Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Wheelbarrows full of frogs: social learning in rural resource management : international research and reflections

Standing in contrast to technological interventions and economics, ‘social learning’ reflects the idea that the shared learning of interdependent stakeholders is a key mechanism for arriving at more desirable solutions to complex problems in rural environments. Degradation of natural resources, vulnerability of agricultural systems, fragile institutions and rural poverty are but some of the interconnected challenges to which new answers must be found. Recognising that such predicaments are anthropogenic, social learning is a ‘third way of getting things done’ based on interactive problem solving, conflict resolution, shared learning, convergence of goals, concerted action and the like. The idea of social learning has become a ‘praxiology’: a theory that informs (intervention) practice. In characterising the process of social learning, Professor Niels Roling has frequently drawn upon the Dutch metaphor ‘wheelbarrows full of frogs’. The balancing act of keeping all frogs (multiple stakeholders) inside a wheelbarrow (a platform for social learning), while manoeuvring across potentially difficult terrain (rural resource management dilemmas), is a challenge demanding engagement, presence of mind, flexibility and stability (from facilitators, negotiators, evaluators, etc.). A fitting title of a book with contributions from leaders in the field, offering different perspectives and challenges for future research and practice.
Structural dissection of human translation elongation factor 1Bγ (eEF1Bγ): expression of full-length protein and its truncated forms

Aim. To gain more insights into properties of the human translation elongation factor eEF1B and its interaction with partners we intended to produce the full-length protein and its truncated forms. Methods. cDNAs encoding truncated forms of eEF1B were generated by PCR amplification with respective primers and cloned into vectors providing polyhistidine, glutathione S-transferase or maltose binding protein tags. The recombinant proteins were expressed in Escherichia coli and purified by affinity chromatography. An aggregation state of the proteins was analyzed by analytical gel filtration. Results. The expression, purification and storage conditions for the full-length recombinant His-eEF1B were optimized. Several truncated forms of eEF1B were also expressed and purified to homogeneity. Two short variants of C-terminal domain comprising amino acids 264–437 or 229–437 were obtained in monomeric state. Two short variants of N-terminal domain comprising amino acids 1–33 or 1–228, fused with glutathione S-transferase, were obtained and estimated to be dimers by gel filtration. The mutants of N-terminal domain comprising amino acids 1–92 or 1–163, fused with maltose binding protein, were obtained as soluble high molecular weight aggregates only. Conclusions. The purified recombinant HiseEF1B and several truncated forms of the protein were obtained and characterized. These protein variants will be used for further studies on the protein-protein interaction.
Causes and Outcomes of Respiratory Distress in Neonates Hospitalized in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of Be’sat Hospital in Hamadan, Iran

Background Neonatal respiratory distress is one the most common problems in the first few day of neonatal life. The present study intended to determine the frequency of the causes and outcomes of respiratory distress in neonates hospitalized in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Hamadan city, Iran. Materials and Methods In this descriptive and cross-sectional study, all the neonates with respiratory distress (RD), who were hospitalized in the NICU of Be’sat Hospital in Hamedan city, Iran, during 2014 to 2015, entered the study. The required demographic information was extracted from patients’ dossiers. The collected data were analyzed using SPSS version 16.0. Results The mean neonatal age upon admission, mean gestational age and mean birth weight were 5.22±7.18 days, 36.58±3.54 weeks and 2743.9±727.9 grams, respectively. According to the results, intercostal retraction (75.3%), tachypnea (67.7%), and grunting (61.3%) were the most common symptoms of neonatal respiratory distress (NRD), while respiratory distress syndrome (RDS) (36.6%), pneumonia (30.1%), and transient tachypnea of the newborn (TTN) (%14), were the most common causes of respiratory distress. Furthermore, about 19.3% of the neonates died of the disease. The results of logistic regression for the independent risk factors associated with RD outcomes showed that the death rate of neonates with RD had a significant correlation with respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation (odds ratio[OR]: 33.49, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.95-161.38), and incidence of apnea (OR: 5.87, 95% CI: 1.072-32.167). Conclusion It was found that RDS is the most common cause of respiratory distress in the hospitalized neonates. Moreover, infant mortality rate increased due to respiratory failure requiring mechanical ventilation and occurrence of apnea.
Next generation of deformation models for the 2004 M9 Sumatra‐Andaman earthquake

