Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Young Spruce-Fir Forests Released by Herbicides II. Conifer Response

Responses of conifers and other vegetation to 9 aerial herbicide treat- ments were evaluated in a replicated coni- fer-release experiment in a 7-year-old spruce-fir clearcut in central Maine. De- velopment of the naturally regenerated co- nifers was inversely related to residual hardwood cover and conifer stocking dur- ing the 9 years after treatment. All herbi- cides and rates of application initially re- duced hardwood cover by 50% or more. ' Cover more than 1.5 m tall was nearly eliminated by several treatments, and re- lease from overtopping provided long-term increase in conifer growth. Untreated
Female Directors and Firm Performance: Evidence of Family Firm in Indonesia

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of female board of directors on company performance. Using a sample of 144 family firms in Indonesia in the period 2018 to 2020. This study examines the relationship between female directors and corporate accounting (ROA and ROE) and market-based performance (Tobin's Q). This study uses a panel data approach with OLS measurements and fixed effects model measurements. This study found that female ownership significantly lowers Tobin's Q. While female CEOs have a negative effect on ROA. Furthermore, the ownership and presence of women on the board has no effect on ROA. In measuring company performance as proxied by ROE, it was found that women's ownership, the presence of women on the board, and women's leadership had no effect. Studies on the relationship between gender diversity and financial performance in the context have been carried out in developed economies. This study contributes to the literature related to corporate governance in family companiexs, especially gender diversity in countries with developing economies such as Indonesia. we recommend looking at the role of women in risk and innovation to be able to see the role of opportunities in other fields that can provide evidence that women can advance the company.
Advanced monitoring solutions for wireless healthcare and exposure assessment

The amendment for unlicensed use of the ultra-wideband (UWB) between 3.1 and 10.6 GHz by the American Federal Communication Committee (FCC) and the European Communication Committee (ECC) as well as the providing of the source code of different cell phone operating systems to the general public opened many new opportunities in the area of ’personal’ and ’environmental’ monitoring. The UWB technology is characterized by a very low power consumption, excellent fading and narrow band interference properties and a relatively high data rate in MegaBit/s range. Therefore, UWB is a promising technology to be employed for wireless patient monitoring in ’harsh’ electromagnetic environments, such as in hospitals. Owing to the internet capabilities of cell phones using the 2G/3G network, these devices have already been introduced into the intermediate healthcare sector. In this application area the cell phone is used as a monitor unit and as an internet access point. However, the functionality of cell phones in such an application area was limited by the computational power and the memory of the cell phones. Furthermore, the development of applications was also previously reserved only to a few companies who had access to operating systems for cell phones. In the meantime, smartphones have been developed which feature GHz processors with sufficient memory, and they are mostly running on an open source based operating system. This allows the development of new applications and makes various extensions to already established concepts possible. It is therefore expected that smartphones are increasingly used as central units in sensor networks in the future. This work consists of two different parts that each is making use of one of the new developments. The first part deals with the development of a demonstrator for a wireless patient monitoring system using UWB technology. In this context, the electromagnetic environment in a hospital has been evaluated, and the requirements for a wireless patient monitoring determined. Based on these results, two novel concepts have been developed and evaluated to increase the link reliability of such a system that operates in severe narrowband interfering environments. In a next step, an impulse-radio UWB demonstrator, who is based on five proprietary 0.18 μm CMOS chips operating between 3 and 5 GHz, was
Mitochondrial ROS-Mediated Metabolic and Cytotoxic Effects of Isoproterenol on Cardiomyocytes Are p53-Dependent and Reversed by Curcumin

Acute β-adrenergic stimulation contributes to heart failure. Here, we investigated the role of p53 in isoproterenol (ISO)-mediated metabolic and oxidative stress effects on cardiomyocytes and explored the direct protective effects offered by the antioxidant nutraceutical curcumin. Differentiated H9C2 rat cardiomyocytes treated with ISO were assayed for glucose uptake, lactate release, and mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. Survival was assessed by sulforhodamine B assays. Cardiomyocytes showed significantly decreased glucose uptake and lactate release, as well as increased cellular toxicity by ISO treatment. This was accompanied by marked dose-dependent increases of mitochondria-derived ROS. Scavenging with N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) effectively lowered ROS levels, which completely recovered glycolytic metabolism and survival suppressed by ISO. Mechanistically, ISO reduced extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) activation, whereas it upregulated p53 expression in an ROS-dependent manner. Silencing of p53 with siRNA blocked the ability of ISO to stimulate mitochondrial ROS and suppress glucose uptake, and partially recovered cell survival. Finally, curcumin completely reversed the metabolic and ROS-stimulating effects of ISO. Furthermore, curcumin improved survival of cardiomyocytes exposed to ISO. Thus, ISO suppresses cardiomyocyte glycolytic metabolism and survival by stimulating mitochondrial ROS in a p53-dependent manner. Furthermore, curcumin can efficiently rescue cardiomyocytes from these adverse effects.
Integration of education for sustainability in the preschool curriculum: A comparative study between the two latest Swedish curricula

