Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Financial Development and Innovation in Small Firms

This paper uses firm level data from a cross-section of 57 countries to study how financial development affects innovation in small firms. The analysis finds that relative to large firms in the same industry, spending on research and development by small firms is more likely and sizable in countries at higher levels of financial development. The estimates imply that among firms doing research and development in a country like Romania, which is at the 20th percentile of financial development, a 1 standard deviation decrease in firm size is associated with a decrease of 0.7 standard deviations in research and development spending. In contrast, this decrease is only 0.2 standard deviations in a country like South Africa, which is at the 80th percentile of the distribution of financial development. Small firms also report producing more innovations per unit of research and development spending than large firms, and this gap is narrower in countries at higher levels of financial development. As a robustness check, the author shows that these patterns are stronger in industries inherently more reliant on external finance.
DYNAMIC SOIL PROPERTIES IDENTIFICATION USING EARTHQUAKE RECORDS : A NN APPROXIMATION

Earthquake records constitute a helpful source of knowledge on the dynamic behavior of geotechnical systems. This data represents valuable information on site and earth dam response over a wide range of loading conditions that are difficult to be covered by full-scale testing or laboratory procedures. Using the capabilities of neural networks for solving spatio-temporal problems and in particular their ability to acquire, represent, and perform a mapping from one multivariate space of information to another, a neural model that identifies the patterns of materials behavior (accelerations time series) and permits to assess the variations of shear modulus (G) and damping ratio (λ) with strain amplitudes, is put together. The study reported here shows that a multiple input-output instrument array coupled with powerful analysis techniques constitutes an important base to develop systems that capture the dynamic response mechanisms of complex soil systems such as earth dams.
Muscle contraction increases palmitate esterification and oxidation and triacylglycerol oxidation.

We examined the oxidation and esterification of palmitate and the hydrolysis and oxidation of intramuscular lipids in isolated soleus muscles at rest and during tetanic contractions (2-40 tetani/min). Muscles were pulsed with [14C]palmitate to prelabel all intramuscular lipid pools. Muscles remained at rest or were then stimulated to contract at 2, 8, 20, or 40 tetani/min (30 min) in the presence of [3H]palmitate. Palmitate oxidation was increased 412% at 2 tetani/min ( P < 0.05) and 880% at 8 tetani/min ( P < 0.05). During contraction there was an absolute increase in esterification of palmitate to triacylglycerol in proportion with the increasing rate of palmitate oxidation. Intramuscular lipid oxidation provided ∼77% of the total muscle energy compared with ∼3% provided by exogenous palmitate under all conditions, with carbohydrate sources (glycogen and glucose) providing ∼20% of the total energy. Thus, during muscle contraction, the oxidation rates of both exogenous and intramuscular lipids are increased in proportion to each other, while concomitantly palmitate is esterified in proportion to its oxidation.
Resource–use Efficiency and Technical Efficiency of Turmeric Production in Tamil Nadu — A Stochastic Frontier Approach

The resource-use efficiency and technical efficiency of turmeric production have been computed using primary data collected from 90 turmeric growers spread over three blocks in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu. The study has revealed that planting material, nitrogen, potash, harvesting and curing cost, machine hours and irrigation have a positive and significant influence on turmeric yield. Economic efficiency of these variables, except harvesting and curing cost, is more than one, indicating that these resources are being used at sub-optimum levels and there exists the possibility of enhancing the yield of turmeric by increasing their use. The technical efficiency of about 69 per cent of sample farmers has been found more than 80 per cent, which indicates the possibility of increasing the yield of turmeric by adopting better technology. Non-availability of labour has been reported the major production constraint by the turmeric growers. The study has suggested some measures to increase productivity and income of farmers in the study area.
Formal Verification of Technical Systems using smartIflow and CTL

Verification of safety requirements is one important task during the development of safety critical systems. The increasing complexity of systems makes manual analysis almost impossible. This paper introduces a methodology for formal verification of technical systems with smartIflow. Existing approaches mainly use existing model checking tools for this task. Due to the bidirectional connection modeling, this is not feasible for smartIflow models. Our proposed two-step method first predicts the system behavior. In the second step, safety requirements specified in CTL are verified, and counterexamples are generated if these are not satisfied. We describe the usage of CTL formulas verified against safety critical complex systems modeled with smartIflow. The practical applicability is shown using a simple example system.
Upper mantle anisotropy and transition zone thickness beneath southeastern North America and implications for mantle dynamics

