Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Extragalactic relativistic jets

Abstract Relativistic jets are one of the most powerful manifestations of the release of energy produced around supermassive black holes at the centre of active galactic nuclei (AGN). Their emission is observed across the entire electromagnetic spectrum, from the radio band to gamma rays. Despite decades of efforts, many aspects of the physics of relativistic jets remain elusive. In particular, the location and the mechanisms responsible for the high-energy emission and the connection of the variability at different wavelengths are among the greatest challenges in the study of AGN. Recent high resolution radio observations of flaring objects locate the high energy emitting region downstream the jet at parsec scale distance from the central engine. Furthermore, monitoring campaigns of the most active blazars indicate that not all the high energy flares have the same characteristics in the various energy bands, even from the same source, making the interpretation of the mechanism responsible for the high-energy emission not trivial. Here I will discuss gamma-ray properties of blazars obtained by Fermi Large Area Telescope observations and the connection between radio and high-energy emission in relativistic jets, and I will focus on the importance of high angular resolution observations.
Efecto hipoglucemiante del nopal

Nopal (Opuntia sp.) has been traditionally used by the Mexican population for the treatment of diabetes mellitus. The purpose of this work is to describe effects produced by directly liquified nopal and extracts from this plant in healthy and pancreatectomized rabbits. Preliminary results allow us to conclude that Opuntia streptacantha, Lemaire, has hypoglycemic properties when orally administered, in animals with experimentally induced diabetes as well as in healthy ones with physiologic hyperglycemia.
CIBLAGE D’INFLATION ET PERFORMANCE MACROÉCONOMIQUE : NOUVELLE APPROCHE, NOUVELLE RÉPONSE

Ce papier se veut une contribution au débat quant à l’efficacité, en termes de performance économique, du régime de ciblage d’inflation en s’appuyant sur une analyse statistique descriptive et comparative de l’inflation et de la croissance économique appuyée par une analyse économétrique des doubles différences (differences-in-differences approach) pour différents échantillons. Un résultat important de ce travail est qu’on réconcilie les deux courants de la littérature, celui qui est en faveur du ciblage d’inflation et celui qui ne l’est pas. Plus précisément, nous montrons que le ciblage d’inflation est plus efficace dans le cas des pays émergents où l’inflation est toujours un défi d’actualité. Dans ce type de pays, cette politique monétaire assure la stabilité des prix avec une croissance soutenable. Cependant, pour le cas des pays industrialisés, nos résultats montrent que cette politique monétaire sacrifie la croissance économique en dépit de la stabilité des prix. Ce dernier résultat s’avère important justifiant de ce fait les critiques de Stiglitz (2008) et de Blanchard et al.(2010) où ce régime monétaire a contribué à la grande dépression suivant la crise des subprimes. JEL : C40, E52, E63. Mots-clés : ciblage d’inflation, performance, efficacité, stabilité, approche des doubles différences, panel.
Lake Ontario zooplankton in 2003 and 2008: Community changes and vertical redistribution

Lake-wide zooplankton surveys are critical for documenting and understanding food web responses to ecosystem change. Surveys in 2003 and 2008 during the binational intensive field year in Lake Ontario found that offshore epilimnetic crustacean zooplankton declined by a factor of 12 (density) and factor of 5 (biomass) in the summer with smaller declines in the fall. These declines coincided with an increase in abundance of Bythotrephes and are likely the result of direct predation by, or behavioral responses to this invasive invertebrate predator. Whole water column zooplankton density also declined from 2003 to 2008 in the summer and fall (factor of 4), but biomass only declined in the fall (factor of 2). The decline in biomass was less than the decline in density because the average size of individual zooplankton increased. This was due to changes in the zooplankton community composition from a cyclopoid/bosminid dominated community in 2003 to a calanoid dominated community in 2008. The increase in calanoid copepods was primarily due to the larger species Limnocalanus macrurus and Leptodiaptomus sicilis. These cold water species were found in and below the thermocline associated with a deep chlorophyll layer. In 2008, most of the zooplankton biomass resided in or below the thermocline during the day. Increased importance of copepods in deeper, colder water may favor Cisco and Rainbow Smelt over Alewife because these species are better adapted to cold temperatures than Alewife.
Do chromosomal hybrids necessarily suffer from developmental instability

