Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Three Graces of Leadership: Untangling the Relative Importance and the Mediating Mechanisms of Three Leadership Styles in Russia

ABSTRACT Drawing on the job-demand resource theory, the article examines the relative importance and the complementarity of three widely practiced leadership styles – transformational, paternalistic, and authoritarian. It investigates how the three styles relate to followers’ work engagement amongst employees in Russian domestic organizations. It also theorizes and tests the mediating effects of three psychological mechanisms, namely self-efficacy, self-esteem, and job control, on the examined relationships. The findings show that all three leadership styles relate to followers’ work engagement positively. The relationship of transformational leadership is dominant and mediated by all three psychological mechanisms. The remaining two styles also make their unique contributions to followers’ work engagement. Whereas authoritarian leadership influences followers by enhancing their self-efficacy and self-esteem, paternalistic leadership operates more extrinsically by increasing followers’ job control. Surprisingly, our analyses found that the role of control variables such as gender, age, and hierarchical position were insignificant in predicting how the three leadership styles influence employee work engagement. The study is among the first to shed light on the relative importance of the three focal leadership styles, their differential influences and interrelations, and the different mechanisms through which they relate to followers’ work engagement.
Effects of Fertilizer on Media Chemistry and Red-flowering Currant Seedling Growth Using a Subirrigation System

Water conservation in nursery systems is an ever-increasing focus, yet there is relatively little guidance for growers producing seedlings intended for restoration regarding how practices such as subirrigation influence plant growth in the nursery and after outplanting. Our study investigated red-flowering currant (Ribes sanguineum Pursh) seedling development and early field performance using different fertilizer treatments under a subirrigation regime. Plants were fertilized with 1) incorporated organic fertilizer, 2) incorporated controlled-release fertilizer, 3) top-dressed controlled-release fertilizer, or 4) water-soluble fertilizer. We found that seedlings grown with organic fertilizer used significantly less water than all other treatments. Media electrical conductivity (EC) levels were significantly greater in the organic fertilizer treatment, and EC values in the top portion of the media were significantly greater than the middle or bottom portions for all fertilizer treatments. The remaining subirrigation water at the end of 22 weeks held 17% of applied nitrogen (N) from the water-soluble fertilizer treatment and less than 1% of applied N from the other fertilizer treatments. We observed no differences in plant morphology among fertilizer treatments. Seedlings were subsequently out-planted into low- and high-competition treatments, where myriad factors indicated reduced growth among high-competition compared with low-competition plots, highlighting that competition for soil water limited seedling performance. These results indicate that a variety of fertilizers can be used to grow red-flowering currant under subirrigation and that postplanting growth is enhanced with control of competing vegetation.
Mindfulness-Based Interventions: A Brief Review of Their Application to Graduate Student Strain

Graduate school is often a stressful period for budding industrial-organizational psychologists. One strategy for managing stress, both in graduate school and beyond, is the mindfulness-based intervention (MBI). This article examines the potential efficacy of MBIs for the graduate student population within a stressor-strain framework. First, we detail common graduate student stressors, then we define mindfulness and provide examples of mindfulness exercises. Next, we review meta-analytic evidence for the effectiveness of MBIs in reducing strain in broader populations. Last, we provide resources for beginning a mindfulness practice. Although this article focuses primarily on the graduate student population, the lessons learned from MBI research apply to most professional populations as well.
Searching for keystone plant resources in fruit‐frugivore interaction networks across the Neotropics

Identifying keystone plant resources (KPR) is a contentious issue in ecology and conservation. Despite recent advances provided by mutualistic networks, we still lack studies addressing large‐scale identification of keystone plants. We developed a novel quantitative framework for the large‐scale identification of KPR that combines centrality and effects of simulated removals on networks properties. We built a database with 38 fruit–frugivore networks comprising 6,180 pairwise interactions from Neotropical forest and non‐forest ecosystems ranging from sea level to 2,500 m a.s. l. Effects of random removal simulations and removal of keystone taxa candidates on nestedness, modularity and niche overlap were assessed. Furthermore, we tested whether changes in network descriptors responded to both latitudinal and elevational gradients. From a total of 373 genera on networks, only species in six genera were ranked as keystone candidates. The simulated removal of species in Miconia (Melastomataceae), Cecropia (Urticaceae) and Byrsonima (Malpighiaceae) led to significant changes in nestedness, modularity and niche overlap, suggesting that these plants play important roles in maintaining the structure of Neotropical fruit–frugivore interaction networks, regardless of latitude or elevation. Our results confirm the keystone role of previously recognized taxa, recognize overlooked ones, providing support for their role at a biogeographical scale, and partially challenge taxa traditionally identified as keystone resources for frugivores. Our study has implications for conservation and restoration of Neotropical ecosystems and provides a new framework for large‐scale identification of keystones in other types of ecological networks.
An error-based active disturbance rejection control with memory structure

