Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A laboratory study of potential effects of the invasive round goby on nearshore fauna of the Baltic Sea

In the Baltic Sea, species diversity is relatively low and the introduction of new predator species can have large direct and indirect impacts on native species – both prey and potential competitors. The alien round goby Neogobius melanostomus Pallas, 1811 was introduced to the Baltic Sea in the early 1990s and is now well-established. We examined the feeding habits of male round gobies from the Åland Islands, Finland, where round gobies were first recorded in 2011. Specifically, we tested whether small round gobies (≤165 mm TL) showed size and/or species preferences (using Manly’s selectivity index) for two abundant bivalve prey items, the blue mussel Mytilus trossulus Gould, 1850 and the Baltic clam Macoma balthica Linnaeus, 1758. When offered two sizes of clams, small round gobies did not show a prey preference. When offered two sizes of mussels, round gobies selected for small mussels (6 – 9 mm) and against large (10 – 13 mm) mussels. When offered both bivalve species and sizes simultaneously (four prey options), round gobies selected for small blue mussels and against large clams. Combined, these results suggest that small round gobies will selectively feed on the preferred prey if available and if not, their feeding will reflect the availability of various prey items in the environment. In addition, round gobies consumed small (≤ 38 mm TL) individuals of the native flounder Platichthys flesus Linnaeus, 1758. Round goby and flounder have the potential to overlap in habitat use and previous literature has suggested a diet overlap between the two; however, this is the first evidence of direct predation on flounder by round gobies.
Enhanced trans-Himalaya pollution transport to the Tibetan Plateau by cut-off low systems

Abstract. Long-range transport followed by deposition of black carbon on glaciers of Tibet is one of the key issues of climate research as it induces changes on radiative forcing and subsequently impacting the melting of glaciers. The transport mechanism, however, is not well understood. In this study, we use short-lived reactive aromatics as proxies to diagnose transport of pollutants to Tibet. In situ observations of short-lived reactive aromatics across the Tibetan Plateau are analyzed using a regional chemistry and transport model. The model performance using the current emission inventories over the region is poor due to problems in the inventories and model transport. Top-down emissions constrained by satellite observations of glyoxal are a factor of 2–6 higher than the a priori emissions over the industrialized Indo-Gangetic Plain. Using the top-down emissions, agreement between model simulations and surface observations of aromatics improves. We find enhancements of reactive aromatics over Tibet by a factor of 6 on average due to rapid transport from India and nearby regions during the presence of a high-altitude cut-off low system. Our results suggest that the cut-off low system is a major pathway for long-range transport of pollutants such as black carbon. The modeling analysis reveals that even the state-of-the-science high-resolution reanalysis cannot simulate this cut-off low system accurately, which probably explains in part the underestimation of black carbon deposition over Tibet in previous modeling studies. Another model deficiency of underestimating pollution transport from the south is due to the complexity of terrain, leading to enhanced transport. It is therefore challenging for coarse-resolution global climate models to properly represent the effects of long-range transport of pollutants on the Tibetan environment and the subsequent consequence for regional climate forcing.
Morphodynamic Models Used to Study the Impact of Offshore Aggregate Extraction : a Review

Marine aggregates have become recently a strategic mineral resource. Indeed, terrestrial aggregate resources are decreasing, such that large marine aggregate extraction is now being considered, or is already in progress. Thus, it is necessary to assess the impact of offshore marine aggregate extraction on offshore morphology; this can be undertaken by estimating the future trends of coastal systems, due to these extractions. The formulation of so-called Coastal State Indicators (CSIs) can assist in addressing these coastal management questions. The CSIs are a reduced set of parameters that can simply, adequately and quantitatively describe the dynamicstate and evolutionary trends of a coastal system (Van KoningsVeld, daVidson, and Huntley, 2005). Within the EUMARSAND project (2002-2005, Bonne, this volume), marine aggregate exploitation issues were addressed through the application of a wide range of scientific approaches (based upon geology, sedimentology, physics, ecology and engineering). The integration of these approaches can improve significantly both resource management and the knowledge of the impacts of aggregate extraction, on the state and dynamics of the inner continental shelf and coastal environments. In particular, morphodynamic modelling can contribute to increas1 University of Twente WEM, P.O. Box 217 7500 AE Enschede The Netherlands
ASSESSMENT OF AIR QUALITY IN TERMS OF ODOUR ACCORDING TO SELECTED EUROPEAN GUIDELINES: GRID AND PLUME MEASUREMENTS

Methodology of odour measurements by field inspection in accordance with the guideline VDI 3940 prepared by the Association of German Engineers was described. The examples of plan for grid and plume measurements, scale and measurements of the odour intensity, and measurement data sheet with the identification of odour types according to the VDI were presented.
Climate change activism between weak and strong environmentalism: Advocating social change with moderate argumentation strategies?

