Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sign and Quantiles of the Realized Stock-Bond Correlation

We scrutinize the monthly realized stock-bond correlation based upon high frequency returns. In particular, we use a probit model to track the dynamics of the sign of the correlation relative to its various economic forces. The sign is predictable to a large extent with bond market liquidity being the most important variable. Moreover, stock market volatility, inflation uncertainty, short rate volatility, and bond volatility have significant effects upon the sign. In addition, we use quantile regressions to pin down the systematic variation of the extreme tails of the realized stock-bond correlation over its economic determinants. We document that the correlation behaves di¤erently when it is large negative (0.10 quantile) as opposed to when it is large positive (0.90 quantile). Nevertheless, the empirical findings are only partially robust to using other, possibly less precise, measures of the stock-bond correlation.
Removal of Lead and Cadmium Ions From Aqueous Solutions Using Dried Marine Green Macroalga (Caulerpa racemosa)

In this study Caulerpa racemosa has been characterized and used for the removal of Cd(II) and Pb (II) from aqueous solutions. The effect of pH, adsorbent dosage, contact time and temperature on adsorption process was studied in batch experiments. Langmuir and Freundlich models were applied to describe the biosorption isotherm of the metal ions by C. racemosa biomass. The adsorption data can be well described by Langmuir isotherm. The monolayer biosorption capacity of C. racemosa biomass for Pb(II) and Cd(II) ions was found to be 34.5 mg/g and 29 mg/g, respectively. Kinetics data of both metal ions were best described by pseudo second order model.The thermodynamic studies indicated that the adsorption was spontaneous and exothermic in nature. The analysis with FTIR indicated that possible functional groups involved in metal sorption by this alga were O-H bending, N-H stretching, C-N stretching, C-O and S=O stretching.
A population shift view of cellular reprogramming

Cellular reprogramming can offer valuable insight into disease mechanism and has the potential to provide novel tools for regenerative medicine. Yet it remains an inefficient and often incomplete process. However, experiments show that almost all somatic cells eventually give rise to the pluripotent state, albeit at different latencies, as long as expression of reprogramming transcription factors is maintained. Furthermore, it appears that specific subpopulations of cells can be identified that show enhanced propensities to be reprogrammed to the pluripotent state. It has been proposed that an initial stochastic process is responsible for this initial priming that is followed by a deterministic process that directs the primed cells into the pluripotent state. Here, we propose a population shift view of cellular reprogramming, which explains these observations and reconciles the stochastic and deterministic nature of this process. According to this view, a small population of cells, whose states are closer to the pluripotent state and reside in pre-existing energetically favorable trajectories, will be initially selected for reprogramming. Moreover, by maintaining ectopic expression of reprogramming factors, other cells enter these pathways as a result of transcriptional and epigenetic stochastic variations. Consequently, increasing numbers of cells reach the pluripotent state, and the cell population distribution shifts toward this state. Importantly, additional perturbations can change the epigenetic landscape, allowing cells more access to the reprogramming trajectories, thereby increasing reprogramming efficiency. Knowledge of the initial cellular subpopulations and pathways of states that lead to the final cellular state should allow us to design alternative perturbation strategies to improve reprogramming efficiency and fidelity.
The Russian Urban System in Transition: The View of New Economic Geography

After the price liberalization in 1991, the Russian economy was faced with a jump of costs of transportation in real terms. New Economic Geography (NEG) gives answers to questions that are related to changes in transport costs. However, the outcomes of NEG models are very sensitive with respect to their basic assumptions. Using an alternative model framework including urban costs, it is shown that also increasing costs of freight transportation may give incentives to migration of skilled workers from remote, small urban units to central, large cities. Therefore, concentration of urban population should have been increased. But, one cannot expect that this process is reversible, if transportation costs are decreasing in the future due to improvements in the transportation sector. On the contrary, large agglomerations will then grow even more. Research questions are: What were the relations between urban growth and urban size in Russia during the transformation period? Are migration flows correlated to changes in concentration of urban population? In the empirical investigation, population figures 1993-2004 of all Russian cities and urban settlements have been used, together with geographical coordinates of all urban units. On the regional level, demographic data (natural growth, matrices of urban and rural migration, external migration) were available for the federal subjects of Russia. The peculiarities resulting from so called 'secret cities' have been considered. The empirical part of the paper contains two regression analyses using OLS method: firstly, urban size and geographical position are regressed on urban growth; secondly, migration volumes are regressed on changes in urban concentration. Urban-rural as well as rural-urban migration has been introduced into the statistical models as control variables. The main results of this analysis are: Firstly, urban growth in Russia is positively correlated to the initial size of cities and settlements as well as to their geographical position. Secondly, there is a link between increasing concentration of urban population and migration flows of urban dwellers who reside in different federal subjects of Russia. Although internal migration flows in the 1990ties and the early 2000s were relatively weak, they influenced urban concentration as NEG predicts. From the viewpoint of New Economic Geography, urban costs are an important factor that has strong dispersing effects. Therefore, to make use of the advantages of large agglomerations in Russia, it is required to improve the performance of the transportation sector, to diminish the costs of transportation between cities, as well as within cities.
The Comparison of Egg Composition from Different Strain of Boiler Breeders at 33 Weeks of age