The 2004 M9 Sumatra‐Andaman Earthquake (SAE) ruptured the interface separating the subducting Indo‐Australian plate from the overriding Burma plate. We construct finite element models (FEMs) that simulate deformation of the earthquake for a three‐dimensional problem domain partitioned to account for the distribution of material properties of the subducting slab, forearc, volcanic arc, and backarc. We demonstrate a protocol‐based approach for simulating coseismic deformation, in which FEMs are implemented in inverse models to estimate the fault‐slip distribution of the SAE while simultaneously honoring the geologic complexity of the subduction zone. Results suggest that deformation prediction sensitivities attributed to neglecting the different material properties of the subduction zone can be more than an order of magnitude greater than reported uncertainties for near‐field GPS measurements. The FEM‐based techniques presented here allow for geologically satisfying deformation models that will advance the reliability of modeling‐based assessments of coseismic and postseismic deformation, stress‐coupling, and tsunami genesis.
Feral pigeons in urban environments: dietary flexibility and enzymatic digestion?

La paloma domestica, originaria de Europa, esta distribuida alrededor del mundo. Estas aves granivoras colonizan zonas urbanas donde granos y semillas no estan disponibles todo el ano, por lo que deben explotar recursos con una composicion quimica diferente, (e.g., ricos en proteinas). Entonces, estas aves debieran poseer la capacidad de sobrevivir con una dieta proteica, utilizando una maquinaria bioquimica digestiva adecuada. Se han propuesto dos hipotesis, una funcional y otra filogenetica, para explicar la flexibilidad dietaria y la labilidad de las enzimas intestinales en aves. Los Paseriformes estudiados al momento muestran una correlacion positiva entre N-aminopeptidasa y las proteinas de la dieta, aunque esto no es aparente para las carbohidrasas intestinales. Por el contrario, todas las especies no-paseriformes estudiadas modulan las carbohidrasas intestinales, pero no las peptidasas. A su vez se pueden representar diferentes escenarios como producto de la filogenia, por ejemplo, agregando limitaciones a patrones de labilidad o directamente determinandolos (e.g., la modulacion de las disacaridasas en Galloanserae y la modulacion de las peptidasas en Paseriformes. Por esto, sometimos a prueba que las palomas ajustan la actividad de las enzimas digestivas de acuerdo al nivel de su respectivo sustrato (carbohidratos o proteinas) en la dieta. Dos grupos de palomas fueron alimentadas 15 dias con dietas diferentes, una rica en proteinas y pobre en almidon (HP) y otra rica en almidon y pobre en proteinas (HS). Las palomas alimentadas con HP sobrevivieron sin suplementos dietarios adicionales. Las enzimas pancreaticas fueron iguales entre tratamientos. Las palomas alimentadas con HP exhibieron una actividad de N-aminopeptidasa mayor que la de HS, mientras que las carbohidrasas fueron iguales entre dietas. Estos resultados dan soporte a la hipotesis funcional, pero tambien, son insuficientes para rechazar que la labilidad de la proteasa intestinal constituye un efecto filogenetico, ya que estas aves constituyen un grupo cercano a los Passeriformes. En sintesis, las palomas poseen la capacidad de utilizar las proteinas debido a que poseen una actividad proteasica pancreatica adecuada y modulan la N-aminopeptidasa. Estas caracteristicas permiten que las palomas domesticas aprovechen efectivamente alimentos que ofrecen las ciudades y sobrevivan aun cuando la disponibilidad de granos sea escasa
A Novel Measurement of Speed in Early Internationalization of New Ventures

