Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Testing household preferences for the importance of the frequency and severity of water quality impairment

Abstract Water quality indices are employed by governments largely as a means of communicating the multifaceted nature of water quality and aquatic ecosystem health to the general public. Given the complexity of responsibility for oversight of freshwater quality in Canada, the Canadian Council of Ministers of the Environment (CCME) has developed an index based on the severity, frequency, and scope of water impairment. An important feature, and potential shortcoming, of this approach is that the three attributes of water quality are weighted equally. If households, however, weight these attributes differently, then the index’s ability to convey information to the public may be weakened. This issue is examined by eliciting household preferences for a hypothetical water quality protection program that reduces the severity and frequency of impairment using a discrete choice experiment (issues of scope are not included in the analysis). Latent class and mixed logit models are estimated. The latent class models, which outperform the mixed logit, indicate the presence of two preference classes that hold dramatically different preferences for benefits of the protection program. While one group of respondents is unresponsive to the severity and frequency of impairment, there is evidence that the other group may assign different weights to the attributes. These findings suggest the CCME index could convey different information to the two groups.
Pollution profile of waterborne bacterial and fungal community in urban Rivers of Pearl River estuary: Microbial safety assessment

Abstract Waterborne pathogens in urban rivers of estuarine areas pose a great threat to human health. In this study, both bacterial and fungal community structures of four urban rivers in the Pearl River estuarine area were investigated using high-throughput sequencing. Results showed that the diversity and richness indices of the bacterial community were higher than that of fungi. Taxonomic analysis indicated that the most abundant bacterial phylum was Actinobacteria, while the most abundant fungal phylum was Ascomycota. In addition, 35 major pathogens were found at the level of genus with Mycobacterium being the most abundant. Specifically, pathogens of Burkholderiales, Bartonella, Rhizobiales, Bordetella and Brucella were first detected in this area, although with relative low abundances. Spearman correlation analysis revealed that temperature, TOC and TDP were significant factors shaping both total microbial community and pathogenic microbial community structure. TDP was positively correlated with almost all the potential pathogenic genera. PICRUSt analysis further predicted that bacterial infectious disease was the most abundant pathway associated with microbial functions of human disease in all the studied rivers. This work provides useful information not only for in-depth understanding of bacterial and fungal communities in urban rivers of estuarine areas under anthropogenic disturbances but also for environmental risk management of potential waterborne pathogens.
How Web Shops Impact Consumer Behavior?

The behavior of e-customers is quite unpredictable, which raises additional questions about this topic. The purpose of the paper is to conduct research on e-customers, understand the impact of marketing actions on e-customer behavior and understand the unpredictability of e-customers. Research was conducted on the Mlinar web shop that sells cakes. 284 respondents/buyers had the opportunity to solve questionnaires about behavior after purchase and consumption of product. Different methods have been used in the analysis - descriptive statistics, multivariate analysis (reliability analysis, correlation analysis and linear regression) and analysis of variance (ANOVA). The results showed that most examinees were satisfied with online shopping on the Mlinar web shop and that they are impulsive when online shopping. Saving time is the main reason to buy on a web shop. Research proved that variables such as firm reputation/perceived value, e-satisfaction and online services positively affect the creation of e-loyalty in their users.
WHOI Hawaii Ocean Timeseries Station (WHOTS) : WHOTS-14 2017 mooring turnaround cruise report

The Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) Hawaii Ocean Time-series Station (WHOTS), located approximately 100 km north of Oahu, Hawaii, is intended to provide longterm, high-quality air-sea fluxes as a part of the NOAA Climate Observation Program. The WHOTS mooring also serves as a coordinated part of the Hawaii Ocean Time-series (HOT) program, contributing to the goals of observing heat, fresh water and chemical fluxes at a site representative of the oligotrophic North Pacific Ocean. The approach is to maintain a surface mooring instrumented for meteorological and oceanographic measurements at a site near 22.75N, 158W by successive mooring turnarounds. These observations are used to investigate air–sea interaction processes related to climate variability. This report documents recovery of the thirteenth WHOTS mooring (WHOTS-13) and deployment of the fourteenth mooring (WHOTS-14). Both moorings used Surlyn foam buoys as the surface element and were outfitted with two Air–Sea Interaction Meteorology (ASIMET) systems. Each ASIMET system measures, records, and transmits via Argos and Iridium satellite the surface meteorological variables necessary to compute air–sea fluxes of heat, moisture and momentum. The upper 155 m of the moorings were outfitted with oceanographic sensors for the measurement of temperature, conductivity and velocity in a cooperative effort with Dr. Roger Lukas of the University of Hawaii. A pCO2 system and ancillary sensors were installed on the buoys in cooperation with Adrienne J. Sutton at the Pacific Marine Environmental Laboratory. The WHOTS mooring turnaround was conducted on the NOAA ship Hi’ialakai (R/V HA). Operations were a joint effort undertaken by the Upper Ocean Processes group (UOP) of the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI), the University of Hawaii’s (UH) Hawaii Ocean Time-series group (HOT), and the able-bodied crew of R/V HA. The cruise took place between 25 July and August 3 2017. Operations began with deployment of the WHOTS-14 mooring on 27 July. This was followed by a period of intercomparison, where meteorological measurements and CTDs were collected at both the W13 and W14 stations. Recovery of the WHOTS-13 mooring took place on 31 July. This report details the in-port operations, pre-cruise buoy preparations, cruise operations and data collected.
The psychological profile of group rhythmic gymnasts

