Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
From shelf to abyss: Record of the Paleocene/Eocene-boundary in the Eastern Alps (Austria)

In the Eastern Alps (Austria) several marine successions, which were deposited ranging from shallow shelf to bathyal slope and abyssal basin, provide detailed records across the Paleocene/Eocene-boundary. These records indicate a two-step event starting with a prominent sea-level fall and followed by climatic changes. At the northern and southern shelves that fringed the Penninic Basin, the shallow-water sedimentary records are incomplete across the Paleocene/Eocene transition. Erosional surfaces indicate a major sea-level drop, which was terminated by an early Eocene (Ypresian) transgression within calcareous nannoplankton Zone NP12. As a proxy for the onset of this sea-level fall a strong increase in the terrestrially-derived input into the Penninic Basin can be used. The abyssal Anthering section from the northern part of the basin comprises a complete succession from NP9 to the upper part of NP10 (upper Thanetian-lower Ypresian). The thickest turbidite beds of this 250 m thick succession appear just before the carbon isotope event in the upper part of zone NP9, which is used to recognize the Paleocene/Eocene-boundary. A major lithological change from a sandstone-dominated facies to a claystone-dominated facies occurs at the onset of the carbon isotope event. This might be the result of a climatic change, resulting in increased intra-annual humidity gradients and increased physical erosion of the hinterland. Consequently, mainly fine-grained suspended material would have come into the basin and caused an increase in hemipelagic sedimentation rates by about a factor of 6. A similar value has been calculated for the bathyal Untersberg section, which was deposited on the southern slope of the basin, where an increased input of siliciclastic material is associated with a carbonate dissolution event during the carbon isotope event. At the southern shelf, a stratigraphic gap within the Gosau Group in the Krappfeld area (Carinthia) comprises the Maastrichtian and Paleocene. After a sea-level rise nummulitic marlstone and limestone were deposited in the lower part of zone NP12. Since the northern and southern shelves of the Penninic Basin belonged to different tectonic domains, with different potentials of crustal subsidence, the temporal similarity of sea-level changes on both shelves in the latest Paleocene and earliest Eocene suggests that these sea level fluctuations were mainly eustatic in origin.
Banking Sector Competition in the Panzar-Rosse Framework and Net Interest Margins: An Empirical Analysis Using the General Method of Moments

This paper provides empirical evidence on the determinants of net interest margins in Central, Eastern, and Southeastern European countries (CESEE) during the period 1999–2009, with a particular focus on the relationship between banking sector competition and net interest margins. Using countrylevel Panzar-Rosse H-statistic estimates as a measure of competition, and the General Method of Moments, it has been determined that banking sector competition had a negative impact on net interest margins. In order to check for consistency, alternative measures of competition, such as the Lerner index and the Herfindahl-Hirschman index, have also been used. The results appear consistent and suggest that higher market power is associated with higher interest margins. Arben Mustafa University “Kadri Zeka”, Faculty of Economics, Gjilan, Republic of Kosovo arben.mustafa@uni-gjilan.net Valentin Toçi University of Prishtina “Hasan Prishtina”, Faculty of Economics, Prishtina, Republic of Kosovo valentintoci@gmail.com CroEconSur Vol. 20 No. 1 June 2018 pp. 5-36 Received: March 10, 2017 Accepted: December 6, 2017 Research Article doi:10.15179/ces.20. 1.1
Characterization of ultradifferentiable test functions defined by weight matrices in terms of their Fourier Transform

We prove that functions with compact support in non-quasianalytic classes of Roumieu-type and of Beurling-type defined by a weight matrix with some mild regularity conditions can be characterized by the decay properties of their Fourier transform. For this we introduce the abstract technique of constructing from multi-index matrices and associated function spaces. We study the behaviour of this construction in detail and characterize its stability. Moreover non-quasianalyticity of the classes mathcal{E}_{\{\mathcal{M}\}} \mathcal{E}_{(\mathcal{M})}$ is characterized.
On the Comparison of Fuzzy Kernel Regression Estimator and Fuzzy Radial Basis Function Networks

