Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Perspectives on Submersed Macrophyte Invasions and Declines

ABSTRACT Invasions and declines of submersed macrophyte communities have been reported worldwide. In general, factors contributing to invasions are most poorly understood. Factors potentially contributing to macrophyte declines are numerous, and include reduced irradiance, nutrient depletion, parasites and pathogens, toxin accumulation, animal damage, climatic fluctuations, and other factors. Attention to these dynamics in submersed macrophyte communities is of more than academic interest, since coordination of macrophyte management policies and procedures with natural controls could improve the efficiency of macrophyte management efforts. Indeed, there is some evidence that intense management may prolong the dominance of invasive exotic submersed macrophyte species. As part of the International Symposium on the Biology and Management of Aquatic Plants, held in July 1992 in Daytona Beach, FL, a workshop was conducted to better understand invasion and decline phenomena, from a regional perspective, within .
Asset pricing through peer networks

We propose a framework that prices assets with respect to other assets and treat the excess return of every stock as a potential risk factor. In addition to the market, size or profitability premia, individual excess returns also carry a premium for their similarity with their peers. The peer risk premium manifests itself as a markup to fundamental factor loadings. Neglecting peer e ects results in mispricing and misinterpreting factor risk as idiosyncratic risk. We find statistical evidence that markets price firm similarities by scrutinizing the S&P100 constituents. The Fama-French residuals of the returns contain a non-idiosyncratic common factor, which vanishes upon inclusion of peer e ects. The model also produces a peer factor that withstands the five Fama-French factors.
Constructing Quality-Adjusted Price Index for a Hetrogeneous Oligopoly

Both the theory and practice of using hedonic regressions to remove quality effects in price indexes are implicitly developed for monopolistic competitive markets. In this paper, we theoretically and practically analyse the application of a standard hedonic regression for an oligopoly. In the theoretical work, we recast how for an oligopoly the standard hedonic regression may be unstable. Then in the empirical work, we recommend using the weighted imputation method for constructing an index and estimating separate hedonic regressions for market segments. We apply these recommendations to estimating a quality-adjusted price index for the Australian passenger vehicle market and find they make a substantial difference.
Monopolistic Competition and Public Good Provision with By-Product Firms

I develop a model in which the voluntary contributions mechanism for the provision of public goods totally breaks down in a large society. A by-product firm sells a private good and uses its profits to provide a public good. By-product firms compete with for-profit firms in a monopolistically competitive industry. If the number of by-product firms is proportional to the size of the society, then public good provision rises without bound as the society grows large. This stands in strong contrast to the results under the voluntary contributions mechanism.
Owning, Using and Renting: Some Simple Economics of the 'Sharing Economy'

New Internet-based markets enable consumer/owners to rent out their durable goods when not using them. Such markets are modeled to determine ownership, rental rates, quantities, and surplus generated. Both the short run, before consumers can revise their ownership decisions, and the long run, in which they can, are examined to assess how these markets change ownership and consumption. The analysis examines bringing-to-market costs, such as labor costs and transaction costs, and considers the operating platform’s pricing problem. A survey of consumers broadly supports the modeling assumptions employed. For example, ownership is determined by individuals’ forward-looking assessments of planned usage.
Perspective of the Aquaculture in Chile and Mexico, Productive Articulation Approach and Business Networks for International Development

World food production is a permanent challenge for humanity, particularly in reference to capture and the reproduction of marine species for human consumption such as fish, mollusks and algae, which they have diminished their wild population, affecting the production volumes for their commercialization. According to FAO for the year 2025, These organisms will have to be produced in controlled environments in the sea, bodies of water, lakes, lagoons, rivers and artificial ponds to satisfy the demand of the population nuclei and to lessen the effects of the food shortage. Chile and Mexico, are committed to this need to promote food sustainability, distribution and marketing of these products, both countries have been concerned over the last two decades for the permanent growth of aquaculture companies, leading to the creation of direct, indirect jobs, small complementary service companies, but above all, the improvement of human development of the population through the consumption of proteins.
The Influence of Specific Bacteria and a Filterable Agent on the Growth of Gnotobiotic Chicks

