Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impacts of rural non-farm employment on household welfare in Pakistan

This article examines the impact of non-farm work on household welfare, differentiated by female, for rural households in the Punjab province of Pakistan. We employ an endogenous switching regression approach that accounts for selection bias due to observable and unobservable factors to examine the factors that influence the household’s decision to participate in non-farm work and the impact of participation on household welfare. Given we find no substantial selection bias on unobservable factors; we also use PSM approach to check the robustness of our results from the ESR estimates. Separate estimates are also provided for male and female to address gender heterogeneity. The empirical results reveal that participation in non-farm work significantly increases per head expenditures and reduces household poverty level. This confirms the potential role of non-farm work in improving rural household welfare and poverty alleviation in rural areas of developing countries.
Single-sweep-based methods to improve the quality of auditory brain stem responses

This study is a systematic evaluation of the influence of different filter settings on the quality of auditory brain stem responses performed on a single sweep basis, i.e., on a post-hoc analysis of all unaveraged single epochs. For purposes of comparison, a quality analysis was also carried out when only two sub-averages were known. The question of optimal lower and upper filter edge frequencies is addressed for monaural and binaural stimuli at 20, 40 and 60 dB (nHL) for different recording sites. Only linear (finite impulse response) filters were used. Filter edge frequencies of 30-50 Hz and 1300-1700 Hz are to be recommended for practical purposes. These values are independent of the stimulation level and recording site. In comparison with average-based quality estimates, the single-sweep approach was found to be superior, as is confirmed both by the practical examples and by theoretical observations.
Incidence of and defoliation by a newly introduced pest, Paropsisterna variicollis (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae), on eleven durable Eucalyptus species in Hawke’s Bay, New Zealand

In March 2016, an incursion of the paropsine beetle Paropsisterna variicollis (eucalyptus variegated beetle) was detected in the Hawke’s Bay during routine Forest Biosecurity Surveillance. Paropsines cause significant damage to eucalypt plantations in several parts of the world. A survey of three Hawke’s Bay sites containing 11 durable eucalypt species was conducted in January 2017. Defoliation by paropsines, and numbers of eggs, larvae and adults were recorded. Adult Pst. variicollis were observed on all eucalypt species, and were present in larger numbers than Paropsis charybdis in two sites. Eucalyptus bosistoana sustained the greatest defoliation and incidence of eggs and larvae, and E. macrorhyncha the least. Parasitism of Pst. variicollis eggs was observed but the agent was not definitively confirmed. Results indicate Pst. variicollis will exhibit a wide host range in New Zealand but variability observed in the levels of defoliation between species may be linked to heritable traits that can be exploited through current breeding programmes.
Stackelberg Game-Theoretic Strategies for Virtual Power Plant and Associated Market Scheduling Under Smart Grid Communication Environment

In order to schedule the virtual power plant and corresponding energy market operation, a two-scenario Stackelberg game-theoretic model is proposed to describe interactions between market operator and VPP operator. During market operation, the market operator is a leader of the game to decide market cleaning prices, considering the power loss minimization of VPP operator, whereas during VPP operation, the VPP operator becomes a leader to facilitate the demand side management (DSM) through proper monetary compensation, considering the market trading balance between power sellers and power buyers. An optimal scheduling strategy including power dispatch and market balance will be realised. Case studies prove the effectiveness of the proposed Stackelberg game-theoretic model through IEEE 30-bus test system. The market scheduling promotes the power exchange among VPPs. The VPP scheduling evaluates the optimal monetary compensation rate to motivate the DSM including load shifting and load curtailment.
The carbon distribution at the ESTOC water colum

The water column distribution of carbonate system variables at the ESTOC site from 1995 to 2004 M. González-Dávila, J. M. Santana-Casiano, M. J. Rueda, and O. Llinás Departamento de Quı́mica, Facultad de Ciencias del Mar, Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, 35017 Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain Instituto Canario de Ciencias Marinas, Gobierno de Canarias, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain Received: 10 March 2010 – Accepted: 15 March 2010 – Published: 18 March 2010 Correspondence to: M. González-Dávila (mgonzalez@dqui.ulpgc.es) Published by Copernicus Publications on behalf of the European Geosciences Union.
Placing Social Marketing in the Practice of Corporate Social Responsibility: Focusing on Environmental Issues

