Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seasonal lake surface water temperature trends reflected by heterocyst glycolipid-based molecular thermometers

Abstract. It has been demonstrated that the relative distribution of heterocyst glycolipids (HGs) in cultures of N2-fixing heterocystous cyanobacteria is largely controlled by growth temperature, suggesting a potential use of these components in paleoenvironmental studies. Here, we investigated the effect of environmental parameters (e.g., surface water temperatures, oxygen concentrations and pH) on the distribution of HGs in a natural system using water column filtrates collected from Lake Schreventeich (Kiel, Germany) from late July to the end of October 2013. HPLC-ESI/MS (high-performance liquid chromatography coupled to electrospray ionization–mass spectrometry) analysis revealed a dominance of 1-(O-hexose)-3,25-hexacosanediols (HG26 diols) and 1-(O-hexose)-3-keto-25-hexacosanol (HG26 keto-ol) in the solvent-extracted water column filtrates, which were accompanied by minor abundances of 1-(O-hexose)-3,27-octacosanediol (HG28 diol) and 1-(O-hexose)-3-keto-27-octacosanol (HG28 keto-ol) as well as 1-(O-hexose)-3,25,27-octacosanetriol (HG28 triol) and 1-(O-hexose)-3-keto-25,27-octacosanediol (HG28 keto-diol). Fractional abundances of alcoholic and ketonic HGs generally showed strong linear correlations with surface water temperatures and no or only weak linear correlations with both oxygen concentrations and pH. Changes in the distribution of the most abundant diol and keto-ol (e.g., HG26 diol and HG26 keto-ol) were quantitatively expressed as the HDI26 (heterocyst diol index of 26 carbon atoms) with values of this index ranging from 0.89 in mid-August to 0.66 in mid-October. An average HDI26 value of 0.79, which translates into a calculated surface water temperature of 15.8 ± 0.3 °C, was obtained from surface sediments collected from Lake Schreventeich. This temperature – and temperatures obtained from other HG indices (e.g., HDI28 and HTI28) – is similar to the one measured during maximum cyanobacterial productivity in early to mid-September and suggests that HGs preserved in the sediment record of Lake Schreventeich reflect summer surface water temperatures. As N2-fixing heterocystous cyanobacteria are widespread in present-day freshwater and brackish environments, we conclude that the distribution of HGs in sediments may allow for the reconstruction of surface water temperatures of modern and potentially ancient lacustrine settings.
e-SVR using IRWLS Procedure

e-insensitive support vector regression(e-SVR) is capable of providing more complete description of the linear and nonlinear relationships among random variables. In this paper we propose an iterative reweighted least squares(IRWLS) procedure to solve the quadratic problem of e-SVR with a modified loss function. Furthermore, we introduce the generalized approximate cross validation function to select the hyperparameters which affect the performance of e-SVR. Experimental results are then presented which illustrate the performance of the IRWLS procedure for e-SVR.
Does health sector aid matter? Evidence from time-series data analysis in Ethiopia

Aims: Development assistance for health is an important part of financing health care in developing countries. In spite of the increasing volumes in absolute terms in development assistance for health, there are controversies on their effect on health outcomes. Therefore, this study aims to analyze the effect of development assistance for health on health status in Ethiopia. Methods: Using dynamic time series analytic approach for the period 1978-2013, this paper examines whether development assistance for health has contributed for health status change in Ethiopia. While life expectancy at birth was used as a measure of health status, vector error correction model was used for the analysis. Results: Development assistance for health expenditure (lagged one and two years) had a significant positive effect on life expectancy at birth in Ethiopia. Other things being equal, a 1% increase in per capita development assistance for health leads to 0.026 years improvement in life expectancy at birth (P<0.001) in the immediate year following the period of assistance, and 0.008 years (P=0.025) in the immediate two years following the provision of assistance. Conclusion: This study indicates that, seemingly, development assistance for health has significant favourable effect in improving health status in Ethiopia. The policy implication of this finding is development assistance for the health should continue as an interim means to an end.
Polymorphism analysis at FecB locus in Kajali sheep of India

The present study reports the polymorphism study of bone morphogenetic protein receptor (BMPR- 1B) FecB mutation in Kajali sheep of India. Blood samples were collected from native tract i.e. Sangrur, Barnala, Ludhiana and Moga districts of Punjab, India. Screening of 40 DNA samples revealed absence of FecB carriers in this population. The results thus indicate that either other genetic mutations or simple management practices (mostly the feeding), could be responsible for high fecundity in Kajali population, thus these animal deserve further investigation.
Robust principal component analysis for micro-doppler based automatic target recognition

