Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Recent developments in economic geography – Miscellaneous A stakeholder model in economic geography : perception and management of environmental stakeholders in German manufacturing companies Ein Stakeholder-Modell in der Wirtschaftsgeographie : Wahrnehmung und Management von Umweltschutz-Stakeholde

S In this paper we aim to show that stakeholder theory can enrich analysis in (environmental) economic geography. By applying and modifying the stakeholder salience model from management studies, we analyse which factors influence company managers in their environmental decision-making and which priorities they give to competing stakeholder claims. We test the model on data from 250 German manufacturing firms. Overall, the results strongly support the basic assumptions of stakeholder theory. They indicate that stakeholder attributes such as legitimacy, power and urgency and the stakeholders’ willingness to co-operate are more important for stakeholder salience than companyand product-related characteristics. Moreover, the results confirm the findings of a recent study of Spanish manufacturing firms by Gago and Antolín. Das Ziel dieses Beitrags ist es aufzuzeigen, dass die aus den Managementwissenschaften stammende Stakeholder-Theorie eine Bereicherung für die (umweltorientierte) Wirtschaftsgeographie sein kann. Anhand eines modifizierten Stakeholder Salience-Modells wird untersucht, welche Faktoren Manager von Unternehmen bei Umweltschutz-Entscheidungen beeinflussen und welche Prioritäten sie konkurrierenden Forderungen einräumen. Das Modell wird anhand der Daten von 250 deutschen Industrieunternehmen empirisch getestet. Insgesamt bestätigen die Ergebnisse zentrale Annahmen der Stakeholder-Theorie. Sie zeigen, dass den Anspruchs gruppen zugewiesene Eigenschaften wie Legitimität, Durchsetzungsfähigkeit, Dringlichkeit und Kooperationsbereitschaft für deren Wahrnehmung im Unternehmensmanagement deutlich wichtiger sind als strukturelle Merkmale der betroffenen Unternehmen und ihrer Produkte. Die Ergebnisse bestätigen auch weitgehend die Befunde einer neueren Studie von Gago und Antolín zu spanischen Industrieunternehmen. INDEX
Molecular Ecological Basis of Grasshopper (Oedaleus asiaticus) Phenotypic Plasticity under Environmental Selection

While ecological adaptation in insects can be reflected by plasticity of phenotype, determining the causes and molecular mechanisms for phenotypic plasticity (PP) remains a crucial and still difficult question in ecology, especially where control of insect pests is involved. Oedaleus asiaticus is one of the most dominant pests in the Inner Mongolia steppe and represents an excellent system to study phenotypic plasticity. To better understand ecological factors affecting grasshopper phenotypic plasticity and its molecular control, we conducted a full transcriptional screening of O. asiaticus grasshoppers reared in four different grassland patches in Inner Mongolia. Grasshoppers showed different degrees of PP associated with unique gene expressions and different habitat plant community compositions. Grasshopper performance variables were susceptible to habitat environment conditions and closely associated with plant architectures. Intriguingly, eco-transcriptome analysis revealed five potential candidate genes playing important roles in grasshopper performance, with gene expression closely relating to PP and plant community factors. By linking the grasshopper performances to gene profiles and ecological factors using canonical regression, we first demonstrated the eco-transcriptomic architecture (ETA) of grasshopper phenotypic traits (ETAGPTs). ETAGPTs revealed plant food type, plant density, coverage, and height were the main ecological factors influencing PP, while insect cuticle protein (ICP), negative elongation factor A (NELFA), and lactase-phlorizin hydrolase (LCT) were the key genes associated with PP. Our study gives a clear picture of gene-environment interaction in the formation and maintenance of PP and enriches our understanding of the transcriptional events underlying molecular control of rapid phenotypic plasticity associated with environmental variability. The findings of this study may also provide new targets for pest control and highlight the significance of ecological management practice on grassland conservation.
Organic Matter and Nitrogen Removal within Field‐Scale Constructed Wetlands: Reduction Performance and Microbial Identification Studies