The aim of this study was the comparative analysis of the chemical composition determined for Eggs (white, yolk) from Ross and Cobb hens at 33 weeks of age. Research has been organized in laboratory unit with different strain of hen. 180 eggs, provided by two broiler breeders flocks were used for this study. Half (90) of the eggs were collected from a commercial flock of Ross 308 broiler breeders flock (Ross,R) at 33 weeks of age and the other half (90) were from a commercial flock of Cobb 500 broiler breeders at 33 weeks (Cobb,C) of age. Egg, albumen and yolk weighted. weight albumin dry matter (ALBDM), albumin ash (ALBASH), albumin crude fat (ALBEE), albumin crude protein (ALBCP) were determined and albumin nitrogen free extract (ALBNFE) was calculated based on difference method(1). Yolk dry matters (YDM), yolk ash (YASH), yolk crude protein (YCP) were determined and yolk nitrogen free extract (RYNFE) was calculated based on difference method. Gross energy content of yolk and albumin was determined based on AOAC method by combustion method in adiabatic bomb. A completely randomized design was used in Experiment, with two treatments (breeder strain). There was no significant difference in egg weight (EW) of R breeder compared to eggs from C breeder (P>0.05). In this study although shell weight of the C group (10.22 g) was higher than that of R group (9.83 g) but there was no significant difference between two breeders (P>0.05). There was significant differences (P<0.05) between R and C group in Albumen and total egg energy content, this result may be due to this fact that C group had more CP and EE in their eggs so energy content of its increased in same manner.
IMPACT OF DIFFERENT FEED RESTRICTION SYSTEMS ON PROFILE ANALYSIS AND GROWTH CURVE OF BODY MASS INDEX IN BROILER

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of different feed restrictions on Body Mass Index (BMI) of Ross 308 broiler chickens. Two different statistical methods were used: profile analysis and growth curves. The weekly body weight and weekly body length of chickens was estimated from 2 nd week to 6 th week of age. Profile analysis was used to compare differences among the groups and the Gompertz growth function was applied to estimate the growth parameters. The group profiles were found parallel in terms of BMI also results revealed that the profiles are coincident, but when the power test was estimated results show that F = 127.99, Wilk’s Lambda = 0.007 with p-value=0.0002, which means that the differences were significant between the means of BMI across the weeks. According to our results, conclusion may be arising that the difference in BMI of the birds between weeks depends on feeding regime. In order to describe the growth curve of BMI, two statistical methods were used: simple linear regression and Gompertz function. Results obtained that Gompertz function was more fitting the data than linear regression. As there are no significant differences in BMI between groups, the restricted feeding may play an important role in profitability by decreasing the cost of breeding.
Livestock and climate change

Livestock are an important source of nourishment. Livestock products contribute 17% of calories and 33% of protein consumed globally. Consumption levels of milk and meat in the developed world are at least five times higher than in the developing world. However, in developing countries the demand for livestock products is rising rapidly, mainly due to increased human population and rapidly increasing incomes, mainly in Asia. Growth in poultry and pig production is projected to satisfy this demand, though growth in milk and beef production will be important in parts of Africa.
Fluid displacive resin embedding of laminated sediments: preserving trace metals for high‐resolution paleoclimate investigations

For the high‐resolution study of trace metal profiles in laminated anoxic sediments, a specially adapted method of resin embedding has been developed. Fluid displacement is the preferred means of sediment dehydration, offering optimum structural preservation and facilitating desalination. Exchanges of deionized water, acetone, and low‐viscosity resin are performed in an oxygen‐deficient atmosphere to maintain anoxia in the sediments. Analysis of the rinsing fluids indicates both efficient removal of brine salts and minimal dissolution of redox‐sensitive trace metals. This contrasts with oxic fluid displacement experiments, in which several metals appear to be removed from the solid phase during desalination. Laser Ablation‐Inductively Coupled Plasma‐Mass Spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) scanning of the embedded blocks shows that the adapted preparation viably preserves both the redox‐sensitive chemistry and physical structure of the sediment.
Information Compression Via the Matching and Unification of Patterns as a Unifying Principle in the Workings of Brains and Nervous Systems