As the awareness of social problems and environmentally related issues in particular becomes widespread, companies have been called to participate in the resolution of these, given that they are the main economic agents with impacts on the society and on the environment. Considering that corporations face pressures from their stakeholders to contribute to solving the social global issues that are affecting them, this theoretical paper analyses the role of stakeholder theory, a new management paradigm, and the importance of social marketing to achieve the aims of corporate social responsibility (CSR). The key point of this study is the possible contribution of social marketing to ensuring the companies’ voluntary involvement in promoting social and environmental well-being, supporting them to respond to stakeholders’ requests, due to its capacity of providing, over time, quantifiable improvement on social issues. In this context, this study explores the linkage between stakeholder theory, CSR and social marketing concepts, giving particular attention to the social marketing contribution to solving environmental issues.
A Student Learning Environment without the Overhead? Reviewing Costs and Benefits of CAL within a Manufacturing Course*

This paper begins with a brief discussion of the current drivers within higher education and their impact and influence on the learning process. The requirements for an effective infrastructure at the class level are described, with specific links made to the use of computer-aided learning/assessment, effectiveness and efficiency. The paper goes on to describe the authors’ experience of using Computer-Aided Learning (CAL) and Computer-Aided Assessment (CAA) in several linked classes over a number of years and to review them in terms of costs, benefits and efficiency.
Public Information and Heuristic Trade

We characterize the steady-state equilibrium in which informed traders who exhibit heuristic (i.e., representativeness, as opposed to Bayesian) and Bayesian behaviors achieve the same expected utility. Then, we show how the endogenous, steady-state proportion of heuristic traders is affected by the quality of public information and other exogenous features of our model. Finally, we discuss how the presence of heuristic traders potentially alters the link between improved public disclosure and: market liquidity, the variance in the change in price, and market efficiency.
Performance Evaluation of Air Conditioning System Using Nanofluids

This paper describes thermal modeling of air conditioning system using various nanofluids. The performance of the heat pipe greatly depends on the filling ratio of the working fluids. The model uses information of the fluid input conditions, geometric characteristics of the system, size of nanoparticles and the compressor speed to forecast the fluids output temperatures, the operating pressures, the compressor power consumption and the system overall energy performance. Such an analysis can be conveniently useful to compare the thermal performance of different nano particles. The use of nanofluids as a fluid in air conditioning system was studied and the computer simulation program was developed to solve the nonlinear equations of the system model. The advantages of nanofluids are: (1) higher thermal conductivity than that predicted by currently available macroscopic models (2) excellent stability and (3) little penalty due to an enhancement in pressure drop and pipe wall erosion experienced by suspensions of micrometer or millimeter particles. Simulation results have shown that for the same geometric characteristics of the system performance increased from 12% to 18% by application of nanofluid as a fluid in VCS. In this paper the performance of refrigeration system with R22 and 0.1%v of three types of nanofluids namely (CuO, ZnO, Al2O3) has been analysed, compared and the results have been discussed.
THE DIVERSITY STUDY OF THE RUDERAL ASSOCIATIONS OF THE CEAHLĂU MOUNTAIN

The present research aims to compare the ruderal communities in terms of similarity, characteristic species and diversity, of the Ceahlău Mountain National Park. For revealing the similarity and characteristic species, the plant communities were investigated through a multivariate analysis. The diversity for each of the eight associations was assessed through the species richness, Shannon index, and relative diversity. Regarding the recorded diversity descriptors, the differences among associations were not significant regardless of their altitudinal distribution. This may be the result of the weed's ability to disperse and to exploit the favourable local conditions despite other major factors.
Globalized Nelder Mead Trained Artificial Neural Networks for Short Term Load Forecasting