This study investigated organic matter and nitrogen reduction and transformation mechanisms within a field‐scale hybrid natural purification system. The system included an oxidation pond, two serial surface‐flow wetlands with a cascade in between, and a subsurface‐flow wetland receiving secondary treated dormitory sewage. The average biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD) removal was 81 and 48%, respectively. Microbial degradation was the primary process contributing to organic reduction. Total Kjeldahl nitrogen (TKN) and ammonium decreased from 7.1 to 3.9 and 5.58 to 3.25 mg/L, respectively, within the surface‐flow wetlands. The results indicated that nitrification occurred within the aerobic compartments. The nitrate levels continued to decrease from 1.26 to 1.07 mg/L, indicating nitrate reduction occurred in the surface‐flow wetland. Total nitrogen decreased from 8.61 to 5.12 mg/L, equivalent to a 41% reduction, within the surface‐flow wetlands. Results revealed that denitrification might concurrently occur in the compartment of surface‐flow wetland. Total nitrogen continued to decrease from 5.12 to 3.99 mg/L within the anoxic subsurface‐flow wetlands through denitrification transformation. The significant total nitrogen reduction observed was 65%. The predominant reduction of total nitrogen might take place within the sediment of surface flow and the subsurface‐flow wetland where denitrification occurred. The microbial identification results also indicated that nitrification/denitrification might occur concurrently within the sediments of surface‐flow wetlands. The results of this study show that hybrid wetland systems are a viable option for organic matter and nitrogen transformation and removal in tropical regions where tertiary wastewater systems are too costly or unable to operate. Treated water from these systems can comply with local surface water criteria rendering water for reuse and groundwater recharge.
Social Support, Negative Social Interactions, and Psychological Well‐Being

Research examining the relationship between social support and psychological well‐being has largely ignored the negative side of social interactions. However, empirical evidence suggests that negative interactions can potentially be more harmful than social support is helpful. This article critically reviews the literature investigating the relationship between social support and negative social interactions and their simultaneous effect on psychological well‐being. A review of 28 studies revealed that there are conceptual, theoretical, and methodological limitations associated with this body of research. In order to unravel some of these limitations, studies are grouped according to three conceptual models: the additive effects model, the moderator model, and the domain‐specific model. Finally, the article discusses directions social work practice research should take to tackle and fully appreciate the complexities of the relationship between social support and psychological well‐being.
An Empirical Analysis on the Use of Internet among Korean Exporting Firms

This study deals with the current status of use of Internet in Korean exporting firms. External, internal and export-related factors that potentially influence the diffusion of Internet Commerce in Korean exporting firms are examined from an innovation diffusion perspective, among related theories. Internal factors consist of size of the firm, attitude of top management toward Internet Commerce, and information technology capacity. External factors include competitive intensity and Electronic Commerce infrastructure. Export-related factors indicate the number of exporting country destinations and export ratio. The ability of these factors to explain the implementation level of Internet Commerce in Korean Exporting Firms. The results may give some valuable implication to the managers of exporting firms and directions for future research in the filed of Internet Commerce.
Punctual Transcriptional Regulation by the Rice Circadian Clock under Fluctuating Field Conditions[OPEN]

Expression of circadian clock genes in rice, individually responding to given field conditions, coordinately encode punctual internal time irrespective of weather, daylength, or developmental stage. Plant circadian clocks that oscillate autonomously with a roughly 24-h period are entrained by fluctuating light and temperature and globally regulate downstream genes in the field. However, it remains unknown how punctual internal time produced by the circadian clock in the field is and how it is affected by environmental fluctuations due to weather or daylength. Using hundreds of samples of field-grown rice (Oryza sativa) leaves, we developed a statistical model for the expression of circadian clock-related genes integrating diurnally entrained circadian clock with phase setting by light, both responses to light and temperature gated by the circadian clock. We show that expression of individual genes was strongly affected by temperature. However, internal time estimated from expression of multiple genes, which may reflect transcriptional regulation of downstream genes, is punctual to 22 min and not affected by weather, daylength, or plant developmental age in the field. We also revealed perturbed progression of internal time under controlled environment or in a mutant of the circadian clock gene GIGANTEA. Thus, we demonstrated that the circadian clock is a regulatory network of multiple genes that retains accurate physical time of day by integrating the perturbations on individual genes under fluctuating environments in the field.
The effect of grand maternal nicotine exposure during gestation and lactation on lung integrity of the F2 generation