This study offers a novel approach in conceptualizing and measuring the internationalization speed of new ventures. International entrepreneurship literature deals extensively with the internationalization speed of new ventures; yet, there is not an agreed upon conceptualization of speed. Majority of studies operationalize speed as the time it takes from inception to make the first international activity. However, we know from Physics, speed is equal to distance divided by time. So, current perspective in internationalization literature misses the distance dimension. As a main contribution of this study, we calculate speed in terms of distance and time by using CAGE distance framework with gravity model, investigate the antecedents of this new speed calculation for international new ventures and compare results with the traditional speed measure of time only. Results indicate new speed measurement is more reliable and valid.
The influence of privatization on occupational wages

This paper uses individual worker and municipal information to examine privatization's influence on the wages of thirteen occupations. Findings reveal that the group of relatively low-skill content occupations comprising bus drivers and construction laborers receive a wage premium in the absence of privatization, and privatization is associated with an erosion of this premium. In contrast, the group of relatively high-skill content occupations comprising physicians and lawyers receive a non-trivial public sector discount in the absence of privatization and only the wage differential of physicians erodes with increased privatization. However, physician's public sector discount does not erode when estimating privatization's influence on this occupation's weekly earnings.
Who Studies MOOCs? Interdisciplinarity in MOOC Research and Its Changes over Time.

The complexity of digital and online education is becoming increasingly evident in the context of research into networked learning/participation. Interdisciplinary research is often proposed as a way to address complex scientific problems and enable researchers to bring novel perspectives into a field other than their own. The degree to which research on Massive Open Online Courses (MOOCs) is interdisciplinary is unknown. We apply descriptive and inferential statistics to bibliometric data to investigate interdisciplinarity in MOOC research. Results show that MOOC research published in 2013-2015 was (a) mostly conducted by researchers affiliated with Education and Computer Science disciplines, (b) far from monolithic, (c) had a greater representation of authors from Computer Science than in the past, and (d) showed a trend toward being more interdisciplinary than MOOC research published in 2008-2012. Our results also suggest that empirical research on xMOOCs may be more interdisciplinary than research on cMOOCs. Greater interdisciplinarity in xMOOC research could reflect the burgeoning interest in the field, the general familiarity with the xMOOC pedagogical model, and the hype experienced by xMOOCs. Greater interdisciplinarity in the field may also provide researchers with rich opportunities to improve our understanding and practice of digital and online learning.
Análise e simulação do controlador MPC-AW-LMI aplicado ao conversor CCTE operando em condições de saturação no sinal de controle

— This paper proposes a model predictive control with anti-windup (AW) atuator optimized via linear matrix inequalities (LMIs) approach applied to three state switching cell (3SSC) boost converter operating in saturation mode. This work are shown a state space converter model, besides the proposition and test of MPC- AW-LMI control strategy applied to numerical model of converter and compared with MPC-LMI control existent in literature. The results presented this study proof the eﬃciency of proposed technique. Furthermore, this work show the possibility of novels contributions of control strategy propositions toguether with the experimental analysis to future works related. estrat´egias de controle MPC-AW-LMI e testadas em um modelo num´erico e comparadas no modo saturado com o controlador MPC-LMI j´a existente em literatura. Os resultados mostrados neste estudo comprovam a eﬁc´acia da t´ecnica, al´em de apresentar propostas de novas contribui¸c˜oes visando uma an´alise experimental do sistema para trabalhos futuros. Palavras-chave— MPC-AW-LMI robusto oﬄine, otimiza¸c˜ao LMI, Sistemas Lineares Variantes no Tempo, Conversor Boost CCTE
Occasional Interventions to Target Rates