A variety of models for mantle flow beneath southeastern North America have been proposed, including those that invoke westward driven return flow from the sinking Farallon slab, small‐scale convective downwelling at the edge of the continental root, or the upward advective transport of volatiles from the deep slab through the upper mantle. We use shear wave splitting observations and receiver function analysis at broadband seismic stations in the southeastern United States to test several of these proposed mantle flow geometries. Near the coast, stations exhibit well‐resolved null (no splitting) behavior for SKS phases over a range of back azimuths, consistent with either isotropic upper mantle or with a vertical axis of anisotropic symmetry. Farther inland we identify splitting with mainly NE–SW fast directions, consistent with asthenospheric shear due to absolute plate motion (APM), lithospheric anisotropy aligned with Appalachian tectonic structure, or a combination of these. Phase‐weighted stacking of individual receiver functions allows us to place constraints on the timing of arrivals from the 410 and 660 km discontinuities and on average transition zone thickness beneath individual stations. At most stations we find transition zone thicknesses that are consistent with the global average (∼240 km), with two stations showing evidence for a slightly thickened transition zone (∼250 km). Our results are relevant for testing different models for mantle dynamics beneath the southeastern United States, but due to the sparse station coverage, we are unable to uniquely constrain the pattern of mantle flow beneath the region. Our SKS splitting observations support a model in which mantle flow is primarily vertical (either upwelling or downwelling) beneath the southeastern edge of the North American continent, in contrast to the likely horizontal, APM‐driven flow beneath the continental interior. However, our receiver function analysis does not provide unequivocal support either for widespread hydration of the transition zone or for widespread thickening due to the downwelling of relatively cold mantle material. We expect that the necessary data to constrain such models more tightly can be obtained from the operation of denser seismic networks, including the Transportable Array and Flexible Array components of USArray.
Burning Behavior of Oil in Ice Cavities Final Report

This report has been reviewed by the BSEE and approved for publication. Approval does not signify that the contents necessarily reflect the views and policies of the BSEE, nor does mention of the trade names or commercial products constitute endorsement or recommendation for use. This study was funded by the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement, US Department of the Interior, Washington, D. C. , under Contract Number E14PC00010.
Phytochemical and antimicrobial properties of leaves of African mistletoe (Loranthus micranthus) on some selected microbial pathogens in Abia State, Nigeria

In this study performed on the leaves African mistleloe (Loranthus micranthus), phytochemicals such as Tanins, Saponins, Flavonoids, Phenols, Alkaloids and Anthrocyanins were quantitatively determined. Composition studies indicated the presence of calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, sodium and potassium at different concentrations. Antimicrobial susceptibility was observed at various concentrations (50mg/disc – 300mg/disc) on Staphylococcus, aureus, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Candida albicans, Aspergillus species, Penicillum species. Susceptibility variance should be stated. Highest – lowest. No antibacterial activity was observed on Salmonella typhi at concentration <300mg/disc. Minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) were determined with different organisms and results documented. This research calls for further pharmacological research attention on Loranthus micranthus with the view to formulating some refined therapies from this herb.
Big-leaf mahoganySwietenia macrophyllapopulation dynamics and implications for sustainable management

Summary 1. The impacts of selective harvesting in tropical forests on population recovery and future timber yields by high-value species remain largely unknown for lack of demographic data spanning all phases of life history, from seed to senescence. In this study, we use an individual-based model parameterized using 15 years of annual census data to simulate population dynamics of big-leaf mahogany Swietenia macrophylla King in southeast Amazonia in response to multiple harvests and in the absence of harvesting. 2. The model is based on regression equations of stem diameter growth, mortality, and fruit production estimated as a function of stem diameter and prior growth; it includes functions for germinating seeds, growing trees from seedling to adult senescence, producing seeds, and creating disturbances at specified spatial scales and return intervals, including logging. We simulate six harvest scenarios by varying the minimum diameter cutting limit (60 cm, 80 cm) and the retention rate requirement (20%, 40% and 60% commercial population retained). 3. Without logging, simulated populations grew over 100 years by 182% from observed densities, indicating that one or more parameters in the model may overestimate long-term demographic rates on this landscape. However, 100-year densities did not far exceed values reported from forests across this region, and other modelled demographic parameters resembled observed behaviours. 4. Under current harvest regulations for mahogany in Brazil (60 cm minimum diameter cutting limit, 20% commercial-sized tree retention rate, minimum 5 commercial-sized trees 100 ha � 1 retained after harvest, 30-year cutting cycle), commercial densities at the study site would decline from 39� 7t o 11 � 3 trees 100 ha � 1 before the fourth harvest in year 90, yielding an estimated 16� 4% of the initial harvest volume during the fourth harvest. Increasing retention rates caused first-cut harvest volumes to decline but improved population recovery rates between harvests. Under both minimum diameter cutting limit scenarios, increasing retention rates led to more robust population recovery compared with the current 20% rate, and higher subsequent harvest yields relative to initial (first-cut) values. 5. Synthesis and applications. These results indicate that current harvest regulations in Brazil for mahogany and other high-value timber species with similar life histories will lead to commercial depletion after 2–3 cutting cycles. Increasing commercial-sized tree retention rates improved population recovery at the cost of reduced initial harvest volume yields. Sustainable harvests will require, in combination, a moderate increase in the retention rate, investment in
Monitoring and assimilation tests with TROPOMI data in the CAMS system: near-real-time total column ozone

