Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
What Has Kyoto Wrought? The Real Architecture of International Tradeable Permit Markets

This paper investigates a central issue in the climate change debate associated with the Kyoto Protocol: the likely performance of international greenhouse gas trading mechanisms. Virtually all design studies and many projections of the costs of meeting the Kyoto targets have assumed that an international trading program can be established that minimizes the costs of meeting overall goals. This conclusion rests on several simplifying assumptions. In this paper, the authors focus on one important issue that has received little, if any, attention: the interaction between an international trading regime and a heterogeneous set of domestic greenhouse policy instruments. This is an important issue because the Protocol explicitly provides for domestic sovereignty regarding instrument choice, and because it is unlikely that most countries will choose tradable permits as their primary domestic vehicle. It is true that costs can be minimized if all countries use domestic tradable permit systems to meet their national targets (allocate permits to private parties) and allow for international trades. But when some countries use non-trading approaches such as greenhouse-gas taxes or fixed quantity standards which seems likely in the light of previous experience cost minimization is hardly assured. In these cases, achieving the potential cost savings of international trading will require some form of project-by-project credit program, such as joint implementation. But theory and experience with such credit programs suggest that they are much less likely to facilitate major cost savings, because of large transactions costs, likely government participation, and absence of a well functioning market. Thus, individual nations' choices of domestic policy instruments to meet the Kyoto targets can limit substantially the cost-saving potential of an international trading program. There is an important trade-off between the degree of domestic sovereignty and the degree of cost effectiveness. Moreover, there is a need to analyze the likely cost-savings from feasible, as opposed to idealized, international policy approaches to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases.
Zeolitization processes in basic lavas of the Báucarit Formation, northwestern Mexico

ABSTRACT. Basalts and basal tic andesites interbedded with sandstones in the molassic Baucarit Formation of northwestern Mexico show contrasting zeolite and clay assemblages in amygdales and in veins cross-cutting the flows. In amygdales, heulandite-clinoptilolite, chabazite, offretite/erionite and phillipsite are associated with a di-smectite clay. In veins, mesolite, analcime and stilbite are associated with minor clay, quartz and calcite. The low temperature nature of the zeolites and clays suggests that the infiltrating fluid had a temperature below 100°C and probably ca. 60°C. The absence of a pervasive alteration and a lack of correspondence between clay and host-rock chemistry suggest that this fluid was probably of a meteoric and fresh water character, which subsequently evolved into a more alkaline nature following interaction with glassy material in the interbedded mollassic sediments. RESUMEN. Procesos de ceolitizacion en lavas basicas de la Formacion Baucarit, noroeste de Mexico. Los basaltos y andesitas basalticas interestratificados con areniscas en la formacion molasica Baucarit del noroeste de Mexico poseen asociaciones contrastantes de ceolitas y minerales arcillosos contenidas en amigdalas y en venas que atraviesan las coladas. En las amigdalas, heulandita-clinoptilolita, chabacita, offretita/erionita y phillipsita estan asociadas con una diesmectita. En las venas, mesolita, analcita y estilbita se asocian con cuarzo, calcita y cantidades menores de minerales arcillosos. La ausencia de una alteracion pervasiva y la falta de correspondencia entre la composicion quimica de los minerales arcillosos y la roca huesped sugieren una precipitacion a partir de un fluido de origen externo. El caracter de baja temperatura de las ceolitas y minerales arcillosos sugiere que el fluido infiltrado tenia una temperatura inferior a 100°C y posiblemente cercana a 60°C. Este fluido era, probablemente, agua dulce de caracter meteorico que posteriormente evoluciono hacia una naturaleza mas alcalina a consecuencia de su interaccion con el material vitreo contenido en los sedimentos molasicos interestratificados.
Estimation of Economic Value of Social Participation in Water Pollution Control in the South of Tehran

Throughout the year, a huge volume of the surface running water as well as sewage flow down into the plantations of the south of Tehran which can have detrimental hygienic and environmental impacts. In this study, people’s views and their willingness to pay for participation in reduction of water pollution in the south of Tehran are investigated by use of Contingent Valuation Method (CVM). The results show that the residents of Tehran incline to pay 860 milliard Rials annually for the sewage filtration, the management of its use, and consequently the decrease in hygienic and environmental damages. According to these results, the most important characteristic of the products irrigated with treated sewage is their hygiene and healthiness. The results showed that, based on the priorities of the citizens, treated sewage in the first stage should be used in irrigating the green spaces then in indirect edible products such as forage and wheat and at a later stages it can also be used as a source of drinking water for animals and irrigating crops such as tomatoes and leafy vegetables.
Um Classificador Kernel Composto por um Comitê de Perceptrons Balanceados