This paper develops a model of central-bank intervention based upon a policy characteristic of foreign-exchange interventions by the United States, Germany, and Japan in the late 1980s and evaluates it empirically. Central bankers intervene with greater intensity as rates deviate from target levels but they also try to stabilize rates around current levels. The model is estimated using exchange rates and data based upon observed central-bank interventions. Interestingly, the estimates of the model are consistent with the predictions of the theoretical model for both the deutsche-mark/dollar rate and, less strongly, for the yen/dollar rate. Copyright 1995 by American Economic Association.
Cropping Systems and Climate Change in Humid Subtropical Environments

In the future, climate change will challenge food security by threatening crop production. Humid subtropical regions play an important role in global food security, with crop rotations often including wheat (winter crop) and soybean and maize (summer crops). Over the last 30 years, the humid subtropics in the Northern Hemisphere have experienced a stronger warming trend than in the Southern Hemisphere, and the trend is projected to continue throughout the mid- and end of century. Past rainfall trends range, from increases up to 4% per decade in Southeast China to −3% decadal decline in East Australia; a similar trend is projected in the future. Climate change impact studies suggest that by the middle and end of the century, wheat yields may not change, or they will increase up to 17%. Soybean yields will increase between 3% and 41%, while maize yields will increase by 30% or decline by −40%. These wide-ranging climate change impacts are partly due to the region-specific projections, but also due to different global climate models, climate change scenarios, single-model uncertainties, and cropping system assumptions, making it difficult to make conclusions from these impact studies and develop adaptation strategies. Additionally, most of the crop models used in these studies do not include major common stresses in this environment, such as heat, frost, excess water, pests, and diseases. Standard protocols and impact assessments across the humid subtropical regions are needed to understand climate change impacts and prepare for adaptation strategies.
Implementation of an Intelligent TargetClassifier with Bicoherence Feature Set

This paper examines the feasibility of bispectral analysing of acoustic signals emanated from underwater targets, for the purpose of classification. Higher order analysis, especially bispectral analysis has been widely used to analyse signals when non-Gaussianity and non-linearity are involved. Bicoherence, which is a normalized form of bispectrum, has been used to extract source specific features, which is finally fed to a neural network classifier. Vector quantization has been used to reduce the dimensionality of the feature set, thereby reducing computational costs. Simulations were carried out with linear, tan and log-sigmoid transfer functions and also with different code book sizes. It is found that the bicoherence feature set can provide acceptable levels of classification accuracy with a properly trained neural network classifier.
Formation and characterization of struvite crystals grown through gel-growth technique in gelatin

Magnesium ammonium phosphate (MgNH4PO4.6H2O) which is commercially known as struvite is one of the most fascinating fertilizers which has attracted significant attention of the researchers due to its high possibility of occurrence in vast variety of environments. Struvite crystals were also found as urinary calculi in both animals and humans kidneys. Struvite crystals were grown in gelatin employing both double and single diffusion technique in order to simulate the real conditions of kidney in vitro. Struvite crystals within the size range of 0.1 mm to 2.5 mm were grown with different operational conditions and completely characterized. The combination of FT-IR and EDX plus SEM tests proved the harvested crystals are struvite crystals. Comprehensive comparison between the produced crystals revealed that the crystals resulted from double diffusion tests are bigger and their number density also outnumbers that of crystals produced with the single diffusion technique.
ESTIMATION OF RED CLOVER ( Trifolium pratense L . ) FORAGE QUALITY PARAMETERS DEPENDING ON THE STAGE OF GROWTH

The objective of this study was to investigate the changes that take place in nutrient values of red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) cv K-27 at different stages of growth in the second and the third cut. The samples from different stages of growth: mid-bud stage, around 60% flowering and full flowering were investigated for crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), digestible dry matter (DDM), dry matter intake (DMI), relative feed value (RFV), total digestible nutrients (TDN), net energy-lactation (NEl), net energy-maintenance (NEm) and net energy-gain (NEg) content. Higher content of crude protein was found in the third cut (262.1 g kg of DM) than in the second cut (260.8 g kg of DM) in the first stage of development. TDN, DDM, DMI, RFV, NEl, NEm and NEg were calculated according to the appropriate equations adapted from common formulas for forages. The stage of plant development has a significant influence on the chemical composition and the relative feed value of red clover. The achieved results show that adequate maturity stage for cutting might be at mid-bloom stage, when crude protein content, NEl, NEm and NEg content are high.
Effect of feathering alleles (K/k+) on laying performance, hatchability parameters and some body measurements in two lines of white plymouth rock hens