The aim of this study is to provide a content analysis of the new Swedish preschool curriculum in comparison with the previous preceding curriculum to investigate how sustainability and education for sustainability (EfS) have been described, and whether there have been any changes in terms of the scope of their inclusion in the new curriculum. The study adopts a holistic view of sustainability, meaning that the environmental dimension, social dimension, and economic dimension, along with a pluralistic and transformative view of EfS, form the analytical framework. Using content analysis, the frequency of explicit and implicit descriptive words for sustainability and EfS in both curricula were investigated. A contextual analysis was also conducted that involved an interpretation of the meaning of the implicit words. Two main findings could be identified in the new curriculum in comparison to the previous curriculum. The first was that the term sustainability is now used from an explicit and holistic perspective that includes all three dimensions. The second was that the new curriculum provides guidance as to how to incorporate EfS where such words as investigating, participation, collaborate and develop are used. Together with the context in which these words appear, a picture forms of a pluralistic teaching tradition in preschool curricula. Overall, the analysis provides a picture of change in the Swedish preschool curriculum that is in line with the intentions of international policy and research relating to a need for increased focus on sustainability and EfS.
Linguistic dissimilarity increases age-related decline in adult language learning

Abstract We investigated age-related decline in adult learning of Dutch as an additional language (Ln) in speaking, writing, listening, and reading proficiency test scores for 56,024 adult immigrants with 50 L1s who came to the Netherlands for study or work. Performance for all four language skills turned out to decline monotonically after an age of arrival of about 25 years, similar to developmental trajectories observed in earlier aging research on additional language learning and in aging research on cognitive abilities. Also, linguistic dissimilarity increased age-related decline across all four language skills, but speaking in particular. We measured linguistic dissimilarity between first languages (L1s = 50) and Dutch (Ln) for morphology, vocabulary, and phonology. Our conclusion is that the L1 language background influences the effects of age-related decline in adult language learning, and that the constraints involved reflect both biological (language learning ability) and experience-based (acquired L1 proficiency) cognitive resources.
Discovering Intellectual Capital through Photos

Intellectual Capital (IC) is an intangible asset that is important for a company to increase value. However, only a few reports IC because IC reporting is not mandatory, although this information is essential for stakeholders' decision making. This study aims to investigate the disclosure of IC through photos in annual reports and to analyze the purpose of using these photos. This research is different from prior studies by using data in the form of images depicting IC in annual reports. This mixed methods research used a visual content analysis approach within a frame of impression management theory to analyze the intent of using photos, followed by a statistical differential test. This study used 2360 photos contained in 38 annual reports of service companies. This study found a narcissistic leader tendency and the existence of the glass ceiling phenomenon. In addition, human capital was the most frequently disclosed IC component. The impression management carried out by the company was also found through the specific and non-specific photos displayed. This research is expected to be used as a reference for the development of future accounting research. In addition, this research is also expected to provide an understanding of the use of photos in representing reality in annual reports so that it could be helpful in stakeholders' decision-making.
Monte Carlo simulation of railway track geometry deterioration and restoration

Travelling safely and comfortably on high-speed railway lines requires excellent conditions of the whole railway infrastructure in general and of the railway track geometry in particular. The maintenance process required to achieve such excellent conditions is complex and expensive, demanding a large amount of both human and technical resources. In this framework, choosing the right maintenance strategy becomes a critical issue. A reliable simulation of the railway geometry ageing process would offer a great advantage for the optimization of planning and scheduling of maintenance activities. A fundamental requirement for such simulation is a statistical model describing the behaviour of the railway track geometry deterioration as well as the effects of maintenance activities. The French railway operator SNCF has been periodically measuring the geometrical characteristics of its high-speed network since its commissioning (i.e. for more than 20 years now). These records are an excellent data source to achieve a sound statistical description of the process. In this paper a new system identification method to obtain such simulations is presented. The proposed method uses a grey-box model: a model structure and its constraints are specified basing on previous knowledge of the process to be identified, and then the set of parameter values which best fits the signal measurements is searched. As previous knowledge indicates that the process is non-linear, parameter values are searched by means of the Levenberg–Marquardt algorithm, an iterative technique that finds a local minimum of a function that is expressed as the sum of squares of non-linear functions. Furthermore, the presented model is extended in order to analyse the effect of the variation of factors influencing the ageing process (e.g. operational speed). Finally, the method is applied and validated with real data of a French high-speed TGV line.
Exploring environmental concerns on digital platforms through big data: the effect of online consumers’ environmental discourse on online review ratings

