedly procure goods and services at the lowest possible price. Through using disadvantaged subcontractors, prime contractors build relationships over time, resulting in lower subcontracting costs in future periods. I ﬁnd that regulation in the form of a minimum subcontracting requirement expands bidder asymmetries, favoring prime contractors with stronger relationships over those with weaker ones. Simulations show that the manner in which relationships evolve determines not only the utilization of disadvantaged subcontractors but also the procurement costs attained under aﬃrmative action.
Prevalence of Bovine Onchocerciasis in Karu Nasarawa State of Nigeria

Original Research Article The aim of this research work was to investigate the prevalence of Bovine Onchocerciasis affecting cattle in Karu F.C. T Abuja between March, 2017, and August, 2017. The method adopted in the study was a random survey carried out on the prevalence of Bovine onchocerciasis in Karu FCT area of Nigeria. A total of 300 cattle were sampled for species of Onchocerca parasite. The animals were of four major breeds, namely; Garawa, Bunaje, White Fulani and Abora. Three species Bovine onchocerciasis encountered during this study were Onchocerca gutturosa, Onchocerca duckei, and Onchocerca gibsoni. The result showed that, of this number, 146 (48.66%) were infected with the various species of Onchocerca namely; Onchocerca gutturosa 92(63.0%), Onchocerca duckei 51(34.93%), and Onchocerca gibsoni 3 (2.05%). Prevalence of Bovine onchocerciasis were higher in animal aged (56yeas ) followed by those between (3-4 years) and lastly those age 7 years and above. Calculated Chi Square, λ 2 was higher than tabulated λ 2 hence the prevalence of infection of the various breeds of the cattle by onchocerca species was significant (P<0.05). In conclusion, the prevalence of Onchocerca species infection in various breeds of Cattle in Karu local government area of Nasarawa state of Nigeria was very significant (P<0.05).
PARTICLE SETTLING IN TAYLOR-COUETTE FLOWS

This paper reports an experimental study on the preferential accumulation and the settling velocity of small solid particles in TaylorCouette (TC) air flows that are generated by two concentric rotating cylinders. For particle preferential accumulation, we use a high-speed laser sheet imaging technique in T-C flow with only the inner cylinder rotated. Three different particles, lead, tungsten and copper particles with different mean diameters are used, such that the corresponding values of Stokes number (St) can be varied from 0 to 3. Here St is a time ratio of particle response to the Kolmogorov scale of turbulence. When values of St vary from 0.1 to about unity, the distributed patterns of these particles change drastically from uniformly scattered around an array of counter-rotating Taylor vortices to locally concentrated only at the edges of these Taylor vortices where the strain rate is highest and the vorticity is lowest (no particles in the core). This so-called preferential sweeping by previous numerical simulations is confirmed and best demonstrated by the present array of Turbulent Taylor vortices. Concerning the settling velocity of heavy particles in featureless turbulence generated by counter-rotating both cylinders, we employ glass particles and use the high-speed particle image velocimetry to measure mean particle settling velocities (Vs). Results show that Vs is much greater than the terminal velocity (Vt) in still fluid for which the value of (Vs – Vt) reaches a maximum of 0.44 when St 1 and u u′ ≈ ′ / Vt = 1.85 at Reλ = 37, where Reλ is the Reynolds number based on the Taylor microscale. These results are of help in our understanding on particle settling phenomena in turbulent flows.
Optimization of Green Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles from Leaf Extracts of Tabernaemontana heyneana and evaluation of their catalytic activity on reduction of methylene blue

