Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of mirrors to deter nesting starlings

European starlings (Sturnus vulgaris) nesting in buildings and other structures can cause health, nuisance, and safety problems. We evaluated effectiveness of flashing lights combined with mirrors, and mirrors alone, as deterrents for starlings nesting in starling nest boxes in northern Ohio, 1998-2000. Each year, 100 nest boxes attached to utility poles were randomly assigned equally among 4 treatments (including untreated boxes): 1998-mirrored (internally placed on the back and 2 side walls of nest boxes), mirrored with red-flashing lights, and mirrored with green-flashing lights; 1999-convex mirror above entrance hole, convex mirror at back of nest box, and flat mirror at back of nest box; 2000-mirrors on 3 sides with exposed surface areas of 263 cm 2 , 527 cm 2 , or 790 cm 2 . Starlings nested in 67% (1998) and 78% (1999 and 2000) of the nest boxes. In 1998, boxes within the 3 treatments with mirrors, regardless of lights, had fewer nests and fewer nests with eggs, nestlings, or fledglings than did control boxes (P≤0.002). Boxes with mirrors and lights had fewer (P 0.25) among the 4 treatments in proportion of nest boxes with starling nests, eggs, nestlings, and young fledged. However, in 2000, boxes with complete mirror coverage did show the lowest occupancy rate of the 4 treatments. Mean dates of first egg, clutch size, number of nestlings, and number of fledglings/nest also were similar (P> 0.06) among treatments. We conclude that mirrors, although slightly repellent under some configurations, are not a practical method to repel starlings from nesting in structures.
When Are Fiscal Contractions Successful? Lessons for Countries Within and Outside the EMU

In the past 25 years, many OECD countries have implemented fiscal contractions to strengthen their public finances. The macroeconomic outcomes of these efforts have varied. With the aid of an econometric model, this paper seeks to identify the factors that make contractions successful from a macroeconomic standpoint. The findings suggest, among other things, that favorable changes in the real exchange rate prior to the period of fiscal contraction and in the real quantity of money during this period play an important part in the macroeconomic outcome. This indicates in turn that it may be more difficult to implement successful fiscal contractions within the EMU. The findings also show that the composition of the contraction in regard to the relative proportions of tax increases and expenditure cutbacks, respectively, is probably less important than has usually been assumed.
Hybrid foetus with an FE head for a pregnant occupant model for vehicle safety investigations

ABSTRACT ‘Expecting’, a computational pregnant occupant model, developed to simulate the dynamic response to crash impacts, possesses anthropometric properties of a fifth percentile female at around the 38th week of pregnancy. The model is complete with a finite element uterus and a multi-body foetus which is a novel feature in models of this kind. In this paper, the effect of incorporating a foetus with a finite element head into ‘Expecting’ is investigated. The finite element head was developed using detailed anatomic geometry and projected material properties. Then it was integrated with the ‘Expecting’ model and validated using the lap belt loading and the rigid bar impact tests. The model is then used to simulate frontal impacts at a range of crash severities with seatbelt and airbag, seatbelt only, airbag only as well as no restraint cases to investigate the risk of placental abruption and compare it with the model featuring the original multi-body foetus. The maximum strains developed in the utero-placental interface are used as the main criteria for foetus safety. The results show comparable strain levels to those from the multi-body foetus. It is, therefore, recommended to use the multi-body foetus in simulations as the computation time is more favourable.
Genetic Characterization, Polymorphism and Evolution Analysis in Part of the EDNRB Gene in Cattle and Goat

Cholera continues to be an important cause of morbidity and mortality in many areas of the world, and there is currently a high frequency of new outbreaks in Africa. Following a confirmed cholera outbreak in Siaya, Kisumu, Bondo and Nyando districts, Nyanza province in western Kenya between April and July 2007, a laboratory surveillance study was conducted at the New Nyanza Provincial General Hospital’s Microbiology Laboratory. The study aimed at isolating and identifying the strain of Vibrio cholerae , Identifying the mean age of the patients and monitoring the susceptibility patterns to major antibiotics. It further aimed at determining effectiveness of empiric management of cholera. A total of 219 samples were processed out of which a total of 85 samples (39%) were found positive for Vibrio cholerae 01 sero-type Inaba. The mean age recorded was 19 years (1 ≤ 80). The modal ages recorded were 8, 20 and 25. 55% (47) of the recorded cases were females while 45% (38) were males. Generally, V.Cholerae 01 sero-type Inaba showed antibiotic resistance to trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, nalidixic acid, sulfasoxazole, streptomycin and furazolidone. Tetracycline a commonly used antibiotic for empiric management was 100% effective on all isolates and remains the drug of choice. Samples obtained for case-control study did not yield any cholera isolate. No prior exposure to any antibiotic was recorded among all the subjects. The study confirmed the effectiveness of empirical therapy on cholera and further identified the need of proper hygiene, water treatment, proper waste management and proper eating habits as means of controlling morbidity and mortality of cholera.
Comparing Intentional Vocabulary Learning Strategies of Rote-Copying versus Read-Plus

