Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Structure and development of a Scalesia pedunculata stand in the Galapagos Islands

Stands of Scalesia pedunculata in the Galapagos Islands often develop as single-aged cohorts following episodes of mass death and regeneration. We updated earlier studies on a stand that had regenerated soon after the 1982–3 El Nino event. We quantified stem size distribution and dispersion pattern in a 0.56 ha plot near Los Gemelos on Santa Cruz Island. The plot was dominated (95% of basal area) by S. pedunculata. The stem size distribution showed the increased mean and variance for diameter (since 1987 and 1991) expected of an aging stand. Stems averaged smaller than in 1981, just before the last mass mortality episode. Large S. pedunculata stems were regularly dispersed while smaller stems were clumped and negatively associated with larger stems, implying that intraspecific competition may be important in structuring the stand. CDF Contribution Number 1008.
Spending propensity and price perceptions

ABSTRACT This article presents a systematic investigation of how Spending Propensity moderates consumers’ perceptions of prices. Results from three studies are presented. Studies 1 and 2 reveal that, in the absence of any external cues, consumers who are predisposed to spending freely evaluate a posted price more favorably than those who are not. Such consumers also report anticipating less pain associated with spending than those who are not inclined to spend. Additionally, Study 2 informs that simple price communication tactics, without any real reduction in price, may be effective at mitigating the pain felt among those who are less inclined to spend. Furthermore, such tactics are capable of reducing, and even reversing, the gap between those who are not predisposed to spending and those who are. Finally, Study 3 explores how spending propensity moderates consumers’ perceptions of a discount.
Customer preference of private insurance covers in Iran

This paper aims to identify reasons by which customers prefer private insurance covers to public ones. For this purpose, we considered product, service, economic, human and comfort factors as antecedents of customer preference in purchasing private insurance covers. The research sample involves 191 customers who were randomly selected from two provinces of Khorasan Razavi and Khorasan Shomaly, Iran. The research tool used was a 7-points Likert questionnaire in which respondents were asked to show their agreements about 25 items of 6 constructs. A structural equation modeling by Smart-PLS used to test the model and measure the standardized estimates of the constructs. The results showed that human and economic factors are antecedents of private insurance preference. Key words: Privatization, customer preference, structural equation modeling (SEM), insurance, Iran.
Modeling and Analysis of Current and Weld Speed on Weld Hardness of Steel-Cu Weldments by RSM Approach

A number of experiments were conducted to study the effects of various parameters on joining Steel and Copper with GMAW. These studies were undertaken to investigate the effects of Current, and Welding Speed for Weld Hardness. The selected workpiece material for the research work was steel (composition shown in Table 1) and 100 % Copper. Steel was selected due to its emergent range of applications in the field of manufacturing tools in mould industries. Workpiece materials used were steel square plates of dimensions 100×80 mm and of thickness 6 mm. the welding process is shown in Figure 2 (a) & (b). The test conditions are depicted in Table II.
Relative Peer Quality and Firm Performance

​This study examines the performance impact of the relative quality of a CEO’s compensation peers (peers selected to determine a CEO’s overall compensation) and bonus peers (peers selected to determine a CEO’s relative-performance-based bonus). We use the fraction of peers with greater managerial ability scores (Demerjian, Lev, and McVay, 2012) than the reporting firm to measure this CEO’s relative peer quality (RPQ). We find that firms with higher RPQ tend to earn superior risk-adjusted stock returns and experience higher profitability growth compared with firms that have lower RPQ. These results cannot be fully explained by a CEO’s power, compensation level, intrinsic talent, nor by the board’s possible motivation to use peers to signal a firm’s prospect. Learning among peers and the increased incentive to work harder induced by the peer-based tournament, however, might contribute to RPQ’s positive performance effect. Preliminary evidence also shows that high RPQ is not associated with increased earnings management or increased risk-taking behaviors.
Current Controlled Buck Converter based Photovoltaic Emulator

The output characteristics of the Photovoltaic (PV) modules, and hence, the array greatly depends on the environmental factors. Therefore, it is difficult to reproduce and maintain the same environmental conditions for testing and comparing the performance of PV power conditioning systems. A PV emulator, which usually is a power electronic converter, can reproduce the desired output characteristics irrespective of the environmental conditions. It gives opportunity to test and analyze different PV systems in intended controlled environment. The aim of the work is to design a current-controlled buck type dc-dc converter based PV emulator. In order to confirm the effectiveness of the emulator in reproducing the PV module(s), the performance of PV emulator is evaluated with different types of loads (linear and non-linear loads) and is compared with the results that would have been obtained if the loads were fed from the real PV source. Extensive simulation results obtained in MATLAB are included to show that the PV emulator system behaves electrically similar to a real PV source.  
The Exponential Model for the Spectrum of a Time Series: Extensions and Applications

