Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Systematics of the Smooth-Toothed Pocket Gopher,Thomomys umbrinus, in the Mexican Transvolcanic Belt

Abstract Difficulties in the subspecific identification of more than 200 specimens of Thomomys umbrinus from the State of Tlaxcala led us to examine the systematic status of the eight subspecies recognized within the Mexican Transvolcanic Belt. We gathered representative samples of those subspecies (≥ 50) during three years of fieldwork. These were analyzed together with samples from other populations not previously assigned to subspecies, as well as voucher specimens from several collections. Thirty-seven variables, obtained from 1145 specimens, were analyzed morphometrically using univariate and multivariate statistics. Within-population variation was highly influenced by sexual dimorphism, and especially by ontogenetic variation; therefore, these two factors should be considered carefully when making systematic and taxonomic decisions. Our analysis of geographic variation determined only two recognizable subspecies of Thomomys umbrinus within the Mexican Transvolcanic Belt: Thomomys umbrinus umbrinus (Richardson, 1829) and Thomomys umbrinus pullus Hall and Villa, 1948.
A Hybrid Maximum Power Point Tracking Approach for Photovoltaic Systems under Partial Shading Conditions Using a Modified Genetic Algorithm and the Firefly Algorithm

This paper proposes a modified maximum power point tracking (MPPT) algorithm for photovoltaic systems under rapidly changing partial shading conditions (PSCs). The proposed algorithm integrates a genetic algorithm (GA) and the firefly algorithm (FA) and further improves its calculation process via a differential evolution (DE) algorithm. The conventional GA is not advisable for MPPT because of its complicated calculations and low accuracy under PSCs. In this study, we simplified the GA calculations with the integration of the DE mutation process and FA attractive process. Results from both the simulation and evaluation verify that the proposed algorithm provides rapid response time and high accuracy due to the simplified processing. For instance, evaluation results demonstrate that when compared to the conventional GA, the execution time and tracking accuracy of the proposed algorithm can be, respectively, improved around 69.4% and 4.16%. In addition, in comparison to FA, the tracking speed and tracking accuracy of the proposed algorithm can be improved around 42.9% and 1.85%, respectively. Consequently, the major improvement of the proposed method when evaluated against the conventional GA and FA is tracking speed. Moreover, this research provides a framework to integrate multiple nature-inspired algorithms for MPPT. Furthermore, the proposed method is adaptable to different types of solar panels and different system formats with specifically designed equations, the advantages of which are rapid tracking speed with high accuracy under PSCs.
Controlling the Conflict of Interest in Management Buyouts

A controversial aspect of the management buyouts that were popular throughout the 1980s is the potential for a conflict of interest to arise when a manager bids to acquire the firm he manages. This study examines 184 management buyouts and reports three findings. First, returns to prebuyout shareholders are greater when managers must bid against outside acquirers. Second, bid revisions in the face of competition exceed revisions due to shareholder litigation and negotiations with boards. Third, the incidence of competition is negatively related to the prebuyout share holdings of managers. Coauthors are Ronald F. Singer, Anju Seth, and Darla F. Lang. Copyright 1994 by MIT Press.
Complementarity or substitutability between private and public investment in R&D: An empirical study

In this paper, we investigate the relationship between private and public investment in R&D. Various models proposed in the literature to take account for several instruments policies as: (subsidies, taxes…) are estimated to verify if private and public R&D spending are complement or substitute. Our empirical study is based on a dynamic panel model for a sample of (23) countries over the period 1992-2004. This research is dealing with the relationship between private and public investment in R&D. Results based on the GMM method of Arellano and Bond (1991) and the tests of causality and unit root applied to the panel data show a positive and significant relation between private and public R&D.
Autumn and spring drought periods affect vegetation on high elevation rangelands of Turkey