Maternal nicotine exposure during gestation and lactation adversely affects lung development in the offspring. It has been suggested that the “program” that control long‐term maintenance of the structural integrity of the lung may be compromised. The aim of the study was to establish whether the effect of grand‐maternal nicotine exposure during gestation and lactation can be transferred to the F2 generation.
Antenna on Cavity Backed High Impedance Surface

A low profile (0.019λ), lightweight, linearly polarized antenna has been designed for 0.9 GHz applications using a double layered via-less high impedance surface (HIS). The weight of the antenna is reduced by removing the dielectric layer between the HIS and the ground plane. In order to suppress the back lobe, we propose the use of a cavity. Since the entire structure lies below the surface of the ground, the proposed antenna can be used on moving platforms, especially for airborne applications.
Kinetic Quantification of Plyometric Exercise Intensity

Ebben, WP, Fauth, ML, Garceau, LR, and Petushek, EJ. Kinetic quantification of plyometric exercise intensity. J Strength Cond Res 25(12): 3288–3298, 2011—Quantification of plyometric exercise intensity is necessary to understand the characteristics of these exercises and the proper progression of this mode of exercise. The purpose of this study was to assess the kinetic characteristics of a variety of plyometric exercises. This study also sought to assess gender differences in these variables. Twenty-six men and 23 women with previous experience in performing plyometric training served as subjects. The subjects performed a variety of plyometric exercises including line hops, 15.24-cm cone hops, squat jumps, tuck jumps, countermovement jumps (CMJs), loaded CMJs equal to 30% of 1 repetition maximum squat, depth jumps normalized to the subject's jump height (JH), and single leg jumps. All plyometric exercises were assessed with a force platform. Outcome variables associated with the takeoff, airborne, and landing phase of each plyometric exercise were evaluated. These variables included the peak vertical ground reaction force (GRF) during takeoff, the time to takeoff, flight time, JH, peak power, landing rate of force development, and peak vertical GRF during landing. A 2-way mixed analysis of variance with repeated measures for plyometric exercise type demonstrated main effects for exercise type and all outcome variables (p ≤ 0.05) and for the interaction between gender and peak vertical GRF during takeoff (p ≤ 0.05). Bonferroni-adjusted pairwise comparisons identified a number of differences between the plyometric exercises for the outcome variables assessed (p ≤ 0.05). These findings can be used to guide the progression of plyometric training by incorporating exercises of increasing intensity over the course of a program.
Forecasting Volatility: Evidence from the Bucharest Stock Exchange

Financial series tend to be characterized by volatility and this characteristic affects both financial series of developed markets and emerging markets. Because of the emerging markets have provided major investment opportunities in last decades their volatility has been widely investigated in the literature. The most popular volatility models are the Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedastic (ARCH) or Generalized Autoregressive Conditional Heteroscedastic (GARCH) models. This paper aims to investigate the volatility of Bucharest Stock Exchange, BET index as an emerging capital market and compare forecasting power for volatility of this index during 2000-2014. To do this, this paper use GARCH, TARCH, EGARCH and PARCH models against Generalized Error distribution. We estimate these models then we compare the forecasting power of these GARCH type models in sample period. The results show that the EGARCH is the best model by means of forecasting performance.
Application of non-equilibrium plasmas in top-down and bottom-up nanotechnologies and biomedicine