The exponential model for the spectrum of a time series and its fractional extensions are based on the Fourier series expansion of the logarithm of the spectral density. The coefficients of the expansion form the cepstrum of the time series. After deriving the cepstrum of important classes of time series processes, also featuring long memory, we discuss likelihood inferences based on the periodogram, for which the estimation of the cepstrum yields a generalized linear model for exponential data with logarithmic link, focusing on the issue of separating the contribution of the long memory component to the log-spectrum. We then propose two extensions. The first deals with replacing the logarithmic link with a more general Box-Cox link, which encompasses also the identity and the inverse links: this enables nesting alternative spectral estimation methods (autoregressive, exponential, etc.) under the same likelihood-based framework. Secondly, we propose a gradient boosting algorithm for the estimation of the log-spectrum and illustrate its potential for distilling the long memory component of the log-spectrum.
Morpho-histochemistry analysis of freshwater planarians Girardia tigrina ( Girard , 1850 ) exposed to sublethal concentrations of Malathion insecticide

Due to planarian regeneration capacity, researchers have made efforts in studying its gene regulation, cell and tissue responses. Despite such advances, many aspects of planarian biology and histology, especially for Girardia tigrina species, remain unknown. Thus, in this study, we aimed at analyzing the potencial of G. tigrina as a biological model for ecotoxicological research by firstly characterizing the morphology and histology of healthy individuals and then evaluating the sublethal effects of Malathion, a widely used insecticide in Brazil. We exposed individuals of G. tigrina to two sublethal concentrations of Malathion (0.08 mg L-1 and 0.8 mg L-1) insecticide for 96h, sectioned them, and then exposed the regenerating portions for another 72h. We submitted all material to scanning electron microscopy and to different histological/histochemical light microscopy techniques. Several changes in the treatment groups were present when compared to the control group. In external morphology, the following alterations were noteworthy: malformation and underdevelopment of the blastemas, pores dilation in the epidermis and loss of ventral cilia. Our main results regarding histology, histochemistry and cytochemistry were the disruption of several tissues, characterized by cytoplasmic changes, such as vacuolation, histochemical and nuclear changes, including chromatin marginalization. Thus, we concluded that Malathion, mainly in the lowest concentration tested, has acted on reproductive strategies of the tested organism, in addition to promoting necrosis in different tissues.
Volcanic Eruption Forecasts From Accelerating Rates of Drumbeat Long‐Period Earthquakes

Accelerating rates of quasiperiodic “drumbeat” long‐period earthquakes (LPs) are commonly reported before eruptions at andesite and dacite volcanoes, and promise insights into the nature of fundamental preeruptive processes and improved eruption forecasts. Here we apply a new Bayesian Markov chain Monte Carlo gamma point process methodology to investigate an exceptionally well‐developed sequence of drumbeat LPs preceding a recent large vulcanian explosion at Tungurahua volcano, Ecuador. For more than 24 hr, LP rates increased according to the inverse power law trend predicted by material failure theory, and with a retrospectively forecast failure time that agrees with the eruption onset within error. LPs resulted from repeated activation of a single characteristic source driven by accelerating loading, rather than a distributed failure process, showing that similar precursory trends can emerge from quite different underlying physics. Nevertheless, such sequences have clear potential for improving forecasts of eruptions at Tungurahua and analogous volcanoes.
A Framework For Applying Integrated Vegetation Management On Rights-Of-Way

Integrated Vegetation Management, or IVM, is purportedly being used by many right-of-way management organizations across the United States. In many cases, IVM is just a name applied to old management approaches. Yet IVM is more than just a name. It is an in-depth and sophisticated system of information gathering, planning, implementing, reviewing, and improving vegetation management treatments. IVM is used to understand, justify, choose among, selectively apply, and monitor different types of treatments, with an overall goal of eliciting site-specific, ecosystem-sensitive, economically sensible, and socially responsible treatment effects that lead to refined achievement of management objectives. We propose a six-step system to IVM that can act as a framework of activities to aid managers and other related stakeholders in communicating, organizing, and conducting IVM business. Each step produces information that must be integrated into the management system. Our six-step system is consistent with Integrated Pest Management and other IVM-like systems developed in forestry and agriculture. We present an IVM system with some unique perspectives and ideas from the literature, and incorporate information from and experience with the electric utility industry.
PARAMETRIC SYSTEM IDENTIFICATION APPLIED TO THE BOW SHOCK WAVE SHAPE