Resumo—Recentemente, abordagens baseadas em comitês de classificadores e métodos ensemble têm sido bastante exploradas por serem uma alternativa simples e eficaz para a construção de classificadores mais acurados. A melhoria da capacidade de generalização de um ensemble está diretamente relacionada a acurácia de cada classificador individual, bem como a diversidade dos classificadores que o compõem. Sendo assim, contribuições nesse escopo ainda são relevantes. Nesse trabalho, é apresentada uma extensão de um modelo ensemble baseado em Perceptrons balanceados que permite a inclusão de funções kernel e a solução de problemas não-linearmente separáveis. Visando a melhoria da acurácia do classificador individual, o hiperplano solução é balanceado. Além disso, uma medida de dissimilaridade é introduzida com intuito de maximizar a diversidade do ensemble. Essa estratégia permite a aceitação de um novo componente no comitê se, e somente se, uma distância mínima pré-estabelecida é mantida entre o novo candidato e todos os outros componentes. Um estudo experimental foi conduzido em bases de dados nãolinearmente separáveis. Os resultados obtidos mostraram que o método proposto foi capaz de superar outros algoritmos avaliados, como o AdaBoost e o SVM, na maior parte dos casos testados. Além disso, o método proposto superou consistentemente o classificador de base empregado.
The switch rail detection system based on laser sensor

As a carrier, turnout is an extremely important part of transport, when railways is operating. So the detection of turnout should meet the requirement. However, the detection effort is mainly completed manually at the present stage, which is low accuracy. Thus the study of the switch rail detection system based on laser sensor is necessary. In this paper, we discuss the scheme of the switch rail detection by using Gocator 2030 laser sensor and SIMENS 840D numerical control system. We study the algorithm and data collection of the switch rail detection based on laser sensor. This detection system provides accurate data collection and information display for the enterprise of producing turnout. After the test, the system has a faster detection speed and higher detection accuracy.
Measuring and mapping indices of biodiversity conservation effectiveness

Despite efforts by the 193-member Convention on Biological Diversity and landmark publications on human-environment linkages, global biodiversity loss continues. Climate and biodiversity projections suggest that 40% of all species may face extinction before the end of this century. To enhance issue saliency, many peer-reviewed and grey literature publications have called for interdisciplinary approaches that combine ecological, socioeconomic, and policy measures. Several publications have also recommended that these efforts follow a state-benefits-pressure-response (SBPR) framework. The present study provides a literature review of effectiveness assessment in biodiversity conservation projects and policies, followed by an example of a composite index that aggregates measures from SBPR categories. Methods of index formulation (weighted linear combination and data envelopment analysis), weighting, and attribute normalization, are demonstrated and compared. Operationalizing the SBPR framework to produce composite indices of linked indicators will integrate interdisciplinary measures in a manner that enhances public understanding and communication of the biodiversity crisis.
5 Electron Transport in Single Molecules and Nanostructures

Electron transport in nanoscale materials has attracted much attention with the fast development of the nanofabrication and scanning probe techniques in the past years. Quantum effects such as electron tunneling and quantum confinement effect have become predominant in nanostructures, leading to a diversity of novel transport phenomena. In particular, single electron tunneling (SET) effect, rectifying effect, negative differential resistance (NDR) effect, Kondo effect, and some novel mechanisms responsible for these effects were revealed in the electron transport properties of single atoms, molecules, and nanoparticles. These effects and mechanisms are found to result from the discrete energy levels and localized molecular orbitals in the nanostructures. Recent developments of the measurement techniques and progresses of the studies on electron transport in single molecules and related nanostructures are reviewed in this chapter.
High-power RF operations studies with the CRITS RFQ

High-current, cw linear accelerators have been proposed as spallation neutron source drivers for applications to tritium production, transmutation of nuclear waste, and safe nuclear power generation. Key features of these accelerators are high current (100 mA) low emittance-growth beam propagation, cw or high duty-factor operation, high efficiency, and minimal maintenance downtime. A 267.1 MHz, cw RFQ and klystrode based RF system were obtained from CRL and installed at LANL to support these next generation accelerator studies. The reconditioning of the RFQ accelerator section to its design power of 150 kW at 100% duty factor is being accomplished with studies focusing on the details of high-power RF structure operation, personnel and equipment safety systems integration, and RF control integration.
An investigation of feeding high-moisture corn grain with slow-release urea supplementation on lactational performance, energy partitioning, and ruminal fermentation of dairy cows