Dealing with real data it is likely that it will exhibit the presence of unexpected observations within the data which can affect the correct reduction of the representative features of a target signature. For the speciffc case of micro-Doppler based classiffcation this problem can appear in the feature selection stage. To address this problem the Robust PCA based on the Minimum Covariance Determinant (MCD) estimator is introduced. The proposed technique showed to improve the overall classiffcation accuracy.
The State of Public Strategic Management Research: A Selective Literature Review and Set of Future Directions

Strategic planning and related strategic management elements have become ubiquitous practices at all levels of U.S. government and many nonprofit organizations over the past 25 years. The authors review strategic planning and management research over that time period using the premises of practice theory to guide the discussion. The review is organized according to 10 research directions proposed by Bryson, Freeman, and Roering (1986). Important gains have been made in a number of areas, but much more remains to be done. The authors also propose four new research directions, including the need to (1) attend more fully to the nature of strategic management practice, (2) focus on learning and knowledge management generally as part of strategic management, (3) focus specifically on how strategy knowledge develops and is used, and (4) understand how information and communication technologies can be best integrated into strategic management. The fruits of further concentrated research can be improved public strategic management practice, including enhanced organizational capacity for addressing current and future challenges and improvements in long-term performance.
Entrainment and mixed layer dynamics of a surface-stress-driven stratified fluid

Abstract We consider experimentally an initially quiescent and linearly stratified fluid with buoyancy frequency $N_{Q}$ in a cylinder subject to surface-stress forcing from a disc of radius $R$ spinning at a constant angular velocity ${\rm\Omega}$ . We observe the growth of the disc-adjacent turbulent mixed layer bounded by a sharp primary interface with a constant characteristic thickness $l_{I}$ . To a good approximation the depth of the forced mixed layer scales as $h_{F}/R\sim (N_{Q}/{\rm\Omega})^{-2/3}({\rm\Omega}t)^{2/9}$ . Generalising the previous arguments and observations of Shravat et al. (J. Fluid Mech., vol. 691, 2012, pp. 498–517), we show that such a deepening rate is consistent with three central assumptions that allow us to develop a phenomenological energy balance model for the entrainment dynamics. First, the total kinetic energy of the deepening mixed layer $\mathscr{E}_{KF}\propto h_{F}u_{F}^{2}$ , where $u_{F}$ is a characteristic velocity scale of the turbulent motions within the forced layer, is essentially independent of time and the buoyancy frequency $N_{Q}$ . Second, the scaled entrainment parameter $E={\dot{h}}_{F}/u_{F}$ depends only on the local interfacial Richardson number $Ri_{I}=(N_{Q}^{2}h_{F}l_{I})/(2u_{F}^{2})$ . Third, the potential energy increase (due to entrainment, mixing and homogenisation throughout the deepening mixed layer) is driven by the local energy input at the interface, and hence is proportional to the third power of the characteristic velocity $u_{F}$ . We establish that internal consistency between these assumptions implies that the rate of increase of the potential energy (and hence the local mass flux across the primary interface) decreases with $Ri_{I}$ . This observation suggests, as originally argued by Phillips (Deep-Sea Res., vol. 19, 1972, pp. 79–81), that the mixing in the vicinity of the primary interface leads to the spontaneous appearance of secondary partially mixed layers, and we observe experimentally such secondary layers below the primary interface.
Development and application of the desired culture analysis tool

This paper reports the development and application of a tool to measure desired culture in an organization. The Desired Culture Analysis (DCA) allows practitioners to identify their organization’s desired culture and compare it with the perception of culture of subgroups of their organization. The DCA was developed based on core values cited by organizations in lists such as Fortune’s Most Admired Companies, the Working Mother 100, Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award (Healthcare), and the Center for Health Design’s Pebble Partnership. The DCA relies on allocation of points among multiple categories and elements of Saaty’s Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) to force evaluation of pairs of values. The DCA provided organizational leadership with a profile of the desired values for the organization. Having leadership rate the values on a typical Likert-type scale would have produced scores at the high end of the scale, because these values are all desirable (e.g., serving the customer, performing at high levels of competence). This process produced 11 sets of four values, which were then used with the entire employee base. The DCA was applied in a regional multi-hospital system to compare leadership’s view of desired culture with the view of the current culture from non-managerial employees. The DCA was also used to compare the desired culture with the current cultures at each of the system entities. Based on gaps identified in this comparison, targeted action plans were developed to reduce the gaps. This paper shares action planning processes resulting from the application of the Desired Culture Analysis and draws implications for engineering managers in other types of organizations.
A selective logging mechanism for hardware transactional memory systems

Log-based Hardware Transactional Memory (HTM) systems offer an elegant solution to handle speculative data that overflow transactional L1 caches. By keeping the pre-transactional values on a software-resident log, speculative values can be safely moved across the memory hierarchy, without requiring expensive searches on L1 misses or commits.
ANTIOXIDANT ENZYMES ACTIVITY IN EMBRYOGENIC AND NON-EMBRYOGENIC TISSUES IN SUGARCANE