In this paper, we suggest two fuzzy estimators in nonparametric regression: fuzzy kernel regression (FNPR) estimator and fuzzy radial basis function (FRBF) networks. Both FNPR estimator and FRBF networks are applied to original data taken from an experiment. We obtain MSE values of the FNPR estimator and FRBF networks and then compare them. We show that the FNPR estimator is more efficient than the FRBF networks. Key Words : Fuzzy number, Fuzzy kernel regression estimator, Nonparametric regression, Neural networks, Fuzzy radial basis function networks.
A CASE STUDY REGARDING THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE GDSS IN ACADEMIC AND INDUSTRIAL ORGANISATIONS Ş tefania Kifor

The idea to build a Group Decision Support System (GDSS) to support the decision makers at all the hierarchic levels in an organization to take the decisions efficiently and just in time appeared in the ’70. The main advantage of using a GDSS proved to be, over the years, a better understanding of the decision process through the involvement of all the decision makers in all the phases of the decisional issue from statement to solving and interpretation. With time, GDSS turned the collaboration activities into a competitive advantage for all the actors involved: public administration, academic environment and enterprises, contributing to a higher competitiveness in a time when the cooperation between the various organizations and the self-administration plays a key role in a global economy. In this paper, 3 GDSS’s developed in research projects and implemented in LBUS (Lucian Blaga University of Sibiu) and other industrial companies are presented and analysed; we come also with recommendations on developing further GDSS for different needs.
Ectopic Overexpression of Pineapple Transcription Factor AcWRKY31 Reduces Drought and Salt Tolerance in Rice and Arabidopsis

Pineapple (Ananas comosus (L.) Merr. ) is an important tropical fruit with high economic value, and its growth and development are affected by the external environment. Drought and salt stresses are common adverse conditions that can affect crop quality and yield. WRKY transcription factors (TFs) have been demonstrated to play critical roles in plant stress response, but the function of pineapple WRKY TFs in drought and salt stress tolerance is largely unknown. In this study, a pineapple AcWRKY31 gene was cloned and characterized. AcWRKY31 is a nucleus-localized protein that has transcriptional activation activity. We observed that the panicle length and seed number of AcWRKY31 overexpression transgenic rice plants were significantly reduced compared with that in wild-type plant ZH11. RNA-seq technology was used to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between wild-type ZH11 and AcWRKY31 overexpression transgenic rice plants. In addition, ectopic overexpression of AcWRKY31 in rice and Arabidopsis resulted in plant oversensitivity to drought and salt stress. qRT-PCR analysis showed that the expression levels of abiotic stress-responsive genes were significantly decreased in the transgenic plants compared with those in the wild-type plants under drought and salt stress conditions. In summary, these results showed that ectopic overexpression of AcWRKY31 reduced drought and salt tolerance in rice and Arabidopsis and provided a candidate gene for crop variety improvement.
A Movie Recommender System Based on Inductive Learning

Recommender Systems apply intelligent access technologies to large information systems. These systems, especially collaborative filtering based ones, are achieving widespread success on the Web. In recent years, the amount of available information and the number of visitors to Web sites are increasing enormously. New recommender system technologies are needed that can quickly produce high quality recommendations, even for very large-scale information resources. In this paper we apply inductive learning algorithm to the recommendation process. Instead of computing user-user or item-item similarities, we construct a decision tree to represent user preference. Recommendations are performed by decision tree classification. To inspect the effectiveness of this technology, we set up a movie recommender system based on inductive learning and make online experiments for evaluation. Our results suggest that inductive-learning-based technology is promising for the solution of the very large-scale problems and high-quality recommendations can be expected. Keywords—recommender system; inductive learning
Title The changing patterns of dispensing branded and generic drugs for the treatment of gastroesophageal reflux disease between 2006 and 2011 in Japan : A retrospective cohort study