The amount and temporal distribution of precipitation received is of critical importance for regrowth and plant production on rangelands. The effects of drought in the autumn, and spring/summer, as they affected sheep fescue (Festucaa ovina L.) dominated vegetation in Eastern Anatolia, Turkey, were examined between 1996 and 1998. Artificial drought was created using polyethylene rain-out shelters. The experiment was a randomized complete block design with 3 replications with a split-plot arrangement of treatments. Main plots included 2 autumn treatments: imposed artificial autumn-drought or a 40 mm of additional water plus rain. Sub-plots contained 4 treatments: artificial drought in May, June, July, or full spring rainfall. The number of reproductive shoots, aboveground biomass production, protein content, protein yield, canopy coverage and botanical composition were determined. Reproductive shoot numbers were reduced from 617 to 31 m when plants entered winter without autumn regrowth as a result of autumn-drought. Plots subjected to drought in the autumn had aboveground biomass of 424 kg ha. Protein content of forage, crude protein yield and water use efficiency (WUE) were 11.6%, 49 kg ha and 1.5, respectively. These were compared with 1,038 kg ha, 9.6%, 99 kg ha, and 2.4, respectively, for plots received normal autumn precipitation in addition to 40 mm of additional water. Aboveground biomass production increased as short-term drought in spring was delayed but WUE was decreased. Autumn-drought had no effect on the proportion of grasses, but reduced legumes and resulted in an increase in other species. Spring/summer-drought had no effect on legumes but, as the onset of drought was delayed, grasses decreased and other species increased in composition. Autumn-drought reduced canopy coverage from 34.7% to 23.8% but spring drought had a negligible effect. Results indicated that autumn precipitation was crucial for productivity of these high elevation rangelands.
Benzylation of Toluene over Iron Modified Mesoporous Ceria

Green chemistry has been looked upon as a sustainable science which accomplishes both economical and environmental goals, simultaneously.With this objective, we developed an alternative process to obtain the industrially important benzyl aromatics by benzylation of aromatics using benzyl chloride, catalysed by mesoporous solid acid catalysts. In this work mesoporous ceria is prepared using neutral surfactant which helped the calcination possible at a lower temperature enabling a higher surface area. Mesoporous ceria modified with Fe can be successfully utilized for the selective benzylation of toluene to more desirable product methyl diphenyl methane with 100% conversion and selectivity in 2 hours using only 50mg of the catalyst under milder condition. The reusability, regenerability, high selectivity, 100% conversion, moderate reaction temperature and absence of solvent, etc. make these catalysts to be used in a truly heterogeneous manner and make the benzylation reaction an environment friendly one. Copyright © 2012 by BCREC UNDIP. All rights reserved Received: 30th June 2012; Revised: 7th November 2012; Accepted: 10th November 2012 [ How to Cite : K.J. Rose Philo, S. Sugunan. (2012). Benzylation of Toluene over Iron Modified Mesoporouxs Ceria. Bulletin of Chemical Reaction Engineering & Catalysis , 7(2): 158-164. (doi:10.9767/bcrec.7.2.3759.158-164)] [How to Link / DOI : http://dx.doi. org/10.9767/bcrec.7. 2.3759. 158-164 ] | View in
The Social Framework of Learning via Neurodidactics

Both from a pedagogical and a psychological point of view, but also from sociology, we are aware of the fact that learning is a permanently successful process, taking into consideration that learning in the school environment does not bear significant practical differences from learning in our normal, social lives. Since the 18th century already, educational theories have been developed, accepting teaching methods focusing on learning processes, in accordance with human’s brain functions and aiming not for an individual, but a social aspect of learning, enhancing the individual’s self- efficacy in society. Neurodidactics investigates these two parameters, in an effort to introduce brain research scientific results into courses, forging at the same time the frameworks and prerequisites used to establish knowledge that was correctly structured and integrated in a context of emotional motivation. The neurodidactics’ aim is to encourage and support the management and process of learning, in a stress-free, reliable, social learning context. The following analysis of these theories should assist teachers in understanding and explaining their students’ experiences and behaviors, which should always be related to the students’ brain functions and physical-mental functions, as part of a learning group.
Exploring Management Accounting Practices in Emerging Telecommunication Market in Ghana