Load forecasting has always been one of difficult tasks to achieve with minimum error due to its non-linear behavior. Artificial neural networks (ANN) are easily caught in local optima and its convergence is much slower. To get around these problems, hybrid techniques are being used effectively. That’s why ANN merged with other techniques, is one of most active research topic. This paper presents a solution to train neural networks with Globalized Nelder Mead algorithm. The proposed hybrid model is employed for the prediction of hourly load demand using Australian Energy Market Operator and California data. The inputs of this model are past hourly load data, maximum and minimum temperatures of that day and day type variable to specify load demand of that day. Results indicate that proposed model provides better results than other techniques discussed in this paper.
Combined Analytical and Numerical Front Tracking Approach to Modeling Directional Solidification of a TiAl-Based Intermetallic Alloy for Design of Microgravity Experiments

A three-step combined analytical and numerical approach to thermal modelling of a two-heater power-down furnace for controlled directional solidification of an intermetallic alloy is proposed. An analytical sensitivity analysis of the thermal model is carried out to show the effect of adiabatic zone length, and both hot-zone and cold-zone heater temperatures, on the initial thermal gradient in the sample and on the length of melt in the adiabatic zone. The subsequent axisymmetric front tracking method (FTM) simulations of directional solidification of a binary intermetallic Ti-46at. %Al alloy show that temperature gradient in the melt declines and velocity of the solid-liquid front increases with time, thus promoting good conditions for a columnar to equiaxed transition. The proposed analytical calculations combined with full-scale numerical FTM simulations provide a convenient and predictive optimization tool for the two-heater power-down furnace design and growth conditions for the future microgravity experiments.
Crustal thickness and Vp/Vs ratio of the central and western North China Craton and its tectonic implications

SUMMARY We obtained the crustal thickness (H) and average Vp/Vs ratio (κ) for the central (CNCC) and western North China Craton (WNCC) by H–κ stacking of receiver functions. Our results show that H and κ varies significantly but similarly in the northern and southern CNCC, reflecting possible effects of the Phanerozoic cratonotic reactivation on the region. Of the WNCC, the south is featured by κ values typical for Precambrian shields (∼1.77) and variations of H mirroring surface topography; the north presents large fluctuations of κ (1.68–1.93) and a crustal thickening (up to 50 km) uncorrelated with topography. Such N–S differences were thought to be associated with a ∼1.95-Ga suturing event occurred in the north with little effects on the south. Our observations suggest that distinct structural heterogeneities of the NCC not only reflect diverse regional tectonics in Phanerozoic, but also provide evidence for long-term survival of crustal fabrics in stable continental interior.
Endophytic Bacterial and Fungi Associated to Banana Leaves (Musa spp.) Cultivated Under Organic Management

Banana as a domesticated plant has a long evolutionary history of cultivation and has become one of the most important fruit in a world widely market, devoted to its high nutritional characteristics. However, its biology and association with microbes are poorly understood. Then the objective of the present study was isolate the cultivable endophytic bacterial and fungal community associated to leaves of an organic banana plantation in the Brazilian Amazon state of Roraima. A total of 24 fungi and 27 bacteria isolates were selected. The taxonomical classification showed that the cultivable endophytic fungi community is affiliated to the following 11 genera: Aspergillus, Peniophora, Meyerozyma, Saccharicola, Hypocreales, Nigrospora, Byssochlamys, Periconia, Myrothecium, Acrocalymma and Peroneutypa. Regarding the bacterial isolates 13 genera were found: Serratia, Pantoea, Streptococcus, Neisseria, Bacillus, Arsenicicoccus, Sphingobacterium, Herbaspirillum, Lactococcus, Variovorax, Pseudorhodoferax, Stenotrophomonas and Brevibacterium. Comparing the endophytic microorganisms isolated in the present research with previous studies already published, some new genera and species were detected. This could be due to use of organic cultivated bananas without the utilization of fertilizers and other chemical products. This could provide the isolation of bacteria and fungi which are benefic to their hosts but not yet previous found in banana.
Comparing Linear Accrual-Based Models in Predicting Earnings Management of Tehran Securities Exchange accepted Firms

