Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Election proximity and representation focus in party-constrained environments

Do elected representatives have a time-constant representation focus or do they adapt their focus depending on election proximity? In this article, we examine these overlooked theoretical and empirical puzzles by looking at how reelection-seeking actors adapt their legislative behavior according to the electoral cycle. In parliamentary democracies, representatives need to serve two competing principals: their party and their district. Our analysis hinges on how representatives make a strategic use of parliamentary written questions in a highly party-constrained institutional context to heighten their reselection and reelection prospects. Using an original data set of over 32,000 parliamentary questions tabled by Portuguese representatives from 2005 to 2015, we examine how time interacts with two key explanatory elements: electoral vulnerability and party size. Results show that representation focus is not static over time and, in addition, that electoral vulnerability and party size shape strategic use of parliamentary questions.
Addiction Recovery Stage of Change and Forgiveness of Indonesian Substance Abuse Treatment Residents

Forgiveness was known as a very important factor in psychological trauma healing. This research intend to describe the stage of change of recovering drug addict related to their forgiveness to peoples who hurt them in the past. Subjects of this research were 258 residents who still following treatment addict rehabilitation program in one Indonesian national treatment center in West Java, which was taken by total sampling. Majority of this subjects were in stages of pre contemplation (14%), contemplation (32,2%), and preparation (38,4%). The rest, who show treatment readiness, were in stage of action (14,7%) and maintenance (0,8%). The result revealed that there were a significant relation between stage of change and forgiveness in general (r=0,322), but the result was different in their aspects. Following the stage of change progress, benelovence tend to increase (r=0,345) and avoidance decrease (r=-0,310), but their revenge still did not decrease (r=0,160). It means, the process of change opened their awareness of their problems, but they still need help to have better understanding of themselves and their environments. This research also discuss the important of decisional balance and process of change to forgiveness, resulting recommendation to improve decision making process and enhance process of change.
Coarse-graining and renormalization group methods for the elucidation of the kinetics of complex nucleation and growth processes

We review our work on generalizations of the Becker–Döring model of cluster formation as applied to nucleation theory, polymer growth kinetics and the formation of supramolecular structures in colloidal chemistry. One valuable tool in analysing mathematical models of these systems has been the coarse-graining approximation which enables macroscopic models for observable quantities to be derived from microscopic ones. This permits assumptions about the detailed molecular mechanisms to be tested, and their influence on the large-scale kinetics of surfactant self-assembly to be elucidated. We also summarize our more recent results on Becker–Döring systems, notably demonstrating that cross-inhibition and autocatalysis can destabilize a uniform solution and lead to a competitive environment in which some species flourish at the expense of others, phenomena relevant in models of the origins of life.
Evaluation of Morphological Traits Diversity in Synthetic Hexaploid Wheat

Genetic variation is primary requirment of any breeding program which establishes from the natural evolution and warrants sustainable production of plants under variable environmental conditions. One of the successful methods to introgress desirable agronomic genes from bread wheat ancestors to wheat is producing synthetic hexaploid wheat. The objective of presents study is to assess genetic diversity of synthetic hexaploid wheats using morphological traits. Ninty-nine synthetic hexaploid wheats were evaluated under field conditions. The results indicated a significant variation in the synthetic-hexaploid wheat genotypes. Grain yield per plant had the highest coefficient of variation and days to maturity had the lowest coefficient of variation. Polymorphism was observed for traits such as flag leaf color, glume color, auricle color, hairy auricle, hairy node and hairy glume. There was a positive and significant correlation between plant height and glume length, also between glume length and grain yield per plant. Grain yield per plant and yield components were also correlated significantly. Correlations between phonological traits such as days to heading and days to pollination (r=0.42**( as well as between days to maturity and days to pollination (r=0.28**) were positive and significant. The results of stepwise regression indicated that number of grain per spike, number of spikes per plant and 1000 grains weight could explained 47% of variation of grain yield per plant.
Physicochemical Characteristics of Saudi Arabian Locally Produced Raw and Diluted Honeys and Their Relations to Antimicrobial Activity

