Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Citizen-Initiated Contacts with Government

Abstract Most of the existing literature on e-government or electronic government has been examined from what governments offer online. This study, by contrast, examines citizen-initiated contacts with e-government, which is a relatively unexplored area of research. I compare differences in citizen-initiated contacts with government using phones and Websites. My findings indicate when citizens have a problem they actually contact government by phone. However, when asked what method they prefer for solving problems they would prefer to use the Web. For information and transactions, citizens prefer using the Web. Evidence is also found of a digital divide in e-government. The results indicate that e-government is currently not able to solve urgent and complicated problems, and this limits its future development. Since over one third of the United States population does not have Internet access, governments should maintain both communication mediums in the near future.
Genetic study of fertility traits and production in different parities in Italian Friesian cattle.

UNLABELLED ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Genetische Analyse von Fruchtbarkeits- und Produktionsmerkmalen bei italienischen Schwarzbunten in verschiedenen Laktationen Produktions- und Reproduktionsdaten von italienischen Schwarzbunten sind für die Analyse von Wechselbeziehungen zwischen den Merkmalen Zwischentragzeit, Rastzeit, Trächtigkeitsrate bei Erstbesamung, Anzahl von Besamungen je Trächtigkeit einerseits und der 305 Tage Milchleistung andererseits verwendet worden. Die Milchleistung der Kühe wurde für Laktationsnummer, Kalbealter und Zwischentragezeit korrigiert. Die Analyse wurde für die ersten drei Abkalbungen getrennt durchgeführt. Die Schätzwerte für die Heritabilität liegen für die Fruchtbarkeitsmerkmale zwischen . 01 und . 03 und für die Milchleistungsmerkmale zwischen . 16 und . 22. Für die Wiederholbarkeiten wurden Werte zwischen . 02 und . 08 (Fruchtbarkeit) bzw. 49 und . 59 (Milchleistung) geschätzt. Die genetische Korrelation zwischen Milchmenge und Zwischentragezeit, zwischen Milchmenge und Rastzeit sowie zwischen Trächtigkeitsrate bei Erstbesamung und Anzahl Besamungen je Trächtigkeit beträgt . 70, . 92 und -. 98, resp. Zwischen Fruchtbarkeits- und Milchleistungsmerkmalen wurden generell negative Korrelationen geschätzt, was als Antagonismus zwischen Fruchtbarkeit und Milchleistung interpretiert werden muß. Dies bedeutet, daß bei ausschließlicher Selektion nach Milchleistung negative Auswirkungen bezüglich der Fruchtbarkeit der Kühe zu erwarten sind. Als mögliche Selektionsmerkmale für die Zuchtwertschätzung auf Fruchtbarkeit werden Trächtigkeitsrate bei Erstbesamung und Rastzeit (oder alternativ Anzahl Besamungen je Trächtigkeit) vorgeschlagen. SUMMARY A data set of production records with breeding information was used to analyse the relationship between open period, days to first breeding, conception rate at first service, number of services per conception and 305 day milk yield adjusted for age/month of calving and open period in the Italian Friesian Cattle Breed. Separate analyses were performed for the first three parities. Heritability estimates for reproductive traits varied from . 01 to . 03 and for productive traits from . 16 to . 22 depending on parities. Repeatabilities for fertility traits were . 02 to . 08 while for milk yield they were between . 49 and . 59. Open period and days to first service were found to be highly correlated (genetic correlation: +.70 / +.92) as were conception rate at first service and number of services per conception (-.98). An antagonistic genetic relationship was found between all reproductive traits considered and production. The magnitude of the antagonistic genetic association between production and fertility indicate that genetic deterioration of fertility is to be expected if selection pressure continues to be applied to milk production only. For multiple trait selection, the reproductive measures which complement each other are days to first service and first service conception rate (or number of services per conception).
Current Concepts of Molecular Events During Bovine and Porcine Spermatozoa Capacitation