Abstract. The TROPOspheric Monitoring Instrument (TROPOMI) on board the Sentinel-5 Precursor (S5P) satellite launched in October 2017 yields a wealth of atmospheric composition data, including retrievals of total column ozone (TCO3) that are provided in near-real-time (NRT) and off-line. The NRT TCO3 retrievals (v1.0.0–v1.1.2) have been included in the data assimilation system of the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS), and tests to monitor the data and to carry out first assimilation experiments with them have been performed for the period 26 November 2017 to 30 November 2018. The TROPOMI TCO3 data agree to within 2 % with the CAMS analysis over large parts of the globe between 60∘ N and 60∘ S and also with TCO3 retrievals from the Ozone Monitoring Instrument (OMI) and the Global Ozone Monitoring Experiment-2 (GOME-2) that are routinely assimilated by CAMS. However, the TCO3 NRT data from TROPOMI show some retrieval anomalies at high latitudes, at low solar elevations and over snow/ice (e.g. Antarctica and snow-covered land areas in the Northern Hemisphere), where the differences with the CAMS analysis and the other data sets are larger. These differences are particularly pronounced over land in the NH during winter and spring (when they can reach up to 40 DU) and come mainly from the surface albedo climatology that is used in the NRT TROPOMI TCO3 retrieval. This climatology has a coarser horizontal resolution than the TROPOMI TCO3 data, which leads to problems in areas where there are large changes in reflectivity from pixel to pixel, e.g. pixels covered by snow/ice or not. The differences between TROPOMI and the CAMS analysis also show some dependency on scan position. The assimilation of TROPOMI TCO3 has been tested in the CAMS system for data between 60∘ N and 60∘ S and for solar elevations greater than 10∘ and is found to have a small positive impact on the ozone analysis compared to Brewer TCO3 data and an improved fit to ozone sondes in the tropical troposphere and to IAGOS aircraft profiles at West African airports. The impact of the TROPOMI data is relatively small because the CAMS analysis is already well constrained by several other ozone retrievals that are routinely assimilated. When averaged over the periods February–April and September–October 2018, differences between experiments with and without assimilation of TROPOMI data are less than 2 % for TCO3 and less than 3 % in the vertical for seasonal mean zonal mean O3 mixing ratios, with the largest relative differences found in the troposphere.
Effects of Dietary Arachidonic Acid (20:4n-6) Levels on Growth Performance and Fatty Acid Composition of Juvenile Eel, Anguilla japonica

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary arachidonic acid (AA, 20:4n-6) levels on growth performance and body composition in juvenile eel, Anguilla japonica. Six semi-purified experimental diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous and iso-caloric containing 55.0% crude protein and 15% crude lipid (18.3 kJ of available energy g -1 ). Six different levels of AA were added to the basal diet, with 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.6, 0.8 or 1.2% on a dry matter (DM) basis, respectively (AA 0.07 , AA 0.22 , AA 0.43 , AA 0.57 , AA 0.78 or AA 1.23 ). After a conditioning period, fish initially averaging 27±0.5 g (mean±SD) were randomly distributed into each aquarium as triplicate groups of 20 fish each. One of six experimental diets was fed on a DM basis to fish in three randomly selected aquaria at a rate of 2-3% of total body weight twice a day. At the end of the 12-week feeding trial, weight gain (WG) and feed efficiency (FE) of fish fed AA 0.78 and AA 1.23 diets were significantly higher than of fish fed AA 0.07 , AA 0.22 and AA 0.43 diets (p 0.05). Whole body AA deposition of fish fed the AA 1.23 diet was significantly higher than for the other diets (p<0.05). Broken-line model analysis on the basis of WG and SGR indicated that the dietary AA requirement could be greater than 0.69% but less than 0.71% of the diet in juvenile eel. The growth-promoting activity of AA observed in the present study provides strong support for the contention that dietary AA is essential for juvenile eel.
Development of a TaqMan Real-Time PCR Assay for the Rapid Detection of Bovine Adenovirus Serotypes in Cattle

