Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Weapon of the Weak: One-Minute Speeches in the Israeli Parliament

Position taking is an important legislative area that scholars have investigated extensively. Since one of the main roles of the opposition is to present an alternative to the government, the question is, how does the opposition establish its positions? To address this question, we analyze the use of One-Minute Speeches (OMSs) by opposition members in the Israeli parliament (the Knesset) during 2000-2013. There were four Knesset terms during these years, so we have the opportunity to study the opposition’s behavior over a period of time. We decided to analyze OMSs because they are considered an easy tool to use and as such can be considered a weapon of the weak. The study uses mixed research methods, beginning with a statistical analysis (both at the legislator level and at the OMS level) and continuing with a content analysis of the speeches and the interviews conducted with members and leaders of the opposition. The statistical analysis shows that opposition members use OMSs more extensively than coalition members. Among the opposition members, we also found different behavior patterns based on nationality and seniority. In addition, the qualitative analysis of both the OMSs and the interviews shows that opposition members are active in two ways. First, they react to government-initiated proposals. Second, they raise topics for the Knesset’s agenda, a move that the coalition generally does not appreciate. Third, members of the opposition consider OMSs an effective tool in that it allows them to create a relevant debate on current issues. Finally, ministers and other MKs often respond to the opposition’s OMSs that are controversial and provoke debate. Thus, we conclude that the OMS is a weapon of the weak.
Changes in community structure in temperate marine reserves

No-take' marine reserves provide a valuable tool for managing marine resources as well as for providing relatively undisturbed habitat with which to assess modifications to ecosystems. We studied 2 marine reserves in northeastern New Zealand, the Leigh Marine Reserve (established 1975) and Tawharanui Marine Park (established 1982) in order to assess whether changes in protected predator populations had resulted in other indirect changes to grazers and consequently to algal abundance. Estimates of abundance of the most common demersal predatory fish Pagrus auratus indicated that adults of this species (i.e. large enough to prey upon urchins) were at least 5.75 and 8.70 times more abundant inside reserves than in adjacent unprotected areas. Overall, P auratus were also much larger inside reserves with mean total lengths of 316 mm compared with 186 mm in fished areas. The spiny lobster Jasus edwardsii displayed similar trends, and was approximately 1.6 to 3.7 times more abundant inside the reserves than outside. Lobsters within the reserves had a mean carapace length of 109.9 mm, compared with 93.5 mm outside the reserves. In one of the reserves, densities of the sea urchin Evechinus chloroticus had declined from 4.9 to 1.4 m-2 since 1978 in areas formerly dominated by it. Consequently, kelp forests were more extensive in 1998 than they were at the time of reserve creation. Urchin-dominated barrens occupied only 14 % of available reef substratum in reserves as opposed to 40"4 in unprotected areas. These changes in community structure, which have persisted since at least 1994, demonstrate not only higher trophic complexity than anticipated in Australasian ecosystems but also increased primary and secondary productivity in marine reserves as a consequence of protection. Trends inside reserves indicate large-scale reduction of benthic primary production as an indirect result of fishing activity in unprotected areas.
Antibacterial and synergistic effect of honey and cocoa extract against extended spectrum Beta lactamase producing Escherichia coli

Extended spectrum Beta lactamase producing Escherichia coli has become a serious clinical problem worldwide, due to its ability of hydrolyzing beta lactams antibiotics. This consequently increases the cost of medication. This study was aimed at determining the antibacterial and synergistic effect of concoction and decoctions of honey and cocoa extract using disc diffusion and tube dilution methods. Results of this study, suggest that, both the concoction and decoctions had marked antibacterial activity. However, the concoction was found to be significantly efficacious against the ESBL producing Escherichia coli than the decoctions (F= 583.630, P <0.05). It was therefore, concluded, that the combination of this agents may be useful in the treatment of infection caused by such isolates.
Breeding programmes in dairy sheep.

