Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Assigning Subjects to Groups in a Controlled Trial

When a subject characteristic substantially modifies the effect of a treatment or other intervention in a controlled trial, precision of the estimate of the treatment effect is improved by allocating subjects to control and treatment groups in a manner aimed at minimizing the differences between population and group means of the characteristic. The usual approach of randomized allocation produces substantial differences from the population mean and between group means on average with <25 and <50 subjects per group respectively. The spreadsheets accompanying this article provide a more effective alternative to randomization with such sample sizes in up to five treatment groups. The spreadsheets are based on sequential allocation that minimizes standardized differences between the means of the developing groups. One spreadsheet is designed for use when the characteristics of all subjects are known before allocation; it gives primary importance to minimizing differences between the means of one characteristic (usually the baseline values of the dependent variable), while up to five other characteristics are given equal secondary importance. The other spreadsheet allocates subjects as they are recruited, giving equal importance to all characteristics. In simulations the spreadsheets on average outperform randomized allocation, especially for mean differences between groups and for allocation after recruitment. Improvement in the precision of estimation of a treatment effect following minimized allocation will be implicit but the calculated confidence interval for the effect will not be narrower unless either the subject characteristics are included as covariates in the analysis and/or the clustering of observations created by allocation after recruitment is taken into account as repeated measurements.
Aiding violence or building peace? The role of international aid in Afghanistan

The political and military landscape in Afghanistan has been transformed since 11 September. Whether the fall of the Taliban and the transition to an Afghan Interim Administration signify the emergence of a new peaceful order or a dangerous disorder it is too early to tell. The underlying dynamics of the Afghan crisis have yet to be addressed and it will be argued in this article that the main challenge for the newly installed interim administration and the international community will be one of 'winning the peace'. Military and diplomatic measures, though important, are unlikely by themselves to secure a transition towards a stable peace. Over two decades of war a regional conflict complex has developed which has transformed institutions, incentives systems and livelihoods. War cannot simply be declared over. It is recognised that a substantial aid package or 'Marshall Plan' for Afghanistan will be necessary to transform the war economy into a peace economy, and already significant pledges of aid have been made by donor countries. This represents an important departure from policies of the previous decade, in which the international response was one of disengagement and containment and Afghanistan became an orphaned conflict. Whether this aid will materialise and whether it will be used to good effect in 'winning the peace' is another matter. This article will focus on the historical and contemporary role of aid in relation to the Afghan crisis. It will ask how international assistance has interacted with the dynamics of conflict and peace in the past. What lessons should be learned (and unlearned) to inform current policy and practice? What will be the likely challenges facing assistance actors aiming to build peace?
Reconstructing the history of water ice formation from HDO/H2O and D2O/HDO ratios in protostellar cores

Recent interferometer observations have found that the D2O/HDO abundance ratio is higher than that of HDO/H2O by about one order of magnitude in the vicinity of low-mass protostar NGC 1333-IRAS 2A, where water ice has sublimated. Previous laboratory and theoretical studies show that the D2O/HDO ice ratio should be lower than the HDO/H2O ice ratio, if HDO and D2O ices are formed simultaneously with H2O ice. In this work, we propose that the observed feature, D2O/HDO > HDO/H2O, is a natural consequence of chemical evolution in the early cold stages of low-mass star formation: 1) majority of oxygen is locked up in water ice and other molecules in molecular clouds, where water deuteration is not efficient, and 2) water ice formation continues with much reduced efficiency in cold prestellar/protostellar cores, where deuteration processes are highly enhanced due to the drop of the ortho-para ratio of H2, the weaker UV radiation field, etc. Using a simple analytical model and gas-ice astrochemical simulations tracing the evolution from the formation of molecular clouds to protostellar cores, we show that the proposed scenario can quantitatively explain the observed HDO/H2O and D2O/HDO ratios. We also find that the majority of HDO and D2O ices are likely formed in cold prestellar/protostellar cores rather than in molecular clouds, where the majority of H2O ice is formed. This work demonstrates the power of the combination of the HDO/H2O and D2O/HDO ratios as a tool to reveal the past history of water ice formation in the early cold stages of star formation and when the enrichment of deuterium in the bulk of water occurred. Further observations are needed to explore if the relation, D2O/HDO > HDO/H2O, is common in low-mass protostellar sources.
The Success of CRM