Background: Despite rising healthcare costs, generic drugs are less frequently dispensed in Japan compared with other developed countries. This study aimed to describe changes in dispensing of branded and generic drugs and to explore possible factors that promote the use of generic drugs. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study using a Japanese medical and pharmacy claims database. All proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) and histamine H2-receptor antagonists (H2RAs) with indications for gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) described on Japanese labels were included. Patterns of dispensing branded and generic drugs for the treatment of GERD between 2006 and 2011 were analyzed. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to investigate factors associated with receiving generic drugs. Results: The study cohort included 14,590 patients (male: 50.2%, mean age: 43.1 years). Branded drugs for GERD were still frequently dispensed despite an increase in the share of generic drugs. Only 4.3% of patients who initially received branded drugs switched to generic drugs. The percentage of patients who received only generic drugs increased over time (6.5% to 22.1%). The frequency of generic drug dispensing was the highest in the setting where both prescription and dispensing were implemented in clinics (43.3%), while the lowest in the setting where both prescription and dispensing were implemented in hospitals (11.5%). Factors associated with receiving generic drugs included year of dispensing (adjusted OR 2.22, 95% CI 1.94 to 2.55 for 2009–11 v 2006–8), prescription and dispensing setting (OR 1.81, 95% CI 1.44 to 2.26 for prescription in hospitals and dispensing in community pharmacies; OR 2.21, 95% CI 1.80 to 2.72 for prescription in clinics and dispensing in community pharmacies; and OR 4.55, 95% CI 3.68 to 5.62 for prescription and dispensing in clinics v prescription and dispensing in hospitals) and H2RAs (OR 1.64, 95% CI 1.49 to 1.81 compared to PPIs). Conclusions: The share of generic drugs for the treatment of GERD increased over time although branded drugs for GERD were still dispensed frequently. The use of generic drugs for GERD was influenced not only by government policies but also by changes in treatment approach and the setting of prescription and dispensing.
People, Professionals, and Profit Centers: The Connection between Lawyer Well-Being and Employer Values

Concerns about the well-being of lawyers are rising against the backdrop of a transforming legal profession, one which many observe to be operating more like a business in recent decades. However, aspects of this change, such as lawyers perceiving that their employers value financial performance and productivity above all else, could be associated with unhealthy work practices detrimental to lawyer well-being. The objective of the present study was to determine whether the perceived values of employers were differentially associated with lawyer well-being, stress, and work overcommitment. To this end, 1959 participants from a random sample of attorneys completed a survey designed to assess well-being. Participants were separated into one of three groups based on what they perceived their employer to value most about them: (1) Professionalism/Individual (professionalism and skills), (2) Financial Worth/Availability (revenue generation and availability), and (3) No Value/No Feedback (feeling unvalued or lacking feedback) and compared on measures of mental and physical health (SF-12), stress (Perceived Stress Scale), and work over commitment (Effort–Reward Imbalance Questionnaire). MANOVA results indicated that mental health, stress, and work overcommitment significantly differed between groups in the following rank order: Professionalism/Individual > Financial Worth/Availability > No Value/No Feedback. Overall, our findings paint a compelling picture of a health hierarchy within legal work environments, one that appears to be linked to employer values.
Habitat use and seasonal activity of insectivorous bats (Mammalia: Chiroptera) in the grasslands of southern Brazil