DOI: 10.21276/haya.2018. 3.3. 5 Abstract: The aim of the study was to optimize the process parameters involved in the green synthesis of silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) by aqueous leaf extract of Tabernaemontana heyneana and to evaluate the catalytic reduction of methylene blue (MB) perhaps for the first time. The various optimum parameters include boiling time for preparation of extract, concentration of extract, silver nitrate concentration, effect of pH, reaction time and temperature were analysed using UV-vis spectrophotometer. The optimized AgNPs were characterized by AFM and evaluated the catalytic activity on reduction of methylene blue. The optimized factors for synthesis of AgNPs were 10 min boiled leaf extract, 3 ml leaf extract addition to reaction mixture, 1 mM AgNO3 concentration, pH 9 of reaction mixture, reaction time 2 h and temperature 80°C. AFM characterization confirmed the oval shaped AgNPs with size 5-20 nm. The synthesized AgNPs showed a good catalytic activity on the reduction of methylene blue. Therefore, it is proposed that, the optimized parameters helps in getting hold of applications in environmental and biomedical sciences.
Influence of in vitro and ex vitro propagation on anthocyanin content and anti-oxidant activity of lingonberries

Summary The fruit yields, anthocyanin contents and anti-oxidant activities of lingonberry (Vaccinium vitis-idaea L.) cultivars ‘Splendor’ and ‘Erntedank’ were studied after being propagated either by conventional softwood cuttings (SC) or by in vitro adventitious shoot regeneration from excised leaves of micropropagated shoots (TC). A significant interaction between propagation method and cultivar was observed for berry anti-oxidant activity. After 4 years of growth, the TC plants produced berries with more anti-oxidant activity, although berry diameter, number and yield per plant were higher in SC plants. The three dominant lingonberry anthocyanins (cyanidin-3-galactoside, cyanidin-3-glucoside and cyanidin-3-arabinoside) were not affected by propagation method. ‘Erntedank’ out-yielded ‘Splendor’ for berry production, and produced more, but smaller berries with a higher anti-oxidant activity than those of ‘Splendor’.
FAULTY FEEDER IDENTIFICATION BASED ON CHARGE-VOLTAGE RELATION

A single phase to ground fault in a network that is isolated or grounded by an arc suppression coil causes a rather low fault current and the faulty feeder is traditionally identified from the zero sequence voltage and the sum of the phase currents fed into each feeder from the bus bar. An alternative is proposed in the literature using the charge (i.e. the integral of the current) rather than the current itself for identifying the faulty feeder. The main reason for the proposed approach is that the charge of the healthy feeders is more or less proportional to the instantaneous value of the zero sequence voltage in both transient and steady state conditions. The healthy feeders are identified based on the shape of the charge-voltage curves.
Globalisation and Union Bargaining in an Era of Declining Unionism: The Case of UK Manufacturing

This paper examines the implications of openness to international trade for the wage bargaining abilities of trade unions in the UK manufacturing sector. Using a specially constructed data set that combines labour market information on a large panel of individual workers observed over the period 1982 to 1991 with disaggregated 4-digit industry trade data, we find that foreign competition reduces the union mark up. Although, there is also evidence that the disciplining effects of openness decreases over
University of Birmingham Performance-based health monitoring, diagnostics and prognostics for condition-based maintenance of gas turbines

- With the privatization and intense competition that characterize the volatile energy sector, the gas turbine industry currently faces new challenges of increasing operational flexibility, reducing operating costs, improving reliability and availability while mitigating the environmental impact. In this complex, changing sector, the gas turbine community could address a set of these challenges by further development of high fidelity, more accurate and computationally efficient engine health assessment, diagnostic and prognostic systems. Recent studies have shown that engine gas-path performance monitoring still remains the cornerstone for making informed decisions in operation and maintenance of gas turbines. This paper offers a systematic review of recently developed engine performance monitoring, diagnostic and prognostic techniques. The inception of performance monitoring and its evolution over time, techniques used to establish a high-quality dataset using engine model performance adaptation, and effects of computationally intelligent techniques on promoting the implementation of engine fault diagnosis are reviewed. Moreover, recent developments in prognostics techniques designed to enhance the maintenance decision-making scheme and main causes of gas turbine performance deterioration are discussed to facilitate the fault identification module. The article aims to organize, evaluate and identify patterns and trends in the literature as well as recognize research gaps and recommend new research areas in the field of gas turbine performance-based monitoring. The presented insightful concepts provide experts, students or novice researchers and decision-makers working in the area of gas turbine engines with the state of the art for performance-based condition monitoring.
FACTORS INFLUENCING COMPETENCY DEVELOPMENT OF NURSES AS PERCEIVED BY STAKEHOLDERS IN VIETNAM