The paper studies the control problem for nonlinear uncertain systems with the situation that only the current reference signal is available. By constructing a memory structure to save the previous reference signals, a novel error-based active disturbance rejection control with an approximation for the second-order derivative of reference signal is proposed. The transient performance of the proposed method is rigorously studied, which implies the high consistence of the closed-loop system. More importantly, to attain the satisfactory tracking performance, the necessary condition for nominal control input gain is quantitatively investigated. Furthermore, the superiority of the proposed method is illuminated by contrastively evaluating the sizes of the total disturbance and its derivative. The proposed method can alleviate the burden of the estimation and compensation for total disturbance. Finally, the experiment for a manipulator platform shows the effectiveness of the proposed method.
The Potential of super absorbent polymers from diaper wastes to enhance water retention properties of the soil

The management of disposable diapers is a major problem. Moreover, light-textured soils are characterized by low water holding capacity and excessive drainage, thus significant portion of irrigation water is lost below the root zone. A laboratory study was conducted to evaluate the potential of recycling disposable baby diapers to conserve soil moisture in light-textures soils. The water absorbency [water absorption capacity (WAC) and water absorption rate (WAR)] of the recovered Super absorbent polymers (SAPs), from diapers, was evaluated and described under different ionic solute strengths (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 dS m) at different time periods. Additionally, several swelling measurements of the SAPs were determined when added to sandy clay loam soil using different levels [0.0, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 and 1.6% (w/w)] for five rewetting cycles (over a period of 6 months). As the swelling time increased, the WAC increased, while WAR decreased. However, both WAC and WAR were reduced as the solution salinity increased. The recovered SAPs exhibited WAC of 311.0 and 111.0 g g in solution of 0.0 and 3.0 dS m, respectively. Polynomials functions were used to calculate the equilibrium time and threshold solute concentration for the SAPs. The average equilibrium time was 4.5 minutes and the threshold solute concentration was 2.78 dS m. At SAPs concentration of 1.6%, the water retained by the soil increased by 2.6 folds. The specific amount of water retained (SWR) by SAPs in the SAPs-soil mixture was decreased with repeating wetting, thus, after 6 months, the average WHC of the soil was decreased by 14% compared to initial wetting. The recycling of baby diapers might have a great potential to conserve soil moisture in light soils using water of good quality. However, since the SAPs in diapers are Na based, further research is needed to explorer the impact of such treatment on soil chemical properties.
Home Ownership and the Decision to Overspend

An empirical model of overspending derived from the life cycle savings model was estimated for home owners and renters. Age, income stability indicators, family structure, marital status and race appear to have different impacts in the models, implying that the life cycle model may not equally characterize home owners and renters. Financial professionals need to be aware of the impact of the housing tenure decision on overall spending and savings. Practitioners can use these results to encourage clients to reconsider home purchases in light of expected changes in spending patterns that may impede a clients progress toward other financial goals.
Promoting work engagement in public administrations: the role of middle managers’ leadership

ABSTRACT This study aims at exploring the role of middle managers’ leadership style in promoting work engagement in public administrations. Building on leadership theory, the work engagement literature and change management research, the study develops and empirically tests a model envisaging the impact of leadership on engagement as partially mediated by leaders’ support for key aspects of public sector reforms. An empirical study carried out on 2721 Italian local government workers shows that transformational leadership is positively linked to work engagement both directly and indirectly. Mixed results emerge for the other leadership styles.
Additional Experimental Data of a Floating Cylinder in a Wave Tank - Verification Experiments

The presented experimental results provide additional data to a previously published investigation of a floating cylinder under regular wave conditions. Three test series are added to investigate the roll response of the water filled structure. This includes a change of the initial position of the cylinder in the wave tank as well as a rotation of the wave direction. The latter was also conducted for the solid ballast option to provide a direct comparison with the water filled cylinder.
Betel-like-scented Piper Plants as Diverse Sources of Industrial and Medicinal Aromatic Chemicals

