Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Understanding Tax Policy: How Do People Reason?

I study how people understand, reason, and learn about two major tax policies: income taxation and estate taxation. Using large-scale social economics surveys issued to representative U.S. samples and associated experiments, I elicit respondents’ factual knowledge about tax policy and the income or wealth distributions. Most important, I study their understanding of the mechanisms of tax policy and the reasoning that underlies their policy views. In decomposing policy views, I find that support for income and estate taxes is most strongly correlated with social preferences, that is, the perceived benefits of redistribution and concerns around the fairness of inequality and taxation, as well as with broader views of the government. Efficiency concerns play a more minor role. These correlational patterns are confirmed by the experimental approach, which shows people instructional videos that explain the workings and consequences of one of the aspects of tax policy (the Redistribution and the Efficiency treatments) or that bring the two together and focus on the trade-off (the Economist treatment). The Redistribution and Economist treatments significantly increase support for more progressive income or estate taxes, while the Efficiency treatment has no effect. There are large partisan gaps in both the final policy views and at every step of the reasoning about the underlying mechanisms of taxes. Democrats’ and Republicans’ divergences in tax policy views can ultimately be traced back to different normative criteria (social preferences) and views of the government, rather than to different perceptions of the efficiency implications of taxation.
Campanula latifola, Giant Bellflower: Ethno-Botany, Phytochemical and Antioxidant Evaluation

Campanula latifolia is a plant of Campanulaceae family, commonly known as Giant bellflower. Campanula genus is mentioned in Iranian medicine sources with various names such as kaffeMaryam and Gol-e-estekani. The aim of this study was to assay the different groups of chemical compounds and to investigate the antioxidant effects of ethanolic extract of aerial parts and root of this plant. After providing 70% alcoholic extract of aerial parts and root, qualitative tests were performed to evaluate anthocyanins, saponins, cardiac glycosides, flavonoids, tannins, sterols, triterpenoids, and alkaloids. Tests of antioxidant effects were evaluated by DPPH free radical scavenging effect and the content of phenolic compounds in the extracts using Folin-Ciocalteu method. Phytochemical studies indicate that there are compounds of cardiac glycoside, triterpene, and sterols. In the quantitative analysis of the compounds of the two plant extracts, the total amount of phenols were measured 0.053 and 0.037 (mg Gallic acid/g extract) in aerial parts and root extracts, respectively. The amount of IC50 of DPPH radical scavenging activity of the plant has also been 1163.636 μg / ml for the aerial parts extract and 1419.354 μg / ml for the root extract. Considering the results and the presence of cardiac glycosides, triterpenoids, and sterols, further phytochemical and pharmacological studies are suggested.
ASSESSMENT OF THE ORGANOGENIC RESPONSE TO THE DIFFERENT TYPES OF EXPLANTS FROM ROMANIAN VARIETIES OF RED AND GREEN BASIL

Basil is a plant known since ancient times for its properties (carminative, antiseptic), being conside re a sacred plant. With the passage of time and with the diversificati on of assortments, basil was used for decorative an d romatic purposes, being considered a spicy plant. Red basil is also used in the perfume industry due to the pleasant aroma it possesses. Multiplication procedures were developed by in vitro cultures, using varieties of Romanian origin: 4 from red basil (lines: L9, L10, L11, L12) and 9 from green b asil, characterized by special aromas and leaf shap es. When evaluating the germination yield, the percentages v aried between 45-80% for aseptically inoculated red basil seeds on culture medium. And in the case of green basil vari eties, the yield varied between 25 -100% after sowi ng in universal organic substrate. For the seeds of the green basil varieties, the sow ing as performed in universal organic substrate, and the germination yield varied between 25 -100%. The types of explants taken from the resulting seed lings were represented by stems (fragments of hypocotyl and ep icotyl), leaves and cotyledonary node. The induction of organogenesis was evaluated differently for each ty pe of explant under the effect of phytohormones suc h as cytokinins (TDZ and BAP) added in concentrations of 0.5-2 mg / L to the basal culture medium MS / 1962. After 3 s ubcultures of the explants on the culture medium recipes (45 days ), the organogenic yields expressed in vitro were c ompared
Plumage coloration and personality in early life: sexual differences in signalling

The study was financed by the Spanish Ministerio de Economia y Competitividad (Project: CGL2013-42451-P). DLI is supported by a postdoctoral contract of the REMEDINAL3-CM program of Comunidad Autonoma de Madrid (REF: S2013/MAE-2719)
Indirect selection for the size of seedling in vitro cultivation of passion fruit (Passiflora Giberti N. E. Brown)