The physicochemical characteristics and antibacterial activity of Saudi Arabia honeys were studied for the first time. The levels of free and total acidity, pH, ash and moisture content were in the range 1.6 ±0.17 - 15.1 ±0.1 meq/kg, 2.77 ± 0.06 - 5.37 ±0.04, 1.1 ±0.02 – 1.7 ±0.03 % and 10.0%m/v) honey and antimicrobial activity was noticed. Honey species from different floral sources posses’ strong antioxidant and anti bacterial activities and are scavengers of active oxygen species.
Using Google Groups in the Classroom: A Case Study

The use of the Google newsgroup and mailing list program "Google Groups" to facilitate e-learning in a distance course is discussed. Despite the large size of the online course group (60 students), the study's findings show that students felt positive about the use of the program and its contribution to their learning of the course. The paper explores the reason for this and other interesting findings in the context of such a large online group that, experts may argue, is too large a size for an electronic group.
Farmers' Preferences for the Design of Fruit Fly Pest-Free Area (FF-PFA) in Kerio-Valley: A Latent-Class Approach

Fruit flies are a very important group of pests for many countries due to their potential to cause damage in fruits thus restricting access to international markets for plant products that can host fruit flies. The high probability of introduction of fruit flies associated with a wide range of hosts’ results in restrictions imposed by many importing countries to accept fruits from areas in which these pests are established. For these reasons, establishment and maintenance of pest free areas for fruit flies (FF-PFAs) is receiving considerable attention in the current policy debates. Kenya Plant Health Inspectorate Service (KEPHIS) has taken the lead to establish and help maintain FF-PFAs in the main mango production zones of Elgeyo-Marakwet County of Kenya. However, as the ultimate success of the programme depends on farmers’ judgment and acceptance, acquiring information about potential demand is of paramount importance for policy advice. In this paper, we assess the demand in terms of consumer preferences and willingness to pay for FF-PFAs using a stated choice experiment method (SCE). A novel feature of this paper is that it focuses on how the FF-PFA should be designed and presented. Results from the latent class model (LCM) reveal that farmers prefer FF-PFAs featuring training, market information with sales contract, large benefits to other mango value-chain actors and when they are recommended by officials. Keywords : FF-PFA, SCE, LCM, Farmers’ preference, Mango
Some improvements for a class of the Caffarelli-Kohn-Nirenberg inequalities

In this paper, we concern a weighted version of the Hardy inequality, which is a special case of the more general Caffarelli- Kohn-Nirenberg inequalities. We improve the inequality on the whole space or on a bounded domain by adding various remainder terms. On the whole space, we show the existence of a remain- der term which has the form of ratio of two weighted integrals. Also we give a simple derivation of the remainder term involving a distance from the manifold of the \virtual extremals". Finally on a bounded domain, we prove the existence of remainder terms involving the gradient of functions.
Essays on heterogeneous agent models with entrepreneurship

This thesis is composed of three essays related to heterogeneous agent models with entrepreneurship. The first chapter adds aggregate uncertainty in a heterogeneous agent model with entrepreneurship and financial frictions, in order to evaluate the welfare effects of business cycles. The second chapter quantitatively assess the impact of The Brazilian Development Bank on the Brazilian economy, through subsidized credit supply. The third chapter uses a heterogeneous agent model to estimate effects of changes in the Brazilian tax composition on development and welfare. Key-words: heterogeneous agent; occupational choice; financial frictions; aggregate uncertainty, tax composition, credit subsidies.
Evaluating the Developmental Instability-Sexual Selection Hypothesis in the Fruit Fly, Drosophila bipectinata (Diptera: Drosophilidae)