Abstract: The objective of this experiment was to determine if lactational performance and energy partitioning by dairy cows would differ in response to dietary corn grain (CG) types [steam-flaked corn (SFC) vs. high-moisture corn (HMC)] and slow-release urea (SRU) supplementation. Eight multiparous Holstein cows (32 ± 8.2 d in milk) were used in a duplicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement to test four dietary treatments: SFC without SRU, SFC with SRU, HMC without SRU, and HMC with SRU. Supplementation of SRU tended to increase intakes of dry matter (DM) or increased crude protein (CP) intake under SFC, but no effect under HMC, leading to CG × SRU interactions on DM and CP intakes. Neither type of CG nor SRU supplementation affected milk production. The HMC fed at 14.3% DM allowed cows to partition more net energy into body weight (BW) compared with those fed SFC diets, whereas supplementing SRU tended to decrease the portion of net energy partitioned into BW gain under both SFC and HMC diets. These collective results demonstrate that feeding HMC with SRU can be a practical option in high-forage lactation diets to maintain or improve nutrient and energy utilization efficiency.
Do patients with chronic low back pain experience pain reduction and functional improvement after treatment at a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic

Background: Low back pain is the most common affliction of the musculoskeletal system. Patients with chronic low back pain cost the society great expenses in treatments and other social benefits; however, the effects of interventions are discussed. The purpose of this study was to determine whether patients with chronic low back pain experience pain reduction and functional improvement after treatment at a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic. Methods: A prospective study design was used, including 446 patients who participated in follow-up questionnaires with data collection at 6 and 12 months after treatment. The primary outcome was alterations in pain and function. Result: By 12 months after treatment, 71.3 % of the included patients had completed the follow-up questionnaires. Based on these questionnaires, we identified statistically significant changes from baseline at all end points, with clinically significant changes in approximately half of the participants (p = 0.000). Conclusion: Treatment of chronic low back pain at a multidisciplinary outpatient clinic resulted in clinically significant pain reduction and functional improvement within 12 months for approximately half of affected patients.
Consciousness and Social Cognition from an Interactionist Perspective: A New Approach on Understanding Normal and Abnormal Relations between Metacognition and Mindreading

Contemporary discussions on relations between metacognition and mindreading result in several theoretical accounts allowing various combinations of both mechanisms in the process of formation of beliefs, intentions, and decisions with respect to oneself or others. In fact, various prefrontal areas of the brain are activated when individuals mentalize about themselves and about other people. Interestingly, the latest accounts of the relationship between mindreading and metacognition clearly favor arguments for interactionism between functionally different mechanisms in the formation of our social knowledge. In particular, a two-level architecture enables a mutual interaction within a complex metacognitive system that is evolutionarily structured into higher and lower level metacognition with different functions and tasks. In our opinion, cognitive architecture of such systems needs to include conscious mechanisms that incorporate information accessibility as activation through the interaction. Here, we will argue that the combination of the two-level account on mindreading and metacognition along with a global broadcasting architecture embedded in the human brain is a good starting point that explains formation of accurate social knowledge and access to such knowledge. In our opinion, it becomes clear that consciousness via the interaction activates many unconscious brain regions, including interpreter systems such as metacognition and mindreading.
Is there “Therapeutic Misconception” in HIV/AIDS and Clinical Research in Western Kenya?

In research ethics community, the ‘bright line’ between health care and health research continues to be emphasized as important. While this distinction may be clear for many health researchers and practitioners, it may not be clear to research participants. In the case of HIV/AIDS care in resource-limited settings where healthcare is not affordable, individuals and communities are burdened with high rates of infectious diseases, inadequate health conditions, and insufficient or inaccessible medical care. Under these circumstances people are desperate to access better healthcare through any possible means. Participating in clinical research may be seen as one way of accessing care. Even though measures are taken to ensure that participants in health research get into this activity only after a consenting process, some may enter into research for the purpose of accessing treatment or health care. The objective of the study was to investigate specific reasons why participants engage in ongoing IREC/ IRB-approved international HIV research in Western Kenya. The main reasons given for participating in research were contextual: the HIV/AIDS condition, access to better healthcare, and financial poverty were identified. Clinical researchers indicated that their research projects had provisions for healthcare and better services and facilities than in the standard healthcare in terms of individual attention and follow up. Study participants in ongoing research in Western Kenya believe that their participation in HIV/AIDS research enables them to access better healthcare. In the context of limited resources and HIV/AIDS, patients’ beliefs, extra-medical attention and follow up translate into better healthcare. These observations suggest that in practice there may not be a bright line between research and clinical care (no “therapeutic misconception”) and suggest the need for more stringent efforts to make this distinction clear in processes of informed consent in such settings.
Adrenalitis associated with Leishmania infantum infection in a maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus)

This report describes a case of visceral leishmaniasis characterized by adrenalitis with intralesional Leishmania sp. amastigotes in a 16 year-old maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus). The animal had been previously diagnosed as infected with Leishmania infantum by serology and xenodiagnosis. The only organ in which amastigotes were detected by histopathology and immunohistochemistry was the adrenal gland, which presented multifocal infiltration of lymphocytes, plasma cells and macrophages containing intracytoplasmic amastigotes. The animal had no other lesions of visceral leishmaniasis, except for renal and splenic amyloidosis and pancreatitis that may be associated with the disease. Importantly, the maned wolf had an intratubular seminoma in the testis, which to the best of our knowledge is the first reported case of testicular tumor in this species.
Dynamics of unusual debris flows on Martian sand dunes