The ever-increasing importance of telecommunication companies in Ghana coupled with global and domestic competitions, increasing cost and decreasing profitability was the impetus for this study. This research examines the application of a broad range of management accounting practices used by telecommunication companies in Ghana. It sought to establish the extent of use and reasons for the adoption of Management Accounting Practices (MAPs) in Ghana mobile telecom industry (GMTI). This study was a cross-sectional survey that yielded 37 useable questionnaire from respondents with varied professions in accounting and finance in MTN Ghana, a leading telecommunication company in Ghana. The findings show that the most used category of MAPs is strategic analysis practices, which has a higher relative usage rate than reported in previous research. Again, MTN Ghana uses more of traditional budgeting techniques, and relies more on financial measures than for non-financial measures. The use of costing systems by MTN Ghana is quite low, prevalent among them are departmental overhead rate and Activity-based Costing. Overall, this study provides valuable understandings into the nature of MAPs applied by telecommunication companies in emerging markets in developing countries.
Tete a tete? Nearshoring in Europe of consulting engineering

Global sourcing of engineering is becoming a more common way to increase a company’s competitiveness and includes the nearshoring and offshoring strategies of relocating engineering services and activities across national borders. The driving force of why nearshoring and offshoring can often lead to competitive advantage is the combination of cost reduction and the opportunity of exploiting competent resources. Several emerging countries in Europe offer high quality engineering at a lower cost than the Scandinavian market. These countries are located within an acceptable travel distance from Scandinavia and due to similar standards and eurocodes the differences between countries’ engineering procedures have decreased. The aim of this contribution is, first, to investigate a Scandinavian based consulting engineering company’s experiences using nearshoring and, second, why standards and eurocodes can open the European engineering market and consequently how consultancy companies within engineering in Scandinavia can take advantage. This paper is based on international business theories regarding strategies and incentives with global sourcing, nearshoring and offshoring. The empirical research is built on a case study where interviews have been conducted with engineering consultants working in different locations. The case study is a nearshored large infrastructure project and involves collaboration between two companies with multiple locations. Engineers working in the project are distributed geographically in several European countries. The case firm strategy followed is multiple: sourcing of engineering services is done in-house, outsourced, offshored, using competing companies and using captive local investment. Even within the project frame, trust, communication and proper (soft) management are important. The results show that a transactional approach to collaboration is insufficient and that the nearshoring firm can be seriously challenged in its strategy when trying to enable knowledge integration. Standardisation through eurocodes lowers the barriers for the cross national collaboration, even if concepts such as functional roads are still interpreted in different ways.
KNOWLEDGE ABSORPTIVE CAPACITY AND PROCESS INNOVATION: THE MODERATING EFFECT OF ENVIRONMENTAL DYNAMISM

A firm’s absorptive capacity through its knowledge-processing capabilities is crucial in increasing the firm’s innovation performance and fostering competitive advantage. The purpose of this study, therefore, was to investigate the relationship between firms’ absorptive capacity and their process innovation performance by taking into consideration absorptive capacity as a multidimensional, dynamic construct consisting of knowledge acquisition, dissemination and utilization capabilities. Furthermore, this study examined the moderating effect of environmental dynamism on the relationship between firms’ absorptive capacity and innovation performance. Data was gathered from 69 manufacturing firms operating in the northern region of Malaysia. The analyses results showed that knowledge dissemination and utilization had a significant, positive relationship with process innovation. It was also found that in highly dynamic environmental conditions, the impact of knowledge acquisition on process innovation is less pronounced. In stark contrast, the impact of knowledge dissemination on process innovation is enhanced during highly dynamic environmental conditions.
PRELIMINARY PHYTOCHEMICAL, ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTIMICROBIAL STUDIES OF FLACOURTIA JANGOMAS FRUITS

