Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Male physical risk taking in a virtual environment

Abstract Research has shown that male risk taking is enhanced by the presence of observers. However, naturalistic observations and laboratory experiments have provided mixed evidence as to whether male physical risk taking is primarily directed at females, at other males, or both. We present a behavioral experiment in virtual reality in which males (N = 72) crossed an ominous bridge over a steep valley — either in the presence of a male virtual observer, a female virtual observer, or alone. A male or female experimenter was present while the participants crossed the bridge. Our results show that males crossed the bridge faster in the presence of a female experimenter than in the presence of a male experimenter. Follow up tests revealed that the experimenter effect was driven by the condition in which the virtual observer was female. This finding is consistent with previous work suggesting that male physical risk taking is primarily directed at females.
Microbiological quality of catfish (Clarias gariepinus) smoked with Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) developed smoking kiln

The microbial quality of cat fish (Clarias gariepinus) smoked with Nigerian Stored Products Research Institute (NSPRI) developed smoking kiln was assessed. Raw fish samples were purchased and cleaned before smoking in the kiln designed and constructed by the institute. Potato dextrose agar and nutrient agar were used for the mould/yeast and bacteria load of the smoked fish respectively while appropriate selective media were used for the isolation of the enteric organisms. The total bacteria count was 2.0 x 10-4 cfug and 0.7 x 10-4 cfug for mould/yeast. The result showed that no Pseudomonas, Escherichia coli or Salmonella species was found on the smoked fish. Generally the total bacteria count was higher than the mould/yeast count. The sensory evaluation of the smoked fish showed that the fish was generally acceptable in taste and flavour. In conclusion, C. gariepinus smoked with NSPRI developed smoking kiln is of high microbiological standard and suitable for human and livestock consumption.
Reconstructing the Concept of Democratic Deliberation

Although democracy is a contested concept, much of this contest begins with substantial agreement. Theorizing is anchored by a focus on the nature of the individual citizen. There follows a normative consideration of personal rights, namely autonomy and its social corollary, equality. The problem of democratic governance is conceived accordingly. It is one of crafting institutions that facilitate collective decision-making in a manner consistent with these fundamental values and thus with the common good. Beyond this quite general orientation, significant divergence emerges over how individuals are conceptualized and consequently over how autonomy and equality should be defined. Division over how best to institutionalize democratic governance follows. This paper focuses on the recent contribution to this theoretical debate made by the advocates of deliberative democracy. It briefly sketches the deliberative position, and then critically considers the adequacy of its conception of the individual and offer an alternative view of cognition, emotion and communication. I conclude by presenting the implications of this alternative for the understanding of the democratic values of autonomy and equality and for the conception of democratic procedure.
Heterologous approach in the search for (candidate) genes

To answer many questions of evolutionary developmental biology, it is necessary to identify genes which could be responsible for the studied traits. In this review, I have summarised the methods that are currently used to identify these genes. Mainly the PCR-based methods of gene cloning are discussed here, with the special attention given to the comparison of primer design strategies and PCR amplification strategies. In addition to the review of methods used by other authors, an overview of our experience with PCR-based gene cloning in dioecious model plant species Silene latifolia is included.
Antioxidant potentials of culturable endophytic yeasts from Phragmites australis Cav. (Trin) ex Steud. from copper-contaminated mining site in Mankayan, Benguet

Three endophytic yeasts were isolated from the lower stem and roots of Phragmites australis Cav. (Trin) ex Steud. , observed to be dominant along the banks of the tailings pond 5A of the Lepanto Consolidated Mining Co. in Mankayan, Benguet. These yeast isolates were tested for their antioxidant properties in vitro to establish the possible contribution of these endophytes to the survival of their hosts in this inhospitable environment. All fungal yeast isolates displayed significantly higher antioxidant activities than the sterile potato dextrose broth that served as the control. Notable isolates were Yph3, which displayed the highest antioxidant activity using the 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl assay, and C. parapsilosis Yph5, which yielded the highest ascorbic acid equivalent per mg dry weight using the 2,2’-azino-bis(3ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) assay. C. parapsilosis Yph5 also produced the highest amount of phenolic compounds measured as gallic acid equivalents. All three yeast isolates were observed to exhibit similar ascorbate peroxidase activities. On the other hand, D. hansenii Yph4 showed the highest catalase activity. It is clear from this study that the different endophytic yeasts have different mechanisms for quenching reactive oxygen species. This may be an indication that in situ, they perform synergistic and complementary roles in the antioxidative system of their host plant P. australis.
Deep ocean ventilation, carbon isotopes, marine sedimentation and the deglacial CO 2 rise