Thinking about international business, means thinking about the different factors including social factors for each country, technological factor, economical factors, environmental factors and political factors as well. The following article deals with the CRM strategy. It handles the STEEP analysis approach and linkage to COCACOLA Company. It is a try to analyze the effectiveness of CRM strategy to generate the competitive advantage by using a comparison between the company and its competitors. It also gives the recommendation for such situation and how to implement it and the results in this case. The recommendation includes further leverages for the specific CRM approach chosen in the same case.
Analysis of nucleation events in the European boundary layer using the regional aerosol–climate model REMO-HAM with a solar radiation-driven OH-proxy

Abstract. This work describes improvements in the regional aerosol–climate model REMO-HAM in order to simulate more realistically the process of atmospheric new particle formation (NPF). A new scheme was implemented to simulate OH radical concentrations using a proxy approach based on observations and also accounting for the effects of clouds upon OH concentrations. Second, the nucleation rate calculation was modified to directly simulate the formation rates of 3 nm particles, which removes some unnecessary steps in the formation rate calculations used earlier in the model. Using the updated model version, NPF over Europe was simulated for the periods 2003–2004 and 2008–2009. The statistics of the simulated particle formation events were subsequently compared to observations from 13 ground-based measurement sites. The new model shows improved agreement with the observed NPF rates compared to former versions and can simulate the event statistics realistically for most parts of Europe.
Essays on demand enhancement by food industry participants

This dissertation empirically examines how demand-enhancing activities conducted by food industry participants affect retail beef steak pricing, consumer demand for ground beef, and industry concentration. It follows the journal article style and includes three self-contained chapters. Chapter 1 uses a two step hedonic model with retail scanner data of consumer beef steak purchases to determine if there are incentives to identify certain attributes and to determine what types of attributes entertain price premiums and at what levels these premiums exists. Results indicate that most branded beef steak products garnered premiums along with organic claim, religious processing claim, and premium steak cuts. Factors influencing brand equity are new brands targeting emerging consumer trends, brands with regional prominence, and those positioned as special-labels, program/breed specific, and store brands. Chapter 2 reports tests of aggregation over elementary ground beef products and estimates composite demand elasticities. Results suggest consumers differentiate ground beef according to lean percentage (70-77%, 78-84%, 85-89%, 90-95%, and 96-100%) and brand type (local/regional, national, store, and unbranded). The range in composite elasticity estimates shows the value of analyzing demand elasticity based on differentiation and not simply considering ground beef as being homogeneous. Composite elasticity estimates provide improved understanding of how consumers make decisions concerning ground beef purchases. Chapter 3 examines industry concentration for the U.S. food manufacturing sector. This study is the first to examine whether particular subsectors within the food manufacturing industry, which operate in the presence of industry-funded check-off programs such as marketing orders, are more or less concentrated than industries without such research and marketing programs. Results provide evidence to support the hypothesis that industries with demandenhancing check-off programs have lower concentration relative to industries without these programs. ESSAYS ON DEMAND ENHANCEMENT BY FOOD INDUSTRY PARTICIPANTS
A Test on Causality Relationship between Intellectual Property Rights Protection and Foreign Direct Investment in Malaysia

The role of IPR in attracting foreign direct investment has been extensively discussed in quite a number of literatures, but this issue has yet to be discussed in the Malaysian economic context. Recent ARDL cointegration approach is used to investigate the relationship. It is found that the immediate short run effect of IPR to reach the long run convergence is needed as the momentum found to be highly suggestive to promote investment.
Shell-specific Interpolation of Measured 3D Displacements, for Micromechanics-Based Rapid Safety Assessment of Shotcrete Tunnels

