Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RESEARCH ON SYNERGY CAUSED BY NETWORK EXTERNALITY: THE CASE OF LITHUANIAN FIXED TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS MARKET

The paper presents a theoretical model of synergetic effect and explores the Lithuanian fixed telephone communications market before and after liberalization in accordance with network externality and user utility change when new users login. Based on the developed theoretical model, an empirical research was done. The aim of the research was to investigate the synergetic effect and to show the importance of network externality in the Lithuanian fixed telephone communications market. According to our theoretical model, there may be a situation when, after liberalization and due to increased competition, the profit of the market monopolist (ex) grows. This means that the competition caused by the decrease in revenue is offset by gains in the supply. In this case, the synergetic effect caused by the network externality takes place.
Behavior Selection of Social Robots Using Developmental Episodic Memory-Based Mechanism of Thought

To use a service robot in a public place, the robot should be able to adapt its behaviors and learn from experiences with people. However, the existing behavior selection algorithms have difficulties in learning deeply or in creating a new behavior. To solve these problems, we implement the human-like thought process, i.e. developmental episodic memory-based mechanism of thought (DEM-MoT), in behavior selection of social robots. In DEM-MoT, a behavior is selected among pre-defined behaviors by an adaptive resonance theory based on the 2-norm Euclidean distance. If the expected reward of the selected behavior is too low, a new behavior is created by randomly arranging a set of primitive behaviors. To show the effectiveness of the proposed behavior selection method, experiments were carried out in a simulated environment.
Field Testing of Tomato Chilling Tolerance under Varying Light and Temperature Conditions

Chilling tolerance is a desirable trait in commercial tomato varieties, in order to extend the growing season and geographic range. Two Nearly Isogenic Lines (NILs) with introgressions in chromosome 2 and 3 of Solanum habrochaites S. Knapp & D.M. Spooner, a cold-resistant wild tomato, were evaluated in the field. Four plantings were established between 21 August and 2 October 2006 (day 232 and 274). Throughout the experiment the heat sum was interpreted using air temperature to calculate growing degree days (base 12 °C) and chilling hours (below 12 °C), with the daily light integral calculated as global solar radiation. The relative post-transplant growth rate, fruit set and yield, were evaluated over two successive 10-d periods. Chilling tolerance is expressed under high radiation and low temperature conditions, which occurred during the 10-d post-transplant evaluation period beginning on day 257, when both NILs achieved a leaf area growth rate 1.7 times higher than the control plants. During the second evaluation period, 10-20 d post-transplant, both NILs grew on average, 1.4 times more than the control. There were no significant differences in earliness or fruit set. These NILs should not be used as a direct source to obtain chilling tolerant varieties, because of the low fruit set, 84% lower in LA3921 than the control, probably due to linkage drag and poor environmental adaptability in both lines.
Isolation of Nitrate and Phosphate Removing Bacteria from Various Environmental Sites

Problem statement: Nitrate and phosphate are two major pollutants due to anthropogenic activity like excessive use of fertilizers in agriculture. Their contamination has emerged as a global problem and its potential threat is marked on the environmental sustainance as well as on the public health. Approach: The objective of the current study is to isolate efficient nitrate and phosphate removing microbes from various environmental sites that have been selected on the basis of the nature of polutants received by them and their water quality assessment. These well characterized isolates could in future be used for the remediation of waste water. 30 different sites were screened using culture based method. The nitrate and phosphate removing abilities of the microbes were checked in enriched medium (Himedia M439) after 16 h of incubation at 37°C. Results: 7 efficient isolates were obtained from rhizosphere of Water lily, Marine beaches, Paddy field and Raw sewage canal. The highest nitrate removal (88.3%) was shown by isolate (WBUNB009) from raw sewage canal and the highest phosphate removal (82.9%) was shown by isolate (WBUNB004) from rhizosphere of Water lily. Morphologically all the isolates were gram positive bacilli as reconfirmed by environmental scanning electron microscopy. Biochemically as well as physiologically they differ from each other. Conclusion/Recommendation: This study leads to the isolation of efficient nitrate and phosphate removers from environmental origin. The phosphate removing efficiency is much higher than the type strain under identical condition. These native microbes might be responsible for maintaining the phosphate and nitrate levels at the 30 sites investigated inspite of the received pollution load. These isolates could be the potential bioremedial agents for other sites with high nitrate and phosphate contamination level.
Interactive comment on “Regional CO pollution in China simulated by the high-resolution nested-grid GEOS-Chem model” by D. Chen et al

This manuscript describes the application of a high-resolution nested-grid GEOSChem simulation to simulation of carbon monoxide over China, and specifically the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) city cluster. The authors demonstrate the benefits of a higher resolution simulation over a region with strong emission gradients and then use this simulation to (1) examine the pollution over the BTH region in summer 2005 (showing that model underestimates can largely be attributed to excessive winds) and (2) C1325
Economic Development and Cultural Change among the Okavango Delta Peoples of Botswana