There are certain social transformations that are socially defined as highly desirable, yet fail to happen, or progress very slowly. Some of these transformations are even promoted by laws, regulations and, lately, by international governance mechanisms, such as international agreements and protocols (Guiddens, 2011). Climate change is a case in point, and perhaps the best current example an on-going social change promoted by international instruments. Many legal mechanisms were agreed upon and put in place in the last decades in order to assure that carbon emissions are reduced, and climate change is slowed down to less dangerous levels. Yet, the last UN’s IPCC report, released in Copenhagen last November 2014, makes it very clear that instead of diminishing, carbon emissions are currently rising.
Lateral Vibration Reduction In High Pressure Centrifugal Compressors

Recent designs of high and medium pressure centrifugal compressors show a well-behaved response to forced vibration and an adequate margin to self-excited vibration. This can only be achieved by an extensive rotor dynamic analysis and wide practical experience. A number of sophisticated computer codes to calculate the response and the stability of complex rotors are widely used. One problem with the application of these programs is the realistic estimation of data for aerody­ namic excitation. It is the purpose of this paper to discuss the different types of excitation that occur in a multistage centrifu45 gal compressor with shrouded impellers and to evaluate their importance with respect to lateral vibrations. The main source for self-excitation is found to be the labyrinth seals. A simple one-dimensional aerodynamic theory to calculate the de­ stabilizing lateral forces of the labyrinths is presented. It is shown that the tangential velocity of the leakage gas strongly influences the excitation. Simple devices which may be installed in nearly any compressor reduce the excitation by reducing the fluid rotation in the labyrinth annulus. Stability tests for a number of different centrifugal com­ pressors have been carried out on a test bed. The stability limits have been determined by increasing the pressure level at constant speed until subsynchronous vibration occurs. The measured stability limits agree well with those theoretically predicted using calculated labyrinth data.
Investigation Into Effect Of Crude Mixture Of Abrus Precatorius Seed On Hypothalamopituitary Gonadal Axis And Development Of Antifertility In Male Rats

To evaluate the antifertility effect of crude mixture of A. precatorius seeds at the dose level of 50 mg/kg body weight in adult male rats, after oral administration to male rats for 40 days, the rats were sacrificed and hormonal profiles, serum biochemistry, sperm count and histological changes were recorded. A sharp decrease in the serum levels of testosterone (0.70 ± 0.17 ng/ml), FSH (0.70 ± 0.22 lU/L), and LH (0.87 ± 0.35 IU/L) was detected compared to control (FSH, LH and testosterone levels 0.93 ± 0.15 ng/ml, 0.76 ± 0.28 IU/L, 1.44 ± .011 IU/L, respectively). A significant reduction of epididymal sperm count (2.34 million/mL) was noted in treated rats as compared to control group (7.87 million/mL). Histology of testes showed marked atrophy of the testes, which was characterized by disruption of the seminiferous epithelium and atrophy of the Leydig cells. Crude mixture of A. precatorius seed has a negative impact on male reproductive functions. It might be suggested that crude mixture of A. precatorius seeds might have antifertility property for male rats. Keywords: Abrus precatorius ; antifertility; male rat; testosterone. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/bjar.v36i1. 9234 BJAR 2011; 36(1): 103-109
On Regularly Varying Distributions Generated by Birth-Death Process

Skewed distributions generated by birth-death process with different particular forms of intensivities’ moderate growth are used in biomolecular systems and various non-mathematical fields. Based on datasets of biomolecular systems such distributions have to exhibit the power law like behavior at infinity, i.e. regular variation. In the present paper for the standard birth-death process with most general than before assumptions on moderate growth of intensivities the following problems are solved. 1. The stationary distribution varies regularly if the sequence of intensivities varies regularly. 2. The slowly varying component and the exponent of regular variation of stationary distribution are found.
Burr Distribution as an Actuarial Risk Model and the Computation of Some of Its Actuarial Quantities Related to the Probability of Ruin

In this paper, we have used an algorithm to fit the Burr XII distribution to a set of insurance data. As it is well known, the probability of ultimate ruin is obtained as a solution to an integro-differential equation and in case, the claim severity is distributed as Burr XII distribution, this equation has to be solved numerically to obtain an approximation to the probability of ultimate ruin. Two numerical algorithms, namely the stable recursive algorithm and the method of product integration have been used to obtain numerically an approximation to this probability of ultimate ruin. The use of these two numerical algorithms provides a scope for comparing the consistency in values obtained by them. The first two moments of the time to ruin in case of Burr XII distributed claim severity have also been computed using the probability of ultimate ruin obtained through the stable recursive algorithm as an input. All these computations have been done under the assumption of the classical risk model.
An Attempt to Predict Lithospheric Extension Parameters within McKenzie's Model