Sabe-se que a utilizacao de mudas de maior tamanho garante maior precocidade no pomar. Entretanto, para a cultura de tecidos de plantas, apenas o tamanho da plântula nao e garantia de material com qualidade para propagacao in vitro . Nesse sentido, o objetivo desse trabalho foi utilizar a analise de trilha para identificar qual ou quais variaveis avaliadas durante o processo de conservacao in vitro exerceram maior influencia direta no numero de gemas viaveis disponiveis para posterior propagacao. Os dados utilizados neste trabalho foram de um experimento de conservacao in vitro de plantas de maracuja da especie Passiflora giberti N. E. Brown. As variaveis avaliadas foram: comprimento, peso fresco, peso seco, vigor da plântula e numero de gemas viaveis. Foram realizadas as analises de correlacao simples, correlacao parcial e a analise de trilha para descrever as relacoes de causalidade entre as mesmas. Essa metodologia de analise mostrou que o vigor da planta e a variavel mais correlacionada e tambem a que apresenta maior efeito direto sobre o numero de gemas viaveis disponiveis.
Effects of heat shock and ambient temperature on female soldier production in a polyembryonic parasitic wasp

Larval castes are well known in both sexes of polyembryonic parasitic wasps, in which sterile soldier larvae are clonally produced from a single egg and thousands of reproductive larvae develop into adults. The proportion of soldier larvae in Copidosoma floridanum is first determined genetically in both sexes but subsequently increases in females as a result of environmental disturbances, such as the presence of competitive parasitoids. Because temperature is the most influential environmental factor affecting ectotherms, we hypothesize that an increase in ambient temperature also affects the production of female soldier larvae. Conversely, we hypothesize that there would be no effect of temperature on the production of male soldier larvae. In the present study, we show that heat stress experienced by C. floridanum at an early stage in host development increases the number of female soldier larvae produced during the last instar stage of the host. We also show that rearing at extreme (high and low) temperatures induces an increase in the number of female soldiers produced. The effect of heat stress and ambient temperature on soldier production is found only in females, as is the response to heterospecific competitors. By contrast, no responses are detected in males for either heat stress or ambient temperature. The adaptive effect of these phenomena is not known, although the results of the present study imply the existence of a common physiological cascade that causes an increase in the number of soldier larvae in females.
‘Time is money’ and the value of translation

Abstract This article uses a multi-faceted approach to discuss the relation between time, money and different perspectives that help define the value of professional translation. It challenges the narratives created by the translation industry on post-editing as a revision of pre-translated content, confronting them with the detailed description of the task in industry standards and with the reality of translators’ work. The article also addresses the different roles that time plays as an instrument of analysis and evaluation of translation, and as a fundamental factor in the definition of labour relations in the translation market. The main claim of the article is that translation is increasingly specialised high-value work, requiring translators that are able to make complex and efficient decisions, especially when they are expected to work under time restrictions, with the support of content that has been previously processed by machine translation.
Distinct gene-selective roles for a network of core promoter factors in Drosophila neural stem cell identity

ABSTRACT The transcriptional mechanisms that allow neural stem cells (NSC) to balance self-renewal with differentiation are not well understood. Employing an in vivo RNAi screen we identify here NSC-TAFs, a subset of nine TATA-binding protein associated factors (TAFs), as NSC identity genes in Drosophila. We found that depletion of NSC-TAFs results in decreased NSC clone size, reduced proliferation, defective cell polarity and increased hypersensitivity to cell cycle perturbation, without affecting NSC survival. Integrated gene expression and genomic binding analyses revealed that NSC-TAFs function with both TBP and TRF2, and that NSC-TAF-TBP and NSC-TAF-TRF2 shared target genes encode different subsets of transcription factors and RNA-binding proteins with established or emerging roles in NSC identity and brain development. Taken together, our results demonstrate that core promoter factors are selectively required for NSC identity in vivo by promoting cell cycle progression and NSC cell polarity. Because pathogenic variants in a subset of TAFs have all been linked to human neurological disorders, this work may stimulate and inform future animal models of TAF-linked neurological disorders. Summary: A subset of TAFs has been identified as regulators of NSC identity in Drosophila, which could inform human neurological disorders linked to TAF variants.
Drought-responsive protein identification in developing grains of a wheat–Haynaldia villosa 6VS/6AL translocation line

