Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
“Entertainment for Retirement?”: Silvergamers and the Internet

In recent years, Internet video gaming has grown exponentially amongst a non-traditional and non-targeted group of gamers: those over 50 years of age. In the United States alone, elderly gamers have grown from nine percent of all gamers in 1999 to over 25 percent of all gamers as of 2009. The current study specifically examines elderly peoples’ usage behaviors with Internet-based video games. Such participation has been aided by the fact that games are social in nature and are accessible in terms ownership and operation. The process of becoming an Internet gamer therefore requires little more than a simple computer, an Internet connection, and a desire to be entertained. Results show that so-called “silvergamers” prefer casual games as opposed to more complex and persistent games. In addition, this paper raises further insights into their behaviour as users, including usage time and expenses for game usage, and situates them within the context of elderly gamers as an economic potential group to be targeted more.
Investigating Chinese Language Learners’ Reading Comprehension for Different Meaning Types

The Chinese government has published an official guide specifying the aims for reading in Chinese and the expected comprehension levels for different proficiency learners, with regard to teaching and learning Chinese as a second or foreign language. However, due to lack of teacher training for its implementation, this guide has rarely been used for teaching reading to Chinese language learners and has rarely been used for evaluating their reading ability. Therefore, it appears that teaching and assessing reading comprehension have not been based on a theoretical background of reading ability. The purpose of this study is twofold: (1) to provide validity evidence of a Chinese reading test developed based on a theoretical model of reading ability; and (2) to examine reading test performance of Chinese learners with various reading ability levels. For the purpose of this study, reading ability was defined based on a meaning-based model that included three layers of reading comprehension: literal, intended, and implied meanings of a reading text. A total of 248 Korean university students were divided into three levels, and their test performances were analyzed and compared for the three meaning types using structural equation modeling and regression analysis. The results suggest that the test performance structure represented the meaning-based model in general, thereby providing validity evidence of the test. Further analyses revealed that the three groups differed from one another with respect to their understanding of literal, intended, and implied meanings. The findings provide pedagogical implications for teaching Chinese language learners with different reading proficiency levels. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.17576/GEMA-2014-1401-06
A Reduced Spectral Projection Method for Stochastic Finite Element Analysis

The stochastic finite element analysis of elliptic type partial differential equations are considered. An alternative approach by projecting the solution of the discretized equation into a finite dimensional orthonormal vector basis is investigated. It is shown that the solution can be obtained using a finite series comprising functions of random variables and orthonormal vectors. These functions, called as the spectral functions, can be expressed in terms of the spectral properties of the deterministic coefficient matrices arising due to the discretization of the governing partial differential equation. An explicit relationship between these functions and polynomial chaos functions has been derived. Based on the projection in the orthonormal vector basis, a Galerkin error minimization approach is proposed. The constants appearing in the Galerkin method are solved from a system of linear equations which has the same dimension as the original discretized equation. A hybrid analytical and simulation based computational approach is proposed to obtain the moments and pdf of the solution. The method is illustrated using a stochastic beam problem. The results are compared with the direct Monte Carlo simulation results for different correlation lengths and strengths of randomness.
Culture conditions affect the nutritional value of the copepod Acartia tonsa

Live feed are still necessary for the rearing of larval stages of several fish species, especially marine ones. Compared to Artemia, copepods are of superior quality. This is based on a suite of traits like size, movement, and nutritional value. Copepods are for example usually high in protein and fatty acids. Essential fatty acid profiles reflect to a large degree the fatty acid supply, which provides the opportunity to manipulate fatty acid profiles of, amongst others, copepods. By manipulating nutrient supply of the algae Rhodomonas salina we were able to double essential fatty acid concentrations in naupliar and copepodit life stages of the copepod Acartia tonsa. However, this lead to growth depression rather than to increased growth rates in a series of consumer species, including larval fish. The reason for the growth depression is likely to be mineral deficiencies occurring along with the nutrient manipulation of the algae.
abstract Market Dynamics with Non-Homogeneous Poisson Processes