The role of chromosomal rearrangements in disturbing reproduction in hybrids between karyotypically differentiated groups is fairly well documented. However, the effect of chromosomal changes at other phenotypic levels is rarely considered. In Tunisia, natural chromosomal hybrids of the house mouse exhibit developmental instability, suggesting that a high karyotypic heterozygosity might also affect developmental processes. If this is true, we predict that, in this species, developmental instability should arise in hybrids between any populations with a high chromosomal differentiation. To test this hypothesis, we compare the results obtained in Tunisian mice with those obtained in the present analysis on Madeiran mice. Both systems of races have similar levels of chromosomal differentiation (nine Robertsonian fusions). Unlike Tunisian mice, hybrids in Madeira display a similar level of developmental instability as parental groups. This indicates that structural heterozygosity per se does not necessarily impair developmental stability. It further suggests that chromosomal fusions are not all equivalent in their phenotypic effects, and that the identity of each fusion should be taken into account.
The efficacy of new insecticides and Dipel for Soybean Looper control in soybeans and effects on beneficial insects and arthropods.

Four trials were conducted in the South Burnett to test the efficacy of three new insecticides (DPX-MP062, RH 2485 and Tracer) and Dipel SC for Soybean Looper, Thaysanoplusia orichalcea (Fabricius), in soybeans. Effects on beneficial insects and arthropods were also assessed. Helicoverpa armigera control by DPX-MP062, Tracer and Dipel was assessed in trials 1 and 2. DPX-MP062 at all rates showed dual looper/Helicoverpa activity and the lower rates showed potential as they had little effect on beneficial species. All insecticides were trialed at several different rates. Cost is an important aspect in chemical application. If loopers can be controlled by insecticides at lower rates application costs can be kept down. Tea Tree Oil was trialed to ascertain its benefits as a moth deterrent. However, there was no further infestation in trial 3 so further investigation is necessary.
Production potential, nutrient uptake, economics and soil properties as influenced by fodder sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) cultivars, nitrogen levels and FYM under semiarid condition of Rajasthan

A field experiment was conducted during summer season of 2007 and 2008 on sandy loam soil at Avikanagar to study the effect of cultivars, nitrogen levels and farmyard manure on performance of fodder sorghum [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench]. Cultivar ‘SSG 5001 ’ proved superior in green fodder yield (60.48 t/ha), dry matter (11.74 t/ha), crude protein content (7.79%), protein yield (830.21 kg/ha), N content (1.20%) and uptake (131.79 kg/ha) than other cultivars. The net return and benefit: cost ratio was also highest in ‘SSG 5001 ’ cultivar. The soil organic carbon content was improved but bulk density and soil pH was decreased under ‘SSG 5001 ’ cultivar. The growth parameters like plant height, dry matter production, green leaves/plant and crop growth rate (g/plant/day) were significantly increased upto 120 kg N/ha. The green fodder (62.08 t/ha), dry matter (10.69 t/ha), crude protein content (7.51%), N content (1.15%) and uptake (130.40 kg/ha) were maximum at 120 kg N/ha. But nitrogen use efficiency showed reverse trend with increasing N levels from 0 to 120 kg N/ha. Net return and benefit: cost ratio were accrued highest with the application of 120 kg N/ha (Rs. 32,070/ha and 2.61) compared to other levels. Maximum green fodder, dry matter, crude protein yield, nitrogen use efficiency and economic returns were recorded with FYM (farmyard manure) @10 t/ha than control (without farmyard manure). The soil fertility was also improved significantly over control where FYM was applied @10 t/ha.
Monitoring of Volatile Flavor Components and Amino Acids in Fresh Mushrooms (Agaricus bisporus) Associated with Shelf-Life Extension

Some chemical constituents were monitored to evaluate the biochemical and nutritional aspects of mushrooms associated with shelf-life extension. Volatile components identified by GC and GC-MS were composed primarily of 1-octen-3-ol(68%)). benzaldehyde(13%), 3-octanone(8%), benzyl alcohol(5%), 3-octanol(2%)). 1-octen-3one(1%). etc. Treatment with 2kGy-irradiation and subsequent storage for 17 days at RH resulted in appreciable changes In their contents. even though negligible changes were observed in GC patterns between the nonirradiated and 2 kGy-irradiated samples. Most of the amino acids were resistant to ionizing energy of 2 kGy, while sulfur-containing free amino acids were affected significantly by .
Description d'un Mysidacé nouveau de Ceylan Mesopodopsis zeylanica n.sp.