The sedimentary infilling of extensional basins when analyzed via the back-stripping approach can provide a record of the subsidence history associated with basin formation. Comparison of this empirical information with the data on basin dynamics based on one-dimensional McKenzie extensional modelling provides a means of deriving estimates of crustal and lithospheric (as a whole) thicknesses and β value (coefficient of extension). Divergence between modelled and observational results when changing the variable parameters of lithospheric thicknesses and coefficient of extension are minimized by a least squares method. The resultant closest approach between the model calculations are those from backstripping analysis of basin evolution constrain the lithospheric and crustal thicknesses and β parameter to the most appropriate to the particular sedimentary basin. This technique has been applied to the Danish basin, the Dnieper-Donets aulacogen, and the Welsh basin. The results for the Danish basin provide a close match to those from a deep seismic survey.
WiMAX: Network Entry Phase Optimization for Bandwidth Improvement Solution

Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave access (WiMAX) service providers is concerned about having enough Internet-backbone to support a potentially large number of users. Network entry process directly influences the initial delay that users are experiencing. Therefore, efficiently combine DCD interval, UCD interval and initial ranging interval in network entry process is predicted to influence the network performance, as presented in this paper.
Localization of Tomato spotted wilt tospovirus in larvae and pupae of the insect vector Thrips setosus

Changes in the accumulation of tomato spotted wilt tospovirus (TSWV) nucleocapsid (N) protein in Thrips setosus, an insect vector, from eclosion to 17 days were revealed by the double-antibody sandwich-enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (DAS-ELISA) system with individual thrips. First-instar larvae were fed on TSWV-infected Datura stramonium for 2 h, and then kept on healthy Vigna susquipedaris. Individuals were subsampled for 17 days from first-instar larval to adult stage. The N protein concentration increased gradually from the first- to second-instar larval stage after acquisition feeding, peaking on day 5. Viral concentration then declined drastically from the second-instar larval to pupal stage. During the adult stage after ecdysis, persistently low N protein titers were demonstrated by DAS-ELISA, but adult thrips could transmit the virus. N protein was localized in first- and second-instar larvae and pupae by indirect immunofluorescence. On the second to fourth days after acquisition, specific fluorescence signals were detected within the anterior midgut that then spread to the whole midgut during the second-instar larval stage. As time elapsed, N protein was detected throughout the larval midgut and possibly within the salivary glands in pupae at 6 days after acquisition. Fluorescence signals within the pupal midgut were observed, but were not as intense as in larvae.
Intergenerational Determinants of Income Level in Finland

This study estimates the level of intergenerational transmission of income in Finland and assesses the contribution of parental and personal socioeconomic and demographic characteristics to this relationship. We used a longitudinal register-based data set covering two decades and selected cohorts born between 1973 and 1976 for analysis. The results demonstrate strong intergenerationality, with those from the lowest and highest income quintiles being the most probable to remain in the same income quintile in adulthood. Approximately half of these associations are attributable to parental characteristics among men and by personal characteristics among women. Our results further show complex interactive effects, with higher-income parents unable to entirely protect their offspring from the negative impact that unemployment, single parenting, and living alone has on personal income levels. These findings demonstrate significant and multifaceted intergenerational continuities in income level even in a Nordic welfare state such as Finland.
Understanding Insurance Salesperson Internet Information Management Intentions: A Test of Competing Models

The present research compares two attitudinal models adapted from the Theory of Reasoned Action (TORA), which includes attitude and subjective norm components, and the Theory of Planned Behavior (TOPB), which includes TORA facets and also examines a decomposed perceived behavioral control construct that consists of self-efficacy and perceived control. Data from over 700 salespersons of a medium sized, national insurance/financial services company are used to explore the models using structural equation modeling. The results suggest that the models are comparable in terms of standard fit indices, with the model adapted from the TOPB adding substantially to the variance explained for internet information management intentions for both customer and company contact. These results hold implications for future theory, research, and management of information technology–related salesperson motivation in the insurance industry.
Phytoremediation of heavy metals with several efficiency enhancer methods

It is no doubt that the contamination of water, air and soil has worsened, and this occurs as a result of the increase in population. However, the need for remediation technologies has to be seriously considered. Phytoremediation is one of the remediation techniques with a relatively slow procedure and low efficiency. This review covers some of the biological, chemical, physical, physico-chemical and genetic methods, which were applied in parallel with phytoremediation, in an attempt to help increase the efficiency in the remediation of air, soil and water. These include lowering the pH and increasing the electrode potential (Eh), as well as using chelating agents and micro-organisms (arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) and plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR)). Among the introduced methods, an appropriate application of the PGPRs is one of the most useful and environmentally friendly techniques which is currently considered as a useful process in phytoremediation. As a result of the discovering of these new methods, multi-approaches have been executed for a faster and higher removal rate of the contaminants, with a consequent increase in the efficiency of phytoremediation, as compared to single techniques.
Borrowing Costs and the Equity Premium in Standard OLG Models

