Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Magnetic properties and structure of

The magnetic properties of the intermetallic compound MnPtA1 were studied by means of lowand high-field magnetisation, magneto-resistance and neutron diffraction. The high-field magnetisation at 4.2 K reveals a metamagnetic transition around 30 T which is accompanied by a drastic drop in electrical resistivity. From neutron diffraction we find antiferromagnetic order below 300 K with the Mn moments perpendicular to the c-axis.
The Role of CSR in the Governance of the ‘New Firm’: An Empirical Study of the French Telecommunications Industry

The aim of this paper is to propose an instrumental analysis of corporate social responsibility (CSR). After underlining the corporate governance issues raised by the "new firm", which is vertically disintegrated and intensive in specific human capital, we argue that CSR can be useful as a means to regulate power relationships between key productive partners of the firm. Based on the analysis of official reports and interviews of the four major French operators of telecommunications, we show that CSR is voluntarily used by firms to maintain long-term wealth-creative employment and subcontracting relationships, through the deployment of formal and informal mechanisms.
Electrochemical Oxidations of p-Doped Semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes

Two oxidation peaks at 0.99, 1.48 V versus Fc/Fc+ appear in the cyclic voltammograms of a series of defect-site functionalized SWNTs in methylene chloride solution in the presence of ferrocenes. These two peaks are demonstrated to be the electrochemical responses to the independent oxidation of v1 and v2 valence bands of -doped semiconducting SWNTs.
Reproductive Strategies and Life History Evolution of Some California Speyeria (Nymphalidae)

ABSTRACT. Egg weights and total eggs produced by nine Speyeria spp. (Nymphalidae) in California allowed estimates of per-egg and lifetime reproductive effort. Interpopulation reproductive effort in four species and intrapopulation reproductive effort of two species in different years were documented. Female body weight was uncorrelated with either individual egg weight or total lifetime egg weight. Smallest eggs (mean dry wt/egg = 0.05 – 0.06 ug), and the greatest number of eggs, were from S. coronis (Skinner) and S. zerene (Boisduval) whose females undergo summer reproductive diapause in dry habitats. Largest eggs (mean dry wt/egg = 0.10 ug) were from S. nokomis (Skinner), a wet habitat species. The greatest relative reproductive effort was made by dry habitat species lacking reproductive diapause. Reproductive effort and duration of first instar exposure to summer temperatures were positively correlated. Intrayear variation in total egg weight did not vary significantly among populations of S. callippe (Boisduval), S. hesperis (Boisduval), S. nokomis, or S. zerene but mean total egg weights were significantly different in females from the Donner Pass, CA population of S. mormonia (Boisduval) in two years. S. zerene from high elevations lacked the reproductive diapause characteristic of lower elevation populations. The reproductive strategies of Speyeria spp. are adaptive responses to the desiccation stress that their habitats impose on diapausing first instars.
Financial Innovations Risk, Financial Distress and Firms Value: A Critical Review of Literature

Throughout history, society has always sought for ways and means of responding to life challenges and opportunities. Several scholars support the need for innovation for a firm to remain a good performer during its existence, though the level of risks associated with this kind of undertaking has not received the coveted attention. With the use of financial innovations companies can safely utilize current or go for more risky and up to date technologies that can have a drastic and positive impact on their ventures. Additionally, financial innovations have had a tremendous impact in enriching finance and enhancing the economic prosperity of many firms. However, this financial innovation may also be ruinous to the organization if it is overboard. This study thus sought to review the extant theoretical and empirical literature relating to risky financial innovations, financial distress and firm value. Specifically the study was guided by the following objectives: To review extant theoretical literature on the constructs of risky financial innovations, financial distress and firm value; to review past empirical literature on the constructs of risky financial innovations, financial distress and firm value; to identify the emerging theoretical and empirical gaps that form the basis of future research. Additionally, the study sought to propose a theoretical model to respond to the identified gaps. The study has concluded that financial innovation has positive impact on financial performance and firm value, there is direct relationship between financial innovation and financial deepening and financial innovation enhances growth of the firm.
Credit Risk Monte Carlos Simulation Using Simplified Creditmetrics' Model: the joint use of importance sampling and descriptive sampling

Monte Carlo simulation is implemented in some of the main models for estimating portfolio credit risk, such as CreditMetrics, developed by Gupton, Finger and Bhatia (1997). As in any Monte Carlo application, credit risk simulation according to this model produces imprecise estimates. In order to improve precision, simulation sampling techniques other than traditional Simple Random Sampling become indispensable. Importance Sampling (IS) has already been successfully implemented by Glasserman and Li (2005) on a simplified version of CreditMetrics, in which only default risk is considered. This paper tries to improve even more the precision gains obtained by IS over the same simplified CreditMetrics' model. For this purpose, IS is here combined with Descriptive Sampling (DS), another simulation technique which has proved to be a powerful variance reduction procedure. IS combined with DS was successful in obtaining more precise results for credit risk estimates than its standard form.
Ice storm impacts on woody debris and debris dam formation in northeastern U.S. streams

