Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Existence and Local Stability of Prime Period-two Solutions of Certain Quadratic Rational Second Order Difference Equation

In this paper we proved the existence and local stability of prime period-two solutions for the equation 𝐱𝐧􀬾𝟏 􀵌 𝛂𝐱𝐧 𝟐 􀬾𝛃𝐱𝐧􀬾𝛄𝐱𝐧􀰷𝟏 𝐀𝐱𝐧 𝟐 􀬾𝐁𝐱𝐧􀬾𝐂𝐱𝐧􀰷𝟏 , for certain values of parameters ,,,A,B,C0, where ++>0 , A+B+C>0, and where the initial conditions x₋₁, x₀>0 are arbitrary real numbers such that at least one is strictly positive. For the obtained periodic solutions, it is possible to be locally asymptotically stable, saddle points or nonhyperbolic points. The existence of repeller points is not possible.
Preparation and Characterization of Hydrophobic Coatings from Carnauba Wax/Lignin Blends

To realize the infinite possibilities of materials derived from wood, it is necessary to overcome the weak moisture stability of wood. Thus, the development of an eco-friendly hydrophobic coating agent is essential, and of these, woody biomass-based materials are strongly attractive as coatings. In this study, eco-friendly hydrophobic wood coatings were prepared using carnauba wax purified from palm leaves and sprouts, and kraft lignin. The physicochemical properties of the carnauba wax/lignin blends according to the ratio of carnauba wax and lignin were observed by morphology and functional group change. In addition, the coating performance of carnauba wax/lignin blend coatings was confirmed by measuring the contact angle change. It was found that the addition of lignin could accelerate the atomization of wax particles, and that micro-roughness can be realized when applied to the actual wood surface, to ensure that the coating effect over time lasts longer. In addition, it was confirmed that the addition of lignin increases the hydrogen-bond-based interaction with the wood of the coating, thereby providing better coating stability and increasing the durability of the coating solvent under friction. The carnauba wax/lignin paint developed in this way is eco-friendly because all components are made of wood-based raw materials and have an excellent affinity with wood surfaces. Therefore, it is expected to be applicable to the coating process of wood-plastic composites and timber composites.
Small Sample Properties of the Model Specification Test Based on the Hansen-Jagannathan Distance

This paper examines finite-sample properties of a model test method developed by Hansen and Jagannathan (1997) and Jagannathan and Wang (1996). As a model comparison tool, Hansen and Jagannathan (1997) propose a measure which estimates the maximum pricing error generated by an asset pricing model for portfolios with unit second moments of gross returns. Jagannathan and Wang (1996) show that this measure has an asymptotic p-value that can be empirically estimated using a weighted average of draws from a chi-square distribution. Our simulation results indicate that the empirical p-value rejects correct models too often for commonly used sample sizes.
A NEW GEOCHEMICAL MODEL OF THE YANGBAJING GEOTHERMAL FIELD, TIBET

Drilling and geochemistry data show the Yangbajing Geothermal Field consists of two reservoirs, a shallow one at depths less than 450 m with temperature of 150∼165°C, and a deep one at depths of 950 to 1336m with temperatures as high as 251°C. Waters from both reservoirs are sodium chloride and have the same B/Cl ratio, implying a common origin. Quartz and chalcedony geothermometers are applicable to the deep and shallow reservoirs respectively. Hydrogen and oxygen isotopes suggest both thermal waters are of meteoric origin. The recharge area is the south slope of the Nyainquentanglha Range located northwest of the field. Carbon dioxide is the main non-condensable gas component in the field. Helium isotopic ratios and a He-Ar-N2 diagram indicate a predominately crustal origin of the gases. Carbon dioxide is inferred to be derived from partial melting of the Nyainqentanglha core complex. A new geochemical model shows heat and gases from molten crust in the Nyainquentanglha core complex at a depth of 5 km rising up to a 250°C deep reservoir in fractured Himalayan granite. Thermal fluid rises from this deep reservoir to a cooler and shallower reservoir primarily in Quaternary alluvium. The thermal fluid is modified by degassing, oxidation, mixing, and precipitation processes prior to reaching the surface.
Reconciling cosmic ray diffusion with Galactic magnetic field models

We calculate the diffusion coefficients of charged cosmic rays (CR) propagating in regular and turbulent magnetic fields. If the magnetic field is dominated by an isotropic turbulent component, we find that CRs reside too long in the Galactic disc. As a result, CRs overproduce secondary nuclei like boron for any reasonable values of the strength and the coherence length of an isotropic turbulent field. We conclude therefore that the propagation of Galactic CRs has to be strongly anisotropic because of a sufficiently strong regular field and/or of an anisotropy in the turbulent field. As a consequence, the number of sources contributing to the local CR flux is reduced by a factor 𝒪(100) compared to the case of isotropic CR diffusion.
The Sense of Dissonance: Accounts of Worth in Economic Life