In this paper we discuss how a better understanding of thermal and mainly non-thermal plasmas provides basis for their application in a number or nanotechnologies. One should bear in mind that one may design unique properties of plasmas thus affecting very directly properties of the resulting nanostructures. A number of examples where plasmas contribute to production of nanomaterials, modification of surfaces and functionalization at nanoscales are given here. Plasmas are not a panacea but in nanotechnology their application may be the best strategy to convert production of individual structures to massively parallel production that may become a viable industrial technology.
Bilateral limbic diffusion abnormalities in unilateral temporal lobe epilepsy

Diffusion tensor magnetic resonance imaging can acquire quantitative information on the microstructural integrity of white matter structures and depict brain connectivity in vivo based on the behavior of water diffusion. Diffusion tensor imaging–derived tractography has been used for virtual dissection of the fornix and cingulum in healthy subjects, but not in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Eight patients with medically intractable TLE and unilateral mesial temporal sclerosis and nine healthy control subjects were imaged using diffusion tensor imaging. Fiber tracking was performed to delineate the fornix and cingulum, which were quantitatively analyzed. Bilateral symmetrical reduction in fractional anisotropy was observed in the fornix of patients with TLE, together with an increase in water mobility perpendicular to the axis of the fibers. The findings in the cingulum are similar to those of the fornix with the exception of significantly increased bulk diffusivity in the latter. We observed strikingly symmetrical bilateral abnormalities of axonal integrity in the fornix and cingulum in a series of patients with unilateral mesial temporal sclerosis. Our findings suggest that TLE with unilateral mesial temporal sclerosis is associated with bilateral limbic system pathology. Ann Neurol 2004
EsrC, an envelope stress-regulated repressor of the mexCD-oprJ multidrug efflux operon in Pseudomonas aeruginosa.

mexCD-oprJ is an envelope stress-inducible multidrug efflux operon of Pseudomonas aeruginosa. A gene encoding a homologue of the NfxB repressor of this operon, PA4596, occurs downstream of oprJ and was proposed as a second repressor of this efflux operon. Inactivation of this gene had no impact on mexCD-oprJ expression in cells not exposed to envelope stress although its loss under envelope stress conditions yielded a > 10-fold increase in mexCD-oprJ expression. Consistent with PA4596 functioning as a mexCD-oprJ repressor, the purified protein was able to bind to a DNA fragment carrying the mexCD-oprJ promoter region. Expression of PA4596 was induced under conditions of envelope stress dependent on the AlgU envelope stress sigma factor, consistent with PA4596 operating under envelope stress conditions where it possibly serves to moderate envelope stress-inducible mexCD-oprJ expression. nfxB mutants showed elevated PA4596 expression and purified NfxB bound to DNA encompassing the PA4596 upstream region, an indication that NfxB functions as a repressor of PA4596 expression. Elimination of PA4596 in P. aeruginosa lacking nfxB and hyperexpressing mexCD-oprJ had no additional impact on mexCD-oprJ expression, regardless of the presence of envelope stress, suggesting that PA4596 repressor activity may be dependent on NfxB. This envelope stress-regulated repressor of mexCD-oprJ has been renamed esrC.
The Difficult Business of Measuring Banks’ Liquidity: Understanding the Liquidity Coverage Ratio

In the wake of the financial crisis of 2007-09, the Basel Committee on Banking Supervision recommended bank regulators adopt a new short-term liquidity requirement, the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR), to promote greater liquidity resilience. U.S. bank regulators announced the final rule implementing that recommendation in 2014. We highlight complexities in interpreting LCRs under both Basel III and the U.S. rule when banks undertake transactions that simultaneously affect the LCR numerator and denominator, and therefore, the ratio itself. Furthermore, we show how the numerator and denominator caps in the LCR formulas introduce nonlinearities that add to the complexity of interpreting changes in the metric. LCRs calculated under the U.S. rule are more volatile and difficult to interpret than LCRs calculated under the Basel standard. This is because the U.S. rule adds a time dimension to the LCR’s volatility through inclusion of a maturity mismatch add-on term in the denominator to account for the peak-day net cash outflow during the 30-day window. Unlike some other regulatory ratios, bank supervisors, analysts, and investors need to have a clear understanding of the mechanics of LCR calculations to interpret the LCR metric, separate signal from noise, and perform informed peer analysis. In this paper, we demonstrate how the LCR is calculated under both Basel and U.S. rules to help market participants, the public, and researchers better understand this new liquidity metric.
Draft Genome Sequence of Arcobacter cibarius Strain LMG21996T, Isolated from Broiler Carcasses