Sports performance is determined by several factors, given the complexity of the human being, the conditions in which the athlete performs and has to cope with, but also the variety of methods and means that can be used to reach increased performance capacity. Starting from this idea, which has been highlighted by many sports specialists over the years, we address in this study some subjective phenomena that have determining characteristics for the performance capacity of rhythmic gymnasts. To objectify these phenomena, we determined the psychological profile of the investigated subjects (8 female gymnasts) with the help of behavioural-cognitive tests aimed to identify elements related to personality dynamics. The psychological tests were selected according to the specific features of the sports event in question and were administered under standard conditions. These tests and questionnaires were the following: Raven’s Standard Progressive Matrices, Eysenck’s Personality Inventory, Cattell’s Anxiety Scale Questionnaire and Guilford-Zimmerman Temperament Survey. The obtained results have shown that the personality profile is harmoniously developed, being characterised by ambiversion, emotional stability and adaptation for all tested female gymnasts, who have a strong, realistic, balanced, thoughtful, persevering, sociable, self-confident and cooperative character. In conclusion, addressing the psychological preparation of athletes through a special plan, without ignoring their psychological profile, is an important condition that can positively influence the training process and the competitive performance of the group.
Effects of Annealing on the Microstructure and Wear Resistance of Laser Cladding CrFeMoNbTiW High-Entropy Alloy Coating

In this study, a CrFeMoNbTiW high-entropy alloy (HEA) coating was prepared on a Q245R steel (American grade: SA515 Gr60) substrate by means of laser cladding. The effects of annealing temperature on the microstructure and wear resistance of the CrFeMoNbTiW coating were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), a scanning electron microscope (SEM), a Vickers hardness tester and a roller friction wear tester. The results showed that the coating was mainly composed of body-centered cubic (BCC) solid solution and face-centered cubic (FCC) structural (Nb,Ti)C carbides prior to annealing, exhibiting an interdendritic structure and needlelike dendritic crystal structure with average microhardness of 682 HV0.2. The coarsening of the dendrite arms increased gradually after a 10-h long annealing treatment at 800 °C, 900 °C and 1000 °C, and a small amount of Laves phase was produced. After annealing, the highest microhardness value of the as-annealed coating reached 1176 HV0.2, which represents an increase of approximately 72.5% compared to that of the as-deposit coating. The wear resistance testing results imply that this type of coating retains good wear resistance following the annealing treatment and that its wear resistance increases in proportion to the annealing temperature in a range from 800 °C to 1000 °C.
Techno‐economic assessment of polylactic acid and polybutylene succinate production in an integrated sugarcane biorefinery

Plastic waste pollution is a growing environmental concern due to the increased use of conventional plastics. This study investigates the techno‐economics of biodegradable, bio‐based plastics, i.e. polylactic acid (PLA) and polybutylene succinate (PBS), as potential substitutes for conventional plastics, to identify the most viable one to be produced in a biorefinery annexed to a typical sugar mill. Six potential biorefinery scenarios were simulated in Aspen Plus®, in which PLA or PBS is derived from sugarcane molasses (1G scenarios), bagasse and harvesting residues (2G scenarios) or a mixture of molasses, bagasse, and harvesting residues (1G2G scenarios). The economic feasibility of the PLA and PBS scenarios was evaluated by means of the minimum selling prices (MSP) for an acceptable return on investment. The PLA scenarios showed lower MSPs than PBS with the 1G2G scenario having the lowest MSP (2965 US$ t–1), comparable to the commonly available PLA from corn grain (5140 US$ t–1). Polylactic acid benefited from lower process energy demands (5.5–5.8 MJ kg–1 of biomass or sugars processed) compared to PBS (5.1–8.2 MJ kg–1), which plays a crucial role in an energy self‐sufficient biorefinery. Furthermore, a 1G‐biorefinery was identified producing a fully biobased PBS at an MSP of 2980 US$ t–1 that is price competitive against fossil‐derived PBS (2380 US$ t–1) and partially bio‐derived PBS (4730 US$ t–1). To date, this was the first study to evaluate the detailed techno‐economics of a fully biobased and biodegradable PBS biorefinery in an energy self‐sufficient context, which was demonstrated to be cost‐competitive against both partial bio‐derived PBS and fully bio‐derived PBS. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry and John Wiley & Sons, Ltd
Effect of Subchronic Vitamin E Treatment on the Testes of Male Albino Rats