Objective: To determine phytochemical, antimicrobial and in vitro antioxidant activity of Flacourtia jangomas (Family: Flacourtiaceae) Methods: The fruit extracts of the plant was taken for the phytochemical screening to identify the phytochemicals present in it. The extracts of the fruits were evaluated for antimicrobial activity against S. aureus and Escherichia coli by disc diffusion method. In vitro, antioxidant activity was performed by reducing power method, TBA method. Results: The n-butanol extracts showed significant antimicrobial activity against all the strains as compared to the standard drug. The extracts also showed antioxidant activity against the standard ascorbic acid. Conclusion: The extracts showed a high amount of antimicrobial activity and antioxidant activity.
Socioeconomic status, mastery, and goal-striving stress among rural youth

SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, MASTERY, AND GOAL-STRIVING STRESS AMONG RURAL YOUTH by Michael S. Staunton University of New Hampshire, September, 2013 Although a growing body of research documents the links between goalstriving stress and emotional disorder, less research examines the psychosocial antecedents of goal-striving stress. Drawing on longitudinal survey data from a panel study of rural youth, this thesis examines the effects of socioeconomic status and mastery on educational goal-striving stress, occupational goal-striving stress, and combined goal-striving stress. Results indicate that each measure of goal-striving stress is not equally well predicted by socioeconomic status and mastery. Notably, the effects of socioeconomic status on occupational goalstriving stress and combined goal-striving stress are conditioned by mastery, while neither socioeconomic status nor mastery is associated with educational goal-striving stress. Findings show that that the interaction between socioeconomic status and mastery accounts for socioeconomic status differences in both occupational and combined goal-striving stress, and that mastery is associated with a decrease in occupational and combined goalstriving stress particularly at lower socioeconomic strata.
Mental health treatment effects in an alternative middle schools

iv Literature Review 1 Types of Alternative Schools 1 Characteristics of Good Alternative Schools 3 Success at the Middle School Level 5 Tyler Middle School 6 Purpose of this Study 8 Hypothesis 9 Methods 9 Participants 9 Design 10 Measures 10 Data Analysis 10 Results 10 Discussion 11 Tables 16 References 19
Molecular detection of Rickettsia spp. in ticks collected from dogs from the Department of Piura, Peru

The aim of this study was to determine the frequency of ticks positive for genus Rickettsia bacteria among ticks collected from domestic dogs in the Department of Piura, Peru, using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) analysis. Ticks were collected from dogs in urban areas of the metropolitan region of Piura, Peru. Only three species of ticks were identified; 977 Rhipicephalus sanguineus (180 nymphs, 417 females, and 380 males), Six Amblyomma triste females, and one Amblyomma tigrinum male. After classifying the specimens morphologically by stage, species, and sex, their total DNA was tested by PCR using primers that amplify fragments of the gltA, ompA, ompB, and htrA genes. The resulting positive sample was sequenced, compared to the GenBank database, and analyzed phylogenetically. The Rickettsia spp. infection rate in the tick pools was 0.2% (1/484); the positive specimen was an R. sanguineus tick. GenBank analysis of the positive sequence revealed 100% identify with Rickettsia felis; however, no products of the htrA, ompA and ompB genes were amplified from this sample. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of R. felis in R. sanguineus in Peru.
Molecular & Biochemical Parasitology Trypanosomal histone H2A and the DNA damage response

DNA damage and repair in trypanosomatids impacts virulence, drug resistance and antigenic variation but, currently, little is known about DNA damage responses or cell cycle checkpoints in these divergent protozoa. One of the earliest markers of DNA damage in eukaryotes is H2A(X), a serine phosphorylated histone H2A (variant). Here, we report the identification and initial characterization of H2A in Trypanosoma brucei. We identified Thr130 within the replication-dependent histone H2A as a candidate phosphorylation site and found that the abundance of this trypanosomal H2A increased in vivo in response to DNA damage. Nuclear H2A foci mark the sites of putative natural replication fork stalling, sites of meganuclease-induced DNA double strand breaks and sites of methyl methanesulphonateinduced DNA damage. Naturally occurring and meganuclease-induced H2A and RAD51 double-positive repair foci are typically found in S-phase or G2 nuclei. The results link trypanosomal H2A, with an unusual histone modification motif, to DNA damage sensing and mitotic checkpoint signaling. © 2012 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Identification of Diverse Core Set of Germplasm for Abiotic Stress Tolerance in Rice