Piper betle (Piperaceae) or betel leaf, known locally as “Phlu” has been used by people in Thailand for chewing for a long time. Additionally, the leaves are used for traditional remedies and folk customs, such as for weddings and housewarming ceremonies. More recently, the aromatic oil industry has used the leaves for oil distillation. Moreover, the oils are used in several household products. Over the past 12 years of our research on Piper species, we found that among the more than 43 species recorded, there are some plants other than P. betle that possess a betel-like scent, viz. P. betloides, P. crocatum, P. maculaphyllum, P. rubroglandulosum, P. semiimmersum, P. submultinerve, P. tricolor, and P. yinkiangense. As it was expected that these plants would contain similar useful chemicals, their extracts were screened for the chemical contents by GC-MS. The extracts contain some important chemical substances that are similar to the betel extract, namely, eugenol, isoeugenol, chavicol, caryophyllene, sabinene, phellandrene, germacrene A and germacrene D, and sesquiterpenes. The results indicate that the eight plant species would have as high a potential as P. betle for industrial purposes. Moreover, as the plants are wild species they have a greater vigor, thus growing well and with more branching than betel. The diverse Piper species studied and documented are important for sustainable uses and can enable conservation management for posterity.
A Cross-Country Empirical Analysis of Determinants of Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) Projects

The CDM seems to play a significant role in international GHG reduction activities. Yet, a few emerging countries have hosted majority of CDM projects whereas most LDCs have not hosted CDM projects at all. Given the current distributional imbalance, this study aims to identify determinants of CDM project hosting based on an empirical analysis using the tobit model. On the basis of the literature review, this study focuses on two factors, namely the host countries’ qualities of business environment and scientific level. As a result, this study finds the significance of business environment for both bilateral and unilateral CDM projects. Likewise, the significance of scientific and technical level is confirmed especially for unilateral CDM projects. Finally, this article suggests that eligible host countries should focus exclusively on the improvement of controllable determinants such as business environment to attract CDM investors. In addition, it is likely to be better for eligible host countries with low GHG emissions to develop CDM projects unilaterally using programmatic CDM due to their lower economic attractiveness.
Microwave-induced diffusion method for solid dispersion of curcumin in HPMC matrix using water as hydration carrier

Abstract In this study, a possible way of dispersing curcumin on hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) at a nanoscale level using microwave-induced diffusion method is reported to enhance its solubility, release control and oral bioavailability. Different weight ratios of 1:1, 1:2 and 1:4 curcumin-HPMC solid dispersions (SDs) were prepared and characterized. The results of XRD and DSC indicated that obtained 1:4 SDs exhibited less crystalline and less fusion enthalpy (13.72 ± 1.19 J/g) compared to pure curcumin and other SDs. FESEM confirmed that size reduced curcumin nanoparticles were uniformly dispersed in HPMC. Dispersed curcumin nanoparticles of 20–40 nm were embedded in HPMC for 1:4 SDs as shown by AFM and TEM analysis. In vitro release test showed that this method was successful in achieving a higher dissolution rate of curcumin at pH 6.8 and 1.2. This study proposes that the prepared SDs favorably enhanced the solubility and sustained high dissolution rate of water-insoluble curcumin. Graphical Abstract
The Changing Influences of ENSO and the Pacific Meridional Mode on Mesoscale Eddies in the South China Sea

This study finds that the correlation between El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the activity of mesoscale oceanic eddies in the South China Sea (SCS) changed around 2004. The mesoscale eddy number determined from satellite altimetry observations using a geometry of the velocity vector method was significantly and negatively correlated with the Niño-3.4 index before 2004, but the correlation weakened and became insignificant afterward. Further analyses reveal that the ENSO–eddy relation is controlled by two major wind stress forcing mechanisms: one directly related to ENSO and the other indirectly related to ENSO through its subtropical precursor—the Pacific meridional modes (PMMs). Both mechanisms induce wind stress curl variations over the SCS that link ENSO to SCS eddy activities. While the direct ENSO mechanism always induces a negative ENSO–eddy correlation through the Walker circulation, the indirect mechanism is dominated by the northern PMM (nPMM), resulting in a negative ENSO–eddy correlation before 2004, and by the southern PMM (sPMM) after 2004, resulting in a positive ENSO–eddy correlation. As a result, the direct and indirect mechanisms enhance each other to produce a significant ENSO–eddy relation before 2004, but they cancel each other out, resulting in a weak ENSO–eddy relation afterward. The relative strengths of the northern and southern PMMs are the key to determining the ENSO–eddy relation and may be related to a phase change of the interdecadal Pacific oscillation.
Characteristics of convicted male-on-female rapists in the South of Sweden between 2013 and 2018: a pilot study

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the main characteristics of adult male offenders convicted of rape or aggravated rape against adult females. We reviewed all convictions (n = 21) based on court documents from the District Court, the Court of Appeal and information from the Swedish Tax Agency in Malmö, Sweden, between 2013 and 2018. The findings indicated that the most common offender characteristics were a single status, mean age of 33 years and foreign background. The rapes primarily occurred within a private setting while the victims (who were often younger and knew the offender) were unconscious. Although assumptions based on these results should be made with caution, our findings provide a clear image of the typical circumstances under which these rapes occurred. This study should be viewed as a first attempt to create a database of characteristics of convicted rapists. As more data are added, more sophisticated analyses can be performed and stronger generalizations may be made. Information of this kind may also be important for further research, classification of rapists in offender profiling, and case linking.
Changing the face of academic skills workshops