In January 1998, an ice storm damaged forests in northeastern United States and eastern Canada, causing coarse woody debris (CWD) deposition in riparian areas and associated streams. During 1999 and 2000, tree canopy damage, stream physical habitat, and wood deposition were evaluated within 51 first-, second-, and third-order streams located within five eastern Adirondack Mountain watersheds (New York, U.S.A.). In first- through third-order streams, the number and volume of stream debris dams increased in response to streamside trees with canopy damage. Tree canopy damage was not a significant predictor for individual pieces of stream CWD but was correlated with CWD >10 cm in diameter in third-order, but not first-order, streams. At debris dam locations, bankfull width was greater and stream substrates consisted of increased fines. Woody debris resulting from the 1998 ice storm was not associated with increased pool formation; instead, boulders and rocky substrate were the dominant pool-forming elements.
Effect of sea‐ice melt on inherent optical properties and vertical distribution of solar radiant heating in Arctic surface waters

The inherent optical properties (IOPs) of Polar Waters (PW) exiting the Arctic Ocean in the East Greenland Current (EGC) and of the inflowing Atlantic waters (AW) in the West Spitsbergen Current (WSC) were studied in late summer when surface freshening due to sea-ice melt was widespread. The absorption and attenuation coefficients in PW were significantly higher than previous observations from the western Arctic. High concentrations of colored dissolved organic matter (CDOM) resulted in 50–60% more heat deposition in the upper meters relative to clearest natural waters. This demonstrates the influence of terrigenous organic material inputs on the optical properties of waters in the Eurasian basin. Sea-ice melt in CDOM-rich PW decreased CDOM absorption, but an increase in scattering nearly compensated for lower absorption, and total attenuation was nearly identical in the sea-ice meltwater layer. This suggests a source of scattering material associated with sea-ice melt, relative to the PW. In the AW, melting sea-ice forms a stratified surface layer with lower absorption and attenuation, than well-mixed AW waters in late summer. It is likely that phytoplankton in the surface layer influenced by sea-ice melt are nutrient limited. The presence of a more transparent surface layer changes the vertical radiant heat absorption profile to greater depths in late summer both in EGC and WSC waters, shifting accumulation of solar heat to greater depths and thus this heat is not directly available for ice melt during periods of stratification.
Canopy Chamber: a useful tool to monitor the CO2 exchange dynamics of shrubland

Abstract: A transient state canopy-chamber was developed to monitor CO2 exchange of shrubland ecosystems. The chamber covered 0.64 m2 and it was modular with a variable height. Several tests were carried out to check the potential errors in the flux estimates due to leakages and the environment modifications during the measurements inside the chamber. The laboratory leakages test showed an error below 1% of the flux; the temperature increases inside the chamber were below 1.3 °C at different light intensity and small pressure changes. The radial blowers inside the chamber created different wind speed at different chamber height, with faster speed at the top of the chamber and the minimum wind speed that was recorded at soil level, preventing detectable effects on soil CO2 emission rates. Moreover, the chamber was tested for two years in a semi-arid Mediterranean garrigue, identifying a strong seasonality of CO2 fluxes with the highest rates during spring and lowest rates recorded during the hot dry non-vegetative summer.
Farmers' Sustained Adoption Decision Behaviors of Maize/Cassava Intercrop Technology in Imo State: Lessons for Extension Policy Development

Various variables influence farmers' sustained adoption decision behaviors. Thus the rate of sustained adoption of maize/cassava intercrop technology, reasons for the sustenance and the determinants were empirically investigated in Orlu zone of Imo State with a view to drawing lessons for extension policy development. Data were collected from 115 randomly selected crop farmers using structured questionnaire. These were analyzed with percentage counts, frequency tables and logit regression model at 0.05 level of significance. The farmers' sustained the adoption of the technology by 88.7% with reasons ranging from environmental friendliness to full utilization/maximization of agricultural land. The farmers' age, family size, education, farming experience, social organization membership, farm size, and annual farm income as well as number of technological information sources used determined their sustained adoption decision behaviors. It was recommended that extension education sensitization campaign be intensified using multi-media as well as extension intervention strategies being guided by the socio - economic attributes of the farmers. (World Rural Observations 2009;1(1):1-6). ISSN: 1944-6543 (print); ISSN: 1944-6551 (online)
Computing equivariant characteristic classes of singular varieties