Botswana has undergone dramatic economic development since independence. The Okavango Delta peoples are experiencing intense change as a result of economic development. The current study is providing important information regarding the traditional lifeways of these peoples and how they are impacted by economic development, especially in the form of nature tourism. Children's levels of skills for traditional activities and their level of traditional knowledge of their environment are explored using a theoretical perspective derived from both economics and behavioral ecology. The results show that cultural change can happen with great speed in response to changes in subsistence economy, parental aspirations, and alterations in the patterns of children's socialization and training.
Estimating black globe temperature based on meteorological data.

An automatic weather station, comprising of temperature and humidity sensors, a pyranometer, an anemometer, and a thermocouple inside a black globe, was installed in a grassed area at the University of the State of Bahia - UNEB, Juazeiro County, Bahia State, Brazil. Half of the data collected at this station was used to generate models (simple or multiplicative) for estimating the Black Globe Temperature (BGT). Model performance was evaluated by using the second half of the data. Statistical precision and accuracy indices and statistical errors were used to analyze the collected data and the Student`s t test was used to evaluate the significance of the model parameters. Two models to estimate the BGT using meteorological variables were obtained: BGTd = [1.360 Tair d - 2.358]·[0.075 ln(Rs) - 0.562] and BGTn = [0.942 Tair n]. One model was elaborated for daytime BGTd), when the air temperature (Tair d) and solar radiation (Rs) were combined to generate a multiplicative model (R2 = 0.877), and a second model was developed to determine the BGT values for night-time (BGTn) based on the night-time air temperature (Tair n) (R2 = 0.962). The models developed resulted in great performance to predict the black globe temperature, allowing the estimation of bioclimatic indices to assess the conditions of the environment, to accomplish regional studies, and to indicate best house designs for animals.
Morphometrics and Genetic Diversity of Tegal, Magelang and Their Crossbred Ducks Based on Cytochrome B Gene

This experiment was conducted to study the morphometric and genetic diversity of Tegal, Magelang, and their crossbred ducks. Each ten female about twenty weeks old ducks from Tegal, Magelang, Gallang, and Maggal ducks, respectively, were used as the group materialss. The body weight, chest circumference, body length, shank length, neck length, and pubis width were recorded and tested by analysis of variance of one way classification as the morphometric characteristics. Polymorphism of cytochrome b ( cyt b) gene on mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) was analyzed by Polymerase Chain Reaction-Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphism (PCR-RFLP). Genetic distance was analyzed based on value of heterozygosity, whereas the phylogeny tree was reconstructed using MEGA6 software. The results showed there were highly significant difference (P<0.01) on body weight, chest circumference, body length, and neck length between population, while shank and pubis width were not significant different. The genetic distance between Gallang and Maggal ducks (0.206) was higher than Tegal and Magelang ducks (0.169). It is concluded that the reciprocal crosses increased the morphometric and genetic diversity of Indonesian local duck population.
Exploring the relationship between ethical climate, reputation and corporate identity (case study of Yazd Governor Employees)

Purpose : Ethical behavior and moral values are very important issues that are related to ethics business in many studies. Bases of all values are moral values. The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between ethical climate, reputation and corporate identity in Yazd Governor. Methods : In this functional study, 283 cases of Yazd Governor Employees are involved in 2014. Volume of sample is 162 and was determined based on Cochran formula. Sampling was random. Data collection were used by survey method and a standard questionnaire of Victor is employed to assess the dimensions of ethical climate, Annette ( 2006 ) for the evaluation of corporate identity and Fombrun and Van Riel, 2003 for the detection of corporate reputation. Statistical analysis used Spss Software. In this study, the dependent variables were reputation and corporate identity; and the independent variable was ethical climate. Results : All of hypotheses of this research were confirmed since results showed there were significant relationship between ethical climate and corporate identity and reputation. In other words, whenever ethics climate spreads in the organization, the identity and reputation of the employee and in the next step identity and reputation of the organization are promoted. Conclusion : The findings of our study can help managers to identify weaknesses and strengths of ethical climate in organizations. Moreover it can improve ethical behaviors and desires in order to effect its part in improving the performance if employee and the organizations.
Long-term changes in the distribution of northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) in Icelandic waters