Growth depression was induced in chicks and a collection of aerobic and anaerobic bacteria was isolated from the crop and caecum. The collection of bacteria was tested in gnotobiotic chickens for its ability to depress growth with and without a bacteria-free faecal filtrate. None of the anaerobic bacteria depressed growth. Aerobic bacteria always depressed growth but only in the case of Streptococcus faecium was this statistically significant. The faecal filtrate also depressed growth. A statistically significant effect was obtained when faecal filtrate was combined with any of the following treatments: (a) the total collection of bacteria, (b) the aerobic group, (c) the anaerobic group, (d) Strep. faecalis var. liquefaciens, (e) Strep, faecium, (f) the unclassified streptococci, and (g) a group containing the lactobacilli and coliform organisms. The largest growth depression was obtained in chickens dosed with Strep, faecium and faecal filtrate.
Rôle des acides gras libres dans la sécrétion et l’action de l’insuline: mécanismes de la lipotoxicité

Le diabete de type 2 - maladie de l’homeostasie du glucose - est un probleme majeur de sante publique, qui se caracterise par deux anomalies majeures: une perturbation de la secretion des hormones pancreatiques (diminution quantitative et qualitative - phase precoce, pulsatilite - de la secretion d’insuline, augmentation de la secretion de glucagon), et une perturbation des effets de l’insuline sur ses tissus cibles (insulinoresistance). Les anomalies de l’action de l’insuline sur les tissus cibles se traduisent par une diminution du captage de glucose par les muscles et par une augmentation de la production hepatique de glucose. Elles sont liees a des defauts multiples dans les mecanismes de signalisation par le recepteur de l’insuline et dans des etapes regulatrices du metabolisme du glucose (transport, enzymes cles de la synthese de glycogene ou de l’oxydation mitochondriale du glucose). Ces defauts «post-recepteurs» sont amplifies par la presence d’une concentration augmentee d’acides gras libres. Les mecanismes impliques dans les effets «diabetogenes» des acides gras libres sont analyses dans cet article. En effet, les concentrations elevees d’acides gras libres plasmatiques contribuent a la diminution de l’utilisation musculaire de glucose (principalement par l’attenuation de la transmission du signal insulinique) et a l’augmentation de la production hepatique (stimulation de la neoglucogenese par l’apport de co-facteurs tels que l’acetyl-CoA, l’ATP et le NADH). L’exposition chronique a des concentrations elevees d’acides gras entraine une accumulation d’acyl-CoA dans les cellules β du pancreas qui se traduit par la disparition de 50% de ces cellules par apoptose (phenomene de lipotoxicite).
Assessment of Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) on the development of the World's Economy: Perspective of Africa, Asia and Europe

Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) is a crucial discipline which has unique features for development in the world’s economy. An economy that needs sustainable development has to be given sensitive attention to TVET. This research studied the world through three (3) selected continents namely Africa, Asia, and Europe to highlight the key patterns of TVET since its inception on the development of the world’s economy. This research adopted a case study approach to handle all specially selected continents into detailed case areas. Due to the large extent of the world, only secondary data (Published and Unpublished) were the main source of information for this research as in data collection. Importantly, a qualitative research approach was institutionalised in this research through content analysis as the main tool for data analysis. This research considered a study conducted by UNESCO (2013) on TVET as the main findings of this research as it illustrated all the characteristics of reforms that TVET systems in the world must hold to be successful in delivering TVET programmes through various means. Prominently, recommendations were sorted from an article written by Afeti (2017) on ‘The importance of TVET in Africa’s socio-economic development’ Additionally, other recommendations were gathered from TVET workshop dubbed ‘2nd Africa China World Bank Education Partnership Forum’ organised by World Bank Group in China at Ningbo Polytechnic on 2018.
Effect of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tagetis Infection on Sunflower Leaf Photosynthetic and Ascorbic Acid Relations1