Because developmental instability is the outcome of an individual’s inability to buffer against environmental perturbations, the phenotypic outcomes of DI, fluctuating asymmetry and phenodeviance, are thought to be indicators of individual genetic quality. The developmental instability–sexual selection hypothesis posits that sexual selection favors reduced DI in secondary sexual traits because reduced DI reveals the genetic quality of potential mates or sexual rivals. The present study evaluates this hypothesis by examining the genotypic and phenotypic effects of developmental instability on fitness using isofemale lines of the fruit fly Drosophila bipectinata exhibiting divergent levels of phenodeviance. I found significant genetic variation for phenodeviance among lines, and confirmed the stability of these differences across multiple generations. These results support the hypothesis that genotypic effects underly developmental instability in the studied population. I then tested flies from these genetic lines for several measures of fitness: preadult survivorship, male mating success, and egg hatch rate. Genetic lines differed in levels of preadult survivorship, but these differences were unrelated to level of developmental instability in each line. Initial mating success assays showed no effect of DI on mating success, but later field-mimic assays showed significant effects of both genotypic and phenotypic developmental instability on mating success. Mating latency was significantly higher for highdevelopmental instability males in both assays. Finally, I found no significant effects of phenotypic or genotypic paternal DI on egg hatch rate. Although effects of DI were heterogeneous in this study, these results generally fail to support the DI-sexual selection hypothesis as originally formulated. Furthermore, several predictions of the hypothesis have been weakly supported across other studies. Therefore, the DI-sexual selection hypothesis is in difficulty and may not be a sound explanation for the negative relationship between DI and sexual fitness noted in this and other species.
Possibile ruolo del peso alla nascita sulla risposta al trattamento con ormone della crescita (GH) in bambini con deficit di GH

Il peso alla nascita sembra possa influenzare la risposta alla terapia con ormone della crescita (GH) in soggetti con deficit di GH (GHD), anche se i risultati fino ad ora ottenuti non sono concordanti. Per tale motivo, sono stati reclutati 23 pazienti con GHD nati SGA (SGA-GHD, 12 maschi e 11 femmine), e 26 pazienti con GHD nati AGA (AGA-GHD, 15 maschi e 11 femmine). I pazienti sono stati seguiti per cinque anni e ogni anno, sono state valutate altezza e velocita di crescita. I soggetti AGA-GHD mostrano un’altezza maggiore rispetto al gruppo dei bambini SGA e, in particolar modo, la differenza diventa significativa dopo il quarto anno di trattamento. La velocita di crescita risulta essere incrementata (SGA-GHD: 1.72±0.30 SDS, AGA-GHD: 2.67±0.21 SDS; p=0.039) nei pazienti AGA-GHD durante i cinque anni di terapia. Il gruppo dei soggetti AGA-GHD, inoltre, mostra una percentuale maggiore (52.4%) di bambini che supera il target genetico e raggiunge una statura nella norma, dopo cinque anni di trattamento. I nostri risultati mostrano che il peso alla nascita influenza la risposta alla terapia con GH in pazienti pediatrici con GHD. Il pediatra endocrinologo dovrebbe tener conto di questo fattore nel monitoraggio del GHD in bambini nati SGA.
TOTAL INFRARED LUMINOSITY ESTIMATION OF RESOLVED AND UNRESOLVED GALAXIES

The total infrared (TIR) luminosity from galaxies can be used to examine both star formation and dust physics. We provide here new relations to estimate the TIR luminosity from various Spitzer bands, in particular from the 8 μm and 24 μm bands. To do so, we use data for 45″ subregions within a subsample of nearby face-on spiral galaxies from the Spitzer Infrared Nearby Galaxies Survey (SINGS) that have known oxygen abundances as well as integrated galaxy data from the SINGS, the Local Volume Legacy survey (LVL), and Engelbracht et al. samples. Taking into account the oxygen abundances of the subregions, the star formation rate intensity, and the relative emission of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons at 8 μm, the warm dust at 24 μm, and the cold dust at 70 μm and 160 μm, we derive new relations to estimate the TIR luminosity from just one or two of the Spitzer bands. We also show that the metallicity and the star formation intensity must be taken into account when estimating the TIR luminosity from two wave bands, especially when data longward of 24 μm are not available.
The evolution of the Lombard effect: 100 years of psychoacoustic research