Point-wise optical measurements of 3D displacement vectors over time are a key input for monitoring shotcrete tunnel shells during construction according to the New Austrian Tunnelling Method (NATM). Aiming at estimation of the stresses prevailing in the highly loaded, hydrating material, we here deal with two different interpolation strategies for reconstructing, from measured displacement vectors, the 3D displacement field histories of the inner surface of the tunnel shell. The first approach considers spatial interpolation of displacement components in a fixed Cartesian base frame, while the second (new) approach refers to displacement components in a moving base frame consisting of vectors tangent to the cylindrical coordinate curves along the tunnel shell. Subsequently, thin shell kinematics allow for (analytical) conversion of the aforementioned displacement field histories into strain field histories throughout the entire tunnel shell. Finally, thermochemomechanical constitutive modeling (including extension of a recently developed, experimentally validated micro-viscoelasticity model for hydrating shotcrete, towards the nonlinear regime) allows for conversion of the aforementioned strain fields into stress fields. The latter differ qualitatively, depending on the chosen interpolation strategy. Thereby, the moving base frame-related interpolation scheme results in more realistic estimations of the actual load carrying behavior of an NATM tunnel.
Leaf choice in black-and-white snub-nosed monkeys Rhinopithecus bieti is related to the physical and chemical properties of leaves

To understand the effects of the chemical and physical properties of plant leaves on food choice in Rhinopithecus bi- eti, we collected mature leaves of nine food and five non-food plant species at the southernmost part of the species's range. Chemical properties such as fat, ash, crude protein (CP), total phenolics (TP), and fiber content including neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), lignin, celluloses and hemicelluloses, and physical toughness were measured. R. bieti tended to choose leaves with lower fiber content, higher ash, a higher ratio of CP/ADF, and lower toughness. No difference was found for fat, crude protein, total phenolics, hemicelluloses and lignin between food and non-food leaves. Even though the ratio of CP/ADF is generally regarded as a good indicator for colobine food choice, the difference in the ratio of CP/ADF between food and non-food leaves was only the result of differences in ADF. Since positive correlations were found between ADF and tough- ness from all leaves (both food and non-food species), and toughness of leaves was likely easier for R. bieti to sense than fiber content via mastication, the toughness of leaves may function as a predictor of food choice in this species (Current Zoology 56 (6): 643-649, 2010).
Private Tutoring: Evidence from India

Drawing on the nationally representative "Participation and Expenditure in Education" surveys, we document the incidence and cost of private tutoring at different stages of schooling over the last two decades in India. As private tutoring involve two decisions: a) whether to take private tuition or not, and b) how much to spend on private tutoring conditional on positive decision in (a), we analyze the determinants of the two decisions separately using a Hurdle model. We find that private tutoring is not a new phenomenon in India: a significant proportion of students at each stage of schooling took private tutoring even in 1986-87, and there has been no dramatic increase in those proportions. Students in urban areas and private schools are not only more likely to take private tutoring but also spend more on private tutoring. We also find that demand for private tutoring is inelastic at each stage of schooling, which implies that the private tutoring is a necessary good in the household consumption basket. We also find evidence of pro-male bias in both decisions regarding private tutoring.
Will mutual fund managers follow the leaders

After controlling for stock returns and turnover, empirical evidence shows that the changes in portfolio weights of the leaders were an important determinant of the holding changes for the followers in the subsequent month. However, the leading funds tended to avoid the stocks held by the follower funds. The portfolio strategy that follows the transactions of the best funds did not provide positive returns in subsequent periods.
Synthesis and Characterization of In-Situ-Prepared Nanocomposites Based on Poly(Propylene 2,5-Furan Dicarboxylate) and Aluminosilicate Clays