The paper is based on a talk. Complete exposition is given in "Equivariant Hirzebruch class for singular varieties". Starting from the classical theory we describe Hirzebruch class and the related Todd genus of a complex singular algebraic varieties. When the variety is equipped with an action of an algebraic torus we localize the Hirzebruch class at the fixed points of the action. We give some examples of computations.
Investigating the Relationship Between Intergenerational Income Mobility and Higher Education: Comparison Among Urban, Rural and Migrants Groups in Contemporary China

Intergenerational income equality involves in the intergenerational mobility. Moreover, higher education is always considered as key elements to stimulate intergenerational mobility. Thus, the ultimate goal of this study is to examine the relationship between intergenerational income mobility and higher education for three major groups, including urban residents, rural residents, and rural-urban migrants from a political economic perspective. Theoretically speaking, interactive autonomy-based Political Economic Theory has been utilized to elaborate the rationales of social and education stratification and solidification that implicitly impact the intergenerational income mobility for rural, urban and migrants’ families in contemporary China. Moreover, the findings from this study suggested that urban higher income group and rural higher income groups are significantly influenced by children’s length of education. In addition, father’s income has significantly impact on children’s income for urban higher income group, urban low-income group, rural high-income group, and rural low-income group. Moreover, father’s length of education has directly impact on children’s length of education for most of groups. Furthermore, father’s length of education has significant impact on father’s income for all groups. Additionally, based on the results from this study, relevant policy recommendations and suggestions have been provided to eliminate the gaps between intergenerational mobility and inequality of education access.
The ranging behaviour of a large sexually dimorphic herbivore in response to seasonal and annual environmental variation

The allometric relationships of body size play a principle role in determining how large herbivores respond to the marked spatial and temporal heterogeneity of the savanna biome. Using location data collected over an 8-year period from five distinct study sites, we investigated the influence of environmental variation (using phenological and rainfall data) on the ranging behaviour of the African elephant (Loxodonta africana), a species that exhibits pronounced sexual dimorphism. Both sexes expanded their annual ranges during years of high rainfall and contracted their ranges during periods of resource scarcity, concurring with the hypothesis that abiotic factors dictate the distribution of large generalist herbivores at the landscape scale. However, female elephant did not exhibit the same consistent response to rainfall at the seasonal scale. Furthermore, male elephant demonstrated a reduction in their daily displacement distances during the dry winter season, and altered their movement rates on the basis of seasonal rainfall. These results suggest that male elephant are able to consistently adapt their movement behaviour according to forage quality and abundance. Smaller-bodied female elephant on the other hand, are unlikely to exhibit the same flexibility in their ranging behaviour because of their higher relative nutritional demands, lower tolerance to fibrous forage and the social and energetic constraints of group living with juveniles. Our study highlights the major role that body size and sociality plays in the decision making of sexually dimorphic herbivores. These differences can have important implications for effective conservation and management, particularly with regard to demographic (e.g. survival) and ecological (e.g. habitat use) factors.
Financial Analysts’ Forecasting Performance Post Sarbanes-Oxley

The Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX) addresses the quality of financial reporting, operations as well as corporate governance, and aims to improve the overall financial information environment by increasing the accuracy and reliability of corporate disclosure. This study investigates financial analysts’ performance post SOX. We examine the impact of SOX on the accuracy of financial analysts’ earnings forecasts by investigating pre- and post-SOX quarterly earnings estimates. Findings indicate that forecast accuracy has decreased for all firms in the sample. Also, financial analysts have become pessimistic in their earnings forecasts post SOX. The evidence points to a decrease in the quality of the financial information environment post SOX.
Sperm plasticity to seawater temperatures in Atlantic cod Gadus morhua is affected more by population origin than individual environmental exposure

Atlantic cod is a key species of the North Atlantic ecosystem whose distribution will likely be affected by climate change. Although general temperature effects on reproduction are known, there is a dearth of information on population and individual level life history and repro- ductive plasticity responses to temperature change. We tested the hypothesis that the sperm of Atlantic cod of different genetic backgrounds (southern versus more northerly Newfoundland and Labrador) and of different environmental histories (reared in indoor tanks and fed a forage diet versus reared in sea cages and fed pellets) have different average plastic responses to tempera- ture. Male reproductive performance was examined at 4 temperatures by measuring sperm swim- ming characteristics at 10 and 30 s after motility activation. Genetic origin had a larger effect on sperm swimming characteristics than past environmental history. Moreover, groups derived from the southern population exhibited a more pronounced positive mean reaction norm than the group derived from the Newfoundland and Labrador population. This represents an example of cogradient variation as genotypes accentuate the thermal phenotypic plasticity. Even though there were differences between the groups in sperm swimming characteristics, this is unlikely sufficient to affect successful reproduction at the temperatures tested unless under sperm compe- tition. Thus, sperm performance should not be a limiting factor for reproduction under predicted increases in sea surface temperatures.
Endoglin Expression and The Level of TGF- β are Increased in The Placental Tissue and Correlated with Low Fetal Weight in Malaria Infected Mice