Abstract. The link between the atmospheric CO2 level and the ventilation state of the deep ocean is an important building block of the key hypotheses put forth to explain glacial-interglacial CO2 fluctuations. In this study, we systematically examine the sensitivity of atmospheric CO2 and its carbon isotope composition to changes in deep ocean ventilation, the ocean carbon pumps, and sediment formation in a global 3-D ocean-sediment carbon cycle model. Our results provide support for the hypothesis that a break up of Southern Ocean stratification and invigorated deep ocean ventilation were the dominant drivers for the early deglacial CO2 rise of ~35 ppm between the Last Glacial Maximum and 14.6 ka BP. Another rise of 10 ppm until the end of the Holocene is attributed to carbonate compensation responding to the early deglacial change in ocean circulation. Our reasoning is based on a multi-proxy analysis which indicates that an acceleration of deep ocean ventilation during early deglaciation is not only consistent with recorded atmospheric CO2 but also with the reconstructed opal sedimentation peak in the Southern Ocean at around 16 ka BP, the record of atmospheric δ13CCO2, and the reconstructed changes in the Pacific CaCO3 saturation horizon.
Observations of Spacecraft Bearing Lubricant Redistribution Based on Thermal Conductance Measurements

The performance and life of precision ball bearings are critically dependent on maintaining a quantity of oil at the ball/race interface that is sufficient to support a robust protective film. In space applications, where parched conditions are intentionally the norm, harsh operating conditions can displace the small reserves of oil, resulting in reduced film thickness and premature wear. In the past, these effects have proven difficult to model or to measure experimentally. This paper describes a study addressing this challenge, where bearing thermal conductance measurements are employed to infer changes in lubricant quantity at the critical rolling interfaces. In the first part of the paper, we explain how the lubricant’s presence and its quantity impacts bearing thermal conductance measurements. For a stationary bearing, we show that conductance is directly related to the lubricant quantity in the ball/race contacts. Hence, aspects of bearing performance related to oil quantity can be understood and insights improved with thermal conductance data. For a moving bearing, a different mechanism of heat transfer dominates and is dependent on lubricant film thickness on the ball. In the second part of the report, we discuss lubricant quantity observations based on bearing thermal conductance measurements. Lubricant quantity, and thus bearing thermal conductance, depends on various initial and operating conditions and is impacted further by the run-in process. A significant effect of maximum run-in speed was also observed, with less oil remaining after obtaining higher speeds. Finally, we show that some of the lubricant that is displaced between the ball and race during run-in operation can be recovered during rest, and we measure the rate of recovery for one example. 1.0 Introduction Bearing life and performance is critically dependent on lubricant. Heat transfer is also dependent on lubricant in space, therefore the two are linked. This paper will show bearing thermal properties depend on lubricant and its quantity, then, show how the conductance measurements can be used to infer lubricant behavior. The requirements for operation of space mechanisms present bearings a very different thermal environment than mechanisms used in a terrestrial environment. In terrestrial applications, convection dominates the cooling mechanism. If air is not enough to cool it, the bearing is typically flooded with lubricant for additional cooling. Thus, bearing thermal conductance tends to be a second or third order effect in most terrestrial applications. However, in the vacuum of space, essentially no air is present and flooding with lubricant is not feasible. Furthermore, in most cases, the bearing must operate with parched lubricant quantities and perform for years under these conditions. In the absence of convection, bearing raceway temperatures are a product of bearing thermal conductance, heat generation, and the operational environmental temperature. In most * The Aerospace Corporation, El Segundo, CA ** The Aerospace Corporation, Colorado Springs, CO
Quest for Efficiency: Examining Cognitive Processes Underlying the Use of 3D Modeling Tools

In this paper we examine the strategies used in 3D modeling for their efficiency. Our study explores the underlying cognitive process that drives design thinking as well the choice of strategies for using specific features in a given CAD software. We take a cognitive task analysis approach to examine our question. Of a total sample of 19 participants, the strategies of the fastest and slowest users are compared to identify areas of improvement for software development as well as user training.
Performance of cucumber hybrids cultivated in coconut fiber and soil

The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of three Japanese group cucumber hybrids, which were cultivated in two cultivation systems. The experiment was designed in a split-plot randomized block design with two cultivation systems (coconut fiber and soil) for commercial Japanese cucumber hybrids ('Tsuyataro', 'Yoshinari' and 'Nankyoku'). After harvesting the cucumbers, we evaluated the number of marketable fruits per plant, the average fruit length, the mean fruit diameter, the bottom fruit diameter, the marketable production of fruits per plant and the marketable yield per hectare. There were significant interactions between the cultivation system and the hybrid, as indicated by the number of marketable fruits. The Nankyoku hybrid had the highest average (14.54 fruits pl -1 ), although it did not differ from the Yoshinari hybrid when grown in coconut fiber. In soil culture, the Yoshinari hybrid had the highest average number of fruits per plant (10.12 fruits pl -1 ) and did not differ from the Tsuyataro hybrid. Cultivation in coconut fiber provided better results for production traits and plant productivity. 'Yoshinari' and 'Nankyoku' were the most productive hybrids. Based on the cucumber cultivation results from a protected environment, the cultivation of hybrid Japanese cucumbers and Yoshinari and Nankyoku hybrids in coconut fiber is recommended.
XL Reinsurance with Reinstatements and Initial Premium Feasibility in Exchangeability Hypothesis