Normal 0 21 false false false MS X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 The purpose of this within-group experimental study was to compare the effectiveness of treatment on vocabulary acquisition and retention using two explicit vocabulary learning strategies (VLS) of Rote-Copying (RC) and Read-Plus (RP). Thirty five Form 1 Malaysian secondary school learners with poor English proficiency participated in both treatments for two weeks with each treatment carried out once in each week. A post-test was administered a week after the treatments. Participants read adapted texts and underwent different treatments. The RC required participants to copy L2 words, sentence in context and their translated L1 equivalent twice; while three vocabulary enhancement activities were used in RP. Nation’s 1000 Level Vocabulary Test was used in this study. Results indicate that there was no significant difference between RC and RP in vocabulary learning. Both treatments led to significant vocabulary learning, however, participants showed better vocabulary gain in the post-test after undergoing the RP treatment. Interview findings indicate that participants preferred the more cognitively-challenging RP treatment. In contrast, the RC was deemed boring and ineffective. Nevertheless, RC was useful for low proficient ESL learners. In sum, intentional VLS seemed to be the key to vocabulary learning. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.17576/3L-2014-2002-06 Keywords: intentional vocabulary learning; vocabulary learning strategies (VLS); Rote-Copying; Read-Plus; low proficiency ESL learners /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:. 0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;}
What is the role of sighing behaviour in emotional expression? : an analysis of sighing in narratives of people who experienced war in the twentieth century

Emotions are being expressed in different ways. This is an important issue for narrative psychology, because the emotional charge of a story might say more about its meaning than the words that are used. Generally, a distinction is made between verbal and nonverbal expression of emotions. In this study, the interaction between these two was emphasized, and a phenomenon was involved that has not yet been given much attention in scientific research; the occurrence of sighing. Twelve oral history interviews, filmed during a project called “Croatian Memories”, were used, in which people talk about their experiences of war in the previous century. Verbal and nonverbal emotional expressions in these interviews were analysed by specially developed applications and these analyses were complemented with manually determined sighs. The aim of this study was to examine whether sighing behaviour is more common in narrative fragments with more verbal and/or nonverbal emotional expression. Therefore, correlations between emotional expressions and sighs were calculated. However, a coherence between sighing behaviour and other (verbal and nonverbal) ways of emotional expression could not be found. Correlations were mostly not significant and varied largely among interviews. The results indicate that sighing behaviour and its link to emotional expression are very different for each individual and might be influenced by other factors which were not considered in these analyses.
Evaluation of sampling techniques on tall-grass prairie.

Highlight: An evaluation of sampling techniques was conducted on a tall-grass prairie in eastern 0 klahoma. The point transect, a modified point transect, line transect, angle order, quarter, quadrat, and wandering quarter methods were used. Relative and total density values were determined and compared with actual values obtained by hand count. The above methods, with the exception of the quadrat, underestimated the relative density of splitbeard bluestem (Andropogon ternarius), a dominant and densely cloned species, and overestimated switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), a subdominant, single-s talked species. Relative and total density values obtained by the quarter method were significantly less accurate than those obtained by the other methods; no method was significantly more accurate. With recalculation excluding splitbeard bluestem data, relative densities obtained by most of the methods agreed more closely with actual values, and the quarter method was again significantly less accurate. Results indicated that degree of clone density of the dominants and subdominants, as well as sampling time, should be noted prior to the selection of a sampling method in a highly aggregated grassland type. The modified point transect or quadrat methods are considered to be most applicable if the dominants are densely cloned as in splitbeard bluestem; however, the point transect or line transect methods may be adequate if the dominants are sparsely-cloned as in big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi) or little bluestem (Andropogon scoparius).
Infrequent Renegotiation of Wages: A Solution to Several Asset Pricing Puzzles

