Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Ring-Back-Tone (RBT) Music on Evaluation of the Phone-Call Receiver’s Personality

The purpose of the study is to investigate the influence of Ring-Back-Tone (RBT) music on the evaluation of the phone-call receiver’s personality in dimensions of Openness, Extroversion, and Neuroticism. In a preliminary test, the subjects listened to 17 RBT music stimuli in random order and assessed the personality associated with liking for each music (N=15). Among the 17 RBTs, three were selected to be used in Experiments I and II and they were distinguished from each other in terms of the three personality dimensions (p<0.001). In Experiment I, the subjects were divided into four groups and were asked to make a call to interview an unknown receiver (N=60). Different RBT music was installed depending on the group to which each subject belonged. It was found that different RBT influences the caller’s evaluation of the receiver’s personality, supporting Hypothesis 1 (p<0.001). Moreover, the ratings of the receiver’s were highly correlated with those of the RBT music stimuli in terms of Openness (r=0.722, p<0.001) and Extroversion (r=0.753, p<0.001). In Experiment II, an identical experiment design was applied for a new group of subjects who were acquainted with the receiver (N=40). It was hypothesized that previous knowledge about a person would weaken the RBT effect. The results showed that RBT exerted no effect on the evaluation of the receiver’s personality when the caller knew the receiver. It was also found that 12 personality traits, where each of the three personality dimensions is described by four traits, facilitated assessment of the character of the RBT music as well as the personality of the receiver.
Effects of Material And Non-Material Reinforcers On Academic Performance Of Girls On Health Science In The Senior Secondary Schools In Abia State

This study examined effects of material and non-material reinforcers on academic performance of Abia State Senior Secondary Schools girls on health science. As a quasi-experimental study, 120 SS II students were selected from six secondary schools located in the three Educational zones of the state. From each zone, two schools were selected using stratified random sampling. The 240 students were divided into three groups of 80 students each. That is, 80 to the material reinforcer group, 80 to the non-material reinforcer and 80 to the control group. The lessons developed on health science were content validated and the reliability was established at 0.86 coefficient index. The students in the material reinforcer, non-material reinforcer and control group were taught differently according to the specification of the study. Before the treatment, pre-test were conducted and after the teaching exercises, post-test were conducted. The results of the tests calculations based on ANOVA, and z-test indicated that three hypotheses were rejected and one was accepted. Some of these findings were made; that the mean scores of students materially reinforced and students that were non-materially reinforced differ significantly, meaning that the former had higher achievement score more than the later and the mean scores of students taught using material reinforcement differ significantly from the control group. Based on the findings and conclusions, some recommendations made; to ensure good improvement in the students’ performance in health science, teachers should always consider it necessary to use material reinforcers in teaching their students and that government should always provide these tangible materials for the teachers to use in teaching health science.
Speculation in Standard Auctions with Resale

In standard auctions with symmetric, independent private value bidders resale creates a role for a speculator - a bidder who is commonly known to have no use value for the good on sale. For second-price and English auctions the efficient value-bidding equilibrium coexists with a continuum of inefficient equilibria in which the speculator wins the auction and makes positive profits. First-price and Dutch auctions have an essentially unique equilibrium, and whether or not the speculator wins the auction and distorts the final allocation depends on the number of bidders, the value distribution, and the discount factor. Speculators do not make profits in first-price or Dutch auctions.
Bio-composite materials: a short review of recent trends, mechanical and chemical properties, and applications

Recently, the attraction on the bio-composite (known as green composites) materials has significantly increased due to the potential of being substitute to conventional materials used in manufacturing industries. Bio-composite materials are produced with natural fibres or natural resins instead of synthesized fibres (carbon, glass, etc fibres) or resins (poly vinyl alcohol, epoxy, etc resins ). The bio-based fibres such as jute, sisal, flax, hemp, bamboo, hair, wool, silk etc., are obtained from plants or animals. Also, natural matrix materials such as natural rubber, polyester, etc., are produced from plants. The advantages of bio-composites such as the ease of disposal and being able to composted characteristics of bio-composites after the expiration date which is not generally possible with conventional synthetic materials, being renewable, sustainable have attracted many researcher. Furthermore, the comparable mechanical properties of bio-composites make feasible for application to many different products. This study reviews the, recent trends, mechanical and chemical properties, and application of bio-composites in recent years.
redicting how many animals will be where : How to build , calibrate nd evaluate individual-based models lske