Abstract By deploying big data analytical techniques to retrieve and analyze a large volume of more than 2.7 million reviews, this work sheds light on how environmental concerns expressed by tourists on digital platforms, in the guise of online reviews, influence their satisfaction with tourism and hospitality services. More specifically, we conduct a multi-platform study of Tripadvisor.com and Booking.com online reviews (ORs) pertaining to hotel services across eight leading tourism destination cities in America and Europe over the period 2017–2018. By adopting multivariate regression analyses, we show that OR ratings are positively influenced by both the presence and depth of environmental discourse on these platforms. Theoretical and managerial contributions, and implications for digital platforms, big data analytics (BDA), electronic word-of-mouth (eWOM) and environmental research within the tourism and hospitality domain are examined, with a view to capturing, empirically, the effect of environmental discourse presence and depth on customer satisfaction proxied through online ratings.
Bacteriological Examination and Physico-chemical Properties of Streams Receiving Industrial Effluents in Rosslyn, Pretoria, South Africa

The reliance on streams and rivers to provide water for agricultural purposes and to some extent- domestic purpose, is still in existence especially in the semi-urban and rural areas. This study investigated the bacteriological load and physicochemical properties of water from streams receiving industrial effluents and a reservoir receiving wastewater from a hospital. Water samples were collected from March to August, 2015 from ten sampling stations and analysis were carried out following standard procedures. The water pH ranged from 6.21 ± 0.03 – 8.22 ± 0.08. Phosphate ranged from 0.0 – 7. 80 ± 0.38 mg L-1. Nitrate ranged from 0.03 ± 0.04 – 209 ± 2.26 mg L-1 while nitrite ranged from 0.00 – 14. 00 ± 0.30 mg L-1. The TSS (total suspended solids) and TDS (total dissolved solids) were in the range 40.0 ± 2 . 00 – 58.70 ± 130 mg L-1 and 40 ± 6.0 – 1010 ±45.0 mg L-1 respectively. The bacteriological loads ranged from 4.85 ± 2.0 – 36.5 ± 7.0 cfu 100 ml-1. Sites receiving effluents from industrial and hospital wastes were highly polluted with values obtained for parameters exceeding the standard set by World Health Organizatio (WHO). The shapes of the bacteria examined under the microscope were Coccobacilli, Cocci, Vibrio, Diplococci and Bacilli. Vibrio shaped bacteria was only observed from streams receiving wastewater from the hospital. In conclusion, it is necessary to educate people on the danger of using water from these streams and a proper waste management method should be established at the hospital and the industrial areas.
Teachers’ Management of Peer Relations: Associations with Fifth Grade Classroom Peer Ecologies

Abstract We investigated the associations between students’ perceptions of their teachers’ management of peer relations (TMPR) and two facets of the peer ecology: perceptions of peer support and the behaviors of popular peers (responsibility and rebelliousness). Participants were 1,031 fifth graders nested within 50 elementary school classrooms. Early adolescents in our sample were majority White and varied in socioeconomic status. A confirmatory factor analysis demonstrated that TMPR was a unique component of adolescents’ classroom context. Multilevel modeling indicated that TMPR is positively associated with supportive peer interactions and perceptions that responsible peers are popular. Additionally, TMPR was associated with weaker endorsements that rebellious peers are popular. Findings underscore the importance of teacher practices that are attentive to peer relationships as well as the promise of developing intervention efforts in this area.
Influence of project manager’s competencies on project management success

Project management (PM) has been a demanding profession in construction industry due to its dynamic nature originating from the uncertainties in budget, technology, and development processes, which put emphasis on the necessity for highly capable project managers. This study develops an extensive PM success model and investigates the influence of project manager’s competencies on the PM success. The resulting model reveals that the project manager’s competencies can play a big role in determining the PM success in construction projects. Leadership is identified as the most influential project manager competency followed by responsibility and commitment. Researchers and senior industry practitioners such as managers or boards of directors are expected to benefit from the developed model by recognizing the influences of project managers on the PM success and taking notice of the recommendations provided.
Desulphurization of Dibenzothiophene by Different Bacterial Strains: An Eco-Friendly Approach to Obtain Clean Fuel from Coal