The aim of this study was to analyse long-term changes in the distribution of the offshore shrimp stock in Icelandic waters from 1988–2013 and to analyse whether recent warming had impacts on or shaped the distribution. The northern shrimp (Pandalus borealis) is distributed throughout the colder parts of the North Atlantic and Pacific Oceans and is found both inshore and offshore in Icelandic waters. The offshore population is in the deep waters north and east of Iceland, at depths of 200 m or more. In recent years, surface temperature on Icelandic fishing grounds has increased by 1 to 2°C and since 1996, temperature north of Iceland has been relatively high. Cod abundance on the shrimp grounds also showed a gradual increase in the study period, and at the same time, shrimp abundance in offshore waters declined, and reached a historically low level in 2004. In this study, the centre of gravity of the shrimp distribution was estimated for each year and its displacement examined in terms of main influencing factors which were the offshore shrimp catch and the cod biomass index from the annual offshore shrimp surveys. In addition, factors influencing the shrimp abundance were examined and the mean sea surface temperature was found to be the main negative influence. The results therefore indicate that besides ocean temperature, both predation and fishing effort may have influenced the distribution and/or abundance of the northern shrimp off Iceland.
How can the secondary school learning model be adapted to provide for more meaningful curriculum integration

Interest in curriculum integration (CI) has resurged recently as schools seek to bring together knowledge from separate curriculum areas to create a more holistic, integrated learning experience for students to address the demands of ‘twenty-first century’ learning. As the educational sciences deliver new research on the role of the arts in cognitive development, educators are also refreshing their perspective on what is termed ‘arts integration’. This study set out to investigate the introduction of a curriculum integration model in a secondary school setting, focusing on the arts. The findings indicate that collaborative learning became a powerful strategy for enhancing student’s social and motivational skills, specifically that of compromise. For a Curriculum Integration model to succeed in secondary schools there needs to be a paradigm shift in the way that secondary schools structure their timetables and their learning environments.
Interactive comment on “ Quantification of the enhanced effectiveness of NO x control from simultaneous reductions of VOC and NH 3 for reducing air pollution in Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region , China ” by Jia

[Response]: The relationship between pollutant responses to emissions can be quantified by an atmospheric chemical transport model (noted by CTM, e.g., CMAQ) which describes most of the physical and chemical processes in the atmosphere. Studies on multiple CTM simulations under different emission scenarios (“brute force method”) can investigate the full range of pollutant responses to emissions. The principle of regression-based RSM model is to build up the full range of pollutant responses to emissions using an advanced statistic method (i.e., response surface method) from a number of CTM simulations. The accuracy of regression-based RSM in representing the nonlinearity in pollutant response to emissions has been examined thoroughly by different methods including cross validation, out-of-sample validation and isopleth validation in previous studies (Xing et al., 2011; Wang et al., 2011; Zhao et al., 2015; Xing et al., 2017; Zhao et al., 2017). Since the relationship between pollutant responses to emissions is followed by the basic chemical functions and physical laws parameterized in CTM (i.e., CMAQ in this study), the function used to represent the relationship in regression-based RSM (implicitly) can be parameterized explicitly in a series of basis functions. This study used a linear combination of polynomial bases (i.e., 1, x, x2, x3. . .) to characterize the pollutant responses to emissions, and the terms were
The Rise of Hedge Funds : A Story of Inequality

The rise of hedge funds from the almost unnoticed beginnings in the late 1940s to the pinnacle of global finance seventy years later is one of the most pivotal developments for the international political economy. It is the central thesis of this paper that the rise of hedge funds can only be explained by the notion of inequality: inequality between nearly unregulated hedge funds and the regulated rest of financial market actors; inequality between offshore financial centers that provide minimal regulation and low taxation to hedge funds, and onshore jurisdiction that do not; inequality between very rich private individuals that invest in hedge funds and the „bottom 99 percent“ that do not. Two countries play a central role for the rise of hedge funds, the US and the UK. Both adhere to the paradigm of „indirect regulation“ of hedge funds, and both tolerated a drastically increased income inequality since the 1980s that fueled the rise of hedge funds. It is only in these two countries that the story of inequality that drives the rise of hedge funds could be ended.
The changes of organelle ultrastructure and Ca2+ homeostasis in maize mesophyll cells during the process of drought-induced leaf senescence

The changes of cell ultra structure as well as Ca2+ homeostasis involved in the drought-induced maize leaf senescence was investigated. Meanwhile, many indicatives of leaf senescence including thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (MDA), electrolyte leakage (EL), and chlorophyll along with soluble proteins were also detected during the process. The Polyethylene glycol6000(PEG6000)-incubated detached leaves showed a slight increase in the MDA content and electrolyte leakage during the first 30 min of our detection, which was corresponded to an unobvious alteration of the cell ultrastructure. Other typical senescence parameters measured in whole leaf exhibited a moderate elevation as well. Thereafter, however, the EL and MDA rose to a large extent, which was correlated with a dramatic damage to the cell ultrastructure with concomitant sharp decrease in the chlorophyll and soluble proteins content. The deposits of calcium antimonite, being an indicator for Ca2+ localization, were observed in the vacuoles as well as intercellular spaces in the leaves grown under normal condition. Nevertheless, after PEG treatment, it was revealed a distinct increment of Ca2+ in the cytoplasm as well as chloroplasts and nuclei. Moreover, with long-lasting treatment of PEG to the detached leaves, the concentration of Ca2+ as described above showed a continuous increment which was consist with the remarked alteration of physiological parameters and severe damage to the ultrastructure of cells, all of which indicated the leaf senescence. Such drought-induced leaf senescence might result from a loss of the cell's capability to extrude Ca2+. All above findings give us a good insight into the important role of Ca2+ homeostasis in the process of leaf senescence accelerated by the drought stress.
The linkage between corporate social performance and corporate financial performance

The concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR) emerged in the early 20thcentury in the U.S. However, a specific connotation of CSR has not been unified, though the norms and standards related to CSR are developing now. There are more Taiwanese enterprises participating in caring communities, and contributing to the community with specific actions to publicize their CSR related activities. Previous empirical studies have indicated an unclear relationship between CSR and financial performance, and literature has pointed out that innovation has a great impact upon CSP and corporate financial performance (CFP). Therefore, size and R&D are adopted in this study as control variables to investigate the relationship between CSP and CFP. In this study, companies listed in the TSEC Taiwan 50 Index and TSEC Taiwan Mid-Cap 100 Index are included as samples to analyze the link between CSP and CFP, and regression analysis is used in this study. The results of this study point out that previous CSP has positive impact on the return on assets for the next period, however, previous CFP has nothing to do with the latter CSP. In considering R&D and size, the previous CSP has a positive correlation with the latter return on assets. In addition, CSP has a negative correlation with return on equity in the financial industry, and CSP has nothing to do with CFP in the electronic industry. Key words: Corporation financial performance, corporation social performance, corporation social responsibility, R&D.
RAPD Analysis for Sex Determination in Pistacia

Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis of Pistacia vera L. was used to distinguishing sex type in progeny plants. Varied genotypes of the pistachio were analyzed by PCR amplification of a ten base primer previously found to be linked to the expression of a 945bp amplification band in female trees and its absence in males. Results revealed that genetic material from cultivar samples amplified well with relative primer, but some male progeny produced the 945bp band when amplified with the 10bp primer. Despite numerous subsequent tests for reamplification of the DNA, unfortunately, these male progeny failed to give reproducible results from its sample. None the less, presence of the 945bp amplification band in a male sample proved that an error rate of 15% is possible in sex determination of P. vera by RAPD analysis with the 10bp primer.
omplete blood vessel occlusion in the chick horioallantoic membrane using two-photon excitation hotodynamic therapy : implications for treatment f wet age-related macular degeneration

avid T. Cramb niversity of Calgary epartment of Chemistry 500 University Drive, Northwest algary, Alberta T2N 1N4, Canada -mail: dcramb@ucalgary.ca Abstract. Complete blood vessel occlusion is required for the treatment of age-related macular degeneration AMD . AMD is the leading cause of blindness in developed countries and current treatment regimes have potential to cause collateral damage, or do not remove pre-existing unwanted vasculature. It has been proposed that twophoton excitation TPE photodynamic therapy PDT can be applied to cause local blood vessel occlusion without damaging surrounding retinal tissues. The in ovo chicken chorioallantoic membrane CAM is used as the model for vascularization in the wet form of AMD; novel techniques for the utilization of the CAM are reported. Complete occlusion of CAM vessels 15 m in diameter is achieved using the clinically approved photosensitizer Verteporfin Visudyne®, QLT, Incorporated, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada and TPE activation. The average and peak irradiances used for treatment are 3.3 106 W/cm2 and 3.7 1011 W/cm2, respectively. A total fluence of 1.1 108 J /cm2 is the dosage required for successful occlusion, and it is expected that for optimal conditions it will be much less. These results are the first proof-of-principle evidence in the literature that indicate TPE-PDT can be used to occlude small blood vessels. Further investigation will help determine the utility of TPEPDT for treating wet AMD, perhaps through targeting feeder vessels. © 2007 Society of Photo-Optical Instrumentation Engineers. DOI: 10.1117/1.2750663
Modelling and predicting market risk with Laplace–Gaussian mixture distributions

While much of classical statistical analysis is based on Gaussian distributional assumptions, statistical modelling with the Laplace distribution has gained importance in many applied fields. This phenomenon is rooted in the fact that, like the Gaussian, the Laplace distribution has many attractive properties. This paper investigates two methods of combining them and their use in modelling and predicting financial risk. Based on 25 daily stock return series, the empirical results indicate that the new models offer a plausible description of the data. They are also shown to be competitive with, or superior to, use of the hyperbolic distribution, which has gained some popularity in asset–return modelling and, in fact, also nests the Gaussian and Laplace.