Este trabajo tuvo el objetivo de inducir la embriogenesis directa en segmentos de hojas jovenes no-expandidas en la variedad de cana de azucar RB872552 e investigar la correlacion de este evento morfogenico con el estres oxidativo. Se utilizaron dos protocolos de induccion de embriogenesis somatica, previamente descritos para cana de azucar, con distintas suplementaciones en el medio de cultivo y en las condiciones de incubacion. Para la conversion de embriones en plantas se utilizo el medio MS sin fitorreguladores. Se realizaron ademas analisis histologicas y de actividad enzimatica in tejidos embriogenicos y no embriogenicos. La formacion de embriones somaticos por la via directa ocurrio en 81% de los explantes, con la combinacion de los reguladores de crecimiento 2,4-D (acido 2,4-diclorofenoxiacetico) y BAP (6-bencilaminopurina) e incubacion bajo un fotoperiodo de 16 horas. Respecto a las enzimas antioxidantes, se observo un incremento en la actividad de peroxidase y en el contenido de proteinas solubles en los tejidos embriogenicos, mientras que la polifenoloxidase y la catalase presentaron mas bajos valores de actividad en estos tejidos, en comparacion con los no embriogenicos. Se podria inferir que el estres oxidativo juega un papel importante en la induccion de la embriogenesis somatica en cana de azucar.
Optimisation of liquid flow in cavitation tunnel using CFD method

Computational Fluid Dynamics CFD is a type of software using a numerical modelling (finite element methods and finite volume methods) based on Navier-Stokes equations. This approach allows determining distributions of pressure, velocity, temperature and other features of a flowing media. In the present work. CFD software was used to a development of three-dimensional model of a cavitation tunnel, used for an examination of cavitation resistance of structural materials, as well as to simulate a liquid flow through the tunnel. The simulation was carried out for various assumed flow rates, to determine an optimal value leading to a more extensive area of low pressure assisted by a cavitation phenomenon.
What Factors Explain the Anxiety Level Towards the Study of Mathematics among Elementary School Students

In this paper we examine anxiety towards mathematics among elementary school students, utilizing an anxiety scale (Munoz and Mato 2007). To achieve this, 228 registered students, all enrolled in the fifth and sixth elementary school year in the region of San Juan Bautista Tuxtepec Oaxaca, Mexico, were surveyed during the period July-December, 2013. To achieve the tests validity, we obtained an Cronbach alpha 0.944 (extended) and 0.842 (grouped), which are very acceptable if we consider the criterion AC > 0.8 (Hair et al 1999). The statistical procedure used is the factorial analysis with an extracted principal component in order to measure data. The results obtained from the Bartlett test of Sphericity KMO (0.871), X2 calculated, 865.970 with 10 df > X2tabulated, Sig. 0.000 p 0.5), and demonstrate that the variables of the scale utilized help us to understand the elementary school students’ anxiety towards mathematics. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2015. v6n4p564
Adaptive template matching algorithm based on SWAD for robust target tracking

The sum of absolute differences (SAD) is widely used in video coding and disparity computation for its simplicity. However, SAD is not very common in tracking applications owing to issues like partial occlusion and target changes, which can dramatically affect its performance. Presented is a novel adaptive template matching algorithm for target tracking, based on a sum of weighted absolute differences (SWAD). The target template is updated using an infinite impulse response filter, while a weighting kernel is adopted to reduce the effects of partial occlusion. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed tracker outperforms conventional SAD in terms of efficiency and accuracy, and its performance is comparable with more complex trackers, such as the mean shift algorithm.
An Empirical Study on the Influence of PBL Teaching Model on the Critical Thinking Ability of Non-English Majors

This study combines the PBL teaching model based on cooperative learning autonomous learning and inquiry learning with the intensive reading course of college English with the aim to test whether this model is conducive to promoting the critical thinking ability of students. Ability of second language acquisition (L2) is measured by language test and questionnaire survey among 95 subjects. The results show that the teaching model of PBL has a positive effect on improving students' critical thinking ability and second language acquisition ability.
A survey on the Brazilian Assets, its performance and the investing behavioral biases of its Investment Fund Managers

Behavioral Investing Biases are cognitive and emotional aspects that may intervene in investment decisions. In order to search for evidences of behavioral biases in the Investment Fund Managers (IFM) in Brazil, a survey with 28 questions was created and sent to 936 IFM. 98 responses were obtained. Biases like Optimism and Regret Aversion were present in more than 75% of the respondents. Afterwards, performance of the investment funds managed by the respondents were also analyzed in terms of Excess Return on its benchmark . Finally, fund’s performance and IFM biases were crossed, confirming that top performance IFM tend to have less biases (only 4-5 average along 18 searched biases) and rarely present Recency or Representativeness(cognitive biases).
Inflation Persistence, Fiscal Constraints and Non-Cooperative Authorities: The Stabilisation Policy in a Monetary Union