This paper studies excess of loss reinsurance with reinstatements in the case in which the aggregate claims are generated by a discrete distribution, in the framework of risk adjusted premium principle. By regarding to comonotonic exchangeability, a generalized definition of initial premium is proposed and some regularity properties characterizing it are presented, both with reference to conditions on underlying distortion functions both with respect to composing functions. The attention is then focused on conditions ensuring feasibility of generalized initial premiums with reference to the limit on the payment of each claim.
An Investigation of the Reliability and Standard Error of Measurement of Words Read Correctly Per Minute Using Curriculum-Based Measurement

Generalizability (G) theory was used with a sample of 37 third-grade students to assess the variability in words correct per minute (WCPM) scores caused by student skill and pas sage variability. Reliability-like coefficients and the SEM based on a specific number of assess ments using different combinations of passages demonstrated how manipulating probe vari ability could reduce measurement error. Results showed that 81 % of the variance was due to student skill, 10% was due to passage or probe variability, and 9% was due to unac counted sources of error. Reliability-like coeffi cients ranged from . 81 to . 99, and SEMs ranged from 18 to 4 WCPM depending on the number of probes given. When passage vari ability was controlled, SEMs were decreased and ranged from 12 to 4 WCPM. Results indi cated that WCPM scores yield high reliability- like coefficients but also have a large SEM that can be reduced by administering multiple alternate passages. Discussion focuses on con ducting research designed to identify more equivalent passages in order to reduce erro neous relative and absolute decisions.
LEVERAGING VALUE WITH INTANGIBLES: MORE GUARANTEES WITH LESS COLLATERAL?

This paper shows how intangibles can create scalable value, levered by debt and serviced by intangible-driven incremental EBITDA and cash flows. Intangibles intrinsically incorporate information asymmetries and may so discourage debt, but are also a vital component of cash generating value, so representing a key factor for debt servicing, with paradoxical effects (more guarantees with less collateral? ). Operating leverage is enhanced by scalability, an intrinsic characteristic of many intangibles, with a positive impact on cash generation and consequent debt servicing. Ability to improve cash flows emerges as a key feature of value enhancing intangibles, bypassing their lack of collateral value.
Practice architectures and sustainable curriculum renewal

Abstract While there are numerous pedagogical innovations and varying forms of professional learning to support change, teachers rarely move beyond the initial implementation of new ideas and policies and few innovations reach the institutionalized stage. Building on both site ontologies and situated learning in communities of practice perspectives, this paper explores the theory of practice architectures to offer a different and legitimate perspective on sustainable curriculum renewal. Specifically, a practice architecture either enables or constrains particular practice and constitutes the construction of practice from semantic (e.g. language), social (e.g. power relations) and physical (e.g. materials) spaces. Through the juxtaposition of practice architectures with an empirical illustration of longer term pedagogical change, the paper argues that for pedagogical change to be sustained a practice architecture that relates to an innovation’s intended learning outcomes and the contexts in which an innovation can be used needs to be created. Consequently, the theory of practice architectures can guide reform programmes. Curricularists can begin programmes with a pre-planned approach to assist, (a) teachers’ understanding of how to use an innovation, and (b) the deconstruction and reconstruction of practice architectures to support an innovation’s survival.
Approximare Analytical Solution for High-Order Integro-Differential Equation by Chebyshev Waveletes

In this work, we present a computational method for solving high-order integro-differential equations which is based o n the use of Chebyshev Wavelets. The solution process is illustrated and various physically relevant results are obtained. I llustrative examples have been discussed to demonstrate the validity and applicability of the technique and the results have been compared with the exact solution. Comparison of the obtained results with exact solutions shows that the used method is an effective and highly promising method for various classes of high-order integro-differential equations.
Age-based demography of humpback grouper Cromileptes altivelis: implications for fisheries management and conservation