Background: Competency of nurses is vital to safe nursing practice as well as essential component to drive quality of nursing services. Competency development is a continuous process of improving knowledge, attitudes and skills, and is influenced by a numerous of factors. Purposes: This study aims to explore factors that influence the development of competencies of nurses working in clinical settings in Vietnam. Methods: A descriptive qualitative research was conducted in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam with a purposive sample of twenty-seven participants including nurses, nurse managers, administrators, nurse teachers, medical doctors, and other health care providers. Data collection was by in-depth interviews and focus group discussions. Content analysis was used to analyze the data. Findings: The research participants described numerous of factors that influence the journey of developing nurses’ competencies. The identified factors were relevant to nursing education and training system in Vietnam; working environments of nurses; public image and values of nursing profession; characteristics of nurses themselves; Vietnamese nursing profession; sociocultural-economic and political aspects in Vietnam; and global contexts. Conclusion: The derived knowledge would greatly benefit clinical nurses, administrators, nursing educators, health care services managers, policy makers as well as other relevant health care stakeholders in proposing of solutions to promote nursing education, nursing workplace environments, and the appropriate regulations in order to enhance the nursing competency and quality of nursing services in Vietnam.
The dynamics of cooperation in asymmetric sub-populations

Sacrificing personal benefits for a common good is at odds with the fundamental principle of Darwinian evolution: if only the fittest survives, then there should be no place for cooperation. But cooperative behavior actually abounds, and constitutes one of the most persistent and fascinating puzzles of nature. One solution to this puzzle is network reciprocity, where the collective dynamics of cooperators affords them protection against invading defectors. Commonly, however, such a competition does not unfold in isolation. Populations are often divided into sub-populations, with different evolutionary rules describing the interactions between them. Here we propose and study a paradigmatic model that captures the essence of this setup. Specifically, if two players belong to the same sub-population, they play the prisoner’s dilemma game. If not, they play either the harmony game, the snowdrift game, the stag-hunt game, or the prisoner’s dilemma game. Due to such an asymmetry in the interactions across sub-populations, a fascinating evolutionary dynamics sets up that greatly expands the survivability of cooperators. For instance, when the harmony game applies, cyclic dominance spontaneously emerges, wherein cooperators in one sub-population become predators of defectors in the other sub-population. One also may observe self-organized segregation, wherein both sub-populations maintain a mixed state of cooperators and defectors. As a general rule, we show that the lower the dilemma strength between sub-populations, the more abundant the cooperative strategy in the entire population. Results are confirmed by means of Monte Carlo simulations with pair approximation method, which reveals a rich plethora of novel and generally valid paths to cooperation.
Coping style, perceived uncertainty in illness, and distress in individuals with Parkinson's disease and their caregivers.

Objective: To examine the relationship of coping style and illness uncertainty to psychological distress in individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD) and their primary caregivers. Design: Correlational methods, within-group theory- driven hierarchical regression analyses, and transactional analyses. Participants: Forty-four dyads composed of individuals with PD and their caregivers. Main Outcome Measures: Hoehn and Yahr Clinical Disability Rating Scale, Instrumen- tal Activities of Daily Living Scale, Symptom Distress Checklist-90—Revised, Mischel Uncertainty in Illness Scale—Community Form, and Revised Ways of Coping Checklist. Results: Emotion-focused coping was associated with higher levels of distress for persons with PD, whereas both emotion-focused coping and perceived uncertainty were associated with distress for the caregivers. Transac- tional analyses between patients and caregivers indicated that higher levels of patient problem-focused coping and perceived uncertainty in illness were associ- ated with increased problems in caregiver distress. Conclusions: Adjustment to PD is influenced by several patient and caregiver variables. The results warrant con- sideration of a variety of clinical interventions involving patient and caregiver education about the disease and methods for managing the associated symptoms.