Abstract. Drought is a widespread abiotic stress that has a detrimental effect on both yield and quality of wheat. Discovery and utilisation of drought-resistant gene resources from wheat-related species may help to mitigate effects of drought and decrease yield loss. In this study, we used a comparative proteome approach to identify potential drought-resistance proteins from a wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–Haynaldia villosa (L.) Schur 6VS/6AL translocation line. Drought experiments showed that introgression of the H. villosa 6VS chromosome short arm into common wheat cultivar Yangmai 5 through 6VS/6AL translocation led to better drought resistance. Two-dimensional difference gel electrophoresis (2D-DIGE) identified 99 differentially accumulated protein (DAP) spots in the wheat–H. villosa 6VS/6AL translocation line, 42 of which were specifically present or showed a significantly upregulated accumulation. Of these, 20 DAPs representing 19 unique proteins in the wheat–H. villosa 6VS/6AL translocation line were upregulated under drought stress. These proteins were mainly involved in defence–stress, energy metabolism, carbon metabolism, nitrogen metabolism, and protein metabolism or folding. Protein–protein interaction analysis of key DAPs displayed a complex interaction network that synergistically regulated drought response. Dynamic transcriptional expression analysis revealed the differential expression of six key DAP genes involved in drought-stress response in the protein–protein interaction network. Our results indicated that H. villosa may have gene resources for wheat drought-resistance improvement.
Some High-Order Iterative Methods for Nonlinear Models Originating from Real Life Problems

We develop a sixth order Steffensen-type method with one parameter in order to solve systems of equations. Our study’s novelty lies in the fact that two types of local convergence are established under weak conditions, including computable error bounds and uniqueness of the results. The performance of our methods is discussed and compared to other schemes using similar information. Finally, very large systems of equations (100×100 and 200×200) are solved in order to test the theoretical results and compare them favorably to earlier works.
Economic Growth, Total Factor Productivity, and Institution Quality in Low-Middle Income Countries in Asia

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of total factor productivity (TFP), institutional quality, and interactive variable between them on economic growth in 13 low-middle income countries in Asia for the period 2000-2018. The paper uses the difference Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) to explore the dataset provided by the World Bank. The empirical results show that TFP and the interactive variable positively impact on the economic growth, while the institutional determinants have a negative influence. The negative effect is explained by the weak institutions in these low-middle income countries. The findings of the study suggest two points. First, the government should continue to improve TFP, which is associated with the application of technical advances, technological innovations, improvement of management methods, and skilled workers. Second, far more important, is that the authorities should pay special attention to implement institutional reform and strengthen the governance in the future. The successful experiences from Japan, Korea and Singapore will help other governments in Asian low-middle income countries to build developmental state. Probably, the developmental state actively interfere in the market to promote and realize the development goals. By doing so, these economies might overcome the so-called “middle-income trap”.
Analysis of the Genetic Diversity and Structure of the Grey-Faced Buzzard (Butastur indicus) in Japan, Based on mtDNA

The grey-faced buzzard (Butastur indicus) is a raptor that inhabits East Asia, including Japan. Because the number of individuals has decreased by 75% over the last 40 years, this species is classified as vulnerable (VU) in Japan. In the present study, wesought to reveal the genetic structure of the Japanese grey-faced buzzard population at several breeding sites, and to assess the levels of genetic diversity within the Japanese population. We sequenced 555 bp of the mitochondrial DNA of 96 individuals sampled during the breeding season at 18 sites, and 11 individuals sampled during the winter season at one site. In total, 21 variable sites were found in the control region, and we detected 26 haplotypes among the 107 individuals. Fukuoka represented the core breeding area for grey-faced buzzards, as half of all haplotypes were detected there. Four unique haplotypes were detected in the overwintering area. The results of the network and mismatch distribution analyses indicated that the grey-faced buzzard has not experienced a genetic bottleneck in the past, but did experience recent population expansion. In addition, comparisons with other raptors revealed rich genetic diversity in the grey-faced buzzard population. Our results indicate that conservation of both breeding and wintering areas is important for the protection of the grey-faced buzzard.
Green Hotel as a Competitive Product: A Case Study at 5-Star Hotel in Bali

Today, tourists tend to choose hotels that consistently implement environmentally friendly practices. In accordance with this phenomenon, the concept of sustainable accommodation needs to apply the principles of environmental conservation, ecology, community empowerment, and the use of local products. Therefore, this study aimed to analyze Green Hotel as a Competitive Product. The problem of this study is “What green aspects do the hotel have that differentiate them from other competitors”? The population was 57 of five stars hotel in Bali that received THK Tourism Award. Meanwhile, 10 percent of the sample was determined by purposive sampling, and the data analysis method used was qualitative descriptive technique. The results showed that the product was developed from an ordinary characteristic to a greener specification. In response to green business practices, 100 per cent stated that adopting the practices can maintain the image of the hotel brand, serve as a competitive advantage, and make the company and employee performance more effective and efficient. Furthermore, the results showed that implementing environmentally friendly business practices are achieved by adopting local wisdom values.
Phylogeographic parallelism: concordance of patterns in closely related species illuminates underlying mechanisms in the historically glaciated Tasmanian landscape