Market Dynamics with Non-Homogeneous Poisson Processes Preston Tanner Redd Department of Mathematics, BYU Master of Science The Bertrand Duopoly model for demand in economics is a well-used model. Although this model has important insights towards pricing strategy, it does not accurately depict true market behaviors. In this paper, we will examine the advantages and disadvantages of the current model and its assumptions. We then take a whole new approach towards modeling this phenomena, using Poisson processes to model the demand of goods. We will discuss why this is a better approach and explain how we can extend this to better understand pricing strategies and market dynamics. We then apply our findings to the newsvendor problem, a commonly used problem in inventory management. Using non-homogeneous Poisson processes we explain how to find an optimal pricing strategy and an optimal inventory level for the newsvendor problem. In this paper we explain how to extend the newsvendor problem to a newsvendor duopoly problem. Again we show how to find the optimal pricing strategies and inventory levels for multiple goods in a market. Having found the optimal pricing strategy and inventory level, we then examine the market dynamics in more details. We explore monopolistic and duopolistic markets where the goods range from complements to substitutes and homogeneous to differentiated goods. We discuss how to model the progression of the inventory probabilities and then explain how to price inventory options.
Are Job Search Programs a Promising Tool? A Microeconometric Evaluation for Austria

In Austria job search programs were introduced on a large scale in 1999. These programs aim at activating unemployed at an early stage and bringing them back to work by training job search related skills. We evaluate the impact of active labour market programs in Austria on individual unemployment durations, and allow program effects to vary between job search programs and formal training programs. We use the timing-of-events method which estimates the program effect as a shift in the transition rate from unemployment to jobs at the moment of program entry. We find that participation in job search programs significantly reduces unemployment durations, whereas formal training programs have a negative effect on unemployment durations.
ORGANIZATIONAL JUSTICE: A REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE AND SOME SUGGESTIONS FOR FUTURE RESEARCH

This study examines the literature on organizational justice in terms of its three main aspects. First, it surveys the dimensions of the construct and chronological development of each dimension. Second, it reviews the antecedents and consequences of each dimension. Finally, it identifies some of the current problems in the field and suggests some issues on which future research should focus. Özet: gUJWVHO $GDOHW /LWHUDWU øQFHOHPHVL YH *HOHFHN dDOÕúPDODU øoLQ %D]Õ gQHULOHU %X oDOÕúPDGD |UJWVHO DGDOHW OLWHUDWU o DQD ED÷ODPGD GH÷HUOHQGLULOPLúWLU øON RODUDN |UJWVHO DGDOHW NDYUDPÕQÕQ ER\XWODUÕ YH KHU ELU ER\XWXQ NURQRORMLN JHOLúLPL LQFHOHQPLúWLU 'DKD VRQUD KHU ELU DGDOHW boyutunu etNLOH\HQ IDNW|UOHU YH KHU ELU ER\XWXQ VRQXoODUÕ GH÷HUOHQGLULOPLú VRQ RODUDN DODQGDNL JQFHO SUREOHPOHU YH LOHULGHNL DUDúWÕUPDODUÕQ RGDNODQPDVÕ JHUHNHQ NRQXODU VDSWDQPÕúWÕU ∗ Authors have contributed equally to this article. † We thank the anonymous reviewers for their insightful comments.
Towards Reverse Engineering of PDF Documents

We present a progress report on our ongoing project of reverse engineering scientific PDF documents. The aim is to obtain mathematical markup that can be used as source for regenerating a document that resembles the original as closely as possible. This source can then be a basis for further document processing. Our current tool uses specialised PDF extraction together with image analysis to produce near perfect input for parsing mathematical formula. Applying a linear grammar and specific drivers for each output format to this input, we can produce an accurate reproduction of formulae when presented with their coordinates. In this paper we will show how this information can be exploited to discover the locations of both inline and display formulae, and also to perform rudimentary layout analysis of the whole document, identifying structures such as headings and paragraphs.
Fast Swelling Superabsorbent Hydrogels Starch Based Prepared by Gamma Radiation Techniques