Faculte des Sciences de Toulouse, Laboratoire de Biologie generale. Monsieur L. B. Holthuis m'avait demande de bien vouloir examiner un petit lot de Mesopodopsis provenant de Ceylan (lagune d'eau saumâtre, Bolgoda) et transmis au «Rijksmuseum van Natuurlijke Historie, Leiden» par «the Fisheries Research Station, Colombo». Je m'attendais a y reconnaitre Mesopodopsis orientalis (Tattersall 1908), la seule espece du genre connue de la region indo-pacifique et precisement des cotes indiennes, depuis Goa jusqu'au dela du delta du Gange. Or il s'ag:t d'une espece nouvelle, bien differente de M. orientalis et plus proche des deux autres especes du genre: M. slabberi (P. J. van Beneden 1861), soigneusement redecrite et figuree par G. O. Sars (1877) et M. africana, recemment decrite par Mrs. O. S. Tattersall (1952). M. slabberi est connue des cotes de l'Atlantique E. depuis les detroits Scandinaves, la Mer du Nord et le S.W. de l'Ecosse jusqu'a l'Afrique du Sud, et penetre dans la Mediterranee et la Mer Noire. M. africana habite les cotes E. et W. de l'Afrique du Sud. Les trois especes, tres euryhalines, frequentent plus volontiers les estuaires, les eaux saumâtres; M. orientalis peut meme se trouver dans des eaux douces. L'etiquette mentionne le nom indigene : K-uni. Mesopodopsis zeylanica n. sp. (fig. 1-16) Materiel examine. — Environ 300 exemplaires comprenant de tres nombreux mâles adultes et femelles ovigeres ainsi que des individus immatures et des jeunes. Taille. — La taille est mesuree de l'extremite anterieure de la plaque frontale a l'extremite distale des spinules du telson. Femelles ovigeres: 5,2 a 5,6 mm. ; mâles : jusqu'a 5,2 mm.
Estimation of size at first maturity in two South African coral species

The corals Acropora austera and Platygyra daedalea have been the subject of extensive reproductive and population genetic studies in the iSimangaliso Wetland Park (iSimangaliso), on the KwaZulu-Natal coast, eastern South Africa. Despite this, estimates of size at first maturity in these two species are lacking. This information could be used to provide a baseline to differentiate juveniles from adult sizes of corals, an important factor for assessing the condition of scleractinian communities in reefs. Here, we present the methods followed to provide such estimates for these two hard corals. Using generalised linear models and assuming knife-edge maturity (50% probability), it was estimated that A. austera from iSimangaliso matures at c. 15 cm mean colony diameter (MCD) (95% CI: 9.25–20.75 cm MCD) and P. daedalea matures at c. 7 cm MCD (95% CI: 4.55–8.39 cm MCD). These estimates were comparable to those for tropical species which is remarkable considering the high-latitude nature of the sampled reefs. It is expected that the findings from this study will assist in the assessment of reproduction, recruitment, survival and genetic variation in clonal organisms such as corals, and will provide a baseline to assess the effects of climate change on coral communities in the region.
Dry matter yield and quality of forages derived from three grass species with and without legumes using organic production methods