Individual-based models (IBMs) can simulate the actions of individual animals as they interact with one another and the landscape in which they live. When used in spatially-explicit landscapes IBMs can show how populations change over time in response to management actions. For instance, IBMs are being used to design strategies of conservation and of the exploitation of fisheries, and for assessing the effects on populations of major construction projects and of novel agricultural chemicals. In such real world contexts, it becomes especially important to build IBMs in a principled fashion, and to approach calibration and evaluation systematically. We argue that insights from physiological and behavioural ecology offer a recipe for building realistic models, and that Approximate Bayesian Computation (ABC) is a promising technique for the calibration and evaluation of IBMs. IBMs are constructed primarily from knowledge about individuals. In ecological applications the relevant knowledge is found in physiological and behavioural ecology, and we approach these from an evolutionary perspective by taking into account how physiological and behavioural processes contribute to life histories, and how those life histories evolve. Evolutionary life history theory shows that, other things being equal, organisms should grow to sexual maturity as fast as possible, and then reproduce as fast as possible, while minimising per capita death rate. Physiological and behavioural ecology are largely built on these principles together with the laws of conservation of matter and energy. To complete construction of an IBM information is also needed on the effects of competitors, conspecifics and food scarcity; the maximum rates of ingestion, growth and reproduction, and life-history parameters. Using this knowledge about physiological and behavioural processes provides a principled way to build IBMs, but model parameters vary between species and are often difficult to measure. A common solution is to manually compare model outputs with observations from real landscapes and so to obtain parameters which produce acceptable fits of model to data. However, this procedure can be convoluted and lead to over-calibrated and thus inflexible models. Many formal statistical techniques are unsuitable for use with IBMs, but we argue that ABC offers a potential way forward. It can be used to calibrate and compare complex stochastic models and to assess the uncertainty in their predictions. We describe methods used to implement ABC in an accessible way and illustrate them with examples and discussion of recent studies. Although much progress has been made, theoretical issues remain, and some of these are outlined and discussed.
Combining Adaptive Filtering and Wavelet Techniques for Vibration Signal Enhancement

The condition monitoring and fault diagnosis of equipment is accomplished through the analysis and interpretation of signals acquired from sensors and transducers. However, any structure-borne vibration propagated through the neighboring structures will produce a background vibration in which the needed vibration signals for diagnosis are often submerged, in particular during the early stage of failure development. If the background noise level is too high or when the vibration signature level is too low, traditional techniques such as wavelet de-noising analysis could be ineffective in canceling the noise of such signals. In this article the combination of an adaptive signal enhancement and the wavelet transform for de-noising a vibration signal measured on a rolling contact bearing is presented. Two algorithms were used as the adaptive weight-control mechanism. The final aim of the adaptive filter was the minimization of the mean-square value of the error signal which implies the maximization of the output signal-to-noise ratio of the system. The results showed that the combination of the adaptive vibration signal enhancement and the wavelet transform yielded the best signalto-noise ratio. Therefore, the result can reveal hidden signal structures that are directly associated with a bearing’s internal defect.
Morphoquantitative description of bovine digital cushion1

Borges L.C. , Leonardo A.S. , Barreto-Vianna A.R. C. , Borges J.R. J., Castro M.B. & Lima E.M. M. 2015. Morphoquantitative description of bovine digital cushion. Pesquisa Veterinária Brasileira 35(7):671-676. Departamento de Anatomia Veterinária, Faculdade de Agronomia e Medicina Veterinária, Universidade de Brasília, ICC Ala Sul, Campus Darcy Ribeiro, Cx. Postal 4508, Brasília, DF 70760-701, Brazil. E-mail: limaemm@unb.br The digital cushion is characterized as a modified subcutaneous tissue that absorbs the shock during gait, assists venous return of the hoof and supports a considerable part of body weight. Digital cushions have particular importance in the pathogenesis of the hoof, since they need to properly work in order to prevent compression and traumas in soft tissues. This study aimed to measure and determine how is the arrangement of these structures, and for this it was established the proportions of connective, adipose, vascular tissues and collagen fibers and collagen types found in palmar and plantar digital cushion of bovine using fore and hindlimbs of twelve adult zebu cattle of both sexes, 11 male and one female, with 269kg average carcass weight and without limb disorders. Fragments of cushions were subjected to conventional histology, cut to a thickness of 4μm and stained with Red Picrosirius. With digital optical microscope, the quantification of the connective tissue and differentiation of types of collagen used the Image Pro Plus® software, and of adipose and vascular tissue, the test point system. The mean and standard error were estimated with the GraphPad Prism 5.0 software, and then data were subjected to Kolmogorov-Smirnov normality test and Student’s t-test with significance level set at 5% for determining the amount of different tissues between fore and hindlimbs of studied animals. In forelimbs the mean and standard error of the connective tissue proportion was 50.10%+1.54, of the adipose tissue was 21.34%+1.44, and of vascular tissue was 3.43%+0.28. Hindlimbs presented a proportion of connective tissue of 61.61%+1.47, 20.66%+1.53 of adipose tissue, and 3.06%+0.20 of vascular tissue. A significant difference (p<0.001) was detected in the connective tissue proportion between fore and hindlimbs. Types I and II collagen fibers have presented, respectively, a proportion of 31.89% and 3.9% in forelimbs and 34.05% and 1.78% in hindlimbs. According to the used methodology, digital cushions had a clear differentiation relative to adipose tissue between fore and hindlimbs.
Evaluating the Effects of Watershed Size on SWAT Calibration

The Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT) has been calibrated in many watersheds of various sizes and physiographic features. However, it is still unclear whether SWAT calibration parameters will produce satisfactory results if they are implemented in watersheds of different sizes. Evaluating the transferability of SWAT calibration parameters between watersheds of different sizes will provide insight into whether it is acceptable to calibrate SWAT in one watershed and apply the optimized parameters in different size watersheds by assuming both watersheds have similar physiographic properties. This study investigated the influence of watershed size on the SWAT model calibration parameters transferability between four watersheds (CCW = 680 km2, F34 = 183 km2, AXL = 42 km2, and ALG = 20 km2) located in Northeastern Indiana. The results show that calibrating SWAT at one size and applying the optimized parameters at different watershed sizes of similar physiographic features provided satisfactory simulation results. The size watershed at which SWAT was calibrated had little effect on streamflow predictions. Soluble nitrogen loss estimates were improved when calibration was performed at the larger CCW watershed while calibrating SWAT at the smaller AXL and ALG watersheds produced improved statistical indicator values (NSE, R2, and PBIAS) for soluble P and total P when applied to the larger CCW and F34 watersheds.
UROGENITAL Multiparametric dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging of prostate cancer

Objectives The aim of this study is to improve the accuracy of dynamic contrast-enhanced ultrasound (DCE-US) for prostate cancer (PCa) localization bymeans of amultiparametric approach. Materials and Methods Thirteen different parameters related to either perfusion or dispersion were extracted pixel-by-pixel from 45 DCE-US recordings in 19 patients referred for radical prostatectomy. Multiparametric maps were retrospectively produced using a Gaussian mixture model algorithm. These were subsequently evaluated on their pixel-wise performance in classifying 43 benign and 42 malignant histopathologically confirmed regions of interest, using a prostate-based leave-one-out procedure. Results The combination of the spatiotemporal correlation (r), mean transit time (μ), curve skewness (κ), and peak time (PT) yielded an accuracy of 81%± 11%, which was higher than the best performing single parameters: r (73%), μ (72%), and washin time (72%). The negative predictive value increased to 83%± 16% from 70%, 69% and 67%, respectively. Pixel inclusion based on the confidence level boosted these measures to 90% with half of the pixels excluded, but without disregarding any prostate or region. Conclusions Our results suggestmultiparametric DCE-US analysis might be a useful diagnostic tool for PCa, possibly supporting future targeting of biopsies or therapy. Application in other types of cancer can also be foreseen. Key points • DCE-US can be used to extract both perfusion and dispersion-related parameters. • Multiparametric DCE-US performs better in detecting PCa than single-parametric DCE-US. • Multiparametric DCE-US might become a useful tool for PCa localization.
Grape seed extract mitigates garlic-induced oxidative stress in rat spleen and plasma

Garlic is a commonly used spice in folk medicine which could also exert adverse health effects when given at high dosage. Grape seed extract (GSE) exhibit a variety of beneficial effects even when used at high dosage. In the present study, we evaluated the toxicity of high dosage garlic treatment on spleen and plasma as well as the protective effect of GSE. Rats were intraperitoneally injected with 5 g/kg bw crude garlic extract daily during one month and cotreated or not with GSE (500 mg/kg bw). Spleen and plasma antioxidant status were evaluated. Data confirmed that high dosage garlic induced plasma and spleen toxicity and a prooxidative state characterized by increased splenic and plasmatic malondialdehyde (MDA) and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities such as catalase (CAT), peroxidase (POD) and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Garlic also increased intracellular and plasmatic H2O2, but decreased free iron in spleen and increased it in plasma. Moreover, garlic increased ionizable calcium in spleen but decreased it in plasma. GSE either alone or in cotreatment with garlic, had just an opposite role or counteracted almost all garlic-induced deleterious effects to near control level. In conclusion, high dosage garlic induces a prooxidative state characterized by the Fenton reaction between H2O2 and free iron inducing tissue calcium repletion and GSE exerts real antioxidant properties and calcium depletion. Key words: Garlic, grape seed extract, spleen, plasma, oxidative stress, lipid peroxidation, protein carbonylation.
Unconventional Fano effect based spectrally selective absorption enhancement in graphene using plasmonic core-shell nanostructures

