Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Authenticity of product: Italian heritage and branding in the Australian wine industry. [abstract].

This paper will discuss the use of cultural markers in branding and marketing techniques of Italian Australian winemakers. A survey of these brands carried out by the author found that Italian wine makers in Australia almost invariably refer to their Italian heritage in their marketing material. The use of this reference, and often their immigrant ‘rags to riches’ stories are utilised in an attempt to add authenticity to their product, to make them stand out from the others in an increasingly competitive and overcrowded market. But does it work? What do we think we are buying when we buy an ‘Italian’ product? What cultural associations do we make as Australian consumers? The commodification of culture is an area of study that would be welladapted to Italians in the wine industry in Australia, and is the focus of this paper. In his study, Beverland (Beverland, 2005) found that wine brands throughout the world make use of ‘a sincere story’ to give the impression of authenticity to the product. This sincerity was achieved by connecting to place, espousing the use of traditional methods, referring to history and culture and by appearing to be above solely commercial aims. He specifies the use of ‘rags to riches’ stories of immigrant families as being one of the marketing techniques used to claim authenticity. Beverland’s study mostly concentrated on French wine brands of international repute, but these same themes can be found in Australia. A large number of Italian-Australian wine firms make use of these techniques, most specifically with references to culture, to that of being Italian or of Italian origin.
Enjoyment and social influence: predicting mobile payment adoption

Models of technology adoption, notably the Technology Acceptance Model and the Unified Theories of Acceptance and Use of Technology, provide good theoretical foundations for understanding mobile payment adoption. This study extends these frameworks by incorporating perceived enjoyment, social influence, knowledge and perceived risk. Replications of established theories are tested in a new context of young people's adoption of mobile payment. Subsequent hypotheses test an extended theoretical framework using an online survey (N = 316). The extended model improves previous models by explaining 62% of variation in intention to use. Against expectations, perceived ease of use had no significant effect on perceived usefulness and intention to use. The study contributes to advancing understanding of perceived enjoyment which had no direct effect on adoption intention but a significant effect on perceived ease of use and usefulness. Social influence reduces perceived risk, and further contribution is made by noting that perceived enjoyment lowers perceived risk.
Population dynamics of threatened elkhorn coral in the northern Florida Keys, USA

Caribbean elkhorn coral Acropora palmata (Lamarck, 1816) was once so widespread and abundant that geologists use its fossils to measure sea levels from the Pleistocene through the Holocene. Now it exists at a small fraction of its former abundance and is listed, along with a con- gener, as 'threatened' under the US Endangered Species Act. We conducted annual demographic surveys on the northern Florida Keys (USA) population from 2004 to 2010. Percent cover of the benthos, number of colonies, and dominance by large individuals declined throughout the study period. We created population matrix models for each annual interval of the study, which included a severe hurricane year (2005-2006). Hurricane recurrence was simulated stochastically along with multiple outplanting scenarios. Population depletion is predicted given a return time for severe hurricanes of 20 yr or less. Elasticity analysis showed that the largest individuals have the greatest contribution to the rate of change in population size. Active management through out- planting can provide a positive population trajectory over the short term, especially if colonies are reared for several years before transplanting. However, the former abundance of this species sug- gests that background life history traits, specifically rates of growth versus shrinkage measured herein, are fundamentally different from what they must have been in the past. Ultimately, recov- ery of this species will depend on enacting local short-term management solutions while improv- ing regional and global environmental conditions.
Climate change and marine turtles

Marine turtles occupy a wide range of terrestrial and marine habitats, and many aspects of their life history have been demonstrated to be closely tied to climatic variables such as ambient temperature and storminess. As a group, therefore, marine turtles may be good indicators of climate change effects on coastal and marine habitats. Despite the small number of species in the taxon and a growing body of research in the field, the evidence base to predict resultant impacts of climate change remains relatively poor. We review the data from peer-reviewed publications to assess the likely impacts of climate change on marine turtles and highlight the types of data that would be most useful for an accurate assessment of future effects. The cumulative indications from these previous studies indicate that future research should focus on: (1) climate change effects on key habitats upon which turtles depend; (2) factors that influence nest site selection; (3) the consequences of skewed primary sex ratios; and (4) the effect of climate change on turtles at sea, for example range shifts and dietary breadth. Although it is too early to give detailed management recommendations, careful protection of coastlines along which turtles nest should be considered, as should the protection of beaches that produce male hatchlings, which may be of increased importance in the future. More active management approaches, for example translocation of eggs to suitable yet vacant nesting beaches, may be necessary to consider under worst-case scenarios.
CLONING AND EXPRESSION OF RABIES VIRUS GLYCOPROTEIN GENE INTO EUKARYOTIC SYSTEM