In standard production based models labor wage volatility is far too high and equity return volatility is far too low (excess volatility puzzle). We show that a simple modi…cation of the standard model - infrequent renegotiation of wages allows the model to match both the smoother wages and the high equity return volatility observed in the data. Furthermore, the model produces several other hard to explain features of …nancial data: high unconditional Sharpe Ratios; time-varying equity premium, equity volatility, and Sharpe Ratio; as well higher expected returns for value stocks over growth stocks. The intuition is that in standard models, highly pro-cyclical and volatile wages act as a hedge for the …rm, reducing pro…ts in good times and increasing them in bad times; this causes pro…t and returns to be too smooth. Infrequent renegotiation smoothes wages and smooth wages act like operating leverage, making pro…ts more risky. Bad times and unproductive …rms are especially risky because committed wage payments are high relative to output.
FIB-based target preparations of complex material systems for advanced TEM investigations

Increasing number of TEMinvestigations and particularly the request for very special studies leads to a higher demand for target preparations. The Focused Ion Beam technique (FIB) is able to cover a large amount of these requirements. In this contribution the principles of FIBbased target preparations are demonstrated on some example from the semiconductor technology. Using this technique several challenging sample preparations even for special techniques like TEM holography and/or TEM tomography that requires a very high quality of the samples could be performed. Furthermore possible consequences of the damage of the specimen by the ion beam and the possibilities, how to avoid this damage, are discussed.
A Case Study of Strategic Management Practices and Performance at the Co-Operative Bank Of Kenya Limited

The changes in business environment brought about by globalization and liberalization has increased competition in the banking sector reducing market shares of most banks. Customers have become increasingly aware and demanding and the successful survival by any single bank depends on producing, packaging and delivering products and services which offer superior value than competitors' products. Creating and maintaining a competitive edge over rival firms requires embracing strategic management practices. Consequently, the Co operative Bank of Kenya Limited has adopted strategic planning aimed at assisting the Bank to maintain its competitive position in the financial market. The study was a case study of the Co operative Bank of Kenya Limited and the objectives of the study were to determine the strategic management practices of the Bank and to evaluate the impact of strategic changes to the performance of the Bank. Data was collected by interviewing three general managers drawn from finance and administration, institutional banking and retail banking divisions. A semi structured interview guide was used to collect data. Descriptive statistics was used to analyze quantitative data while content analysis was use in analyzing qualitative data. The study found that strategic planning practices existed at the Bank. The Bank has a mission and vision and analysis of external and internal environment is done with the help of marketing research department. Analysis of the internal environment is poorly done raising the danger that the Bank may be ignoring its weaknesses. The results showed that the Bank uses cost leadership and retrenchment strategies to a large extent while market penetration was the least used strategy. Strategic management practices have impact on performance of the Bank as was depicted by notable improvements in sales and profit before tax over the last five years that the Bank adopted strategic planning. Return on equity has also increased following adoption of strategic planning. However, it was revealed that the strategic planning practices did not have significant impact on share capital and return on asset. It was recommended that managers acquaint themselves with basic research skills to enable them understand the quality of external and internal environmental analysis. Analysis of the bank's internal environment should be improved. It was further recommended that the bank develop strategies aimed at increasing share capital; and given the importance of return on investment towards success of strategy, further research should be done to identify determinants of return on investment.
Platinum Group of Metals: a strategic assessment of the South African industry

In order to analyse the strategic issues with regard to the South African Platinum Group of Metals (PGM) industry, a risk analysis and an assessment of the competitiveness of the industry were conducted. The analysis of risk related to market conditions indicates a relatively low risk rating driven by increased demand for jewellery and autocatalysts, while the industry is exposed to moderate risk for raw materials and supporting services, which is expected to remain moderate in future. Overall, the current risk for production factors was found to be moderate and is expected to remain moderate over the medium term. The results of industry risk analysis indicate that the PGM industry is currently exposed to moderate risk. Applying Porter's diamond model (Porter, 1990), the research found that the South Africa's PGM industry has a very strong platform and is expected to become more competitive in future, although increased cooperation will still be evident. The competitiveness of South African producers is expected to increase over the medium term, since most of the expansion will come on stream in the near future. The paper also discusses the development potential of South Africa in line with the exploitation of PGM.
The functional linear array model