We present a design of multilayer core-shell nanostructures formed by introducing a dielectric gap shell layer between a silver core and a monolayer graphene shell for spectrally selective absorption enhancement in graphene based on an unconventional Fano effect. We demonstrate that this mechanism enables great flexibility in the choice of parameters of the proposed structures for the achievement of a relatively large and narrow-band absorption enhancement in graphene. Furthermore, we also demonstrate that such a spectrally selective absorption enhancement in graphene is highly tunable and can be optimized by controlling either the core or the shell parameters. These unique absorption properties may have applications in color-selective photodetectors and image sensors.
The Developmental Relevance of Tariff Rate Quotas as a Market Access Instrument: An Analysis of Swiss Agricultural Imports

At present there are 1425 tariff rate quotas (TRQs) notified by member countries to the World Trade Organization. TRQs were provided for in the Uruguay Round as a trade policy instrument to guarantee minimum market access for politically sensitive agricultural imports, and in some cases to continue managed trade regimes. This article evaluates the developmental relevance of TRQs and discusses how the various methods TRQ administration methods influence market access in Switzerland for agricultural products from developing countries. The findings show that existing TRQ management in Switzerland is complicated and lacks transparency. Further, the manner in which TRQs are administered results in high transaction costs, a situation that fails to liberate trade opportunities from rents and influences trade flows of the partner countries. Proposed reforms are establishment of a more efficient administrative mechanism, modalities to liberalize trade with TRQs through reduction of out-of-quota tariffs, and capacity building in developing countries; such reforms would maximize market access opportunities from a development perspective.
Expenditure Growth, Fiscal Sustainability and Pre-Funding Strategies in OECD Countries

OECD countries are ageing with resulting fiscal pressures. OECD countries can adopt a number of strategies in response, including modifying expenditure plans, increasing growth, raising taxes in the future or undertaking activities to pre-fund the future liabilities. The appropriate policy response for a country will depend on the particular circumstances facing the country. This paper focuses on the pre-funding option without wishing to imply the pre-funding is necessarily the best policy approach for all countries. We define pre-funding as increasing net financial assets which implies either reducing debt or increasing financial assets. We identify 15 OECD countries as having undertaken some pre-funding. This is a higher number than may be expected, partly due to the fact that primary budget balances are more useful indicators of debt dynamics than general government balances. Of the 15 countries we identify 8 as ‘strong pre funders’ which have a history of pre-funding and a forward looking pre-funding strategy. These are Belgium, Canada, Denmark, Finland, Luxembourg, New Zealand, Norway and Sweden. We identify 7 other countries with less aggressive pre-funding strategies as mild pre funders – Australia, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Korea, the Netherlands and Spain. The most striking characteristic of the strong pre funders is their high tax to GDP ratio – an average of 51.7 per cent of GDP compared to an average of 42.7 per cent of GDP for countries that do not pre-fund. The strong pre-funders also have slightly higher expected increases in pension expenditure (4.5 percentage points of GDP compared to an OECD average of 3.8 per cent). This difference is consistent with the view that higher welfare benefits are associated with tax smoothing at higher initial tax rates.
Metal-Binding Proteins and Trace Element Metabolism Iron and Copper Interactions in Development and the Effect on Pregnancy Outcome 1 , 2

During pregnancy, nutrients are transferred from mother to fetus across the placenta. The mechanisms whereby this occurs, and the adaptations that occur in response to deficiency or overload of iron (Fe) and copper (Cu) are examined in this review. Fe deficiency during pregnancy is common and has serious consequences both in the short and the long term such as fetal growth retardation and cardiovascular problems in the adult offspring. Similarly, Cu deficiency, although not so common, also has deleterious effects. The placenta minimizes the effect of the deficiency by up-regulating the proteins involved in Fe transfer. For example, transferrin receptor levels increase inversely to maternal Fe levels. Divalent metal transporter 1 (DMT1) mRNA in the iron-responsive element (IRE) regulated, but not the non-IRE regulated form is increased, as is the placenta Cu oxidase. Conversely, iron-regulated gene 1 (IREG1) expression is not affected. Fe deficiency increases Cu levels in maternal liver, serum and placenta, but has much less effect in the fetal serum and liver. Apart from maternal ceruloplasmin, mRNA levels of Cu-related proteins are not changed. The Cu oxidase, which we suggest fulfils the function of hephaestin in placenta, is regulated by Cu as well as by Fe. Fe deficiency also has marked effects on cytokine levels in the placenta. Tumor necrosis factor a (TNFa) and TNFa receptor 1 (TNFaR1) levels both increase. The data show that altering Fe status has a marked effect on metabolism of other metals and of other important mediators of cell function. This is particularly important during pregnancy, when the developing fetus is very vulnerable to inappropriate micronutrient status. J. Nutr. 133: 1554S–1556S, 2003.