This paper investigates the importance of fiscal policy in providing macroeconomic stabilisation in a monetary union. We use a microfounded New Keynesian model of a monetary union which incorporates persistence in inflation, and examine non-cooperative interactions of fiscal and monetary authorities. We find that particularly when inflation is persistent, the use of fiscal policy for stabilisation can significantly improve welfare over and above that which arises through the working of automatic stabilisers. We conclude that a regulatory framework for fiscal policy in a monetary union should allow a role for active fiscal stabilisation.
Geo-structural map of the Laguna Blanca basin (Southern Central Andes, Catamarca, Argentina)

The Laguna Blanca basin is a rhomb-shaped basin located at the SE margin of the Puna plateau in the southern Central Andes (Catamarca, Argentina). An interactive analysis using remote sensing and field mapping enabled us to produce a geo-structural map at a 1:350,000 scale. Satellite images from multispectral sensors (ASTER and Landsat 7 ETM+) and medium resolution Digital Elevation Models (SRTM and ASTER GDEM) were used in order to recognize the structures and main lithologies, which were validated in the field and through laboratory tests (e.g. spectral analysis). The final result is a geo-structural map of the Laguna Blanca basin with a new geological unit subdivision, highlighting its tectonic origin, which appears to be related to a releasing stepover along N-S sinistral strike-slip master faults.
The Effect of Feature Extraction Based on Dictionary Learning on ECG Signal Classification

The detection of effective features or data reduction is one of the phases of signal classification. In feature extraction phase, the detection of features which increase performance of classification is very important in terms of diagnosis of disease. Due to this reason, the using of an effective algorithm for feature extraction increases classification accuracy and also it decreases processing time of classifier. In this study, two well-known dictionary learning algorithms are used to extract features of ECG signals. The features of ECG signals are extracted by using Method of Optimal Direction (MOD) and K-Singular Value Decomposition (K-SVD) and the extracted features are classified by Artificial Neural Network (ANN). Twelve different ECG signal classes which taken from MIT-BIH ECG Arrhythmia Database are used. When the obtained results are examined, it is seen that performance of classifier increases in usage of K-SVD for feature extraction. The highest classification accuracy is obtained as %98.74 with 5 nonzero elements in [20 1] feature vector, when K-SVD is used in feature extraction phase. This is the first time in literature that feature extraction based on dictionary learning is performed on 12 ECG signal classes and the extracted features are classified by ANN.
What do insects, anurans, birds, and mammals have to say about soundscape indices in a tropical savanna

The application of acoustic indices is incipient and still needs validation before it can reliably characterize soundscapes and monitor rapidly disappearing hot-spot areas as the Brazilian tropical savanna (Cerrado). Here we investigate which of six acoustic indices better correlate with the 24 h zoophony richness of insects, anurans, birds, and mammals. We sampled one minute every 30 minutes for seven days on three sites in Serra da Canastra National Park (Minas Gerais state, Brazil) and extracted the sonotype richness and six indices based on recordings with a bandwidth of up to 48 kHz. The Acoustic Diversity, Evenness, Entropy, and Normalized Difference Soundscape indices followed the temporal trends of the sonotype richness of insects and anurans. The Acoustic Complexity (ACI) and Bioacoustic (BIO) indices did not correlated with sonotype richness. ACI and BIO were influenced by sonic abundance and geophony. We emphasize the need to include insects and anurans on soundscape and acoustic ecology analyses and to avoid bias on avian fauna alone. We also suggest that future studies explore measures of sonic abundance and acoustic niche occupation of sonotypes to complement measures of zoophony richness and better understand what each faunal group is telling us about indices.
Non‐minimum phase switched systems: HOSM‐based fault detection and fault identification via Volterra integral equation

In this paper, the problem of continuous and discrete state estimation for a class of linear switched systems with additive faults is studied. The class of systems under study can contain non‐minimum phase zeroes in some of their ‘operating modes’. The conditions for exact reconstruction of the discrete state are given using structural properties of the switched system. The state space is decomposed into the strongly observable part, the non‐strongly observable part, and the unobservable part, to analyze the effect of the unknown inputs. State observers based on high‐order sliding mode to exactly estimate the strongly observable part and Luenberger‐like observers to estimate the remaining parts are proposed. For the case when the exact estimation of the state cannot be achieved, the ultimate bounds on the estimation errors are provided. The proposed strategy includes a high‐order sliding‐mode‐based fault detection and a fault identification scheme via the solution of a Volterra integral equation. The feasibility of the proposed method is illustrated by simulations. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.