INTRODUCTION Dairy sheep are traditionally bred in Mediterranean areas on a wide range of production systems. Each region has its own local breed well-adapted to that specific environment and to cope with the seasonal availability of pastures. Breeding environments and production systems may greatly differ, from a breed to another but also within breed, on orography, soil, climate, rainfall distribution, vegetation seasonality and grazing availability. Usual husbandry systems include a suckling period of at least one month, and have a dual purpose, with income from lamb’s meat and ewe’s milk, that is generally processed into high-quality cheese. Very often there is a complete association between a region of production, a breed and the brand name of a cheese, sometimes qualified as a PDO. The great diversity of production systems, from extensive to intensive management is combined to a great diversity of genetic material. Under these conditions the strategy of genetic improvement of dairy traits corresponds usually to selection of the local pure-breds, because of a better adaptation to their own environments. In sheep, due to group feeding techniques, on-farm milk recording practices can be scarcely used for management and are mainly applied for selection purposes. So, the regular increase of recorded ewes of these last years can be directly associated to the development of selection programmes. However, technical and economic constraints related to the organisation of a selection programme still have a great influence, even in the EU countries, on the implementation and efficiency of dairy sheep selection schemes. In some situations those difficulties have driven farmers towards the use of some renowned high yielding breeds as purebred or crossbred animals. Crossbreeding and upgrading of local breeds with imported male lines have been used where the development of irrigation and intensive pastures have increased the available resources for dairy sheep farming. Thus, during the last 20 years Assaf, Awassi and Lacaune breeds in Spain and Sarda breed in Italy have greatly diffused and replaced to some extent the local breeds in semiintensive and intensive farms. Current situation and future perspectives of breeding programmes in dairy sheep are examined in this paper, paying attention on technical and economic problems that could prevent a more effective use of selection and crossbreeding plans in sheep farms.
Net-Shape Clay Ceramics with Glass Waste Additive

In this paper, a glass powder from waste containers was mixed (10 - 40 wt.%) with a kaolinitic sandy clay from Cameroon to elaborate net-shape ceramics, fired at 1100°C. The sintering behavior was from dilatometry and thermo gravimetric analyses together with the characterization of porosity and flexural strength. The increase of glass to kaolinite ratio reduces the sintering shrinkage leading to a none-densification sintering when 40 wt. % of glass is added in the mixture. The volume variation during the whole firing process is from the individual volume variations during the quartz transformation, the structural reorganization of kaolinite and during sintering. Quartz size and relative quantity have a significant role on the first processes since it leads to either cohesive or un-cohesive behavior. But the glass quantity strongly controls the second and the third thermal processes because glass additions change the recrystallization processes, leading to the formation of dense clay-glass agglomerates distributed within the three dimensional quartz network.
The Acceptance Level on GST Implementation in Malaysia

Generally, tax is recognized as one of the main sources of government’s revenue and Goods and Services Tax (GST) is an example of tax that contributes to it. This tax has been implemented in many countries such as Canada, Australia, and New Zealand. Roughly, 90 percent of the world’s population lives in countries with GST. In Malaysia, GST has been implemented on 1 April 2015 at 6% rate and it replaced the present consumption tax comprising the sales tax and the service tax. The issue on GST has been raised by the Malaysian Government as an approach to reduce its deficit. GST is imposed on goods and services throughout production-distribution stages in the supply chain including importation of goods and services. The tax is embedded in the price of goods and services transacted. However, the implementation of GST in Malaysia has called many arguments from various parties including academics, professionals and the taxpayers on how GST affects goods prices, either increase or decrease. The consumers are worried of the significant price increases on basic needs. With the relatively high living costs, significant price increases due to GST is considered as another burden for the taxpayers. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to investigate the level of acceptance of taxpayers regarding GST implementation. This study utilised survey questionnaires distributed to UiTM Pahang’s lecturers. The findings hopefully will shed a clearer view on the taxpayers’ acceptance level of GST to the tax authorities.
PR ] 2 9 O ct 2 01 8 Large Emission Regime in Mean Field Luminescence

We study a class of random processes on N particles which can be interpreted as stochastic model of luminescence. Each particle can stay in one of two states: Excited state or ground state. Any particle at ground state is excited with a constant rate (pumping). The number of excited particles decreases by means of photon emission through interactions of the particles. We analyse the rare event of flashes, i.e., the emission of a very large number of photons B during a fixed time interval T . We employ the theory of large deviations to provide the asymptotics of the probability of such event when the total number of particles N tends to infinity. This theory gives us also the optimal trajectory of scaled process corresponding to this event. The stationary regime of this process we call the large emission regime. In several cases we prove that in the large emission regime a share of excited particles in a system is stable under the changes of the pumping and emission rates. AMS 2010 Classification: Primary 60J, 60F10, Secondary 60K35
Synchronising Vehicles During Active Safety Systems Testing

Proving-ground testing of Active Safety Systems is typically based on scenarios in which relative positioning and speed of all vehicles on the track is strictly defined. Current testing methods are not designed for human driven or autonomous Vehicles Under Test as they rely on the predictability of path-following driving robots to precisely control these parameters. As Active Safety Systems are both increasingly integrated with vehicle autonomy and are further augmenting human driving, these testing methods become less useful. This paper presents an approach for preserving most of the control of current methods while allowing for some level of uncertainty generated by an autonomous Vehicle Under Test. Utilising the master/slave architectural pattern, slaved mock-up vehicles, or Test Targets, are synchronised with the Vehicle Under Test via a centralised Master Server. Using a design science methodology, this approach is described and then evaluated against the existing best practice. It represents a first move towards integrating autonomous vehicles into existing Active Safety Systems testing.
GLOBAL SOLUTIONS FOR TWO-PHASE HELE-SHAW BUBBLE FOR A NEAR-CIRCULAR INITIAL SHAPE