The humpback grouper Cromileptes altivelis is listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List because of concerns about unsustainable levels of harvest. Quantitative estimates of life history parameters are scarce, limiting formal assessment of long-term harvest rates and conservation risk and the design of robust management measures. We provide the first estimates of age-based population parameters for C. altivelis, using samples from the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and Torres Strait, Australia. Population parameters did not differ significantly between regions. The maximum observed age was 19 yr, the von Bertalanffy growth parameters were K = 0.30 yr–1, L∞ = 597 mm, and total mortality rate, estimated from an age-based catch curve, was 0.26 yr–1. Preliminary estimates of natural mortality for the GBR, based on samples from reefs closed to fishing, were 0.23 yr–1 (Hoenig regression) and 0.26 yr–1 (catch curve), suggesting recent fishing mortality was low. C. altivelis was found to be a protogynous hermaphrodite with 50% of individuals being male at length 547 mm and age 9.6 yr. Peak spawning was between October and January. These results contrast with previous perceptions of life history traits of this species and suggest that C. altivelis may not be as vulnerable to managed fishing pressure as previously thought. Notwithstanding this, there remains considerable uncertainty in unfished abundance and average recruitment levels for C. altivelis populations. We consider a combination of management strategies including size limits, effort controls and no-take areas that are likely to be most effective in minimising the conservation risk for C. altivelis populations and provide sustainable yields across the species’ range.
Bioenergetics of the planktonic copepod Acartia tonsa: relation between feeding, egg production and respiration, and composition of specific dynamic action

Rates of clearance, ingestion, ammonia excretion, respiration and egg production were measured in food-acclimated (0 to 1700 W C 1-l) planktonic copepods Acartia tonsa in relation to food concentration. Carbon and nitrogen budgets were constructed. Clearance peaked at a food concentration of 150 W C 1-l, and decreased at both higher and lower concentrations. Ingestion and egg production rates increased sigmoidally with food concentration approaching plateaus equivalent to 180 and 64 % body C d-l, respectively. Rates of ammonia excretion and respiration increased with algal concentration in a decelerating manner. Respiration and excretion rates of copepods fed at saturation food concentration were more than 4 times higher than those for starved individuals. The causality of the increased respiration rate in association with feeding (specific dynamic action, SDA) is discussed by considering the physiology and biochemistry of the processes that potentially contribute to SDA. The theoretical biochemical minimum costs of biosynthesis accounted for between 50 and 116 % of observed SDA, while assimilation costs equalled 18 to 28 %. Costs of feeding, digestion and excretion (-1 % of SDA), and the mechanical work required to transport food down the gut, contributed insignificantly to SDA. It is concluded that the increment in metabolic rate of feeding A. tonsa largely relates to biosynthesis ('growth') and transport, and that the efficiency of egg production in this species is near its theoretical maximum.
Completing the Learning Cycle: The Role of Formative Feedback When Using Self and Peer Assessment to Improve Teamwork and Engagement

There is a reported competency gap between the teamwork skills required by employers and those developed by engineering students during their undergraduate courses. It is important for university courses to develop learning-oriented assessments that will encourage development of teamwork skills and a commitment to ongoing development after graduation. While assessable team-based projects increase the opportunities for team interaction, because of problems such as free-riding they do not automatically develop students' teamwork skills. Self and peer assessment has been widely reported as a means of reducing problems with free-riders while motivating students to learn and develop teamwork, critical evaluation and self reflection skills. However, often the focus is on using summative assessment to punish non contributors. While this use is valuable, less research has been undertaken on using it for formative purposes to improve subsequent contributions and learning. We found that formative learning-oriented feedback to complete the learning cycle played a major role in not only encouraging the ongoing development of teamwork skills, but also promoted academic honesty by discouraging free-riders and saboteurs. This paper reports how educational technology was used to facilitate formative self and peer assessment allowing, even in large classes, several opportunities to close the learning cycle and develop teamwork skills.
Study on national activities and funding opportunities of furthering education programs for unemployed academics

The joint German - Hungarian - Polish - Romanian Project EUBILD-UNAKLIM 2016-1-DE02-KA204-003254 in the ERASMUS + Scheme KA2 (Strategic Partnerships) designs an international adult-learning furthering education course. It took place in the participating countries Germany, Hungary, Poland and Romania. Environmental and cross-sector topics were addressed. A “green” job search and a questionnaire among employers, financing and educational institutions and NGOs was performed across the partner countries in 2017. The objectives were to find differences in employers’ opinions on staff skills and the training topics provided by the furthering education organizations. In case differences were found, the course could close these gaps and will be adapted to the employers’ needs, bringing more course participants into employment. Statistical evaluation compared countries, institution types, employers and furthering educationand financing institutions. The results were visualized in pie charts, histograms, and - where applicable - trend lines. Preliminary results show clear ranking of the new “green” job categories with differences in countries and institutions. The questionnaire results show differences in topic selection between employers and furthering education bodies. The results form the base for the course curriculum design closing the gaps between employers’ expectations for “green” job topics and existing training curricula.