In temperate zones, insectivorous bats use some types of habitat more frequently than others, and are more active in the warmest periods of the year. We assessed the spatial and seasonal activity patterns of bats in open areas of the southernmost region of Brazil. We tested the hypothesis that bat activity differs among habitat types, among seasons, and is influenced by weather variables. We monitored four 1,500-m transects monthly, from April 2009 to March 2010. Transects corresponded to the five habitat types that predominate in the region. In each sampling session, we detected and counted bat passes with an ultrasound detector (Pettersson D230) and measured climatic variables at the transects. We recorded 1,183 bat passes, and observed the highest activity at the edge of a eucalyptus stand (0.64 bat passes/min) and along an irrigation channel (0.54 bat passes/min). The second highest activity values (0.31 and 0.20 bat passes/min, respectively) were obtained at the edge of a riparian forest and at the margin of a wetland. The grasslands were used significantly less (0.05 bat passes/min). Bat activity was significantly lower in the winter (0.21 bat passes/min) and showed similar values in the autumn (0.33 bat passes/min), spring (0.26 bat passes/min), and summer (0.29 bat passes/min). Bat activity was correlated with temperature, but it was not correlated with wind speed and relative humidity of the air. Our data suggest that, in the study area, insectivorous bats are active throughout the year, and use mostly forest and watercourses areas. These habitat types should be considered prioritary for the conservation of bats in the southernmost region of Brazil.
Molecular Approaches Reduce Saturates and Eliminate trans Fats in Food Oils

Vegetable oils composed of triacylglycerols (TAG) are a major source of calories in human diets. However, the fatty acid compositions of these oils are not ideal for human nutrition and the needs of the food industry. Saturated fatty acids contribute to health problems, while polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) can become rancid upon storage or processing. In this review, we first summarize the pathways of fatty acid metabolism and TAG synthesis and detail the problems with the oil compositions of major crops. Then we describe how transgenic expression of desaturases and downregulation of the plastid FatB thioesterase have provided the means to lower oil saturates. The traditional solution to PUFA rancidity uses industrial chemistry to reduce PUFA content by partial hydrogenation, but this results in the production of trans fats that are even more unhealthy than saturated fats. We detail the discoveries in the biochemistry and molecular genetics of oil synthesis that provided the knowledge and tools to lower oil PUFA content by blocking their synthesis during seed development. Finally, we describe the successes in breeding and biotechnology that are giving us new, high-oleic, low PUFA varieties of soybean, canola and other oilseed crops.
Characterisation of Embryonic Dermal Precursor Cells by Sarah Blincko

Skin is an attractive organ for the acquisition of stem cells due to its accessibility, size and potential for autologous transplants. Research into skin development has implications for the isolation of stem cell populations, for example skin-derived precursors (SKPs), as well as the treatment of skin conditions, such as fibrosis. This study centred on the early development, differentiation and stem cell potential of the dermis in embryonic mouse skin. Based on microarray data, the expression of specific Wnt family members was examined using RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry. No evidence of Wnt protein expression was observed in the dermis, but more embryonic stages and Wnt family members need to be explored to better understand Wnt signalling and its role in dermal development. Our main focus was to investigate the plasticity of the common dermal fibroblast precursor population present at E13.5. We hypothesised that the dermis contains a common precursor capable of producing all cell types of the dermis and could harbour a high proportion of mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like precursors. This E13.5 dermal cell (DC) population was investigated by exploring its differentiation potential when cultured in adipogenic and osteogenic media. These experiments indicated the E13.5 DCs contained a small subpopulation of MSC-like progenitors. However, when E13.5 DCs were cultured to produce SKPs and, subsequently, pushed to adipogenic and osteogenic lineages, they differentiated less than expected. Most research regarding SKPs has used adult and older embryonic skin, therefore the findings here are novel in that SKPs were not expected at a younger age. However, RT-PCR revealed differences between the gene expression profiles of early and late embryonic dermal SKPs. Moreover, neither displayed the expected differentiation potential. The possible reasons for these unexpected findings include the potential role of hair follicle induction and/or a later migration of neural crest progenitors into the dermis.
Building Strategic Conformal Automation for Air Traffic Control Using Machine Learning