Spermatozoa are required to undergo the processes of capacitation before they obtain fertilizing ability. The molecular changes of capacitation are still not fully understood. However, it is accepted that capacitation is a sequential process involving numerous physiological changes including destabilization of the plasma membrane, alterations of intracellular ion concentrations and membrane potential, and protein phosphorylation. There are no known morphological changes that occur to the spermatozoon during capacitation. The purpose of this review is to summarize current evidence on the molecular aspects of capacitation both in vivo and in vitro in bovine and porcine spermatozoa. For the purpose of this review, the process of sperm capacitation will encompass maturational events that occur following ejaculation up to binding to the zona pellucida, that triggers acrosomal exocytosis and initiates fertilization.
Selection of Spawning Sites by Coho Salmon in a Northern California Stream

Abstract We assessed the relative importance of various factors contributing to spawning site use by a population of threatened coho salmon Oncorhynchus kisutch in Freshwater Creek, California, and created a predictive model of spawning habitat selection based on logistic regression analysis. We excluded sampling sites that previous studies had established as unsuitable on the basis of depth and substrate criteria and asked why fish chose particular locations and not others in seemingly suitable habitat. We evaluated surface water velocity, depth, substrate size composition, gravel inflow rates, vertical hydraulic gradient, geomorphic channel units, hyporheic water physicochemistry, cover, and proximity to other redds not in sampling sites during the 2004–2005 spawning season. In univariate comparisons with unused sites, coho salmon selected sites with a smaller median particle diameter, a larger percentage of gravel–pebble substrate, and higher gravel inflow rates. Based on multivariate logistic regressi.
The extent of usage of mobile devices for learning outside the classroom in a secondary school in Tanzania

Secondary school students are labelled as bad mannered, and low achievers because of their extent of using mobile devices. Elder siblings and parents have not supported these students use of mobile devices. In some cases, students have had their devices confiscated. Little do parents know; their children are using mobile devices for learning outside the classroom. Students view using their mobile devices for learning to be compatible with using textbooks and that as they use the devices outside the classroom, they are supplementing their learning. When confused, they contact teachers for clarification. To understand the extent of secondary school student’s use of mobile devices for learning outside the classroom in Tanzania, a single secondary school was purposively selected. A total of 202 students responded to questionnaire, and 20 students were interviewed by the researchers. The theory of diffusion of innovation was employed to provide an understanding of the phenomenon of interest. This research aims to debunk the myth on secondary school student’s use of mobile devices, equip students staying far from schools, and with less resources evidence of a tool they can use for learning, provide a theoretical elaboration on usage of mobile devices for learning, and apprise the informal learning community.
WORLDWIDE RANKINGS IN ECONOMIC GROWTH: AUTHORS, INSTITUTIONS AND PUBLICATION TRENDS DURING 1992-2002

The economic growth is a highly important area for economists, governments and the society. However, how much have we learned? Whose individuals have more investigations? What journals made more contributions on economic growth? Which theoretical model is the most empirically tested? How is integrated the hall of fame of the economic growth institutions? The aim of this chapter is to build a bibliographic analysis and to offer a viewing of the current state of investigation in economic growth. Empirical work is based on 30 leading journals in Economics and database covers eleven years (1992-2002). As a result we offer rankings of journals, individuals, institutes and countries. It is observed that the theoretical analysis have dominated the merely empirical ones in the economic growth field, meanwhile endogenous theory has more publications than exogenous theory. Also, we estimate a logit model to try explaining the authors’ decision about used model to analyze the economic growth and its determinants. We think these rankings and trends highlighted by the economic growth are a helpful guide to graduate students, faculty, academics, and also to measure the relevance of this topic.
Development of Integrated Terahertz Broadband Detectors Utilizing Superconducting Hot-Electron Bolometers