This research investigates linear accrual models to evaluate their capability in predicting earnings management. Discretionary accruals are as earnings management index. Researchers use numerous models to predict earnings management in firms. Four models of discretionary accruals including performance model (Kothari) on asset return, modified performance model (Kothari) on asset return, performance model (Kothari) on delayed asset return, and modified performance model (Kothari) on delayed asset return are compared in this study. Applied data of this research is of 90 firms accepted in Tehran securities exchange during 20082012.Research hypotheses have been tested using multi-variable regression and panel data econometrics. Results showed that modified performance model on assets return compared to other investigated models is more capable in predicting discretionary accruals to predict earnings management among accepted firms of Tehran securities exchange.
Predicting Seasonal Mixed-mode Time Series

Underlying phase space dynamics of many time series can be characterized by mixed-mode periodic and chaotic orbits. Mixed-mode dynamics create a serious pattern recognition challenge for the analysis and forecasting of such time series. We propose here a novel method, which uses a combination of attractor reconstruction and Bayesian Network modeling. Dimensionality analysis is used to flnd embedding dimensions of the data and possible dimensions of underlying attractors. The correct dimensions allow us to build non-linear Bayesian models, used in predicting chaotic time-series. The developed algorithm is successfully applied to Australian electricity demand data.
QUANTATIVE ANALYSIS & EVALUATION OF VARIOUS VOIP CODECS OVER MRMC WMN

Wireless Mesh Networks (WMN) have emerged as important architectures for the future wireless communications. WMNs consist of mesh routers and mesh clients, and could be independently implemented or integrated with other communication systems such as the conventional cellular systems. Traditional WMNs were based on a single-channel or single-radio interface. In this paper, We begin with an examination of possible radio usage policies that determine which radio a node uses to transmit to a particular neighbor and when to bind the radio to a particular channel in MRMC networks. The goal of various CA algorithms is to pick a feasible CA that optimizes some suitably chosen performance metric. Here, we proposed to evaluate the performance of two different routing protocols namely Hybrid Wireless Mesh Protocol and Weighted Cumulative Estimated Transmission Time against two channel assignment schemes namely common channel assignment and Minimum Interference Channel Assignment algorithms for varying traffic load in terms of different performance metrics using NS2 network simulator
Political ideology and economic freedom in the US states

This paper empirically investigates how political ideology influences economic liberalization as measured by the size of government, tax structure and labor market regulation. Our dataset of economic freedom indicators compiled by the Fraser Institute covers 48 US states over the 198162005 period. We employ several indicators of political ideology that have been used in the literature and introduce a new index that considers regional differences in Democratic and Republican Party ideology. The results suggest that (1) Republican governors and Senates dominated by Republicans have been more active in economic liberalization than Democrats, (2) coding ideology with the new index gives rise to more clear6cut results, (3) divided government hardly counteracted ideology6induced economic policies, even though disagreement between the governor and the Senate had some counteracting effects.
Apoptosis induction in human leukemia cell lines by gold nanoparticles synthesized using the green biosynthetic approach

Gold nanoparticles were grown on Sargassum muticum water extract (S-GNPs) using the green biosynthetic approach. The nanoparticles were characterized using UV-visible spectroscopy, zeta potential, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The resulting S-GNPs were spherical and crystalline with a size of <10 nm. The in vitro anticancer activity was demonstrated in human leukemia cell lines. The cancer cells were treated with different concentrations of S-GNPs, and calorimetric (MTT) assay used for the cytotoxicity test, which resulted in an IC50 value of 4.22 ± 1.12, 5.71 ± 1.4, 6.55 ± 0.9, and 7.29 ± 1.7 µg/mL for each of the K562, HL-60, Jurkat, and CEM-ss cells, respectively. Thus, the K562 was selected for the next experiments. Furthermore, apoptosis induction was confirmed by Hoechst 33342, annexin V staining, and caspase-3/-9 activity tests. The cell cycle analysis exhibited a significant increase in the accumulation of S-GNPs treated cells at the sub-G1 phase, demonstrating the induction of apoptosis by S-GNPs. The nature of the inhibition of cancer cell growth by S-GNPs could open the way for further research in the design of green synthesis therapeutic agents, particularly in nanomedicine, for the treatment of cancer.
Meat quality and the calpain system of feedlot steers following a single generation of divergent selection for residual feed intake