Using a vortex sheet method we prove global existence of a near circular initial bubble in a Hele-Shaw cell with surface tension and generally finite nonzero viscosity ratio between fluids inside and outside the bubble. The circular shape is shown to be asymptotically stable for all sufficiently smooth small perturbation. The initial condition in this case, while smooth, need not be analytic.
RECARE - Preventing and Remediating Degradation of Soils in Europe Through Land Care

Much knowledge is available on soil threats in Europe, but this is fragmented and incomplete, in particular regarding the complexity and functioning of soil systems and their interaction with human activities. The main aim of the new RECARE project is to develop effective prevention, remediation and restoration (or Sustainable Land management â€“ SLM) measures using an innovative trans-disciplinary approach in 17 case study areas across Europe, covering a range of soil threats in different bio-physical and socio-economic environments. Within these Case Study sites, i) the current state of degradation and conservation will be assessed ii) impacts of degradation and conservation on soil functions and ecosystem services will be quantified, iii) SLM measures will be selected, implemented and evaluated in a participatory process, and iv) the applicability and impact of these measures at the European level will be assessed. Existing national and EU policies will be reviewed and compared to identify potential contradictions and synergies. A comprehensive dissemination and communication strategy will serve a variety of stakeholders to stimulate renewed care for European soils
EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN FOR THE SCREENING OF THREE TYPES OF COATING POLYMERS FOR METOPROLOL MINITABLETS WITH PULSATILE RELEASE

The aim of this work was to prepare pulsatile release metoprolol tablets coated with three different polymers in order to determine which polymer is best suited to this type of chronotherapeutical formulations for further experiments. An experimental design with three factors and three levels was used for this purpose, observing the influence of the formulation variables on the drug release profiles. The studied factors were: the polymer type (Eudragit NE, Eudragit RS and Surelease), the polymer percent and the sodium starch glycolate percent (swelling agent) used in the formulation. The tablets were analyzed regarding the in vitro dissolution behaviour and the obtained release profile. The results showed that higher concentrations of swelling agents increased the drug release, while higher concentrations of polymer decreased it. The best suited polymer was Eudragit RS, because it allows the variation of another formulation factor, respectively the film plasticizer percent. Rezumat Obiectivul acestei lucrări a fost prepararea de comprimate cu metoprolol cu eliberare pulsatorie, acoperite cu trei tipuri de polimeri, pentru a determina polimerul cel mai potrivit acestui tip de formulare cronofarmaceutică, pentru a fi utilizat in experimente ulterioare. In acest scop a fost dezvoltat un plan experimental cu trei factori si trei nivele, observându-se influenţa variabilelor de formulare asupra profilului de eliberare a substanţei medicamentoase. Factorii studiaţi au fost: tipul polimerului (Eudragit NE, Eudragit RS si Surelease), procentul de polimer si procentul de amidon glicolat de sodiu (agent de umflare) din formulare. Comprimatele au fost caracterizate din punctul de vedere al dizolvării in vitro si al profilului de cedare obţinut. Rezultatele au arătat că o crestere a cantităţii de agent de umflare duce la eliberarea unei cantităţi mai mari de substanţă medicamentoasă, in timp ce o crestere a cantităţii de polimer duce la eliberarea unei cantităţi mai mici. Cel mai potrivit polimer este Eudragit RS, deoarece permite si modificarea unui alt factor in formulare, reprezentat de procentul de plastifiant din film.
Otolith geochemistry indicates life-long spatial population structuring in a deep-sea fish, Coryphaenoides rupestris

Little is understood about connectivity of deep-sea fish populations. Analysis of the geo- chemical properties of fish otoliths is one way to draw inferences regarding their movements and habitat use in the marine environment. Trace element and stable isotope analyses of otoliths were undertaken to assess patterns of spatial and temporal population structure of a wide-ranging deep- water fish, the roundnose grenadier Coryphaenoides rupestris. Fish were sampled from 4 locations across the distribution range of the species in the northeast Atlantic. Multivariate analyses of elemen- tal ratios (Li/Ca, Mn/Ca, Ba/Ca, Zn/Ca, Cu/Ca) revealed strong geographic separation at each life stage, and an overall significant difference between life stages. Otolith oxygen (δ 18 O) and carbon (δ 13 C) stable isotope analysis indicated a depth migration (and reduction in metabolic activity) from relatively shallow in the juvenile phase to much deeper in the adult phase at all locations. The results suggest that roundnose grenadier are comprised of geographically distinct population units that persist throughout their life-history, migrating deeper as they get older.
Geochemistry and Mineralogy of Basalts from the Galapagos Spreading Center, Deep Sea Drilling Project Leg 54