The study aimed to investigate the effects of sex - linked feathering alleles on laying performance, hatchability parameters and body measurements in hens from two White Plymouth Rock lines (line L and line K) used as maternal lines in broiler production. Four groups of 18-week-old hens were formed, two of each line, with genotype K/W (slow feathering) and k+/W (rapid feathering) respectively. Groups of line L included 72 hens divided into 6 boxes with 1 rooster per 12 hens, whereas line K groups comprised 96 hens of each genotype, housed in 8 boxes with one rooster per 12 hens, totally 192 birds. The K locus alleles had no significant effect on egg production traits (p>0.05). The presence of slow feathering allele resulted in lower fertility and hatchability of set eggs in both studied lines (p<0.05). A substantial effect of feathering rate alleles was observed with respect to the egg shape index (p<0.05), eggshell thickness (p<0.001) and albumen index (p<0.05). The presence of the slow feathering allele resulted in lower live body weight of birds from line K at the age of 36 weeks (p<0.05), but in longer thighs (p<0.01) and metatarsi (p<0.001) in both lines. The selection for creation of slow feathering lines for feather sexing purposes should take into consideration the effect of the K gene on studied traits.
Using All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Group to Identify Cost- Management Targets

Background: Evaluate patterns in existing cost data for patients with respiratory illness managed in a large academic Pediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU), with the goal to identify targets for potential cost-management strategies. Methods: Retrospective, observational study of patients admitted to a 34-bed multidisciplinary PICU from October 2011 to September 2012. Study design: Variable direct costs (VDC) for each All Patient Refined Diagnosis Related Group (APR DRG) were obtained from the Decision Support Group and detailed analysis was performed for top respiratory APR DRGs. Results: During the study period, 1,999 patients were admitted to the PICU equating to 17,053 PICU days. Medical critical care patients accounted for 54% of all admissions and 46% PICU days. The top 5 respiratory-related APR DRGs accounted for almost 45% of all PICU medical admissions. Non-asthma respiratory-related APR DRGs accounted for 23% of medical admission and 18% of medical PICU days. Of the total VDC for this subgroup, 54% and 20% was attributed to nursing and respiratory care respectively, with a significant minority (<10% ) on pharmacy and laboratory services. Further analysis of the VDC for respiratory care indicated one-third of all costs are incurred for pulmonary hygiene care, another third for delivery of bronchodilator therapy, and just 16.4% for mechanical ventilation. Conclusion: Analysis of VDC in context of APR DRG can indicate areas for potential cost management strategies. A high percentage of respiratory care costs accounted for pulmonary clearance interventions. This type of cost analysis may identify potential targets for cost-management interventions in various PICU populations.
Quantum Hall Phases of two-component bosons

The recent production of synthetic magnetic fields acting on electroneutral particles, like atoms or photons, has boosted the interest in the quantum Hall physics of bosons. Adding pseudospin-1/2 to the bosons greatly enriches the scenario, as it allows them to form an interacting integer quantum Hall (IQH) phase with no fermionic counterpart. Here we show that, for a small two-component Bose gas on a disk, the complete strongly correlated regime, extending from the integer phase at filling factor $\nu=2$ to the Halperin phase at filling factor $\nu=2/3$, is well described by composite fermionization of the bosons. Moreover we study the edge excitations of the IQH state, which, in agreement with expectations from topological field theory, are found to consist of forward-moving charge excitations and backward-moving spin excitations. Finally, we demonstrate how pair-correlation functions allow one to experimentally distinguish the IQH state from competing states, like non-Abelian spin singlet (NASS) states.