What counts? In work, as in other areas of life, it is not always clear what standards we are being judged by or how our worth is being determined. This can be disorienting and disconcerting. Because of this, many organizations devote considerable resources to limiting and clarifying the logics used for evaluating worth. But as David Stark argues, firms would often be better off, especially in managing change, if they allowed multiple logics of worth and did not necessarily discourage uncertainty. In fact, in many cases multiple orders of worth are unavoidable, so organizations and firms should learn to harness the benefits of such "heterarchy" rather than seeking to purge it. Stark makes this argument with ethnographic case studies of three companies attempting to cope with rapid change: a machine-tool company in late and postcommunist Hungary, a new-media startup in New York during and after the collapse of the Internet bubble, and a Wall Street investment bank whose trading room was destroyed on 9/11. In each case, the friction of competing criteria of worth promoted an organizational reflexivity that made it easier for the company to change and deal with market uncertainty. Drawing on John Dewey's notion that "perplexing situations" provide opportunities for innovative inquiry, Stark argues that the dissonance of diverse principles can lead to discovery.
Superintegrability of geodesic motion on the sausage model

Reduction of the η-deformed sigma model on AdS5×S5 to the two-dimensional squashed sphere (S2)η can be viewed as a special case of the Fateev sausage model where the coupling constant ν is imaginary. We show that geodesic motion in this model is described by a certain superintegrable mechanical system with four-dimensional phase space. This is done by means of explicitly constructing three integrals of motion which satisfy the sl(2) Poisson algebra relations, albeit being non-polynomial in momenta. Further, we find a canonical transformation which transforms the Hamiltonian of this mechanical system to the one describing the geodesic motion on the usual two-sphere. By inverting this transformation we map geodesics on this auxiliary two-sphere back to the sausage model.
Dispersion and Performance Properties of Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) Based Polymer Composites: A Review

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) based polymer composites have variety of engineering applications (electromagnetic shielding, antistatic coatings, high-strength low-density corrosion-resistant components, lightweight energy storage and many more); due to their excellent mechanical, electrical, chemical, magnetic, etc. properties. In the polymer nanocomposites CNTs are dispersed in the polymeric matrix. However the dispersion may be uniform or may not be uniform. The biggest challenge is the effective dispersion of individual CNTs in the polymer matrices, as CNTs tends to form clusters and bundles due to strong van der Waals’ forces of attraction. The aggregated structure continue until physical (Mechanical) or chemical modification (Encapsulation/surface modification) of CNTs. Few modification methods such as vigorous mixing of the polymers damages CNTs structure, and may hinder their properties. But these problems can be overcome by mechanical or chemical modification of CNTs surfaces. In the chemical modification, the modifier or the long tail surfactant may encapsulate and/or partially wrap the CNTs surfaces. In this review, recent work on CNTs based polymer nanocomposite is carried out with few modifiers/encapsulating agents. Incorporation of CNTs in polymer matrix changes the performance properties such as tensile strength, tensile modulus, elongation at break, toughness, Dynamic mechanical thermal analysis (DMTA), etc. The phase morphology of the composite materials throws light on the properties of CNTs based polymer nanocomposite. Moreover phase morphology may be directly correlated with the behavior of the material, hence reviewed here through transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore review is also carried out on the non-isothermal crystallization (DSC) and rheology of CNTs polymer nanocomposite.
Structural position of the Upper Cretaceous sediments in the Považský Inovec Mts. (Western Carpathians)

Despite a relatively small areal extent of the Upper Cretaceous sediments (Horné Belice Group) in the Považský Inovec Mts. their importance for the geodynamic interpretation is significant. The composition, structural position and geodynamic setting of the sedimentary sequence is the object of the open discussion. Authors answers to previous comments (Plašienka et al., this issue) are expressed in the text below.
Budget Consolidation and Social Sector Spending: Does Fiscal Contraction Endanger Growth of Human Capital in India?

This study analysed the short- and long-term impacts of fiscal consolidation on social sector spending in Indian economy and thereby on human capital. Using autoregressive distributed lag framework, the study found that fiscal adjustments have significant potential to undermine the short- and long-run spending in human capital. A fiscal adjustment aimed at strengthening fiscal position of the Indian economy can have adverse impacts on the growth rate of income. Lower-income growth will imply increased constraint on part of the government to spend in public utilities like education and health. Similarly, a fiscal adjustment based on slashing government spending can adversely impact both short- and long-term welfare spending as these spendings are mainly financed by deficits. The policymakers while framing the design of a consolidation programme need to take extra precaution as far as the composition of these adjustments are concerned. Moreover, there is need of legislate aimed at changing the nature of welfare spending from discretionary to compulsory.
Identifying Structural Breaks in Cointegrated VAR Models