Infertility is a major clinical problem, affecting people medically and psychosocially(1). Reduced male fertility can be the result of congenital and acquired urogenital abnormalities, infections of the male accessory glands, increased scrotal temperature, endocrine disturbances, genetic abnormalities and immunological factors (2). In 40–60% of cases the only abnormality is the semen analysis and there is no relevant history or abnormality on physical examination and endocrine laboratory testing (idiopathic male infertility)(3). Semen analysis reveals a decreased number of spermatozoa (oligozoospermia), decreased motility (asthenozoospermia) and many abnormal forms on morphological examination (teratozoospermia). Usually, these abnormalities come together and are described as the OAT-syndrome (oligo-astheno-teratozoospermia) (4). Numerous studies have reported beneficial effects of antioxidant drugs and supplement on semen quality and treatment of male infertility (5,6) but there is no well-defined therapeutical protocol.
New species of the genus Spio (Annelida, Spionidae) from the southern and western coasts of Korea

Abstract A new spionid polychaete, Spiopigmentatasp. nov., is described from the southern and western coasts of Korea. This new species differs from its congeners by the combination of the following morphological characteristics: the presence of orange-brown pigmentation on the anterior part of the prostomium, black pigmentation on the peristomium and along the body, U-shaped nuchal organs, a comparatively long extension of metameric dorsal ciliated organs, three pairs of white dots per chaetiger, two to three posterior abranchiate chaetigers, and the presence of tridentate neuropodial hooded hooks. The partial 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and nuclear 18S rDNA sequences of the new species and Spio sp. 2 reported by Abe and Sato-Okoshi (2021) from Japan showed high similarity, indicating that these two specimens belong to the same species. A detailed description and illustrations of the new species, together with molecular information, are provided.
Metal Scrap Recycling 4.0: Towards Smart Operation And Production Of High-Quality Alloys

— In the era of Industry 4.0, manufacturing systems are becoming more and more efficient. Indeed, decision making for operations and production enables companies to maximize their profits and be more competitive. However, some industries are behind in their integration of Industry 4.0 technologies. This is the case of foundries, which, with their traditional manufacturing processes, do not perceive the potential benefits of Industry 4.0. In particular, this industry relies on digital technologies to connect production systems throughout the supply chain with smart factories. The manufacturing industry must rely on Industry 4.0 to produce more personalized products while remaining economically competitive. Hence, this study seeks to optimize the manufacturing process of a titanium recycling and foundry company, Metalliage Inc., with a program that selects the raw materials to be melted in order to minimize costs and meet order constraints. A model is developed to simulate the production as a mixed integer linear programming problem. The conducted study shows a potential gain of 20% that could be achieved with production supported by Industry 4.0 technologies. A possible integration of these technologies will be proposed in the context of a metal recycling plant.
The Effects of Chewing Exercises on Masticatory Function after Surgical Orthodontic Treatment

Recovery of oral function is one of the most important objectives of orthognathic surgery. This study investigated the effects of a chewing exercise on chewing patterns and other oral functions after sagittal split ramus osteotomy (SSRO). Ten subjects performed a chewing exercise. The control group comprised 19 patients. For masticatory function, the masticatory pattern, width, and height were assessed. For oral function, the occlusal, lip closure, and tongue pressure forces were measured. The chewing exercise was started 3 months after SSRO, and was performed for 5 min twice a day for 3 months. The masticatory pattern normalized in 60% of the patients and remained unchanged for the reversed and crossover types in 40% of the patients. In contrast, 21.0% of patients in the control group showed a change to the normal type. This may be a natural adaptation due to the changes in morphology. A more detailed study is needed to determine what does and does not improve with chewing exercise. The masticatory width significantly increased after performing the exercise. For oral function, a significant increase in the occlusal force was observed, with no significant difference in the control group. Chewing exercises immediately after SSRO improve masticatory patterns.
The Relationship between Corporate Social Responsibility Reporting and Firm Performance and the Moderating Role of Firm Life Cycle Stages: Evidence from China