Basalts drilled at Site 424 and Hole 425 near the Galapagos Spreading Center at 86°W are moderately evolved basalts and ferrobasalts characteristic of the non-rifted ridges in the eastern Pacific. Three distinct chemical types occur at Hole 425, but only one type, a ferrobasalt, occurs in all four holes at Site 424. Despite strong enrichment of Fe, Ti, Zr, and the rare-earth elements, these basalts are similar to depleted mid-ocean ridge basalts and were therefore generated within a depleted mantle source. Electron-microprobe mineral analyses were obtained on several samples; one from Site 424 was intensively studied. The variations in groundmass pyroxene compositions within the single sample are almost equivalent to the entire variation observed in all the Galapagos basalts. Phenocryst compositions are used to model least-squares crystal fractionation among the basalts. Although satisfactory fits to major-oxide compositions can be obtained by fractionating mainly plagioclase and clinopyroxene plus minor olivine, this fails to account for the levels of certain trace elements in the most evolved basalts of Hole 425. Instead of fractionation, we believe that mixing of ferrobasalts with more primitive basalts explains these variations more satisfactorily.
The gluon Sivers distribution: Status and future prospects

We review what is currently known about the gluon Sivers distribution and what are the opportunities to learn more about it. Because single transverse spin asymmetries in provide only indirect information about the gluon Sivers function through the relation with the quark-gluon and tri-gluon Qiu-Sterman functions, current data from hadronic collisions at RHIC have not yet been translated into a solid constraint on the gluon Sivers function. SIDIS data, including the COMPASS deuteron data, allow for a gluon Sivers contribution of natural size expected from large arguments, which is times the nonsinglet quark Sivers contribution. Several very promising processes to measure the gluon Sivers effect directly have been suggested, which besides RHIC investigations, would strongly favor experiments at AFTER@LHC and a possible future Electron-Ion Collider. Due to the inherent process dependence of TMDs, the gluon Sivers TMD probed in the various processes are different linear combinations of two universal gluon Sivers functions that have different behavior under charge conjugation and that therefore satisfy different theoretical constraints. For this reason both hadronic and DIS type of collisions are essential in the study of the role of gluons in transversely polarized protons.
Visibility Enhancement for Images Captured in Dusty Weather via Tuned Tri-threshold Fuzzy Intensification Operators

An inclement dusty weather can significantly reduce the visual quality of captured images, which consequently hampers the observation of important image details. Capturing images in such weather often yields undesirable artifacts such as poor contrast, deficient colors or color cast. Hence, various methods have been proposed to process such unwanted events and recover lucid results with acceptable colors. These methods vary from simple to complex due to the variat ion of the used processing concepts. In this article, an innovative technique that utilizes tuned fuzzy intensification operators is introduced to expeditiously process poor quality images captured in an inclement dusty weather. Intensive experiments were carried out to check the processing ability of the proposed technique, wherein the obtained results exhib ited its competence in filtering various degraded images. Specifically, it perfo rmed well in provid ing acceptable colors and unveiling fine details for the processed images.
ECONOMIC TRANSFORMATION , FDI AND DEVELOPMENT OF NEW BUSINESSES IN TRANSFORMING ECONOMIES . THE CASE OF HUNGARY . 1

Este artículo analiza las consecuencias de las entradas de capital extranjero en la economía húngara, distinguiendo entre los efectos de las transferencias de tecnología realizadas mediante relaciones estrictas matriz-filial (internalizadas) de las realizadas a través de otras alternativas (externalizadas). El artículo resalta el cambio experimentado por las estrategias de esas multinacionales en Hungría, que inicialmente fomentaban el aprovechamiento de la eficiencia y del mercado, pero actualmente se interesan también por el conocimiento; esta variación constituye una de las características más interesantes de las transferencias de tecnología internalizadas. Las transferencias externalizadas tienen también una gran importancia, aunque no hayan recibido tanta atención. Este trabajo no las deja de lado, ya que estimulan la reestructuración de la capacidad económica acumulada con los años. Esa capacidad favorece la integración de las empresas húngaras en la red global constituida por las multinacionales, de la que se esperan grandes resultados.
Effective Proposal of a Cloud Assisted Privacy Preserving Mobile Health Monitoring System

This research paper is to address this important problem and design a cloud assisted privacy preserving mobile health monitoring system to protect the privacy of the involved parties and their data. Moreover, the outsourcing decryption technique and a newly proposed key private proxy re-encryption are adapted to shift the computational complexity of the involved parties to the cloud without compromising clients’ privacy and service providers’ intellectual property. Finally, our security and performance analysis demonstrates the effectiveness of our proposed design. KEYWORDS: National Institute of Standards and Terminology (NIST); Infrastructure-as-a-Service (IaaS); Platform-as-a-Service (PaaS); Software-as-a-Service (SaaS); Parkinson's disease (PD); Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS); Resource Pooling