The aim of this work was to develop a sensitive and specific real time PCR diagnostic assay for the rapid detection and identification of bovine adenoviruses (BAdVs) in cattle. A TaqMan real time PCR assay, capable of simultaneous detection of nine out of ten BAdV serotypes (species) belonging to the genera Atadenovirus and Mastadenovirus, was developed. The oligonucleotide primers and probe were selected from conserved sequences flanking the genome region coding for the hexon protein. DNA from BAdV serotypes 1 to 10 was isolated by standard phenol chloroform extraction. Standard curve using a ten fold dilution series of BAdV-8 positive DNA template was generated. The sensitivity of assay was determined using BAdV-8 cloned PCR product and the detection limit was five copies of viral genome equivalents. The efficiency of PCR assay was 97%. BAdV-2 was the only serotype, which was not detected. BAdV-7 has shown low amplification rates and fluorescence due to four mismatches in the probe region. In conclusion, the real time PCR assay presented here is expected to be a useful and practical alternative tool to the traditional diagnostic methods like virus isolation, ELISA or conventional PCR for the simple and rapid diagnosis of adenovirus infections in Bovidae.
A Multi-Factor Authentication Scheme Using Attack Recognition and Key Generator Technique

Security plays an important role in many authentication applications. Modern era information sharing is boundless and becoming much easier to access with the introduction of the Internet and the World Wide Web. Although this can be considered as a good point, issues such as privacy and data integrity arise due to the lack of control and authority. For this reason, the concept of data security was introduced. This research was focused on the authentication of data security. There have been substantial research that discusses on multi-factor authentication scheme but most of those researches do not entirely protect data against all types of attacks. Most current research only focuses on improving the security part of authentication while neglecting other important parts such as the accuracy and efficiency of the system. Current multifactor authentication schemes were simply not designed to have security, accuracy, and efficiency as their focus. To overcome the above issue, this research will propose a new multi-factor authentication scheme, which is capable to withstand external attacks, which are known security vulnerabilities, and attacks, which are based on user behaviour. On the other hand, the proposed scheme still needs to maintain an optimum level of accuracy and efficiency. From the result of the experiments, the proposed scheme was proven able to withstand the attacks due to the implementation of the attack recognition and key generator technique together in the proposed scheme. Type of Paper: Empirical
Heart Defects in Connexin 43-Deficient Mice

Cardiac malformation in connexin43 (CX43)-disrupted mice is restricted to the junction between right ventricle and outflow tract, even though CX43 is also expressed abundantly elsewhere. We analyzed cardiac morphogenesis in immunohistochemically and hybridohistochemically stained and three-dimensionally reconstructed serial sections of CX43-deficient embryos between embryonic day (ED) 10 and birth. The establishment of the D configuration in the ascending loop of CX43-deficient hearts is markedly retarded, so that the right ventricle retains a craniomedial position and is connected with the outflow tract by a more acute bend in ED10 and ED11 embryos. Because of the subsequent growth of the right ventricle, this condition usually evolves into a D loop, but when it persists, a “crisscross” configuration develops, with the atrioventricular cushions rotated 90°, a horizontal muscular ventricular septum, and a parallel course of the endocardial ridges of the outflow tract. After ED12, large intertrabecular pouches develop at the ventricular side of both shelflike myocardial structures that support the endocardial ridges of the outflow tract, ie, at the location that was earlier characterized by the acute bend between the right ventricle and the outflow tract and that subsequently develops into the anterosuperior leaflet of the tricuspid valve. Retarded development of the D configuration in the ascending loop of the embryonic heart predisposes the myocardium at the junction of the right ventricle and outflow tract to excessive development of intertrabecular pouches during subsequent development. (Circ Res. 1998;82:360-366.)
Robust Sample Preparation on Low-Cost Digital Microfluidic Biochips

Sample preparation is an important application for the digital microfluidic biochips (DMFBs) platform, and many methods have been developed to reduce the time and reagent usage associated with on-chip sample preparation. However, errors in fluidic operations can result in the concentration of the resulting droplet being outside the calibration range. Current error-recovery methods have the drawback that they need the use of on-chip sensors and further re-execution time. In this paper, we present two dilution-chain structures that can generate a droplet with a desired concentration even if volume variations occur during droplet splitting. Experimental results show the effectiveness of the proposed method compared to previous methods.