Background and Aims: The aim of this study was cloning and expression of rabies virus glycoprotein by a eukaryotic expression plasmid pcDNA3.1(+) in BSR cell line. This construct might be used for a potential DNA vaccine. Materials and Methods: Glycoprotein gene was synthesized and cloned into pBluescript vector and then sub cloned into eukaryotic expression vector (pcDNA3.1(+)). After verification of the cloning, the recombinant plasmid was transfected into BSR cell line (a clone of BHK-21 cell), and its expression was detected by RT-PCR. Results: The authenticity of the recombinant plasmid pcDNA3.1(+)-Gp has been confirmed by a quick check method and restriction endonuclease digestion analysis, and after transfection into eukaryotic cells, the presence of mRNA transcripts was verified by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the construction of eukaryotic expression plasmid for rabies virus glycoprotein is possible. Nevertheless, more work is necessary to develop this kind of vaccine for final use.
The impact of forced social comparison on adolescents’ self-esteem and appearance satisfaction

The impact of forced social comparison on adolescents' self-esteem and appearance satisfaction research, conducted on a sample of 133 high school seniors, consisted of two phases. In phase one, participants were given the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory, Appearance Satisfaction Scale and Appearance Relevance Scale, and in phase two, one month later, they were exposed to photographs of attractive and unattractive individuals. Two groups of boys and girls each assessed attractive or unattractive individuals of their own gender, while two control groups (of both genders) were not exposed to any photographs. Immediately after assessing the photographs, the participants were again given the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Inventory and Appearance Satisfaction Scale. We found that forced social comparison had an impact on self-esteem and a marginally significant effect on appearance satisfaction in the group of participants (of both genders) assessing the photographs of unattractive individuals, while no effects were found in the either the control group or the group assessing the photographs of attractive individuals. We also examined the impact of self-esteem, appearance satisfaction and appearance relevance as moderating variables on the effect size of social comparison and showed that higher pretest self-esteem and appearance relevance and lower appearance satisfaction predict higher posttest self-esteem scores, regardless of the participants' group membership. The group of participants exposed to photographs of unattractive people, however, showed the opposite pattern - those participants who had initially lower self-esteem have increased it more as a result of the experimental exposure.
Core Gene Expression and Association of Genotypes with Viral Load in Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) - Infected Patients in Punjab, Pakistan

Purpose: To determine genotypic distribution, ribonucleic acid (RNA) RNA viral load and express core gene from Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) infected patients in Punjab, Pakistan. Methods: A total of 1690 HCV RNA positive patients were included in the study. HCV genotyping was tested by type-specific genotyping assay, viral load, by real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and HCV core protein was expressed in E. coli. Antigenicity of core protein was confirmed by enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA). Results: Out of total 1690 serum samples, type-specific PCR fragments were observed in 1482 (87.69 %) of the samples. In both genders, genotype 3a (55.44 %) was most prevalent followed by 3b (15.03 %), 1a (6.98 %) and 1b (3.14 %). Regionally, genotype 3a occurred most frequently in Jaranwala (59.72 %). Patients infected with genotype 3 had pre-treatment viral load values of 52.56, 15.79 and 31.65 %, while patients infected by other genotypes showed viral load values of 13.43, 35.27 and 51.3 % for low, intermediate and high categories of viral load, respectively. ELISA showed that core protein possessed greater antigenicity. Conclusion: HCV genotype 3a is the most prevalent genotype in Punjab, although the distribution of HCV genotypes in eight cities of Punjab was not uniform. HCV core protein used to develop local screening assays may be more effective than current commercial assays.
Diabetic Prevention the Hard Way: Modified Diet and Increased Exercise

Background and Purpose: In the United States, 79 million people are pre-diabetic: most have no symptoms. If left untreated, 37% will develop diabetes within 4 years. Fourteen percent of United States health care expenditures are related to diabetic complications. This Evidenced Based Project (EBP) involved a behavioral lifestyle change with the purpose of 7% weight loss and a minimum of 150 minutes of physical activity a week. It was also designed to reduce risk factors and glycated hemoglobin A1c (HgA1c) levels. Methods: The interventional approach was modeled after the Diabetes Prevention Program (DPP) and Group Lifestyle Balance Program. Participants were identified based on high risk factors and HgA1c levels. Bi-monthly meetings were conducted over 12 weeks. Participant education and monitoring of weight loss and activity level were provided. Conclusion: Changing a person’s behavior is complex and multi-factorial. Although participants had a significant increase in healthy behavior modifications, knowledge, awareness, and activity, they were unsuccessful in reducing HgA1c levels in this particular study. Implications for practice: Reducing high risk and pre-diabetic populations may lower health costs, provide a healthier patient population, and decreased cardiovascular incidents related to diabetes. Findings could be used in conjunction with decreasing the rates of metabolic syndrome.
Tolerance, Cooperation, and Equilibrium Restoration in Repeated Games