Fast swelling hydrogels were synthesized from the mixture of acrylamide (AAM)-acrylic acid (AA)-starch (15:5:1 w/v) solution by radiation crosslinking with varying irradiation doses (7.5-12.5 kGy) at room temperature. The copolymers were characterizated by Fourier transform infra red spectroscopy (FTIR) and Differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). It was found that hydrogels showed superabsorbent properties with higher swelling capacities (~400 g/g) and reached at a very short time (3 min). There was no significance difference between the effect irradiation dose on swelling of hydrogels. The hydrogels were also found to sensitive to the ionic strength of medium. The FTIR spectra and thermogram DSC of hydrogels were confirmed the crosslinking occurs in the hydrogels.
Revealing diversity patterns of vascular plants and their causes in semiarid high mountain regions. A top-down approach for Great Basin mountain ranges, USA

The scale-dependent aspect of patterns and processes in ecology was recognized long ago, but scale issues as a scientific research topic came to the forefront only within the last 20 years (TURNER et al. 2001). Dependent on the scale of observation, patterns or processes might become prominent or hidden. LEVIN (1992, 1960) states: “That there is no single correct scale or level at which to describe a system does not mean that all scales serve equally well or that there are not scaling laws”. This statement refers to ecology in general but applies especially well to patterns of biodiversity and vascular plant diversity. Factors with a certain spatial or temporal extension create different-sized habitat types with different diversity patterns. Mechanisms that affect the diversity on one scale might not be effective on another, and a functional interpretation always has to be orientated on the different spheres of influence (CRAWLEY a. HARRAL 2001; HUSTON 1994). At large spatial and temporal scales plant species richness is controlled by the rates of speciation and extinction (ROSENZWEIG 1995). Based thereon, environmental heterogeneity creates a certain niche diversity F. Grüninger and T. Fickert: Revealing diversity patterns of vascular plants and their causes in semiarid high mountain regions 199
INACTIVATION OF PATHOGENIC BACTERIA USING PULSED UV-LIGHT AND ITS APPLICATION IN WATER DISINFECTION AND QUALITY CONTROL

The lethality of pulsed ultra-violet (UV) rich light for the inactivation of pathogenic bacteria has been investigated. A low pressure xenon filled flash lamps that produced UV intensities have been used. The pulsed operation of the system enable the release of electrical energy stored in the capacitor into the flash lamp within a short time and produces the high current and high peak power required for emitting the intense UV flash. The flash frequency was adjusted to one pulse per second. Several types of bacteria were investigated for their susceptibility to pulsed UV illumination. The treated bacterial populations were reduced and determined by direct viable counts. Among the tested bacteria Pseudomonas aeruginosa was the most susceptible to the pulsed UV- light with a 8 log10 cfu/ml reduction after 11 pulses, while the spores of Bacillus megaterium was the most resistant and only 4 log10 cfu/ml reduction achieved after 50 pulses of illumination. The results of this study demonstrated that pulsed UV- light technology could be used as an effective method for the inactivation, of pathogenic bacteria in different environments such as drinking water.
The Last Planner System Style of Planning: Its Basis in Learning Theory