Gullies that dissect sand dunes in Russell impact crater often display debris flow‐like deposits in their distal reaches. The possible range of both the rheological properties and the flow rates are estimated using a numerical simulation code of a Bingham plastic flow to help explain the formation of these features. Our simulated results are best explained by a rapid debris flow. For example, a debris flow with the viscosity of 102 Pa s and the yield strength of 102 Pa can form the observed deposits with a flow rate of 0.5 m3/s sustained over several minutes and total discharged water volume on the order of hundreds of cubic meters, which may be produced by melting a surface layer of interstitial ice within the dune deposits to several centimeters depth.
A Numerical Study on the Residual Stress Measurement Accuracy Using Inverse Eigenstrain Method

Investigation of residual stresses is of crucial importance due to their effect on the performance of engineering components. Recently, inverse methods have been developed for determination of the residual stresses. Inverse eigenstrain method is one of the mentioned inverse methods. The inverse eigenstrain method, which is based on the eigenstrain theory, uses limited measurements of residual elastic strains obtained from the experimental tests. In this study, effective parameters on result accuracy obtained from the 2D inverse eigenstrain method in residual stresses measurement were investigated using numerical experiment. The results indicated that in the inverse eigenstrain method the accuracy of the results increases with increasing the basis functions order and the number of the points where displacement is measured. Additionally, the result accuracy increases selecting the appropriate basis functions. Moreover, in this paper the inverse eigenstrain method was applied for an actual part. The results showed that in the real conditions too, accurate results can be obtained by selecting the appropriate parameters of the inverse eigenstrain method.
The Blended Festivalscape and its Sustainability at Nonurban Festivals

This article identifies the major elements of festivalscapes at nonurban festivals and their implications for sustainable site management by event organizers. While research on the need to maintain and reinvigorate the servicescapes of retail precincts (e.g., shopping malls) and hotels is well documented, the same cannot be said of event venues and sites. There is a notable absence of research that explores how nonurban festival sites can maintain their unique natural environment attributes while sustaining consumer interest through incremental changes in the overall festivalscape. Two Australian festivals, Woodford Folk Festival (Woodford, Queensland) and the national Country Music Muster (Gympie, Queensland), are used in this article to illustrate the need for management intervention to create blended festivalscapes that achieve environmental, social, and economic goals—a Triple Bottom Line (TBL) measure of success.
Rising Food Prices and Undernourishment - A Cross-Country Inquiry

Households’ welfare in developing countries has been hit by dramatic food prices increases which occurred between 2005 and 2008. In this paper, we adopt a partial equilibrium approach to analyze the short-time effects of a staple food price increase on nutritional attainments, as a measure of welfare. The analysis consists of first approximating complete food-demand systems and then performing household level micro-simulations. Instead of focusing on a single country profile, we provide a more complete snapshot by comparing the evidence through a cross-country assessment made possible by the use of nationally representative household surveys. Comparability is assured by the adoption of the same methodological choices in the treatment of the micro data. We find that food price spikes not only reduce the mean consumption of dietary energy, but also worsen the distribution of food calories, further deteriorating the nutritional status of populations. We also discovered that access to agricultural land plays a significant role in ensuring adequate nutritional attainments in rural areas, and surprisingly, even in urban areas.
Phylogenetic analysis of the order Pleuronectiformes (Teleostei) based on sequences of 12S and 16S mitochondrial genes

The fish order Pleuronectiformes, composed of 14 families, has two suborders: Psettodoidei (with one family) and Pleuronectoidei (with thirteen families). The relationships among families of Pleuronectoidei and among the genera of their families have extensively been debated and a consensus has not yet been reached. In the present study, partial sequences of the 12S and 16S mitochondrial rRNA genes were obtained from 19 species belonging to the families Achiridae, Bothidae, Cynoglossidae, Paralichthyidae, Pleuronectidae, Scophthalmidae, and Soleidae. Additional sequences of 42 pleuronectiform species were obtained from GenBank. Phylogenetic analyses were conducted by the methods of maximum-parsimony, maximum-likelihood and Bayesian inference. Our results corroborate the monophyletic status of all families, excluding Paralichthyidae. In the family Achiridae, the genus Catathyridium (freshwater) was the sister group of Trinectes (saltwater), and Hypoclinemus (freshwater) was the sister group of Achirus (saltwater). Assuming that the putative ancestor of achirids lived in saltwater, it is suggested that the freshwater habitats in South America were colonized independently by different achirid lineages.