Studies were conducted to assess the role of photosynthesis and dark respiration in maintaining daily foliar ascorbate levels. Seven‐day‐old sunflower plants were inoculated with a tagetitoxin‐producing or nontoxigenic (control) strain of Pseudomonas syringae pv. tagetis. After 10 d, tagetitoxin‐affected leaves were so severely chlorotic that they were white. Tagetitoxin‐affected leaves had 99% less chlorophyll per unit fresh mass than control plant leaves. Electron microscopy of sections of chlorotic (toxin‐affected) sunflower leaf cells revealed that leaf palisade and spongy parenchyma cells possessed few chloroplasts and that those present contained disorganized thylakoids and grana and no apparent starch grains. Rates of photosynthetic CO2 assimilation per unit leaf area in toxin‐affected leaves were significantly lower than in control leaves. Compared to leaves of the control plants, the leaves of toxin‐affected plants had significantly less free glucose, and less glucose was incorporated into sucrose and starch during the day. The parenchymatous cells of toxin‐affected leaves had well‐formed mitochondria with distinct internal membrane structure; however, dark respiration of the chlorotic sections of those leaves, monitored as dark CO2 evolution, was often significantly lower than in control leaves. Regardless of the time of day that leaves were sampled, the chlorotic leaves of toxin‐affected plants had significantly lower levels of ascorbic acid than was detected in the control plant leaves. Thus, the study implied that carbohydrate products of photosynthetic CO2 assimilation such as glucose along with one or more functions of mitochondrial respiration were required for the synthesis of normal levels of ascorbic acid in green leaves. Further, the chlorotic sections of leaves of the toxin‐affected sunflower plants often displayed the ability to maintain a range of 64% to 90% of the total foliar ascorbic acid present in the reduced form, even when the toxin‐affected sunflower plants were exposed to elevated ozone levels (58 μL L−1 air) for 16 d. This observation indicates that the recycling of DHA to ASC by the ascorbate‐glutathione cycle enzyme system remains functional in toxin‐affected leaves when exposed to ozone‐mediated oxidative stress.
STUDIES IN PROTOPLASM POISONING

1. After equilibrium of distribution of a phenol between water and an animal immersed in it has been once attained, the poisoning of the animal proceeds with constant velocity. The criterion of toxicity adopted in the first part of this study was the time required for initial recovery from paralysis after a given time in the phenol solution. In later work observations were made of the percentages of animals which died after stated periods in a phenol solution. 2. The numerical value of the velocity constant of poisoning for a given solution is independent of the criterion of toxicity adopted, provided that the criterion serves to measure the intensity of effect of the poison, and not merely the rate at which the poison is absorbed. 3. Recovery from paralysis produced by phenol and death from this poison has the same velocity constant. From this it may be inferred that recovery is due to a reversal of the mechanism which underlies poisoning. 4. The velocity of poisoning by phenols is nearly proportional to the square of the concentration. 5. A strictly chemical (mass law) interpretation is shown to be inadequate for the description of poisoning by phenols. 6. Certain physical factors, involved in poisoning by phenols, are discussed. 7. A precise method for obtaining the velocity constant of poisoning by a given agent is outlined.
Vertical stratification of rainforest collembolan (Collembola: Insecta) assemblages: description of ecological patterns and hypotheses concerning their generation