In this paper it is addressed the prediction of form and location of detached shock waves ahead of two-dimensional and axially symmetric bodies at an zero angle of attack. As shown in Figs. 5 and 6, results show a very good agreement with experimental data. In this context an approximate method, based on a simplified form of the continuity relation, is developed to predict the location of detached shock waves ahead of two-dimensional and axially symmetric bodies. In order to reduce the problem to an equivalent onedimensional form, it is assumed that: (1) The form of the shock between its foremost point and its sonic point is adequately represented by a hyperbola asymptotic to tile free-stream Mach lines; and (2) the sonic line between the shock and the body is straight and inclined at a constant angle. Although the new methodology has some points of contact with earlier methodologies, the novelty here is that it is used Missile Datcom code as an aid to find out sonic point on body and also it is adopted Parametric System Identification (PSI) in the determination of bow shock shape which uses the Matlab® optimizer fmincon function and an active set strategy to minimize an error in a rms sense subject to simple constraint placed on the parameters by the user. The optimizer function calls a user written function which calculates the shape of the shock wave using the current parameters supplied by optimizer. Also for the shock distance L, the methodology presented here allows to select the value of the mentioned constant angle consistently based either in aerodynamics literature or through physical considerations. As the L value is previously known from measurements or aerodynamics literature, it was used an optimizer to minimize the error between predicted and known result varying a parameter which absorbs all inconsistencies that arise when it is used the basic Moeckel’s model considered here. Once the principal characteristics of the shock wave are calculated, an error value is returned to optimizer function based on the differences between predicted and known results.
The Optimal Minimum Wage with Regulatory Uncertainty

For two different regulatory standards, we examine the optimal minimum wage in a competitive labour market when the government is uncertain about supply and demand. Solutions are related to underlying supply and demand conditions, and the extent of uncertainty and of rationing efficiency. We show that regulatory uncertainty does not diminish the rationale for intervention, but may require a low minimum wage that may not bind. With expected earnings-maximization, greater uncertainty widens the range of parameter values for which a minimum wage should be set. With expected worker surplus-maximization and sufficiently efficient rationing, a minimum wage should always be set.
Using MATLAB to Achieve Nanoscale Optical Sectioning in the Vicinity of Metamaterial Substrates by Simulating Emitter-Substrate Interactions

The imaging performance of a conventional far-field microscope is restricted by the so-called diffraction limit Born &Wolf (1997). For an imaging wavelength of λ this corresponds to a maximum attainable resolution of approximately λ/4 (laterally) and λ/2 (axially) when using a high numerical aperture objective lens. With recent advances in molecular biology some of the most interesting questions require a resolution beyond this. Higher resolution has been typically achieved using lower wavelength probing/scanning fields, or resorting to near-field scanning techniques (e.g. Scanning Near-field Optical Microscopy (SNOM) Betzig et al. (1991)). Unfortunately these come with their limitations and undesirable side effects, which prove to be limiting when it comes to studying molecular dynamics in their native environment. Furthermore, the use of fluorescent labels for studying specific processes and background suppression is desirable in many applications. Far-field optical microscopy still remains the only practical non-invasive technique suitable for imaging fast dynamics over extended periods and distances of interest with minimal perturbations to the system. Fortunately, far-field optical microscopy capable of imaging beyond the conventional diffraction limit for life science applications has seen many advances over the last few decades. Our current arsenal of techniques include commercially well developed techniques such as confocal laser scanning microscopy Cremer & Cremer (1978) and Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy Axelrod (1981)1. The improved resolution with these techniques is in itself however only by a factor∼ 2 and often not sufficient inmany cases. More powerful techniques such as Fluorescence PhotoActivatable Localization Microscopy (FPALM), Stimulated Emission Depletion (STED) Microscopy, Structured Illumination
Gender Wage Differentials in the Portuguese Labor Market

We use data from staff logs (Quadros de Pessoal) to discuss different procedures to decompose gender wage differential and examine the reasons underlying the evolution of the gender wage gap for the period 1985-1997 in the Portuguese labor market. Our results show that, for the first period, the increase of changes in the wage gap is mostly due to the increase in wage discrimination by means of the males´ wage advantage and of the females´ wage disadvantage. Growing inequality within gender groups, namely the rapid increase in educational attainment of women, and their probable overqualification in many jobs, may explain these results. Furthermore, the process of integration in the European Community responsible for deep changes in the economy, has also to be taken into account. The impact of the above facts was more moderate in the period 1991-1997, explaining the decrease of changes in the gender wage gap and the lower dispersion of the different components contribution to the relative wage gap.
valuating marine ecosystem health : Case studies of indicators using direct bservations and modelling methods