Malaria infection during pregnancy can cause accumulation of infected-red blood cells in placental intervillous space and induces placental tissue inflammation and hypoxia. This condition triggers endoglin expression, and release of soluble endoglin which can interfere TGF-β binding to its receptor. The aim of this study was to investigate the correlation between placental endoglin expression and TGF-β level with low fetal weight (LFW) in malaria-infected mice. Nine pregnant mice infected with Plasmodium berghei on the day 9 th post mating (malaria infected group) and eight normal pregnant mice (non-infected group) were used in this study. The mice were sacrificed on the day 18 th post mating, and all fetal body weights were measured by analytical scale. Enzyme Link Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) was done to determine the level of placental TGF-β while immunohistochemical staining was performed to examine endoglin expression in placental tissue. The mean of fetal body weights of malaria infected group was significantly lower than non-infected group (p=0,002), while the expression of placental endoglin in malaria infected group was significantly higher than non-infected group (p=0.003). The level of placental TGF-β in malaria infected group was also higher than non-infected group but the difference was not significant (p=0.064). Pearson correlation test showed that there were significant negative correlations between fetal body weights with the level of placental TGF-β (p=0.017, r=-0.568) and the expression of placental endoglin (p=0.002, r=-0.694). Malaria infection in pregnant mice will increase both TGF- β and endoglin in placenta tissue and correlate with low fetal weight.
Improved Radio Frequency Identification Indoor Localization Method via Radial Basis Function Neural Network

Indoor localization technique has received much attention in recent years. Many techniques have been developed to solve the problem. Among the recent proposed methods, radio frequency identification (RFID) indoor localization technology has the advantages of low-cost, noncontact, non-line-of-sight, and high precision. This paper proposed two radial basis function (RBF) neural network based indoor localization methods. The RBF neural networks are trained to learn the mapping relationship between received signal strength indication values and position of objects. Traditional method used the received signal strength directly as the input of neural network; we added another input channel by taking the difference of the received signal strength, thus improving the reliability and precision of positioning. Fuzzy clustering is used to determine the center of radial basis function. In order to reduce the impact of signal fading due to non-line-of-sight and multipath transmission in indoor environment, we improved the Gaussian filter to process received signal strength values. The experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms the existing methods as well as improves the reliability and precision of the RFID indoor positioning system.
ON THE POLAR CAP CASCADE PAIR MULTIPLICITY OF YOUNG PULSARS

We study the efficiency of pair production in polar caps of young pulsars under a variety of conditions to estimate the maximum possible multiplicity of pair plasma in pulsar magnetospheres. We develop a semi-analytic model for calculation of cascade multiplicity which allows efficient exploration of the parameter space and corroborate it with direct numerical simulations. Pair creation processes are considered separately from particle acceleration in order to assess different factors affecting cascade efficiency, with acceleration of primary particles described by recent self-consistent non-stationary model of pair cascades. We argue that the most efficient cascades operate in the curvature radiation/synchrotron regime, the maximum multiplicity of pair plasma in pulsar magnetospheres is ∼few × 105. The multiplicity of pair plasma in magnetospheres of young energetic pulsars weakly depends on the strength of the magnetic field and the radius of curvature of magnetic field lines and has a stronger dependence on pulsar inclination angle. This result questions assumptions about very high pair plasma multiplicity in theories of pulsar wind nebulae.
INTRODUCING A NOVEL METHOD FOR GENETIC ANALYSIS OF AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER

iv LIST OF FIGURES . viii LIST OF TABLES . ix ABBREVIATIONS . x CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION AND LITERATURE REVIEW . 1 1.1 Introduction . 1 1.2 Genetics of Autism-­‐ a review of the literature . 2 1.2.1 GWAS and Sequencing Studies . 4 1.3 Conclusion . 7 CHAPTER II: REVIEW OF RARE VARIANT ANALYSIS METHODS . 8 2.1 Introduction . 8 2.2 Weighted-­‐Sum Method (WSM) . 11 2.3 Sequence Kernel Association Test (SKAT) . 12 2.4 Single Variant Method (SVM) . 16 2.4. 1 Choosing a Proper Constant and Initial Results . 22 2.4. 2 Estimating the P-­‐values of the Measured Scores . 26 2.4. 3 The Effect of Constant on the Score of Rare Variants . 29 2.4. 4 Calculating the Score of Genes based on the Score of Variants . 34 CHAPTER III: AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER DATA AND RESULTS . 36