On the occasion of the centenary of the discovery of the Lombard effect, we review the literature on noise-dependent regulation of vocal amplitude in humans and other animals. The article addresses the scientific and the biological history of the Lombard effect: first, it sketches the evolution of the study of the Lombard effect, and second it reflects on the biological evolution of the effect itself. By comparing the findings from anurans, birds and mammals, we try to trace back the phylogenetic origins of this basic vocal mechanism for acoustic communication in noise. The current evidence suggests two alternative parsimonious hypotheses: either the Lombard effect is the outcome of a convergent evolution in birds and mammals or it may be a synapomorphy of all amniotes. If the latter is true, then the Lombard effect would have evolved to maintain vocal communication in the presence of noise more than 300 million years ago.
Benthic communities of common reed Phragmites australis and marsh cordgrass Spartina alterniflora marshes in Chesapeake Bay

Invasive species are receiving increased attention both for their direct effects, including competitive displacement and predator-prey interactions, and indirect effects involving ecosystem and habitat alterations. The common reed Phragmites australis is spreading along much of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts of the USA. Its spread is particularly apparent in disturbed oligohaline to mesohaline areas, where it may displace the marsh cordgrass Spartina alterniflora. Because of the different morphologies of these plants, associated sediment effects, and differences in biogeochemical cycling, there is the potential for significant faunal community changes where macrophyte species replacement occurs. We conducted a study in the mesohaline region of Chesapeake Bay to examine differences between benthic communities associated with S. alterniflora and P. australis marshes. Paired P. australis and S. alterniflora marshes were sampled at 4 sites in summer and 2 sites in fall, blocking for tidal height (high marsh versus low marsh) and small-scale topographic features (rivulet and hummock areas in each marsh type). Sediment grain size did not differ between marsh types, and percent organics differed only for P. australis hummock sites compared to other habitat types. Benthic microalgal biomass also did not differ among marsh types. There was only a small effect on faunal abundance patterns, with most species exhibiting slightly higher mean density in Spartina compared to adjacent Phragmites marshes. Much stronger differences in faunal density were observed between hummocks and adjacent rivulets within each marsh type. While macrophyte type had a detectable effect, local microhabitat characteristics had a stronger relation to local faunal abundance patterns. Since such microhabitat characteristics may covary with macrophyte type (although they did not do so in this study), care must be taken in the design and interpretation of comparative marsh studies and more emphasis should be given to including relations of small-scale topographic features with faunal characteristics. In this system and on the scale studied here, macrophyte replacement did not strongly affect the benthic infaunal community.
Spin Polarization and Exchange Interaction in a DilutedMagnetic

The spin interaction energy of different Mn ions with and without an itinerant electron is evaluated for different dot radii. Magnetization is calculated for various concentrations of Mn ions with different dot sizes. Spin polaronic shifts are estimated using a mean field theory. The lowest binding energies of electrons in a Cd1−xMnxTe quantum dot are also calculated. Results are obtained for Cd1−xin Mnxin Te/Cd1−xout Mnxout Te structures as a function of the dot radius variationally. It is found that (i) more number of Mn spins enhance the spin polaronic effect and it varies linearly with the concentration, (ii) spin polarization of Mn ions increases with the concentration for any dot radii, (iii) the magnetization of Mn subsystem increases with the concentration of Mn ions and this feature is predominant for smaller dots, and (iv) variation of increase in ionization energy is sharper for smaller dots with increase in concentration. These results are discussed with the available data in literature.
Comparative Renal Protective Effects of Canagliflozin and Telmisartan in a Rat Model of Diabetic Nephropathy