We report on the development of terahertz broadband detectors utilizing superconducting hot-electron bolometers and planar sinuous antennas. In this work, sinuous antennas designed to cover the frequency range of 50 GHz to nearly 900 GHz have been fabricated on semi-insulating silicon substrates. To maintain a self-complementary structure, four antenna arms are used, leading to a frequency-independent input impedance of 74 Omega. Two squares of superconducting niobium HEBs are required at the feed point of the antennas as the sheet resistance of a 10 nm thick niobium thin film is 35 Omega/square. Two sizes of HEBs (120 nm times 240 nm, and 2 mum times 4 mum) have been fabricated using e-beam lithography (EBL), and standard photolithography processes, respectively. A quasi-optical mount with high-resistivity silicon lens has been employed for coupling input power to the sinuous antenna. With a close-cycled cryocooler, the detector performance is studied and evaluated. Detector responsivity at 585 GHz has been presented and compared to waveguide Schottky diode detectors. Noise equivalent power (NEP) measurement is discussed and will be soon performed to the detectors developed in this paper.
Raising Capital by Issuing Transferable Membership in a Worker Cooperative

It is generally recognized that worker cooperatives have a disadvantage in raising capital compared with conventional capitalist firms. In this paper, we explore a method for a worker cooperative to raise non‐redeemable equity by issuing transferable membership shares as financial securities. Esta generalmente admitido que las cooperativas de trabajadores presentan desventajas en comparacion con las empresas capitalistas tradicionales en lo que concierne a la dotacion de capital. En este articulo el autor estudia un metodo que permite a una cooperativa de trabajadores reunir capital no reembolsable emitiendo cuotas transmisibles de los miembros como titulos financieros. Il est generalement admis que les cooperatives de travailleurs sont desavantagees par rapport aux entreprises capitalistes traditionnelles en ce qui concerne la collecte de capital. Dans cet article, l'auteur etudie une methode permettant a une cooperative de travailleurs de reunir du capital non remboursable en emettant des parts de membres transmissibles comme des titres financiers. Es wird allgemein unterstellt, dass Arbeitnehmerkooperativen im Vergleich mit konventionellen kapitalistischen Unternehmen einen Nachteil bei der Kapitalaufbringung haben. In diesem Beitrag wird eine Methode zur Aufbringung nicht ruckzahlbaren Eigenkapitals durch Arbeitnehmerko‐operativen mittels Ausgabe von ubertragbaren Mitgliedschaftsanteilen untersucht.
Fast foods and physical inactivity are risk factors for obesity and hypertension among adolescent school children in east district of Sikkim, India

Background: Obesity and hypertension among school children have a huge impact on public health. Hence, we estimated the prevalence and sociodemographic correlates of childhood obesity and elevated blood pressure (BP) among adolescent schoolchildren (11-19 years) in urban areas of Gangtok, Sikkim, India. Materials and Methods: A population based cross-sectional study was conducted on 979 school children, during November 1, 2009 - April 30, 2010 in Gangtok, East Sikkim India. Anthropometric measurements and BP were recorded among the study population. Obesity and hypertension prevalent among adolescent school children and their correlates were analyzed. Results and Conclusion: Prevalence of obesity, overweight, and hypertension was 2.04%, 14.5% and 5.62%, respectively. The average fast food intake, screen time and limited outdoor activities were significantly associated with obesity. Increase in abdominal height positively correlated with increase in body mass index and body fat; however waist — hip ratio was not a reliable index. The burden of overweight/obesity as well as hypertension with all its associated risk was found to high among our study population, which necessitates framing of policies and actions at national level to address the risk associated with these noncommunicable diseases.
Frequency–dependent variation in reproductive success in Narcissus: implications for the maintenance of stigma–height dimorphism

Negative frequency–dependent selection is a major selective force maintaining sexual polymorphisms. However, empirical demonstrations of frequency–dependent reproductive success are rare, particularly in plants. We investigate this problem by manipulating the frequencies of style morphs in a natural population of Narcissus assoanus, a self–incompatible herb with style–length dimorphism and intra-morph compatibility. We predicted that the reproductive success of morphs would vary negatively with their frequency because of the effects of morph–specific differences in sex–organ position on patterns of pollen transfer. This prediction was generally supported. The fruit and seed set of the two morphs did not differ significantly in plots with 1 : 1 morph ratios. However, short–styled plants produced significantly fewer seeds than long–styled plants in monomorphic plots, and significantly more seeds than long–styled plants in plots with ‘long–biased’ morph ratios. These patterns indicate that in the absence of physiological barriers to intra–morph mating, negative frequency–dependent selection contributes to the maintenance of stylar polymorphism through inter–morph pollen transfer. Our experimental results also provide insights into the mechanisms governing the biased style–morph ratios in populations of Narcissus species.
Executive Development Observations: Prague 1993