The paper describes a procedure for decomposing the deterministic terms in cointegrated VAR models into growth rate parameters and cointegration mean parameters. These parameters express long-run properties of the model. For example, the growth rate parameters tell us how much to expect (unconditionally) the variables in the system to grow from one period to the next, representing the underlying (steady state) growth in the variables. The procedure can be used for analysing structural breaks when the deterministic terms include shift dummies and broken trends. By decomposing the coefficients into interpretable components, different types of structural breaks can be identified. Both shifts in intercepts and shifts in growth rates, or combinations of these, can be tested for. The ability to distinguish between different types of structural breaks makes the procedure superior compared to alternative procedures. Furthermore, the procedure utilizes the information more efficiently than alternative procedures. Finally, interpretable coefficients of different types of structural breaks can be identified.
Population decline in Lithuania: who lives in declining regions and who leaves?

Abstract Since the 1990s, Lithuania lost almost one-quarter of its population, and some regions within the country lost more than 50% of their residents. Such a sharp population decline poses major challenges to politicians, policy-makers and planners. The aim of this study is to obtain more insight into the recent processes of socio-spatial change and the role of selective migration in Lithuania. The main focus is on understanding who lives in those regions which are rapidly losing population, and who is most likely to leave these regions. This is one of the first studies to use individual-level Lithuanian census data from 2001 and 2011. We found that low socio-economic status residents and older residents dominate the population of shrinking regions, and unsurprisingly that the most ‘successful’ people are the most likely to leave such regions. This process of selective migration reinforces the negative downward spiral of declining regions. As a result, socio-spatial polarization is growing within the country, where people with higher socio-economic status are increasingly overrepresented in the largest city-regions, while the elderly and residents with a lower socio-economic status are overrepresented in declining rural regions. This paper provides empirical evidence of selective migration and increasing regional disparities in Lithuania. While the socio-spatial changes are obvious in Lithuania, there is no clear strategy on how to cope with extreme population decline and increasing regional inequalities within the country.
1 Role of LTCC in ischaemic Ca 2 1 overload

Ischaemic heart disease (IHD) is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. While timely reperfusion of acutely ischaemic myocardium is essential for myocardial salvage, it leads to a unique type of injury known as ‘myocardial ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury’. Growing evidence suggests that a defect in myocardial Ca2þ transport system with cytosolic Ca2þ overload is a major contributor to myocardial I/R injury. Progress in molecular genetics and medicine in past years has clearly demonstrated that modulation of Ca2þ handling pathways in IHD could be cardioprotective. The potential benefits of these strategies in limiting I/R injury are vast, and the time is right for challenging in vivo systemic work both at pre-clinical and clinical levels.
Isolated Infiltrative Optic Neuropathy in an Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Relapse

Optic nerve infiltration as the first sign of isolated central nervous system relapse of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is rare. A seven-year-old girl with standard-risk B-cell ALL who was in remission presented with sudden onset of left eye pain and loss of vision. Examination revealed no perception to light in the left eye with positive relative afferent pupillary defect. The optic disc was hyperemic and swollen with total obscuration of the disc margin associated with central retinal artery and vein occlusion. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain and optic nerve showed left intraorbital optic nerve thickening associated with perineural enhancement and intraconal fat involvement. Lumbar puncture revealed leukemic infiltration with blast cells after a week of eye symptoms, while bone marrow aspiration was negative for malignant cells. A diagnosis of left leukemic optic nerve infiltration with central retinal artery and vein occlusion was made. A high index of suspicion with repeat cerebrospinal fluid sampling is crucial to confirm the diagnosis as vitreous biopsy may fail to reveal infiltrative cells.
POPULATION GROWTH AND SAVINGS IN NIGERIA

This study examines the effect of population growth on savings in Nigeria. Theoretical models and empirical studies yield ambiguous predictions concerning the impact of population growth on saving. Recent researches in this field show that population growth could lead to increase in savings through the growth effect or a decrease in savings through the dependency effect. The analytical framework is based on econometric methodology encompassing the error correction model of regression analysis using data from 1980 to 2007. Empirical results show that income and rapid population growth have positive and negative significant impact respectively on savings in Nigeria. Thus, policies should be concentrated towards enhancing the level of income and also reducing the nation’s population growth to bolster savings.
Syddansk Universitet Role enactment of facilitation in primary care a qualitative study