Acceptance of automation has been a bottleneck for successful introduction of automation in Air Trac Control. Strategic conformal automation has been proven to increase automation acceptance, by creating a better match between automation and operator decision-making. In this paper strategic conformal automation for Air Trac Control is designed using machine learning techniques. Rather than having pre-dened control strategies, which do not always match with individual operator decision-making, the automation is based on the operator's decision-making. Results show that when operators demonstrate their control strategies, machine learning techniques can identify these strategies and use them to learn similar control strategies. Apart from mimicking control strategies in iden tical trac scenarios is it possible to use machine learning to solve similar, yet dierent con icts by applying similar control strategies, without the need of human demonstrations for that particular conict scenario. Future research should be done to investigate whether strategic conformal automation indeed increases automation acceptance, as well to investigate how the approach taken in this study can be applied to real-life trac scenarios.
Understanding the Factors Associated with the Temporal Variability in Crash Severity before, during, and after the COVID-19 Shelter-in-Place Order

The COVID-19 travel restriction orders have significantly reduced travel and generally lowered the risk of road traffic collisions, but many accounts suggest an increase in risky driving behaviors and consequent fatal crashes during the shelter-in-place period. Risky driving behaviors including failure to wear a seatbelt, speeding, and drunk driving were observed to be the leading contributing factors of the fatalities. Whereas the fatal crashes that characterized the shelter-in-place period has become a topical issue, the high number of crashes that occurred as a result of the panic shopping and increased travel activities in the weeks before the shelter-in-place order have not received much attention. In this study, we investigated the differences and similarities in the effects of the factors that were associated with crash injury severity before, during, and after the shelter-in-place order. The study used crash data from the state of Alabama for the 2020 calendar year. Preliminary data analysis revealed interesting variations in crash trends across the three periods. It was found that the highest weekly crash frequency occurred in the immediate week before the shelter-in-place order, and a higher proportion of crashes that occurred between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m. and those that occurred in residential areas happened during the shelter-in-place period while shopping area crashes, manufacturing/industrial area crashes, rear-end collisions, and crashes involving female drivers occurred mostly before the shelter-in-place period. Three injury severity models were developed using random parameters logit with heterogeneity in means and variances approach. The results showed that major injury crashes occurred mainly in rural areas and occurred due to speeding, fatigue driving, and failure to use a seatbelt. The effects of these factors on crash outcome did not vary across the year, indicating that the shelter-in-place order did not impact the driving behaviors of the driver population that got into major injury crashes. The results further revealed that the effects of some crash factors, such as road type and manner of collision, varied across the periods. The findings of the study provide a deeper, data-driven understanding of how driving behaviors and associated crash outcomes may be affected by extreme events such as the COVID-19 shelter-in-place.
OPEM In vitro anti oxidant activity of methanol extract of Clerodendrum infortunatum

The antioxidant potency of methanolic extract Clerodendrum infortunatum Linn. (MECI), which are widely used in the Indian indigenous system of medicine for different purposes, was studied. The antioxidant potential was evaluated using different established in vitro antioxidant tests viz. determination of total amount of polyphenolics compounds, DPPH (1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging, nitric oxide scavenging, superoxide anion radical scavenging, hydroxyl radical scavenging and reductive power assay. It was found that MECI contain a high amount of polyphenolics and possesses significant free radical scavenging activity in all the assay. The higher activity was may be due to presence of richest amount of polyphenolics and flavonoids in it.
Occupational health and safety management in companies in the metalworking sector

The objective of the research was to analyze occupational health and safety management implemented in companies in the metalworking sector. The factors that intervene in the execution of these variables were studied, in order to establish a diagnosis of the companies in the sector and to promote the importance of considering them in the planning of strategies. For this, we chose a nonexperimental descriptive cross-sectional research design, in which questionnaires were applied to 84 coordinators from the areas of quality, environment, safety and occupational health of the companies in the metal-mechanic sector. The results showed that the variable Security Management tends to a media presence (3.025), indicating that companies rarely establish security management models aimed at the development of control and training management. In addition, the variable Occupational health obtained an average presence (3.22), which denotes that they do not satisfactorily comply with the implementation of components in labor processes, decreasing the required benefits.