This study was the second year of an experiment which was carried out to investigate the use of forage grass species with and without legumes using organic production methods to produce forages for optimal dry matter yield and quality in Korat soil series (Oxic Paleustults). A field investigation was conducted from April 2007 to April 2008 at Khon Kaen University Experimental Farm, Northeastern Thailand. The experiment was a 3 x 4 factorial arranged in a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with 4 replications. The 12 treatment combinations consisted of 3 species of grass (G), viz., (1) Ruzi grass (Brachiaria ruziziensis), (2) purple Guinea grass (Panicum maximum cv. TD 58), and (3) Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum cv. Taiwan); and 4 organic production methods (PMs), viz., (1) control (no fertilizer application, no legume mixture), (2) cattle manure (CM) at the rate of 25 tons/ ha, and broadcast seeds of (3) Verano stylo (Stylosanthes hamata cv. Verano) and (4) Wynn cassia (Chamaecrista rotundifolia cv. Wynn) for grass-legume mixtures. The results showed that G and PMs produced significantly different (p 0.05), but both produced significantly higher g+l than Napier+l. G-Verano stylo and G-Wynn cassia mixtures produced no significant difference in g+l. Interactions (p<0.01) between G and PM were found in g, g+l and dry matter yield of weed. Purple Guinea with CM produced the highest g (15,591 kg/ha) of purple Guinea alone. Napier with Verano stylo mixture tended to produce higher g+l than Ruzi and purple Guinea with Verano stylo or with Wynn cassia mixture. Napier with CM produced the highest dry matter yield of weed while the lowest was with Ruzi-Wynn cassia mixture. There were significant effects (P<0.01) of G on CP, NDF, ADF, ash and DMD; and on ADL (P<0.05) of grass plus legumes where Napier gave the highest CP, ADL and ash contents. On the other hand, Napier plus legumes gave the lowest NDF and ADF contents. Ruzi plus legumes gave the highest DMD. There were significant effects (P<0.01) of PMs on CP, NDF, ADF, ADL, ash and DMD of grass plus legumes. G-Verano stylo mixture gave the highest value of CP (12.09%), the lowest NDF and ADF contents, and the highest DMD value (78.75%) of grass plus Verano.
Political Connection and the Walking Dead: Evidence from China's Privately Owned Firms

Abstract Using a sample of privately owned listed firms in China, we document that firms’ political connections have a positive effect on their likelihood of becoming insolvent and inefficient (which we call zombies or zombie firms). The results are more pronounced for firms that are located in regions with extensive government intervention or weak institutional environment. In addition, for firms without political connections, the presence of zombie firms has larger negative spillover effects on the investment and productivity of healthy firms compared with zombie firms in the same industry. Curiously, such differential negative spillover effects are not observed for firms with political connections.
Varietal differences in growth vigor, water relations, protein and nucleic acids content of two wheat varieties grown under seawater stress

Effect of seawater salinity (10% and 25%) on growth vigor of root and shoot, water relations and protein as well as nucleic acids in flag leaves of two wheat cultivars (Salt sensitive var., Gemmieza-9 and salt resistant var., Sids-1) during grain-filling was investigated. In general, seawater at 10% and 25% caused noticeable reduction in almost all growth criteria of root, shoot and flag leaf which was consistent with the progressive alteration in water relations (RWC & SWD) , protein and nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) content of both varieties during grain filling. Furthermore, degree of leaf succulence and degree of leaf sclerophylly were severely affected by seawater stress in both wheat cultivars. The magnitude of reduction was more obvious at higher salinity levels than the lower one particularly in Gemmieza-9.
Metabolism and toxicity of sodium arsenate in human erythrocytes

Toxicity of arsenic species is dependent on chemical oxidation state. Inorganic arsenic in the trivalent state, arsenite or As(III), is more biologically active than pentavalent arsenic, arsenate or As(V), and is more toxic by most measures. As(V), however, is more stable and prevalent in the environment. One consequence of environmental exposure is peripheral vascular disease, which is primarily due to vascular changes, but toxicity to the erythrocyte has not been evaluated. To understand toxicity and the implications of arsenic oxidation state, human erythrocytes were utilized to model the uptake, biotransformation (metabolism) and toxicity of sodium arsenate, As(V). It was first established that biotransformation, both in vivo and in vitro, would not be limited by uptake of As(V) into the cell. Evidence suggested that reduction was accomplished by at least two separate pathways. All reductive metabolism was dependent on the presence of reduced thiols including both non-protein thiols (glutathione; GSH) and protein thiols (ProSH). These pathways are: (1) chemically mediated reduction by GSH and (2) protein mediated reduction. It was established that the protein-dependent pathway required a reduced protein thiol and also required the presence of GSH. This points to reduction through a redox coupling to form a protein mixed disulfide (ProSSG). Toxicity to the erythrocyte was evaluated by determining total cell death, morphologic changes and effects on the energy cofactor adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Based on these three parameters, the erythrocyte was more susceptible to As(V) and not As(III) as other tissues are. The morphologic effects on the cell were also consistent with ATP depletion. These changes were characterized by formation of morphologically altered cells that are unable to deform in circulation effectively and occlude the microcirculation. This could contribute to vascular tissue damage associated with arsenic-induced circulatory disorders. In summary, the erythrocyte is able to take in As(V) which is detrimental to the ability of the cell to perform its intended function. Biotransformation to As(III) would therefore be a detoxifying event, and understanding the factors involved in biotransformation will help to understand human susceptibility to arsenic-induced vascular disease.
Insect-Fungal Associations: Ecology and Evolution