Phylogeography provides a means to understand mechanisms that shaped the distribution and abundance of species, including the role of past climate change. While concordant phylogeographic relationships across diverse taxa suggest shared underlying mechanisms (“phylogeographic parallelism”), it is also possible that similar patterns are the product of different mechanisms (“phylogeographic convergence”), reflecting variation among taxa in factors such as environmental tolerances, life histories, and vagility. Hence, phylogeographic concordance among closely related and ecologically similar species can yield a more confident understanding of the past mechanisms which shaped their distribution and abundance. This study documented mitochondrial and nuclear phylogeographic patterns in the ectotherm skink, Niveoscincus metallicus, which occupies historically glaciated regions of Tasmania, and contrasted these with the closely related and broadly sympatric N. ocellatus. Major phylogeographic breaks were similar in location between the two species, and indicative of isolation caused by retreat from high elevation areas during glaciations, but with long-term persistence at multiple low elevation sites. Hence, Pleistocene glacial refugia were altitudinal rather than latitudinal, a pattern mirrored in other temperate Southern Hemisphere taxa. This study also examined phylogeographic patterns across the intermittently inundated Bassian Isthmus between mainland Australia and the island of Tasmania, and revealed that structuring is similarly maintained when populations were physically isolated during interglacial rather than glacial stages.
Precise optical probing of perceptual detection

Establishing causal links between patterns of neuronal activity and perception is crucial for understanding brain function. Electrical and optogenetic stimulation experiments demonstrated that animals can detect activation of a few neurons. However, these methodologies offer very limited control of ensemble activity and yielded highly divergent thresholds. Here, we use holographic two-photon (2P) optogenetic stimulation to probe the detection of evoked neuronal activity at cellular and single action potential resolution, with millisecond precision. We find that mice can detect single action potentials evoked synchronously across <20 olfactory bulb neurons, while ruling out detection of indirect effects using a novel optical sham-photostimulation technique. Our results demonstrate that mice are acutely attuned to sparse, synchronous ensemble activity signals, introducing order-of-magnitude revisions to earlier estimates of perceptual thresholds.
The behavior and diet of the Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis): A territorial high-elevation hummingbird

ABSTRACT The Shining Sunbeam (Aglaeactis cupripennis) is a widespread and relatively common high-elevation hummingbird in the tropical Andes. Despite this, there is no comprehensive record of its natural history. In this study we present our findings on the diet and territorial behavior of Shining Sunbeam at sites in Peru and Ecuador. Using radio telemetry to track and observe individuals, we examined territory size and vegetation characteristics, activity budgets, diet composition, and territorial aggression. We found that average territory size was 0.13 ha (SD 0.05) with 100% minimum convex polygon estimation and 0.19 ha (SD 0.06) with 95% kernel density estimation. We found high variation in territory sizes, which was not explained by locality, year of data collection, or flower density. The diet of the Shining Sunbeam within our study sites was composed primarily of nectar from flowers of the tree Oreocallis grandiflora (Proteaceae), which comprised 93% (SD 9) of all nectar feeding events in Peru and 99% (SD 1) in Ecuador. Other flowering plant resources included Brachyotum, Centropogon, Fuchsia, Gaultheria, and Macleania. Insects made up 7% (SD 4) and 3% (SD 1) of observed foraging events of A. cupripennis in Ecuador and Peru, respectively. Mean activity budgets across individual birds were 68% (SD 16) perching, 28% (SD 15) foraging, 3% (SD 3) in aggressive behavior, and 2% (SD 1) in nonaggressive flight. Of the observed aggressive interactions, the majority were directed toward other hummingbirds (77% in Ecuador and 84% in Peru). When only considering interactions with hummingbirds, most aggression was intraspecific in Ecuador (71%) but interspecific in Peru (95%). We observed aggressive behavior directed toward other common, non-hummingbird nectarivores, such as Diglossa flowerpiercers, while aggression directed toward non-nectarivores was rare. Our results highlight the need for comparative studies to better understand hummingbird foraging and territorial behavior in the Andes, and the utility of radio telemetry for studying larger hummingbird species like the Shining Sunbeam.