The functional linear array model (FLAM) is a unified model class for functional regression models including function-on-scalar, scalar-on-function and function-on-function regression. Mean, median, quantile as well as generalized additive regression models for functional or scalar responses are contained as special cases in this general framework. Our implementation features a broad variety of covariate effects, such as, linear, smooth and interaction effects of grouping variables, scalar and functional covariates. Computational efficiency is achieved by representing the model as a generalized linear array model. While the array structure requires a common grid for functional responses, missing values are allowed. Estimation is conducted using a boosting algorithm, which allows for numerous covariates and automatic, data-driven model selection. To illustrate the flexibility of the model class we use three applications on curing of resin for car production, heat values of fossil fuels and Canadian climate data (the last one in the electronic supplement). These require function-on-scalar, scalar-on-function and function-on-function regression models, respectively, as well as additional capabilities such as robust regression, spatial functional regression, model selection and accommodation of missings. An implementation of our methods is provided in the R add-on package FDboost.
SYNTHESIS OF NEW N-TETRASUBSTITUTED DERIVATIVES OF R,R-TARTARIC ACID AND THEIR USE AS CHIRAL LIGANDS IN OXIDATION CATALYSTS

N,N,N',N'-tetraphenyl-R,R-tartramide, N,N,N',N'-tetrabenzyl-R,R-tartramide, and N,N,N',N'-tetrabenzyl-1,4-diamino-S,S-2,3-butanediol and their acetals were prepared from commercially available (+)-dimethyl-R-R-tartrate in good yields. A preliminary screening of the compounds as chiral ligands in catalysts for Baeyer-Villiger oxidation was performed.
Quality of life in Croatia : Key findings from national research

Regular monitoring of various indices of quality of life, living standards and social exclusion does not exist in Croatia. However, there were incidental surveys and studies by public institutes, governmental offices and/or international organizations covering some aspects of quality of life. The main objective of this report is to provide an overview of recent national research on quality of life, living standards, income inequality and social inclusion/exclusion based on available data and to sketch the picture on the phenomena in Croatia. Each chapter of the Review provides an analysis of the reports and surveys that look at different quality of life issues: economic situation ; housing and the local environment ; employment and education ; health, health care and access to health services ; household structure, family, work-life balance ; subjective well-being ; perception of the quality of society, and quality of life of national minorities living in Croatia.
Assessment Methods of Credit Risk of Agencies Based on Web Data

Most of the existing studies in credit risk assessment of agencies are based on financial data, on the one hand which can't fully reflect the credit status of the agencies, and on the other hand the financial data of some agencies are difficult to obtain. In order to make up for the deficiency of the traditional assessment methods, this paper attempts to utilize Web credit data to assess the credit risk of agencies. Combined with text mining technology and sentiment analysis theories, a credit risk assessment of agencies model which is based on the com prehensive calculation results of sentence sentiment tendency value and evaluation words sentiment tendency value of agencies' Web data set is proposed in this study. To test the model, we grab four agencies' Web data and utilize the model to assess the credit risk of the four agencies. The experiment results are basically in accordance with the actual credit risk status of agencies, which indicates the feasibility of the model.
Analyzing the Information Search Behavior and Intentions in Visual Information Systems

Visual information search systems support different search approaches such as targeted, exploratory or analytical search. Those visual systems deal with the challenge of composing optimal initial result visualization sets that face the search intention and respond to the search behavior of users. The diversity of these kinds of search tasks require different sets of visual layouts and functionalities, e.g. to filter, thrill-down or even analyze concrete data properties. This paper describes a new approach to calculate the probability towards the three mentioned search intentions, derived from users’ behavior. The implementation is realized as a web-service, which is included in a visual environment that is designed to enable various search strategies based on heterogeneous data sources. In fact, based on an entered search query our developed search intention analysis web-service calculates the most probable search task, and our visualization system initially shows the optimal result set of visualizations to solve the task. The main contribution of this paper is a probability-based approach to derive the users’ search intentions based on the search behavior enhanced by the application to a visual system.
Atomic structure and crystallographic shear planes in epitaxial TiO 2 anatase thin films

We report on the high resolution transmission electron microscopy (HRTEM) and high angle annular dark field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM) study of TiO 2 anatase thin films grown by pulsed laser deposition on LaAlO 3 substrates. The analysis provides evidence of a peculiar growth mode of anatase on LaAlO 3 that is characterized by the formation of an epitaxial layer at the film/substrate interface. In particular, the film is split into two adjacent slabs of about 20 nm each, both displaying the same Bravais lattice compatible with the anatase tetragonal cell. The formation of two different families of crystallographic shear (CS) superstructures is observed within the film, namely (103)- and (101)-oriented CS plane structures, occurring in the outer film region and in proximity of the film/substrate interface, respectively. HAADF analysis and Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy highlight the occurrence of Al interdiffusion from the substrate into the film region. By combining HRTEM results, image simulation techniques and DFT calculations we determine the atomic structure of the CS planes, and show that they are cubic-TiO-based structures analogous to the Ti n O 2n-1 Magneli phases derived from rutile.