Canagliflozin is a new antidiabetic, SGLT2 inhibitor, that interfere with renal glucose reabsorption but its effect on renal structure and function has not been elucidated. So, we investigated the renal protective effects of canagliflozin in comparison with the angiotensin blocker, telmisartan, in a rat model of diabetic nephropathy. Sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups. Group 1; non-diabetic controls, given only vehicles. Group 2; non-treated diabetic rats injected with nicotinamide and streptozotocin. Group 3 and 4; diabetic rats treated for 8 weeks with canagliflozin 20 and 40 mg/kg/day. Group 5 and 6; diabetic rats treated with telmisartan 5 and 10 mg/kg/day, respectively. Biochemical analysis included plasma glucose, HbA1c, urinary albumin excretion, BUN, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, TNF-α, TGF-β1, caspase-3, total oxidant status and total antioxidant capacity. Isolated kidneys were used for tissue oxidative analysis, TUNEL assay and histopathological examination. Diabetic rats treated with either canagliflozin or telmisartan showed dose-related reductions in albuminuria and other renal function parameters, together with significant reduction of serum levels of inflammatory, oxidative stress and apoptotic markers. Kidney tissue oxidative stress, cellular apoptosis and histopathologic alterations were attenuated in treated groups. Canagliflozin showed less anti-inflammatory but more anti-apoptotic effects than telmisartan, although both drugs produced comparable renoprotective effects. It is concluded that, canagliflozin has a renoprotective effect in diabetic rats similar to that of telmisartan, although through different mechanisms. Thus, SGLT2 inhibitors may represent a promising therapeutic option for the management of type 2 diabetes to slow progression of diabetic nephropathy.
Business strategy and human resource management at contract companies in the manufacturing sector

In line with the revision of the Worker Dispatching Law and changes in corporate policies on the use of contract services, it is becoming increasingly important for contract companies to review their business strategies and develop human resource management policies that correspond with their business strategies. The essay has classified major business strategies of contract companies and examined the relationship between human resource management practices and business strategies at contracting companies by using data from surveys and case studies. First, it has found that companies constantly generating high earnings are equipped with production site management, hiring, and personnel management (evaluation and training) systems that suit their respective business strategies. Second, companies pursuing a business strategy of handling high-skill operations and improving operation management, which are likely to be increasingly important, are not necessarily active in devising human resource management policies that suit this business strategy. Contract companies themselves must make efforts, but it is also necessary for client companies to review their current policy on the use of contract companies which gives priority to cost reduction and supply of needed amount of manpower in order to remedy this situation.
Identification of apricot cultivars in Turkey (Prunus armeniaca L.) using RAPD markers

This study was carried out to determine genetic relationships among 23 apricot cultivars from Turkey by using randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technology. Among the 40 decamer random primers were used for PCR reactions, 12 primers showed reproducible polymorphic patterns. These primers produced 121 bands, out of which 118 were polymorphic. UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method using Arithmetic average) derived dendrogram, grouped the cultivars into one cluster and one outlier. The main cluster further divided into three subclusters. The highest dissimilarities found between Hacihaliloglu and Kabaasi cultivars (0.108). The variation detected among the closely related genotypes indicates the efficiency of RAPD markers over the morphological and isozyme markers for the identification and construction of genetic linkage maps.
Basin of Attraction of the Simplest Walking Model

ABSTRACT Passive dynamic walking is an important development for walking robots, supplying natural, energy-efficient motions. In practice, the cyclic gait of passive dynamic prototypes appears to be stable, only for small disturbances. Therefore, in this paper we research the basin of attraction of the cyclic walking motion for the simplest walking model. Furthermore, we present a general method for deriving the equations of motion and impact equations for the analysis of multibody systems, as in walking models. Application of the cell mapping method shows the basin of attraction to be a small, thin area. It is shown that the basin of attraction is not directly related to the stability of the cyclic motion.