A major challenge in ocean and coastal management is to find simple ways to evaluate the health of such complex ecosystems. This task may prove complicated as selection criteria needs to be established for choosing appropriate indicators and evaluation tools which do not mask or leave out inherent ecosystem properties and dynamics. Here, we review some empirical analyses and modelling techniques which can be used to derive environmental health indicators. With a series of case studies ranging from the combined use of structural and functional attributes of the system, to modelling outputs that integrate the biological and physical environments, we illustrate the usefulness and complementarities of these methods to assess ecosystem health. The choice of relevant indicators will depend on the ecological
Antioxidative/oxidative profile of perfused human placenta in vitro during exposure to different doses of magnetic field

The aim of the study was to determine antioxidative/oxidative profile of human placenta upon exposure to different doses of magnetic field (MF) during perfusion in vitro as well as to prove if perfusion itself may influence this profile in the medium and the homogenates of placenta. The forty placentas obtained during physiological delivery were divided into 4 equal groups: Control and (B1), (B2), (B3) exposed to 0.5 mT, 2 mT and 5 mT of magnetic induction at 50 Hz MF during perfusion in vitro, which lasted for 180 min. Total antioxidant capacity (TAC) and intensity of lipid peroxidation (LPI) were determined spectrophotometrically in maternal and fetal perfusates as well as placental tissues. Obtained results showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) values of determined parameters in maternal compared to fetal perfusates. Moreover, values increased within the time of perfusion as well as increased with an increase of MF magnitude. TAC and LPI in homogenates exposed to MF showed significantly higher (p < 0.05) values after perfusion regardless of MF magnitude as compared to controls. In conclusion, human placental perfusion did not induce antioxidative/oxidative imbalance during the 150 min of experiment. The exposure to MF caused an increase of the oxidative parameters which were balanced by the increase in the antioxidative system showing a dynamic and temporary answer by the cells to an environmental stimulus.
Moderating Effect of Competitive Intensity on the Relationship between Customer Orientation and Performance of Hotels in Kenya

Customer orientation should permeate the overall activities of a firm in a competitive environment as it is considered to be an essential element for enhanced performance. The main objective of this study was to empirically test the moderating effect of competitive intensity on the relationship between customer orientation and performance of hotels in Kenya. Resource-Based View (RBV) theory grounded the study. The study employed explanatory research design and sampled 330 respondents from a target population of about 630 managers in 210 hotels, listed under Kenya Association of Hotelkeepers and Caterers (KAHC). Respondents were selected using cluster sampling combined with simple random. Primary data was collected using a structured questionnaire. Data was analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS 22.0). Stepwise regression was used to test the research hypotheses. The results revealed that customer orientation is directly associated with hotel performance and has a significant effect on the relationship. The study further revealed that competitive intensity has a moderating effect on the relationship between customer orientation and hotel performance. It therefore reasonable to conclude that customer orientation is an important determinant of performance. The study recommends that hotels must view customer relationship as an asset, consider customer retention as a priority and be committed to meeting customers’ needs and expectations. Such measures will offer hotels better understanding of customers in a competitive business environment which will eventually lead to enhanced performance. Keywords: Customer Orientation, Competitive Intensity, Performance, Hotels, Kenya
Upgrading Wastewater Treatment Plants Based on Reuse Demand, Technical and Environmental Policies (A Case Study)

Reclamation and reuse programs are an indispensable part of integrated water resource management, particularly in arid and semi arid regions. Yet, the feasibility of sustainable application not only is relied on design, operation and maintenance of wastewater treatment plants, but also could be influenced by the economical and environmental aspects of reuse demands. This study is aimed to illustrate different policies applicable for upgrading wastewater treatment plants with emphasize on nutrients management in the reclaimed water. For this purpose, 6 domestic wastewater treatment plants in Tehran were analyzed and discussed based on effluent characteristics and reuse demands. As a result, it was recommended that in a framework of demand based policy, and due to economical, practical and environmental limitations, Shahrake Ghods and Mahallati wastewater treatment plants should be upgraded with flexible operated tertiary units. To compare and select the most appropriate unit, the value function was defined and the attached growth based method was determined as a solution. Subsequently, to ensure the environmental protection, the implementation of floating plants treating surface waters, in association with assignment of dynamic trading discharge permit market in reuse program were suggested. Consequently, it was implied that all these solutions would simply be achieved through integrated water and wastewater management.