Economic and business restructuring has proceeded at a dizzy pace in Central Europe since the overthrow of Communist Government and centralized state planning. The development of effective business leadership is essential to the success of joint ventures involving Western firms and local entrepreneurial undertakings. However, many executives in Central Europe are inexperienced and lack basic managerial knowledge. North American and West European business schools have rushed in to fill the demand for Western business knowhow. Presents experiences of executive development in the Czech Republic and a critical review of the challenges which educators face in Central Europe. Suggests that the adaptation of Western models of management is required, and the content and design of programmes should be tailored to the organizational situation. Suggests, for consideration in future programmes, areas such as ethics, business and society and managerial simulations. The difficulties of radical change facing many organi.
Efficiency of single-stock futures: An intraday analysis

Using intraday bid–ask quotes of single‐stock futures (SSFs) contracts and the underlying stocks, the pricing and informational efficiency of SSF traded on the Hong Kong Exchange are examined. Both the SSFs and the stocks are traded on electronic platforms. The market microstructure and the data obviate the problems of stale and non‐executable prices as well as uncertain bid–ask bounce of the thinly traded futures contracts. Nominal price comparisons show that more than 80% of SSF quotes are inferior to stock quotes. More than 99% of the observed futures spreads are above one stock tick compared with only 2% of those for stocks. After adjusting for the cost‐of‐carry, however, SSFs are fairly priced. Given higher stock trading costs, non‐members should even find the futures attractively priced. Thus, the absence of competitive market maker does not bias prices so as to discourage trading. SSF quotes also account for one‐third of price discovery despite their low volume. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Jrl Fut Mark 28:518–536, 2008
Perspectives on the European Neighbourhood Policy failure

In recent years, the European Neighbourhood Policy (ENP) has become a favourite topic for academics studying European Union (EU) international political persona. Indeed, this new policy framework has been itself the demonstration that EU’s role as an international actor in its geographical vicinity has been on top of the EU foreign policy priorities. Envisaging the perspective of the 2004 ‘big bang’ enlargement, the ENP assumes a direct correlation between an enlarged Union and the deepening of external relations with its neighbours. Thus, earlier in March 2003, in the Wider Europe Initiative (2003), the European Commission called for a macro strategy for most neighbouring countries – a ‘ring of friends’ in the post-Soviet and Southern Mediterranean areas – which should aim to ‘avoid drawing new dividing lines in Europe and to promote stability and prosperity within and beyond the new borders of the Union’ (2003). In order to reach such a finalité, the ENP Strategy Paper appealed to ‘an increasingly close relationship [with its neighbours], going beyond co-operation to involve a significant measure of economic and political integration’ without an accession perspective (European Commission 2004). European Integration, 2014
Realization of exploration for extraterrestrial life with special interest to detection method.