Background: Facilitation is a widely used implementation method in quality improvement. Reviews reveal a variety of understandings of facilitation and facilitator roles. Research suggests that facilitation interventions should be flexible and tailored to the needs and circumstances of the receiving organisations. The complexity of the facilitation field and diversity of potential facilitator roles fosters a need to investigate in detail how facilitation is enacted. Hence, the purpose of this study was to explore the enactment of external peer facilitation in general practice in order to create a stronger basis for discussing and refining facilitation as an implementation method. Methods: The facilitation intervention under study was conducted in general practice in the Capital Region of Denmark in order to support an overall strategy for implementing chronic disease management programmes. We observed 30 facilitation visits in 13 practice settings and had interviews and focus groups with facilitators. We applied an explorative approach in data collection and analysis, and conducted an inductive thematic analysis. Results: The facilitators mainly enacted four facilitator roles: teacher, super user, peer and process manager. Thus, apart from trying to keep the process structured and focused the facilitators were engaged in didactic presentations and hands-on learning as they tried to pass on factual information and experienced based knowledge as well as their own enthusiasm towards implementing practice changes. While occasional challenges were observed with enacting these roles, more importantly we found that a coaching based role which was also envisioned in the intervention design was only sparsely enacted meaning that the facilitators did not enable substantial internal group discussions during their facilitation visits. Conclusion: Facilitation is a complex phenomenon both conceptually and in practice. This study complements existing research by showing how facilitation can be enacted in various ways and by suggesting that some facilitator roles are more likely to be enacted than others, depending on the context and intervention design and the professional background of the facilitators. This complexity requires caution when comparing and evaluating facilitation studies and highlights a need for precision and clarity about goals, roles, and competences when designing, conducting, and reporting facilitation interventions.
Europe 2020 Strategy Under the Scope of Life Satisfaction

Europe 2020 Strategy aims to convert the European Union into a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy by setting eight targets that the Members should met by 2020. This paper measures how far European Member States are to Europe 2020 Strategy targets, discusses the treatment of inequalities in the Strategy and the extent to which Europe 2020 Strategy captures citizens’ subjective wellbeing. We first construct an index that synthesizes the eight targets of the Europe 2020 Strategy into a one-dimensional target –EU 2020 synthetic target- and the situation of each EU28 Member State in 2012 with respect to them –2012 synthetic situation-. Hence we can measure the distance of each EU Member State synthetic situation in 2012 from the EU 2020 synthetic target. We find that none of the Member States meets the EU 2020 synthetic target; Denmark is the closest to and Malta is the furthest from it; and identify clusters of Member States in terms of the distances from the EU 2020 synthetic target, the North EU region is closer to and the Mediterranean region is further away from it. We then discuss that setting aside inequalities –just overall poverty is targeted- makes the Europe 2020 Strategy unable to accomplish its own priority of “smart, sustainable and inclusive growth”: it does not only prevent inclusive but also smart and sustainable growth. In fact, when we extent the distance analysis above by adding five inequality targets -income distribution, gender (male and female) employment gap, long-term unemployment, young employment and child poverty- to the Europe 2020 Strategy, we find that all Member States, except for Austria, Cyprus, Germany, Malta and Netherlands, increase their distance to the inequality-extended EU 2020 synthetic situation. Finally, we analyse each Member State’s relationship between its objective positions regarding, on the one hand, the EU 2020 synthetic target versus the inequality-extended EU2020 synthetic target and, on the other hand, its life satisfaction level, inhabitants’ subjective position. We find that the life satisfaction index is more correlated with the inequality-extended EU 2020 index than with the EU 2020 index.
Stock versus mutual insurers: Long-term convergence or dominance?

I find evidence for convergence of stock and mutual insurers in an analysis of metatechnology efficiency estimated by data development analysis in the US and EU in 2002–2015. This result may emphasize that even though the organizational forms tended to dominate in different market segments in the past as documented by extant literature, due to recent changes in the economic context (particularly, elimination of state aids for the mutual organizational form and introduction of risk-based capital standards) the production processes inevitably converge over time. Different to previous studies focusing on the expense preference and efficient structure hypotheses, I explicitly consider the dynamics of stock and mutual insurer’s technology and efficiency.
Auditor tolerance of accrual-based and real earnings management in boardrooms of politically connected Nigerian firms

This study examines the accrual-based and real earnings management tolerance of auditors in boardrooms of politically connected companies using auditor reputation theory and auditor litigation risk as the theoretical framework. Using a sample of 89 Nigerian listed companies during the period from 2008 to 2013, the study finds that auditors tolerate more accrual earnings management and less real earnings management in companies that are politically connected. In addition, the study finds a complementary relationship between real earnings management (REM) and abnormal earnings management (ABD) in companies that are politically connected. The findings of this study have serious implications for regulators, particularly following the various corporate governance scandals that have affected the integrity of financial information.
TMPRSS 6 , but not TF , TFR 2 or BMP 2 variants are associated with increased risk of iron-deficiency anemia

Group of Bio-Metal Metabolism, Key Laboratory of Nutrition and Metabolism, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Pediatric Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Institute for Nutritional Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Graduate School of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China and Key laboratory of Trace Element Nutrition of the Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China, Institute of Nutrition and Food Safety, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China