This study shows that in a two-player infinitely repeated game where one is patient and the other is impatient, Pareto-superior subgame perfect equilibrium can be achieved. An impatient player in this paper is depicted as someone who can truly destroy the possibility of attaining any feasible and individually rational outcome that is supported in equilibrium in repeated games, as asserted by the Folk Theorem. In this scenario, the main ingredient for the restoration of equilibrium is to introduce the notion of tolerant trigger strategy. Consequently, the use of the typical trigger strategy is abandoned since it ceases to be efficient as it only brings automatically the game to its punishment path, therefore eliminating the possibility of extracting other feasible equilibria. I provide a simple characterization of perfect equilibrium payoffs under this scenario and show that cooperative outcome can be approximated.
A model for seasonality and distribution of leaf area index of forests and its application to China

Abstract We have constructed a phenological model of leaf area index (LAI) of forests based on biological principles of leaf growth. Field data of maximum LAI from 794 plots with mature or nearly mature stand ages over China were used to parameterize and calibrate the model. New measurements of maximum LAI from 16 natural forest sites were used to validate the simulated maximum LAI. The predictions of seasonal LAI patterns were compared with seasonal changes derived from the 1-km satellite AVHRR-NDVI data for nine undisturbed forest sites in eastern China. Then, we used the model to map maximum LAI values for forests in China. Model results indicated that the PhenLAI model generally predicted maximum LAI well for most forest types, even when maximum LAI is > 6. This suggests an ecological approach to the saturation problem in satellite detection of high forest LAI where the relationship between NDVI and LAI reaches an asymptote near a projected LAI value of 5 or 6. Furthermore, the predictions of seasonal LAI patterns in timing and dynamics were generally consistent with the satellite NDVI changes, except for monsoon forest and rain forest in south China where satellite detection of seasonal variation in leaf area is hardly possible. Compared with average projected LAI measurements of global forests from 809 field plots in literature data, our maximum LAI values were close to the global literature data for most of Chinese forests, but the average area-weighted maximum LAI for all forests of China (6.68 ± 3.85) was higher than the global mean LAI of the 809 field plots (5.55 ± 4.14). We believe that forest LAI in China is commonly > 6, especially in tropical rainforest, subtropical evergreen broad-leaved forest, temperate mixed forest, and boreal/alpine spruce-fir forest where satellite detection of high LAI is hardly possible. Abbreviations: LAI = Leaf Area Index; NDVI = Normalized Difference Vegetation Index; fPAR = Fraction of incoming Photosynthetically Active Radiation absorbed by plant canopy; WBM = Water balance model.
Alice e lo Stregatto colorano il piano

Riassunto L’articolo propone alcune considerazioni elementari sul minimo numero di colori che servono per colorare il piano R 2 in modo che ogni coppia di punti distanti 1 sia associata a due diversi colori. Si tratta di un problema aperto (2003).
Contrasting the co-variability of daytime cloud and precipitation over tropical land and ocean

The co-variability of cloud and precipitation in the extended tropics (35°N–35°S) is investigated using contemporaneous data sets for a 13-year period. The goal is to quantify potential relationships between cloud type fractions and precipitation events of particular strength. Particular attention is paid to whether the relationships exhibit different characteristics over tropical land and ocean. A primary analysis metric is the correlation coefficient between fractions of individual cloud types and frequencies within precipitation histogram bins that have been matched in time and space. The cloud type fractions are derived from Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) joint histograms of cloud top pressure and cloud optical thickness in 1°grid cells, and the precipitation frequencies come from the Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) Multi-satellite Precipitation Analysis (TMPA) data set aggregated to the same grid. It is found that the strongest coupling (positive correlation) between clouds and precipitation occurs over ocean for cumulonimbus clouds and the heaviest rainfall. While the same cloud type and rainfall bin are also best correlated over land compared to other combinations, the correlation magnitude is weaker than over ocean. The difference is attributed to the greater size of convective systems over ocean. It is also found that both over ocean and land the anti-correlation of strong precipitation with “weak” (i.e., thin and/or low) cloud types is of greater absolute strength than positive correlations between weak cloud types and weak precipitation. Cloud type co-occurrence relationships explain some of the cloud–precipitation anti-correlations. Weak correlations between weaker rainfall and clouds indicate poor predictability for precipitation when cloud types are known, and this is even more true over land than over ocean.
Another Look at Enterprise Architecture Framework

Although there were many comparison literatures of EA frameworks, these literature use qualitative criteria based on intuitive practitioner’s experience. The paper first defines 36 concrete features of EA frameworks using six categories and six interrogatives. Then we concretely compare typical EA frameworks based on the key features. The result shows the easiness and concreteness of the proposed EA comparison framework.
Axiology-based value quantification modeling for buildings