It has long been one of the most magnificent dreams for human to find extraterrestrial life. Many trials have been carried out so far, yet no clear evidences. Some people got bored especially after the disappointing results of the Viking Mars missions(1). After the report of David McKay et al. in 1996(2), the forgotten enthusiasm came back with much debate, and the Martian exploration restarted. However, for the effective implementation of the life detection, there are many to overcome. Recently it has been recognized that human system is just a part of a ecological system, and the ecological system is subsequently involved in the cosmic system. The relationships among these systems are bi-directional (interactive). On the other hand, human activity has been expanding day by day, and many unexpected and undesirable effects have become prominent. Under these circumstances, we have to know the present position and direction of movement of our system in the ecological as well as in the cosmic systems. The main target of cosmobiology resides in just this point. The most basic points of the target are to know 1)how life was born, 2)the type of terrestrial life is the only one in the universe or just one of the many possibilities, 3)the principles of life is common to universe or unique to Earth, 4)are there really any extraterrestrial life, and 5)to know the size, structure and mechanisms of the ecological systems. These points are addressed not only to Cosmobiology but also to legitimate life sciences. Among natural sciences, orientation to life sciences has become current tendency. Unfortunately, however, the studies on the subjects mentioned above has become less popular among life scientists because of the lack of clues for the elucidation, and bias to apparently more imperative subjects such as decease-related sciences. However, even from the stand point of applied sciences, Cosmobiology is indispensable. Take environmental problems for example, global and cosmic view point is inevitable. Even the exploration of extraterrestrial life is valuable to elucidate the mechanisms of life and subsequently the mechanisms of ecological systems (Biosphere). How long can our society will exist is the biggest problem irrespective of the fields.
The effects of maintenance doses of FK506 versus cyclosporin A on glucose and lipid metabolism after orthotopic liver transplantation.

BACKGROUND Posttransplant diabetes mellitus (PTDM) has gained widespread attention due to the micro and macro-vascular complications that increase the morbidity and mortality of patients receiving solid organs. The higher incidence of PTDM has been mainly attributed to the immunosuppressive therapy. Therefore, this study compares the metabolic side effects of low dose maintenance therapy of FK-506 and Cyclosporin A (CsA) in 14 patients 1 year after orthotopic liver transplant and analyzes possible factors that contribute to the development of PTDM. METHODS Two groups (n=7) differing in their immunosuppressive regimen (FK506 or CsA) were matched to eight control subjects and compared to each other. The effects of in vivo insulin action were assessed by means of the euglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp technique. Arginine stimulation tests at normo- (5.5 mM) and hyperglycemic (15 mM) levels were performed and the acute insulin, C-peptide, and glucagon response (2-5 min) to arginine were determined. RESULTS Insulin sensitivity (total glucose disposal) was statistically lower in patients treated with FK-506 and CsA (5.05+/-0.47 and 5.05+/-0.42 mg/kg/min) as compared to controls (6.62+/-0.38 mg/kg/min) (P<0.02), with a significantly higher nonoxidative glucose disposal for the control group (P<0.01), and lower free fatty acid levels (P<0.05). Absolute values for acute insulin response were higher but not significantly different for the transplanted groups. The lower percentage of increase of insulin release after arginine stimulation observed in the FK-506 and CsA groups as compared with controls (754%+/-100, 644%+/-102 vs. 1191%+/-174) (P<0.03 and 0.02, respectively), suggests a reduced beta cell secretory reserve in both treated groups. Also, the acute glucagon response to arginine during hyperglycemia declined less in the FK-506 (28%) and CsA groups (29%) compared with controls (48%) (P<0.05) indicating a defect in the pancreatic beta cell-alpha cell axis. CONCLUSIONS There are no major metabolic differences on low maintenance doses between FK-506 and CsA. Both immunosuppressant agents contribute to the development of PTDM at different levels.
Survey of chicken rearing conditions in Italy: effects of litter quality and stocking density on productivity, foot dermatitis and carcase injuries

1. A survey was carried out to assess some welfare indicators in broilers reared by the largest poultry companies in Italy, to determine whether they accord with European proposal COM (2005) 221 final. 2. Productive traits, carcase injuries and foot dermatitis were recorded from 279 640 broiler chickens reared in winter and in summer in 5 farms representative of the Italian production system. 3. The densities currently used in Italy are in accordance with the European proposal, which recommends that broilers are kept at a density lower than 30 to 32 kg live weight/m2 and not exceeding 38 to 40 kg live weight/m2. 4. Season markedly influenced broiler welfare status, with the worst score collected in winter cycles, when the recommended limit of 50 points for foot pad dermatitis was exceeded. 5. Stocking density is not a straightforward indicator for bird welfare; there was no relationship between stocking density and lesion incidence or mortality rate. 6. The control of environmental conditions, particularly litter quality, appears to be a key issue for broiler welfare.