The objective of this article is to contribute to creating a better understanding of the Last Planner System (LPS) - which is associated with Lean Construction - in the light of the learning processes at the basis of knowledge development, and of change and innovation. Founded on a theoretical discussion, three research questions are asked, namely: In what ways can the LPS be expected to alter the learning arenas compared to conventional project management in construction; according to learning theory, what are the main challenges associated with implementing the LPS; and, finally, what kind of learning can be linked to an implemented LPS that functions as intended? The implementation of the LPS is shown to require substantial changes to the technical-organisational learning arena. In order for the implementation to be successful, the work identity has to alter on the individual level so that an overlap occurs with the new work practices prescribed by the LPS. The LPS has an inbuilt experiential learning cycle, and provides a good starting point for single-loop learning, as well as for simple forms of double-loop learning (”routinized learning capability”). However, it is argued that the LPS understood as experiential learning has clear limitations with regard to ”evolutionary learning capability”. This is amplified by the context project organisation provides. In terms of theoretical implications, this article promotes an understanding of the planning process informed by the theory describing it as an experiential learning cycle. The conceptualisation which separates the LPS from conventional production control theory is critiqued. Finally, it is argued that an understanding of the LPS grounded in learning theory will improve the possibilities for successful implementation and maximise the learning effects.
Long-term groundwater recharge rates across India by in situ measurements

Abstract. Groundwater recharge sustains groundwater discharge, including natural discharge through springs and the base flow to surface water as well as anthropogenic discharge through pumping wells. Here, for the first time, we compute long-term (1996–2015) groundwater recharge rates using data retrieved from several groundwater-level monitoring locations across India (3.3 million km2 area), the most groundwater-stressed region globally. Spatial variations in groundwater recharge rates (basin-wide mean: 17 to 960 mm yr−1) were estimated in the 22 major river basins across India. The extensive plains of the Indus–Ganges–Brahmaputra (IGB) river basins are subjected to prevalence of comparatively higher recharge. This is mainly attributed to occurrence of coarse sediments, higher rainfall, and intensive irrigation-linked groundwater-abstraction inducing recharge by increasing available groundwater storage and return flows. Lower recharge rates (<200 mm yr−1) in most of the central and southern study areas occur in cratonic, crystalline fractured aquifers. Estimated recharge rates have been compared favorably with field-scale recharge estimates (n=52) based on tracer (tritium) injection tests. Results show that precipitation rates do not significantly influence groundwater recharge in most of the river basins across India, indicating human influence in prevailing recharge rates. The spatial variability in recharge rates could provide critical input for policymakers to develop more sustainable groundwater management in India.
Biodegradation of Glyphosate Herbicide by Salinicoccus spp Isolated from Qom Hoze-Soltan Lake, Iran

Background: Glyphosate (N-phosphonomethyl Glycine) is an organophosphorus pesticide with dangerous effects on the environment. In this study, the biodegradation of glyphosate herbicide by halophilic bacteria isolated from Qom Hoze-Soltan Lake has been investigated.Methods: After sampling and bacterial isolation, native halophilic strains grown in the presence of glyphosate at a wavelength of 660 nm and also the disappearance of the glyphosate in the plates at a wavelength of 220 nm were determined and the dominant bacteria were isolated. Biochemical, molecular (according to the 16S rRNA sequence), antibiotic, and the Minimum Inhibitory Concentration (MIC) test was performed for the dominant bacteria. Analysis of the remaining glyphosate herbicide was performed by HPLC analysis after derivation with FMOC-Cl.Results: According to the results of the biochemical, antibiotic and molecular 16S rRNA tests, the native halophilic isolates with the ability to biodegrade glyphosate were gram positive cocci very similar to Salinicoccus spp. The results of HPLC showed that Salinicoccus spp is able to biodegrade glyphosate herbicide.Conclusion: The native bacteria in Qom Hoze-Soltan Lake, Iran can be used for biodegradation of glyphosate herbicide.
Phytochemical compositions, antioxidant and antimicrobial activities analysis of extracts from Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. leaves