There is a significant and increasing interest in using fungi as biocontrol agents for insect pests in agricultural systems, and also a growing interest in the basic biology of insect-fungal associations from the perspective of parasitism, symbiosis, and infection. Vega and Blackwell are well-regarded workers in this field, and they have assembled an impressive short book of ten chapters to cover the most important topics in this field, incorporating new molecular techniques wherever possible. The book should appeal to worker in ecology, entomology, mycology, plant pathology, and biological control and pest management.
Improvements to transmission expansion planning and implementation :treating uncertainty in commercial operation dates and increasing aunction efficiency

Esta tese apresenta tres contribuicoes ao planejamento e implantacao da expansao da transmissao. Primeiro, propoe-se usar leiloes combinatorios e leiloes descendentes simultâneos para tratar o problema da exposicao em leiloes multi-itens de concessoes de transmissao, aumentando a eficiencia destes leiloes, e apresenta-se um arcabouco de simulacao para quantificar os beneficios potencias do uso de tais protocolos. Segundo, propoe-se uma metodologia de planejamento da expansao que considera explicitamente incertezas em tempos de implantacao de instalacoes da transmissao ao determinar as adicoes de capacidade e as datas de inicio de implantacao de ativos. Terceiro, aplica-se conceitos da teoria do agente-principal para propor uma abordagem para otimizar o desenho de mecanismos de selecao do vencedor e de partilha de riscos, de modo a gerir incertezas em tempos de implantacao de ativos, no contexto em que mecanismos competitivos sao utilizados para selecionar os agentes a que contratos de transmissao implantacao sao concedidos. Para todas as tres propostas, utiliza-se abordagens de otimizacao classica, notadamente programacao inteira linear mista, para a formulacao matematica que subsidia simulacoes e analises; e retira-se dos resultados numericos de estudos de casos conclusoes qualitativas que subsidiem planejadores e reguladores.
Photosynthetic pathways and the geographical distribution of grasses in South West Africa/Namibia.

Analysis of floristic listsfor South West Africa/Namibia shows that, throughout the territory, more than 95% of the grass species occurring in any given area display the C, photosynthetic pathway. Exceptions are areas in the northeast and south-west where between 5% and 18% of the grass species are of the C3 type. The south-western district of Liideritzfalls within the winter rainfall area and it is only here that temperate C3 genera arefound. The C) species in the north-east belong to tropical groups. Most of the South West African C) grasses grow in specialized habitats and are either hydrophytes or sciophytes. Subdivision of the C, grasses into the three subtypes of the C, pathway reveals distinctive distributional trends. Mtilateformers or NADPme species clearly become more abundant with increasing rainfall, whereas the aspartate formers show the opposite tendency. However, within the aspartate forming group the results show that it is specifically the NAD-me type of species which dominate in areas of very low precipitation, notably in the Namib and pre-Namib areas where rainfall is less than 200 mm/yr. The PEP-ck speciesform a group intermediate between the malate formers and the NAD-me grasses, especially as far as their water requirements are concerned.
Institutional Shareholders and Bank Capital

While the benefits of higher bank capital for financial stability are largely uncontested, there is a strong disagreement on how bank capital affects shareholder value (i.e., whether higher capital is privately optimal from the perspective of bank shareholders). In this paper, we explore institutional investors’ preferences for bank capital for a sample of U.S. listed banks. We show that institutional ownership is positively (negatively) associated with bank capital (leverage). This association is robust to controlling for asset risk, executive compensation structure, and proxies for shareholder-friendly governance. Additional tests reflect that the association is not primarily due to a selection effect but rather reflects a direct influence of institutional shareholders. Further analyses show that the relationship between bank capital and institutional investors is stronger for investors that are likely to place a higher weight on the stability benefits of bank capital (long-term investors and block-holders). Institutional ownership tends to be lower in banks than in non-banks and complementary tests show that this explains a significant fraction of the difference in leverage ratios between banks and non-banks. Our results suggest that institutional shareholders view bank capital as privately optimal and complement banking regulation in increasing bank capital.