ABSTRACT The draft genome sequence of Arcobacter cibarius strain LMG21996T, isolated from chicken carcasses, is reported here. The draft genome consists of 2.2 Mbp, with a 27.12% G+C content. A total of 2,179 protein-coding genes, 46 tRNA genes, and 15 rRNAs have been identified and annotated.
Natural or Internal Selection? The Case of Canalization in Complex Evolutionary Systems

Using biological examples and theoretical arguments, the case is presented for extending the notion of natural selection to include internal selection in order to account for the evolution of complex systems. It is suggested that we take into consideration internal factors that arise from the hierarchical dynamics of complex systems. In addition to environmental selection, it is argued, decisive constraints are created by the system itself. Canalization is shown to be an indispensable ingredient for evolutionary processes in both biological and artificial complex systems. In artificial life systems canalization is not only an instrument for controlling complexity, it also increases the speed and stability of evolutionary processes.
A review of commercially available exoskeletons' capabilities

Medical exoskeletons are robotic devices that provide paraplegics with the ability to ambulate again. There are four current market leaders in the industry: REX, by Rex Bionics; ReWalk, by Argo Medical Technologies Ltd; Ekso GT, by Ekso Bionics; and Indego, by Parker Hannifin. A weighted table-based method was used to evaluate the capability of these four devices, which was then compared to their maximum speed. The Ekso GT and the ReWalk devices achieved high speeds but had low capability scores due to their instability and minimal safety features. The REX and Indego devices achieved the highest capability scores but for contrasting reasons; the REX devices are inherently stable but have a slow, static gait, while the Indego device relies on walking aids for stability and achieves a faster speed. Both devices scored high in the safety criteria. It was derived from the results that there is an indirectly proportional relationship between speed and stability, and none of the exoskeletons achieve a balance between the two. This study found that there is an opportunity to enhance the speed, mobility, stability, and cost of medical exoskeletons, which is presented below.
A procedure which eliminates nonspecific inhibitor from human serum but does not affect specific antibodies against influenza viruses.

All influenza virus preparations and red blood cells which were examined in hemagglutination-inhibition tests with normal serum were affected by nonspecific inhibitor. Experiments with human sera, from which influenza virus antibodies had been absorbed, showed that incubation with an equal volume of V. cholerae filtrate at 37 C for 18 hours completely inactivates nonspecific inhibitor. There was no detectable reduction in the titer of hemagglutination-inhibiting or neutralizing antibodies against influenza viruses in human serum treated with V. cholerae filtrate. After elimination of nonspecific inhibitor with V. cholerae filtrate, specific antibody responses against influenza or mumps virus were demonstrable with paired sera which yielded negative results when tested in the usual manner.
The Feasibility of Interference Alignment for MIMO Interfering Broadcast—Multiple-Access Channels

The feasibility conditions of interference alignment (IA) are analyzed for interfering broadcast-multiple-access channels in which one cell operates as downlink but the other cell operates as uplink. Under a general multiple-input and multiple-output antenna configuration, a necessary condition and a sufficient condition for one-shot linear IA are established, i.e., linear IA without symbol or time extension. In various example networks of interest, the optimal sum degrees of freedom (DoFs) are characterized by the derived necessary condition and sufficient condition. For symmetric DoF within each cell, a sufficient condition is established in a more compact expression, which yields the necessary and sufficient condition for a class of symmetric DoFs. An iterative construction of transmit and receive beamforming vectors is further proposed, which provides a specific beamforming design satisfying one-shot IA. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed IA not only achieves larger DoF, but also significantly improves the sum rate over the single-cell operation in the practical signal-to-noise ratio regime.