Vaccinium bracteatum Thunb. is an edible plant, which has been used for many food products and is also a resource of traditional Chinese medicine. In this study, the antioxidant and antimicrobial activities of ethanol extracts from its leaves were investigated. To study the characteristic compositions, twelve compounds of extracts accumulated by the D-101 macroporous adsorption resin (VBE) were identiﬁed by HPLC-DAD and HPLC-ESI/MS techniques, including chlorogenic acid and its isomers, and eight flavonoid compounds. The contents of total flavonoids, orientin and isoorientin in the accumulated part were 601.4, 44.7, and 96.1 mg/g, respectively, which were far more than that in the raw materials. Furthermore, the antioxidant activities were estimated by DPPH, ABTS, and FRAP assays, which showed that the high content accompanied with strong antioxidant activities. Besides, compared to the same type of bamboo leaves (AOB), the accumulated part possesses better activities. At the last, the antimicrobial activities of VBE were assessed by a serial two-fold dilution assay, the results showed that it had good antimicrobial activities. Taken together, extracts from Vaccinium bracteaturn Thunb. leaves have better antioxidant activities, which can be used as a natural antioxidant.
Investment under higher uncertainty when business conditions worsen

Much of the work on investment under uncertainty assumes that the project’s value follows Geometric Brownian Motion (GBM) with constant volatility. I use a more general assumption for the project-value process. I use the so-called ConstantElasticity-of-Variance (CEV) diffusion model where the volatility is a non-increasing function of the project’s value. I show that, if the CEV volatility structure holds, the firm that uses the standard GBM assumption is exposed to significant errors when making the optimal investment decision. In particular, the GBM assumption often yields suboptimal postponement of investment and undervalues the option of waiting to invest under deteriorated business conditions. JEL-Classification: G12, G13, G31.
Use of cattle waste on the farm

Lack of fertile soil is among the main problems in world agricultural production areas, mainly in vegetable crop production areas. In this sense, we aimed to evaluate the the production of chili (Capsicum annuum L.) using cow urine as an organic fertilizer. The survey was conducted from June to September 2014 at the School State of Primary and Secondary Nossa Senhora da Conceição, Belém de Brejo do Cruz – PB, Brazil. The experimental design was completely randomized (DIC), in 5 x 2 factorial scheme of 40 plants, with seven repetitions. There was a total of 10 treatments. The effects of 5 cow urine doses were studied: 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 ml, applied to soil combined with fertilizers: A1 = wood powder + cattle manure + sand washed (1:1:1) and A2 = cattle manure + sand washed (2:1)). There was a significant effect at 1% probability in F test for cow urine doses in all variables. Except the fruit length and number of unmarketable fruits, organic fertilizers statistically influenced the level of p <0.01 in all variables. There was no significant response to the interaction doses × organic fertilizers. 100 ml of cow urine provided good results in the production of chili. The organic manure fertilizer bovine + washed sand is great for chili culture. it is not recommended to incorporate wood powder organic fertilizers.
Spatial and Seasonal Distribution of Seaweeds on Coral Reefs from Southern Bahia, Brazil

Abstract Macroalgae are major components of Atlantic shallow coral reef communities and potentially a major competitor with corals. This study investigates the spatial and seasonal distribution of macroalgal species, which includes fleshy algae, turf algae and some geniculate and non-geniculate corallines, on two inshore and one offshore reef from Porto Seguro Bay, Brazil. Data were collected during the dry season (July/August 1999) and the rainy season (February/March 2000), with samples being taken from the reef slope (at 1, 3 and 5 m depth) and from the reef flat. Macroalgal cover ranged from 33% (reef slope) to 60% (reef flat) on the nearshore reefs, and from 36% (reef slope) to 50% (reef flat) on the offshore reef. The largest number of infrageneric taxa was recorded during the rainy season (February/March 2000), the most abundant genera being Sargassum, Padina, Dictyota, Dictyosphaeria, Caulerpa and Amphiroa. Two species were recorded for the first time in the region: Tricleocarpa cylindrica (Rhodophyta, Galaxauraceae) and Avrainvillea longicaulis (Chlorophyta, Udoteaceae). Algal turf dominated the community structure at all reef sites and habitats. Fleshy algae are the second most conspicuous group on the reef flat in both inshore and offshore reefs. On the reef slopes, corals and zoanthids are second to turf algae in the offshore reef and nearshore reefs respectively.