We describe a complex vertical stratification of collembolan assemblages from rainforest leaf litter samples and identify distinct assemblages associated with forest floor, lower canopy and upper canopy samples. Leaf litter samples were collected from the forest floor and deposits of leaf litter suspended in epiphytes in the canopy of a subtropical rainforest site at Lamington National Park in southeast Queensland. The patterns of relationship among assemblages of Collembola extracted from these samples were examined using a variety of analyses of a matrix of similarities between samples. The results of ANOSIM analyses showed that forest floor, lower canopy and tipper canopy samples formed discrete groups. These results permit a discussion of these groups as three distinct collembolan assemblages. Analysis of the dissimilarities between these assemblages revealed a gradient of similarity from the forest floor through the lower to the upper canopy. This gradient represents a more complex vertical stratification than has previously been identified in rainforest canopy arthropods. We suggest that limitations on the dispersal of some forest floor species into the canopy may be responsible for this pattern. We also identify a second gradient of similarities among these assemblages. We show that dissimilarity among samples from forest floor is significantly lower than dissimilarity among samples from within the lower canopy, and that the level of dissimilarity between samples from within the upper canopy is significantly higher again. We suggest that dispersal barriers and higher probabilities of extinction in upper canopy collembolan colonies may be responsible for higher heterogeneity of species composition and abundance among samples from the upper canopy. We outline a number of testable hypotheses aimed at determining the importance of these processes in producing the patterns we have observed.
Quality Characteristics of Yanggaeng Added with Blueberry Powder

대진대학교 식품영양학과The objective of this study was to assess the quality characteristics of yanggaeng prepared with different ratios of blueberry powder: 0%, 3%, 6%, and 9%. The moisture content of the control yanggaeng was lower than that of any other blueberry added groups. The pH decreased while the titratable acidity and the Brix increased as the amount of blueberry powder increased. The lightness (L) and yellowness (b) were the highest while the redness (a) was the lowest in the controls. Texture profile analysis showed that the hardness of the added groups were higher than that of the control which were the lowest. The total polyphenol content and DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) radical scavenging activity increased as the amount of blueberry powder increased. The results of consumer acceptance test revealed that the color preference was the highest in the 9% added group while the smell, taste, texture and the overall acceptability showed no significant differences groups. Based on these results, it is suggested that yanggaeng with up to 9% added blueberry powder can be developed as products without adverse effects on sensory characteristics. Key wordsBlueberry, yanggaeng, color, texture, antioxidant activity
Factors in habitat partitioning in Pseudotropheus aurora (Pisces: Cichlidae), an introduced species to a species-rich community of Lake Malawi

The territorial behaviour of a small rock-dwelling cichlid, Pseudotropheus aurora, was studied at Thumbi Island West at the southern end of Lake Malawi. P. aurora is one of several species that have been introduced to an already diverse fish community. Many of the endemic and introduced species are highly territorial. The coexistence of an introduced territorial species within a speciesrich community of other territorial species is examined. Territories from which P. aurora individuals were removed were invariably re-occupied by conspecifics. Similarly, when all territories of a certain area were emptied of all territory owners of any existing species, the former P. aurora territories were re-occupied by conspecifics. The possible roles of site specificity, competitive exclusion and behaviourally transmitted traditions regarding territories are discussed.
Uncertainty, Investment Spikes, and Leverage Adjustments

We study the effects of uncertainty on corporate leverage adjustments with respect to investment spikes and find that overlevered and underlevered firms behave very differently in response to the combination of uncertainty and investment spikes. Overlevered firms facing high uncertainty converge to their targets substantially faster, whereas their counterparts facing low uncertainty tend to deviate from their targets. However, underlevered firms facing low uncertainty fully adjust to their targets, while underlevered firms facing high uncertainty adjust their leverage more slowly. We find that real options and transitory debt are channels that can account for various aspects of these leverage dynamics.
Testing for the Robustness of Okun’s Law With Breakpoint Analysis: Evidence From Korea

This study re-evaluated Okun’s law by applying breakpoint analysis; concerning this, the study analyzed six models including the first differenced, modified, and gap models. Empirical evidence reveals that models without breakpoints support the proposition of the conventional Okun’s law, even though the estimated Okun’s coefficients do not match up to the expected values. A few models with breakpoints also support Okun’s law at all the breakpoints. Apparently, the robustness of Okun’s law has been demonstrated in the Korean economy. However, the signs of Okun’s coefficients have been mixed in the gap model since the 2000s. Such changes provide robust evidence that Okun’s law has been weak since the 2000s. Therefore, Okun’s law may not hold if it discusses the potential real GDP and full employment. Taken together, it can be said that the effectiveness of an employment policy based on the manipulation of the national income level may be questionable in the Korean economy. Particularly, when the policy, potential real GDP, and full employment are interrelated, it has to be elaborately established to maximize the effectiveness of the policy.
Enzyme supplements in broiler chicken diets: in vitro and in vivo effects on bacterial growth