The active blending learning (ABL) approach offers flexibility to the way students learn. This approach was adopted within a Learning Development workshop to improve academic skills. Sessions were delivered alongside asynchronous content to scaffold academic skills and feed forward guidance to inform summative assessment preparation. The objective was to assess the effectiveness of the ABL approach in delivering academic skills. A cohort of 50 first year students completed three face to face ABL academic skills sessions together with five asynchronous e-tivities. Each were themed to develop different academic skills using subject specific examples. Attendance data was collected and survey was used to evaluate the asynchronous content and measure the self-perceived academic confidence levels of students. To measure the success of the ABL approach this data was analysed together with the number of attempts at each e-tivity and the formative and summative grades. Results demonstrated those who attended two or more sessions (57.7% +/- 1.43) had a significantly higher summative score (p=0.041) than those who attended 1 or less (51.7% +/- 2.73). The summative grades and the number of attempts at the asynchronous content demonstrated a positive linear relationship for e-tivity 1 to 3. Overall the academic confidence improved in nearly a third of all students for each e-tivity and 17 students (54.8%) stated that they preferred the ABL approach in developing their academic skills. This emphasises that the ABL approach is an effective method to improve summative grades and deliver academic skills.
Continuum limit and universality of the Columbia plot

Results on the thermal transition of QCD with 3 degenerate flavors, in the lower-left corner of the Columbia plot, are puzzling. The transition is expected to be first-order for massless quarks, and to remain so for a range of quark masses until it turns second-order at a critical quark mass. But this critical quark mass and resulting ''pion'' mass disagree violently between Wilson and staggered fermions at finite lattice spacing, and decrease sharply with the lattice spacing, for staggered fermions at least. To clarify this puzzle and eliminate potential systematic effects from rooting, we study the 4-flavor theory with staggered fermions, on lattices with 4 to 10 time-slices. Our results are qualitatively similar to the 3-flavor case, so that rooting is not an issue. However, dramatic cutoff effects are visible, even on our finest lattices. Universality implies that cutoff effects for Wilson fermions are even more dramatic. In order to obtain a first-order thermal transition in the continuum theory, extremely light quarks are needed.
Umbilical cord length and rheumatic heart disease 2

Background: One previous, preliminary study reported that the length of the umbilical cord at birth is related to the risk of developing chronic rheumatic heart disease in later life. We sought to replicate this finding. Design: Prospective, population-based birth cohort. Methods: We traced 11,580 individuals born between 1915 and 1929 in Uppsala, Sweden. We identified cases with a main or secondary diagnosis of chronic rheumatic heart disease in the Swedish national inpatient, outpatient or death registers. Archived obstetric records provided data on umbilical cord length, gestational age, birthweight and placental weight. Results: There were 136 patients with chronic rheumatic heart disease (72 men and 64 women) with a mean age at first hospital admission of 68 years (range 36-92). There was evidence of a positive association between umbilical cord length and risk of subsequent chronic rheumatic heart disease. The overall hazard ratio in the Swedish study (HR 1.13, 95%CI 1.01 to 1.27) was similar to that of the previous study, with some suggestion of larger effect in men than in women. No other birth characteristics were predictive except for weak evidence of a negative effect of birthweight. Conclusions: People with longer umbilical cords at birth are more likely to develop chronic rheumatic heart disease in later life. As longer umbilical cords have more spiral arteries and a higher vascular resistance, we hypothesize that the increased pressure load on the heart leads to changes in endothelial biology and increased vulnerability to the autoimmune process initiated by infection with β-haemolytic streptococci.
Effect of egg storage temperature and fumigation on hatchability of Cobb 500 and Hubbard broiler strains

Hatchability of Cobb 500 and Hubbard broiler strain eggs subjected to different levels of egg storage temperature and fumigation was studied at Debre Zeit Agricultural Research Center, Ethiopia. The different egg storage temperature levels employed were 10, 16 and 23°C and fumigation levels employed were fumigated and unfumigated. Fertility and hatchability were tested during the experimental period. Fertility is not dependent on egg storage treatments employed. Egg storage temperature at 16°C and fumigation significantly (P 0.05). Egg storage temperature at 23°C resulted in slightly lower mean percentage hatchability than storage at 10°C, but the differences were not significant (P>0.05). From the result of the current experiment, it was concluded that fumigation and medium egg storage temperature, 16°C is important for better hatching yield. Key words: Hatchability, Cobb 500, Hubbard, broiler, strain, temperature, fumigation.