Simulating a realistic-sized equity premium in macroeconomic models has proved a daunting challenge, hence the “equity premium puzzle”. “Resolving” the puzzle requires heavy lifting. Precise choices of particular preferences, shocks, technologies, and hard borrowing constraints can do the trick, but haven’t stopped the search for a simpler and more robust solution. This paper suggests that soft, but rapidly rising borrowing costs, imbedded in an otherwise standard overlapping generations model can work. Its model features ten periods, isoelastic preferences with modest risk aversion, Cobb-Douglas production, realistic shocks, and reasonable fiscal policy. Absent borrowing costs, the model’s equity premium is extremely small. Adding the costs readily produces large equity premiums. These results differ from those of Constantinides, Donaldson, and Mehra (2002). In their model, hard borrowing constraints on the young can produce large equity premiums. Here soft, but rising borrowing costs on all generations are needed.
Migrating Pools in Yangtze River

The severity and location of bank erosion and bed scour changes with the variation of water level. At low flows, the main flow thread tends to follow the concave bank. As the discharge increases, the flow tends to cut across the convex bar, to concentrate against concave bank only downstream the bend apex. This change of flow pattern is important when predicting the magnitude and position of river bed scour during floods. Local scour hole may have a significant effect on the macroscale river morphology (Mossleman et al,2001). Local scour can affect the stability of man-made structures, such as riprap revetments, and lead failure if no counter-measures are against the scour. The migrations of pools may jeopardises the safety of the river dikes; dike collapse events due to this phenomenon are still common in China.
The pH dependent interaction between nicotine and simulated pulmonary surfactant monolayers with associated molecular modelling

Pulmonary surfactant is an endogenous material that lines and stabilises the alveolar air–liquid interface. Respiratory mechanics can be compromised by exposure to environmental toxins such as cigarette smoke, which contains nicotine. This study aims to determine the influence of nicotine on the activity of simulated lung surfactant at pH 7 and pH 9. In all cases, the addition of nicotine to the test zone caused deviation in surfactant film performance. Importantly, the maximum surface pressure was reduced for each system. Computational modelling was applied to assess key interactions between each species, with the Gaussian 09 software platform used to calculate electrostatic potential surfaces. Modelling data confirmed either nicotine penetration into the two‐dimensional structure or interfacial/electrostatic interactions across the underside. The results obtained from this study suggest that nicotine can impair the ability of pulmonary surfactant to reduce the surface tension term, which can increase the work of breathing. When extrapolated to gross lung function, alveolar collapse and respiratory disease (e.g. chronic airway obstruction) may result. The delivery of nicotine to the (deep) lung can cause a deterioration in lung function and lead to reduced quality of life. Copyright © 2017 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Evaluating the Diversity of Culturable Thermotolerant Bacteria from Four Hot Springs of India

The culturable bacterial diversity of four hot springs of India was analysed, employing different media and screened for temperature tolerance (40°C - 70°C). Sixty morphotypes from Bakreshwar, 48 from Balrampur, 46 from Chumathang and 52 from Vashist were obtained. A set of 112 isolates, tolerant to 45°C and above, were analysed employing Amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis (ARDRA). Sequencing of 16S rRNA gene of the representative isolates revealed that 86%, 93%, 44% and 44% of the isolates respectively from Bakreshwar, Balrampur, Chumathang and Vashist, belonged to Firmicutes. Members of Actinobacteria were present in all the four hot springs, while Proteobacteria were present only in Chumathang and Vashist and Bacteroidetes found only in Bakreshwar. This is the first report of Aurantimonas and Brevundimonas in hot springs. Biolog analyses of three isolates, growing at or above 60°C revealed unique abilities, in terms of utilization of substrates and resistance patterns.
A Survey on Sentiment Analysis and Opinion Mining

Sentiment Analysis (SA), which is also called opinion mining, is the field of study which analyzes people’s opinions, sentiments, evaluations, appraisals, attributes and emotions towards entities such as products services, organizations, individuals, issues, events, topics. SA is machine learning approach in which machine analyzes and classifies the human’s sentiments, emotions, and opinions about some topic which are expressed in the form of either text or speech. SA aims to determine the attitude of a speaker or a writer with respect to some topic or the overall contextual polarity of a document. SA is an ongoing research field. This survey paper contains overview of the recent updates in this field. Many recent algorithms and various SA applications are explained briefly in this paper. The main target of this paper is to give detailed explanation of SA techniques and the related fields. The purpose of this paper is the illustration of the recent trend of research in the sentiment analysis and its related areas.