Residual feed intake (RFI) is calculated as the difference between an animal’s actual feed intake and its expected feed intake based on its size and growth over a specified test period. Following a single generation of divergent selection for postweaning RFI, Angus steers and Angus × Hereford, Angus×Poll Hereford and Angus × Shorthorn crossbred steers born in 1996 and 1997 were fed in a feedlot. Cohorts of steers were slaughtered at the same age and had attained similar (P>0.05) final liveweights: 467 kg for steers selected for low RFI (high efficiency; HE, n = 91) and 459 kg for steers selected for high RFI (low efficiency; LE, n = 98). The HE and LE steers had similar (P>0.05) carcass weight (247 and 244 kg), dressing percentage (53.1 and 53.2p) and eye-muscle area (58.9 and 60.3 cm 2 ). The HE steers had slightly less subcutaneous fat over the rib than the LE steers (9.2 v. 10.1 mm, P 0.05) between the HE and LE steers in content of intramuscular fat (5.4 and 5.3% fresh weight), marbling scores, meat colour and fat colour. There were also no differences (P>0.05) between HE and LE steers in shear force and compression values for samples of LD aged for 1 day (4.6 and 4.6 kg shear force, 1.45 and 1.44 kg compression), or for 14 days (3.8 and 3.5 kg, 1.36 and 1.32 kg). Myofibril fragmentation index (MFI) measures the breakdown of these structural elements which occurs as an initial step in the process of protein degradation and meat tenderisation. MFI was lower (i.e. less fragmentation; P 0.05) between HE and LE steers in the activity of m-calpain and µ-calpain in LD immediately after slaughter (HE steers: 1.9 and 2.3 units, LE steers: 1.8 and 2.1 units). The level of calpastatin in LD from the HE steers was 13% higher than in the LD from the LE steers (5.2 and 4.6 units respectively, P 0.10) with levels of either calpain or calpastatin. A single generation of divergent selection for RFI produced differences in calpastatin and myofibril fragmentation that may, with on-going selection for low RFI, negatively affect meat tenderness.
Evaluating the Effects of Rumenocentesis on Health and Performance in Dairy Cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the rumenocentesis procedure on dairy cows by determining selected metabolic and physiological variables representing the health status. Two groups of 6 cows either underwent rumenocentesis (GA) or sham (GB) procedures. Superficial skin temperature of the rumenocentesis area was measured using infrared thermography before the procedure (-1 h), immediately after (0 h), and at 48 h, 96 h, and 20 days following rumenocentesis. Blood samples were collected at all times, except for immediately after the procedure (0 h), and selected immunologic response variables were determined. Milk yield and rectal temperatures were measured daily. Rumenocentesis did not influence the white blood cell count, haptoglobin or total protein concentrations. Electrophoretic protein fractions were not different between GA and GB treatments. Milk yield and rectal temperature were not affected by rumenocentesis. Skin temperature of the rumenocentesis region in GA group cows increased by 1.0 °C immediately after rumenocentesis and returned to baseline after 48 h where it remained constantly until the end of the study; similar to observation in GB group cows. Results of this study would suggest minimal adverse effects on cow health and production when performing rumenocentesis for the diagnosis of subacute ruminal acidosis. Additional more intensive studies addressing animal welfare issues relative to the diagnostic techniques are needed. Health, infrared thermography, welfare