Knowledge of germplasm diversity among breeding material is an invaluable aid in crop improvement program. Genetic diversity refers to variation within the individual gene loci / among alleles of a gene, or gene combination, between individual plants or between plant populations. With the availability of population of rice genetic resources, it is now interesting to identify a core set of germplasm accessions representing the diversity present in the population. With the advent of SNP genotyping technologies and availability of phenotypic traits performance of germplasm, handling of such high dimensional mixture data remains a challenge for plant breeders to identify diversified core sets of germplasm. Hence the aim of this paper is to (i) select effective SNPs associated with the different phenotypic traits, (ii) identify core set of germplasm by employing suitable combination of clustering method and sampling strategies and (iii) compare the performance of diversity indices obtained from different core sets to identify core set with maximum diversity. At the end, the developed procedure is illustrated by using salinity stress tolerance rice germplasm lines.
The Relationship between the Use of Modern Educational Technology and Quality of Education in Zahedan University of Medical Sciences

The present study aimed to investigate the relationship between the use of modern educational technology and the improvement of the quality of education in universities. The research was a descriptive-survey study. The statistical population were all faculty members of Zahedan University of Medical Sciences in the academic year 2017-2018 (336 people). Sample of study, based on Morgan table, was 200 faculties that selected as simple random sampling method. The research tools were three standard questionnaires: application of technology in education, quality of education, and Teacher Self-Efficacy. Validity & reliability of the questionnaires evaluated and confirmed. Descriptive statistics including frequency distribution tables, mean, standard deviation and charts were used to analyze the data. Pearson correlation coefficient and regression analysis were used for statistical analyses. The software used to data analyze was SPSS ver. 16. The study findings indicated a significant relationship between modern educational technology and quality of education in Zahedan University of Medical Sciences. Considering the results of data analysis, it can be argued that the use of modern educational technology can ultimately predict the quality of education. Therefore, if the authorities seek to improve the quality of education at the university, the use of modern educational technology can play a major role in this regard.
Methodology for close to real time profiling of aggregated demand using data streams from smart meters

This paper discusses potential improvement in accuracy of estimation of load profiles at substation/aggregation point if the demand data is collected directly from smart meters rather than from balancing meters at bulk supply points. It proposes a bottom-up approach for development of daily load curves for domestic load sector by aggregating data coming as real-time data series from smart meters. In order to illustrate the concepts an assumption is made that all the smart meters in an area have the ability to measure instantaneous real power demand of each individual appliance. Following this, a probabilistic bottom-up approach is applied to generate reactive power demand at the point of aggregation. It is further assumed that the collected data streams have different sampling steps and that there are some missing data in recorded data streams. Different data conditioning methods are used to investigate the accuracy of demand aggregation at different aggregation levels not only in terms of total demand but also in terms of demand categories and controllable and uncontrollable demand.
Summary of the Delft University Wind Turbine Dedicated Airfoils

This paper gives an overview of the design and wind tunnel test results of the wind turbine dedicated airfoils developed by Delft University of Technology (DUT). The DU-airfoils range in maximum relative thickness from 15% to 40% chord. The first designs were made with XFOIL. Since 1995 RFOIL was used, a modified version of XFOIL, featuring an improved prediction around the maximum lift coefficient and capabilities of predicting the effect of rotation on airfoil characteristics. The measured effect of Gurney flaps, trailing edge wedges, vortex generators and trip wires on the airfoil characteristics of various DU-airfoils is presented. Furthermore, a relation between the thickness of the airfoil leading edge and the angle-of-attack for leading edge separation is given.Copyright © 2003 by Delft University of Technology