Poly(propylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate) (PPF), or poly(trimethylene 2,5-furan dicarboxylate) (PTF), is a biobased alipharomatic polyester that is expected to replace its fossil-based terephthalate (PPT) and naphthate (PPN) homologues. PPF possesses exceptional gas barrier properties, but its slow crystallization rate might affect its success in specific applications in the future. Therefore, a series of PPF based nanocomposites with the nanoclays Cloisite®-Na (MMT), Cloisite®-20A (MMT 20A), and halloysite nanotubes (HNT) were synthesized via the in situ transterification and polycondensation method. The effect of the nanoclays on the structure, thermal, and crystallization properties of PPF was studied with several methods including infrared spectroscopy (IR), Nuclear Resonance Spectroscopy (1H-NMR), Wide Angle X-ray Diffraction (WAXD), Thermogravimetric Analysis (TGA), and Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC). The insertion of the nanofillers in the polymer matrix altered the crystallization rates, and TGA results showed good thermal stability, since no significant mass loss occurred up to 300 °C. Finally, the degradation mechanism was studied in depth with Pyrolysis-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy, and it was found that β-scission is the dominant degradation mechanism.
SME funding without banks? On the interplay of banks and markets

The Capital Markets Union-project of the European Commission aims for an increase of market-based debt financing of small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), complementing bank lending. In this essay we argue that rather than focussing on pure non-bank lending, a reasonable mix of bank- and market-based financing should be considered. Banks are said to have a comparative advantage in critical lending functions such as credit screening, debtor monitoring and debt renegotiation. All forms of lending require a persistent skin-in-the-game of critical players in order to be effective. The regulator should insist on full disclosure of skin-in-the-game, thereby improving capital allocation and reducing systemic risks.
Multi-Criteria Watershed Prioritization of Kas Basin in Maharashtra India: AHP and Influence Approaches

Watershed is unique bio-physical unit of the Earth’s surface and source of resources to the people. These resources are being exploited for various purposes. AHP based multi-criteria analysis is useful for prioritization of watersheds for planning, management and development. Nineteen criterion i.e. , , A, , P, , , , , , , , T, , , , , slope and soils were selected for prioritization of sub-watersheds of Kas basin in Maharashtra (India). Correlation analysis suitable for robust judgment for ranking the criterion was used for prioritization of selected watersheds. Drainage intensity (27.80%), texture ratio (13.90%), bifurcation ratio (9.27%), geology (6.95%) and basin length (5.56%) show higher influence on formation of watershed structure in the region. Influences of criterion were estimated based on weights calculated using AHP techniques. Values of influences were normalized using distribution of selected criterion within the sub-watersheds. Watersheds were classified into three categories of priorities: high, moderate and low priorities. The methodology formulated in this study can be efficient tool for rapid prioritization of watersheds for planning and management for development. © 2018 GATHA COGNITION All rights reserved. Article history Received: 30 December 2017 Revised: 08 January 2018 Accepted: 09 January 2018
Antimicrobial resistance and plasmid profiles of Aeromonas hydrophila isolated from River Njoro, Kenya

The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence of Aeromonas hydrophila at commonly used water collection points on the River Njoro and to determine the in-vitro antimicrobial susceptibility and plasmid profiles of isolates. In total, 126 samples were collected and 36.5% of them were positive for A. hydrophila. The A. hydrophila were recovered on membrane filters, cultured on Trypticase Soy agar, Bile aesculin agar and Aeromonas Medium agar. They were further characterized using cytochrome oxidase and API 20E tests. Detection of drug susceptibility was determined using modified disc diffusion method to ampicillin (25 μg), cefaclor (30 μg), ceftizoxime (30 μg), cefixime (5 μg), cefazidime (30 μg), gentamicin (200 μg), streptomycin (25 μg), chloramphenicol (50 μg), nalidixic acid (30 μg) and ciprofloxacin (1 μg). Most of the isolates showed multi-drug resistance to two or more antibiotics. Chloramphenicol, nalidixic acid, ciprofloxacin, cefazidime and cefixime were the most sensitive drugs with 100% efficacy whereas ampicillin, cefaclor and streptomycin were the most resistant drugs having 100, 67 and 50 resistance, respectively. There was low resistance against ceftizoxime (16.7%) and gentamicin (23.3%). These results indicates that all A. hydrophila isolated from River Njoro had complete resistance to ampicillin and showed variable resistance to cefaclor, streptomycin, gentamycin and ceftizoxime. R-plasmids were extracted from multi-drug resistance strains and separated by agarose gel (0.8%) electrophoresis for profiling. Plasmid profiling revealed that most of the multi-drug resistant isolates contained one plasmid of 21.0 kb. Although some strains exhibited different antimicrobial resistance patterns, all of their plasmids were of the same size (21.0 kb). However, there were no plasmids in the antimicrobial sensitive isolates. This study also indicates that plasmid 21.0 kb is common in A. hydrophila and is important for antimicrobial resistance and virulence. Further studies are required to ascertain the role of this plasmid as a virulence marker.
A Survey on Various Indoor Localization Techniques in Wireless Sensor Networks

Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN) deals with variety of numerous applications such as monitoring, target tracking, battlefield surveillance for civilian as well as military purposes. Many such application demands the location information of Sensor Nodes. Thus, localization is really becoming an important challenge over recent years. Since many techniques have been developed to solve the problem of localization, but all of them suffer from certain limitations. This paper provides an overview of the various existing indoor localization techniques with their applications in Wireless Sensor Network. Keywords— Localization, Sensor Nodes, Wireless Sensor Networks (WSN).
GENERATION AND CAREER CONCERN: THEIR IMPACT ON PERCEPTIONS OF EMPLOYABILITY AND JOB INSECURITY IN A CHANGING EMPLOYMENT CONTEXT A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree

7 Introduction.8 Individual Differences at Work.8 Age.8 Career Stage.8 Generation.11 Relationships between Age, Career Stage and Generation.16 Individual Differences and the Changing World of Work.17 Perceptions of Employability.17 Age Factors and Perceptions of Employability . 19 Job Insecurity.21 Perceptions of Employability and Job Insecurity.22 Age Factors and Their Impact on Perceptions of Employability and Job Insecurity.23 The Present Research.25 Pilot Study.26 Overview.26 Method.26 Participants.26 Scale Development.26 Procedure.27 Results.28 Scale Development.28 Construct Validity.30 Discussion.31 Method.33 Participants.33 Materials.33 Introduction/Informed Consent Page.34 Demographic Information Section.34 Adult Career Concerns InventoryShort Form (ACCI-SF). 34 Employability Scale.35 Job Insecurity ScaleAbridged (JIS-A). 35
Effects of snow cover on the benthic fauna in a glacier‐fed stream

SUMMARY 1. Alpine streams above the tree line are covered by snow for 6‐9 months a year. However, winter dynamics in these streams are poorly known. The annual patterns of macroinvertebrate assemblages were studied in a glacial stream in the Austrian Alps, providing information on conditions under the snow. 2. Snow cover influenced water temperature, the content of benthic organic matter and insect development. Taxa richness and abundance of macroinvertebrates did not show a pronounced seasonal pattern. The duration of the autumn period with stable stream beds was important in determining the abundance and composition of the winter fauna. 3. There were significant differences in species composition between summer and winter. Two potential strategies in larval survival were evident: adaptation to the extreme abiotic conditions in summer (e.g. Diamesa spp.) or avoidance of these conditions and development during winter (e.g. Ephemeroptera and Plecoptera). 4. A comparison of a stream reach with continuous snow cover and a stream reach that remained open throughout winter showed that conditions under snow are suboptimal. At the open stream site, with higher water temperatures and greater food supply (benthic organic matter content), abundance and taxa richness was higher and larval growth was faster. Several taxa were found exclusively at this site. 5. Winter conditions did not provide an entirely homogeneous environment, abiotic conditions changed rapidly, especially at the onset of snowfall and at snowmelt. Continuous monitoring is necessary to recognize spatial and temporal heterogeneity in winter environments and the fauna of alpine streams.