Increasing the growth performance of broiler chickens by supplementing their diets with exogenous enzymes can also contribute to positive changes in gut health. In this respect the growth of various bacteria normally associated with the gastrointestinal tract of poultry was assessed in vitro using a medium containing arabinoxylan, β-glucan, guar gum and raffinose and their corresponding enzymes. Overall, enzymes releasing the largest amounts of free sugars yielded the largest increase in bacterial numbers. Accordingly, β-glucan and raffinose treated with their respective enzymes promoted the largest number of bacterial types, reaching a minimum of 1.0 log10 population within 6 h at 40 °C. A broiler chicken growth trial was also conducted using wheat-, barley- and corn-based diets with and without enzyme and probiotic addition. Escherichia coli, coliforms, enterococci and aerobic and anaerobic sporeformers were monitored for growth in both the caecum and ileum. Enzyme supplementation reduced E. coli levels in the caecum of broilers fed wheat- or corn-based diets. A further reduction in E. coli numbers was observed in broilers fed the same diets supplemented with a combination of enzyme and probiotic. Enzyme supplementation had much less of an effect on microbial populations in the ileum. Inclusion of probiotics reduced E. coli levels in the caecum and ileum but only in broilers fed wheat- and corn-based diets. Anaerobic spore levels in the ileum increased in all diets containing probiotic. Overall, inclusion of enzymes or probiotics exhibited mixed effects on gut bacteria, depending on the nature of the carbohydrate source and enzyme. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry
Host specificity of Janczewskia (Ceramiales, Rhodophyta)

Abstract Infectivity of Janczewskia morimotoi was tested on fifteen species representing six genera of the Rhodomelaceae. Only Laurencia okamurae and L. gardneri supported growth of J. morimotoi equivalent to that on its natural host, L. nipponica. About 20% of the J. morimotoi plants grew to reproductive maturity on L. subopposita, but in approximately 60% of the instances where penetration occurred, growth of the parasite stopped at an early unbranched stage. Direct penetrations by intact rhizoids into host cells was observed frequently in L. subopposita. In the presence of L. snyderae or Amansia glomerata, J. morimotoi showed polysiphonous growth, but did not grow on or penetrate into either. When J. morimotoi was cultured in the presence of either species for 2 mo and then removed to fresh host-free medium, growth to reproductive maturity occurred after 7–10 mo. When L. pacifica and Polysiphonia pacifica were cultured together, J. morimotoi penetrated L. pacifica and became reproductively mature in 1 .
Knowing Your Customer: Empirical Implications for Raising Capital through Initial Coin Offerings (ICOs)

Major legal jurisdictions like the European Union (EU), Switzerland and the US took a stricter stance on ICOs in the period 2017-2018 by imposing anti-money laundering (AML) provisions and know-your-customer (KYC) requirements on ICOs. Shortly after that, a sharp decrease in the number of ICOs was registered. Moreover, this study provides empirical evidence of a negative impact of the introduction of KYC procedure on the amount of raised capital in ICOs. Furthermore, the fundraising impact of additional ICO characteristics like duration, team, vision, rating, and location is also studied in the paper. The study is based on a multivariate regressional analysis of an international sample of 855 ICOs in the period 2015 – September 2019. The paper concludes that introducing a KYC requirement crowds out anonymous (presumably delinquent) investors at the cost of the raised capital. At the same time, the stricter legislation enhances the establishment of a level-playing field for all tokenized financing instruments such as ICOs, security token offerings (STOs) and initial digital offerings (IDOs) thus putting the end of the “gold rush” of the ICOs.