This study aims to investigate the relationship of firm performance and corporate social responsibility reporting and the moderating role of a firm’s life cycle stages in Chinese listed companies. We used the sample of all A-share listed firms on the Shanghai and Shenzhen stock exchanges for the period 2010 to 2020. The authors used pooled ordinary least squares (OLS) regression as a baseline methodology. Our regression results show that positive Corporate social responsibility (CSR) activity significantly reduces the performance of the firm. In addition, the negative link between positive Corporate social responsibility and a firm’s performance is more pronounced for firms in mature life cycle stages. Our results are robust to alternative proxy measures of ROA for firm performance, corporate social responsibility reporting, and life cycle stages. To control the possible problem of endogeneity, we use a one-year lag and 2SLS least squares regression. We find that firm performance has a statistically significant influence on CSR reporting. Moreover, we see that firms with high performance are more likely to report CSR activities than low-performance firms. Additionally, six out of ten control variables (Independent Director, Board Shares, State Owned Enterprise, Board Meeting, Chief executive officer Duality, and Firm Growth) have positive influences on CSR reporting. These findings hold for a set of robustness tests. Our results have implications for the development of CSR reporting in developing countries such as China. Our research suggests that, in China, firms with better financial performance undertake more CSR reporting. This paper contributes to the existing literature by investigating the effect of firm performance on CSR reporting and the moderating role of a firm’s life cycle stages in Chinese listed companies. Additionally, this paper enriches the current literature on CSR reporting and highlights the importance of a firm’s financial performance for better environmental performance and reporting.
The Double Phospho/Dephosphorylation Cycle as a Benchmark to Validate an Effective Taylor Series Method to Integrate Ordinary Differential Equations

The double phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cycle consists of a symmetric network of biochemical reactions of paramount importance in many intracellular mechanisms. From a network perspective, they consist of four enzymatic reactions interconnected in a specular way. The general approach to model enzymatic reactions in a deterministic fashion is by means of stiff Ordinary Differential Equations (ODEs) that are usually hard to integrate according to biologically meaningful parameter settings. Indeed, the quest for model simplification started more than one century ago with the seminal works by Michaelis and Menten, and their Quasi Steady-State Approximation methods are still matter of investigation nowadays. This work proposes an effective algorithm based on Taylor series methods that manages to overcome the problems arising in the integration of stiff ODEs, without settling for model approximations. The double phosphorylation/dephosphorylation cycle is exploited as a benchmark to validate the methodology from a numerical viewpoint.
Use of Remote Sensing to Assess the Water-Saving Effect of Winter Wheat Fallow

Winter wheat fallow policy has a greater effect on water resource management, and the water-saving effect in the fallow process of winter wheat can provide data support for precise water resource utilization planning. In order to evaluate the water resource consumption of winter wheat and the related effect from winter wheat fallow, this study searched the changing trends of cultivated land evapotranspiration under five different scenarios through the object-oriented extraction method and a SEBS model based on multi-source data. The results indicated that the evapotranspiration during winter wheat growing period was higher than that of winter wheat fallow land, and there was no big difference in evapotranspiration between the fallow land during harvesting and the emergence of new crops. The evapotranspiration of winter wheat was higher than that of various fallow land, and the evapotranspiration of abandoned land was higher than other fallow land in the winter wheat growing season. From this point, this study concludes that the fallow land policy can effectively reduce evapotranspiration during the growing of winter wheat, which is conducive to the sustainable exploiting of water resources.
Interactions in statistical models: Three things to know

In ecological studies, the magnitude and direction of interactions among two continuous explanatory variables x1 and x2 are commonly evaluated by fitting a statistical model of the form y=β0+β1x1+β2x2+β3x1x2 , where x1x2 is an interaction term that measures departure from additivity of effects. Here, we highlight three issues associated with evaluating interactions in statistical models of this form that appear underappreciated in the ecological literature, but which have important implications for how we fit models and correctly identify interactions. First, the scale (additive or multiplicative) on which the outcome variable y is modelled matters. Transformations that change the scale of analysis alter the interpretation of interaction terms and can hide interactions of ecological importance. Second, spurious interactions can arise when explanatory variables are correlated and there are unmodeled nonlinear relationships, a situation likely to arise when fitting statistical models to non‐experimental data. Third, interactions can be nonlinear such that the interaction term x1x2 will not capture all interactions of ecological interest. We illustrate how each of these issues can result in potentially misleading outcomes using examples linked to the impacts of multiple stressors on biodiversity. We provide recommendations aimed at correctly identifying interaction effects from statistical models.