A report published by the National Research Council of the National Academies identified the research on understanding and quantifying the value of our infrastructure systems to their stakeholders and how this value is impacted by the various planning, design, construction, and operation decisions as a “national imperative”. However, there is still a lack of understanding and formalized modeling of what different stakeholders value (e.g., energy conservation, safety, economic growth) in our infrastructure systems and how to valuate (i.e., quantify the worth) our infrastructure systems based on these values. This paper presents the authors’ work in the area of axiology-based valuation modeling of buildings. “Axiology” is a theory of value (worth) that explores questions such as what are the objects that we value and how to measure the value of these objects. In this paper, the authors propose a mathematical value quantification model for quantifying the degree that a building (and its objects) fulfills stakeholder values based on its properties. The proposed model is primarily theoretically grounded in axiology. It builds on two key notions in Hartman’s formal axiology that (1) object valuation depends on its properties, and (2) valuation has systemic, extrinsic, and intrinsic dimensions. The model was initially validated through a case study. The model offers a way to assess the value of our built infrastructure based on stakeholder values; it could facilitate value-sensitive decision making by embodying stakeholder values into project planning and design towards better synergy between human values and the built environment.
Patterns of physical activities influencing cardio vascular and respiratory functions

Introduction: Physical activity is a cost effective way to decrease obesity and life style related health problems since it possess potential for having a major public health impact. The aim of the present study was to assess the influence of patterns of physical activity on cardio respiratory problems. Methodology: The study was carried out among 108 females and 100 males aged between 30-65 years from north India.Subjects enrolled in the study were suffering from one or more symptoms of metabolic syndrome and were advised brisk walk and to perform yoga (Hatha yoga) by their physicians. After assessing their activity status using standardized proforma, two groups were formed, one who were doing regular exercise (5 days/week) as advised and others who were not doing the exercise regularly. Only those who gave informed written consent were included in the study. Anthropometric and physiological measurements were taken using standard techniques. Fat percentage was assessed by bio electrical impedance technique. Dynamic respiratory functions were taken using portable spirometer. The two groups were compared for various markers of metabolic syndrome and respiratory functions. Result: Weight, BMI, fat percentage and waist circumference showed significant difference between two groups among both males and females. For respiratory functions (FEV1.0, FVC and PEFR), females showed significant values (p<0.001). Conclusion: Physical activity would regulate the symptoms of metabolic syndrome and respiratory functions if regular exercise or activity is undertaken. Improvement was found among those who were regular in their exercise as compared to those who were not so.
Temporal and Spatial Variations in Freshwater 14C Reservoir Effects: Lake Mývatn, Northern Iceland

Lake Mývatn is an interior highland lake in northern Iceland that forms a unique ecosystem of international scientific importance and is surrounded by a landscape rich in archaeological and paleoenvironmental sites. A significant freshwater reservoir effect (FRE) has been identified in carbon from the lake at some Viking (about AD 870–1000) archaeological sites in the wider region (Mývatnssveit). Previous accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) measurements indicated this FRE was about 1500–1900 14C yr. Here, we present the results of a study using stable isotope and 14C measurements to quantify the Mývatn FRE for both the Viking and modern periods. This work has identified a temporally variable FRE that is greatly in excess of previous assessments. New, paired samples of contemporaneous bone from terrestrial herbivores and omnivores (including humans) from Viking sites demonstrate at least some omnivore diets incorporated sufficient freshwater resources to result in a herbivore-omnivore age offset of up to 400 14C yr. Modern samples of benthic detritus, aquatic plants, zooplankton, invertebrates, and freshwater fish indicate an FRE in excess of 5000 14C yr in some species. Likely geothermal mechanisms for this large FRE are discussed, along with implications for both chronological reconstruction and integrated investigation of stable and radioactive isotopes.
Glutathione and its related enzymes in fasciola snails (Lymnaea natalensis): purification and characterization of glutathione transferase.

The effect of molluscicides - niclosamide and bromoacetamide on the glutathione (GSH) quantity and the activities of enzymes glutathione S-transferase (GST), glutathione reductase (GR), glutathione p eroxidase (GPx) and gamma gl utamyl transferase (GGT) were determined in L. n atalensis 50 snails. The LC for n iclosamide was 2.2 m g/L an d 10 mg/L for bromoacetamide af ter 24 h of exposure. Niclosamide caused a decrease in GSH concentration and increase in the GST, G Px and GGT activity. Bromoacetamide caused a decrease in all the enzymes studied. A c hromatographic procedure for purification of GST from L. n atalensis by DEAE- Sepharose followed by G SH-Sepharose revealed t wo major i soenzymes GSTI and GSTI I with the same pH maxima at pH 7 and t emperature maxima at 40oC. mm GSTI and GSTII differed in K for GSH (0.30 mM , 0.58 mM ) and K for 1-chloro-2,4- dinitrobenzene (CDNB) (1 .78 mM, 0 .85 mM).