Abstract Coal is an important energy resource and many deposits contain a significant quantity of organic sulfur compounds. Combustion of coal releases SO2, CO2 and other gases into atmosphere and causes negative impact on the environment. Biodesulphurization of dibenzothiophene could be a prominent method for the removal of sulfur from coal. Here we successfully employed bacterial strains to degrade dibenzothiophene, and characterized through chromatography, high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Strains of Ralstonia sp. , Pseudoxanthomons sp. and Rhodococcus sp. were used in the present investigation. Only Rhodococcus sp. converted dibenzothiophene (DBT) into 2-hydroxy biphenyl (2-HBP) and was able to additionally break the C-S bond without disturbing heterocyclic structure of DBT ring. This is also complemented by blue color of Gibb’s assay which is indicative of DBT conversion into 2-HBP while brown color indicates complete consumption of DBT by bacteria. After two days of bacterial treatment, there was no further removal of DBT. DBT conversion into 2-HBP was monitored through HPLC during six days of experiment. Thus Rhodococcus sp. could be a proficient candidate for biodesulphurization of dibenzothiophene and eventually for biodesulphurizing organic sulfur rich coal with an eco-friendly and energy economical process. Though it is encouraging technique for desulphurization however more studies on coal are still required to support the industrial scale biodesulfurization.
Can the Reduction of Cytokines Stop the Progression of Sepsis?

Objective In this study, we aimed to analyze the laboratory and clinical results of cytokine hemadsorption as an immunomodulation therapy in ICU patients diagnosed with sepsis or septic shock. Methods The levels of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP), determined to be indicators of infection/sepsis, and the levels of interleukins (IL-6, IL-8, and IL-10) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα), deemed as indicators of the cytokine storm, were compared among 32 patients before and after the hemadsorption procedure. Results The hemadsorption significantly reduced the levels of IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, TNFα, PCT, CRP, Acute Physiology and Chronic Health Evaluation (APACHE) scores, mortality rate, and Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) scores (p<0.05). APACHE scores and the mean predicted mortality rate (PMR) of the non-survivors measured before the procedure was significantly higher than those of survivors (p=0.002 for both). IL-10, APACHE scores, and the mortality rates determined before the hemadsorption procedure were deemed significant parameters to predict the mortality among all ICU patients (p<0.05). IL-10 levels ≤125.3 ng/L, APACHE score >30, and PMR >70.33 were significantly associated with the mortality rates of all patients, indicating that these three parameters determined before the hemadsorption may be good predictors of mortality among ICU patients with sepsis. Conclusion The progression of sepsis in ICU patients may be prevented with cytokine hemadsorption applied as an immunomodulator therapy.
Pandemic Populism? How Covid-19 Triggered Populist Facebook User Comments in Germany and Austria

Covid-19 and the government measures taken to combat the pandemic have fueled populist protests in Germany and Austria. Social media played a key role in the emergence of these protests. This study argues that the topic of Covid-19 has triggered populist user comments on Facebook pages of German and Austrian mass media. Drawing on media psychology, this article theorizes populist comments as an expression of “reactance,” sparked by repeated “fear appeals” in posts about Covid-19. Several hypotheses are derived from this claim and tested on a dataset of N = 25,121 Facebook posts, posted between January 2020 and May 2021 on nine pages of German and Austrian mass media, and 1.4 million corresponding user comments. To measure content-based variables automatically, this study develops, validates, and applies dictionaries. The study finds that the topic of Covid-19 did trigger populist user comments and that this effect grew over time. Surprisingly, neither the stringency of government measures nor mentions of elitist actors were found to have the expected amplifying effect. The study discusses the findings against the background of governing the ongoing crisis and worrisome developments in the online public sphere.
Functional Connectivity Signatures Underlying Simultaneous Language Translation in Interpreters and Non-Interpreters of Mandarin and English: An fNIRS Study

Recent neuroimaging research has suggested that interpreters and non-interpreters elicit different brain activation patterns during simultaneous language translation. However, whether these two groups have different functional connectivity during such a task, and how the neural coupling is among brain subregions, are still not well understood. In this study, we recruited Mandarin (L1)/English (L2) interpreters and non-interpreter bilinguals, whom we asked to perform simultaneous language translation and reading tasks. Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to collect cortical brain data for participants during each task, using 68 channels that covered the prefrontal cortex and the bilateral perisylvian regions. Our findings revealed both interpreter and non-interpreter groups recruited the right dorsolateral prefrontal hub when completing the simultaneous language translation tasks. We also found different functional connectivity between the groups. The interpreter group was characterized by information exchange between the frontal cortex and Wernicke’s area. In comparison, the non-interpreter group revealed neural coupling between the frontal cortex and Broca’s area. These findings indicate expertise modulates functional connectivity, possibly because of more developed cognitive skills associated with executive functions in interpreters.