This paper presents evidence for the idea that much of the workings of brains and nervous systems may be understood as compression of information via the matching and unification of patterns. Information compression can mean selective advantage for any creature: in the efficient storage and transmission of information; and, owing to the close connection between information compression and concepts of prediction and probability, in the making of predictions about where food may be found, potential dangers, and so on. Several aspects of our everyday perceptions and thinking may be seen as information compression. For example, many words in natural languages may be seen as relatively short identifiers or “codes” for relatively complex concepts. When viewing the world with two eyes, we see one view, not two. Random-dot stereograms provide confirmation that, in binocular vision, we do indeed merge information from our two eyes and thus compress it. Information compression may be seen in the workings of sensory units in the eye of Limulus, the horseshoe crab. Computer models demonstrate how information compression may be a key to the unsupervised discovery of grammars for natural language, including segmental structures (words and phrases), classes of structure, and abstract patterns. Information compression may be seen in the perceptual constancies, including size constancy, lightness constancy, and colour constancy. Mathematics, which is a product of the human intellect, may be seen to be a set of techniques for the compression ∗Dr Gerry Wolff BA (Cantab) PhD (Wales) CEng MIEEE MBCS; CognitionResearch.org, Menai Bridge, UK; jgw@cognitionresearch.org; +44 (0) 1248 712962; +44 (0) 7746 290775; Skype: gerry.wolff; Web: www.cognitionresearch.org.
β-glucans and probiotics

In the recent decades, several health-promoting features have been ascribed to β-glucans. Biological properties such as anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and immune-modulating activity have been claimed for these polysaccharides. Moreover, when β-glucans were used in association with probiotic bacteria, prebiotic effects have been demonstrated, due to their ability to enhance growth, metabolism and/or beneficial activities of probiotics. This review shall present an overview of those studies, which have documented the diverse health-benefits of β-glucans and their association with probiotics.
Mining the Model with the Hidden Transitions Based on Petri Net Probabilistic Behavioral Relations

In process mining, one of the major challenges is to find a process model in the best possible way through the describing observed behavior. The hidden transitions exist in the process models, but not found in the log sequence. This paper is based on the probabilistic behavioral relations from the incomplete log of the business process to mining the model with hidden transitions. First of all, according to the probabilistic behavioral relations obtained the relation of the modules, then calculate the probability of the sub module obtained the relation between the transitions, Based on this, constructing the process model with hidden transitions . Finally, analyzing the default transitions in the log sequence to determine the location of the hidden transitions, the method can effectively and quickly find the location of the hidden transitions.
Chemistry of massive young stellar objects with a disk-like structure

Aims: Our goal is to take an inventory of complex molecules in three well-known high-mass protostars for which disks or toroids have been claimed and to study the similarities and differences with a sample of massive young stellar objects (YSOs) without evidence of such flattened disk-like structures. With a disk-like geometry, UV radiation can escape more readily and potentially affect the ice and gas chemistry on hot-core scales. Methods: A partial submillimeter line survey, targeting CH$_{3}$OH, H$_{2}$CO, C$_{2}$H$_{5}$OH, HCOOCH$_{3}$, CH$_{3}$OCH$_{3}$, CH$_{3}$CN, HNCO, NH$_{2}$CHO, C$_{2}$H$_{5}$CN, CH$_{2}$CO, HCOOH, CH$_{3}$CHO, and CH$_{3}$CCH, was made toward three massive YSOs with disk-like structures, IRAS 20126+4104, IRAS 18089-1732, and G31.41+0.31. Rotation temperatures and column densities were determined by the rotation diagram method, as well as by independent spectral modeling. The molecular abundances were compared with previous observations of massive YSOs without evidence of any disk structure, targeting the same molecules with the same settings and using the same analysis method. Results: Consistent with previous studies, different complex organic species have different characteristic rotation temperatures and can be classified either as warm ({gt}100 K) or cold ({lt}100 K). The excitation temperatures and abundance ratios are similar from source to source and no significant difference can be established between the two source types. Acetone, CH$_{3}$COCH$_{3}$, is detected for the first time in G31.41+0.31 and IRAS 18089-1732. Temperatures and abundances derived from the two analysis methods generally agree within factors of a few. Conclusions: The lack of chemical differentiation between massive YSOs with and without observed disks suggest either that the chemical complexity is already fully established in the ices in the cold prestellar phase or that the material experiences similar physical conditions and UV exposure through outflow cavities during the short embedded lifetime. Appendices are available in electronic form at http://www.aanda. org
Running head : WORKGROUP CLIMATES AND CWBS Workgroup Climates and Employees ’ Counterproductive Work Behaviors : A Social-Cognitive Perspective

This research examines employees' anticipation of social and self-sanctions as a selfregulatory mechanism linking workgroup climates and counterproductive work behaviors (CWBs) and personality as a limit to these effects. A cross-level study with 158 employees from 26 workgroups demonstrated that in groups with a high compliance climate—a climate emphasizing the importance of complying with organizational rules—employees anticipate more social and self-sanctions, leading those low in conscientiousness and low in agreeableness to engage less frequently in CWBs. In contrast, a high relational climate—a climate emphasizing the importance of positive social relations over self-interest—indirectly unbridles the CWBs of these employees by alleviating the social and self-sanctions they anticipate for CWBs. Climates did not have indirect effects for employees high in agreeableness and high in conscientiousness. These findings elucidate why workgroup climates do not affect the CWBs of all members in the same way.
Birch shrub growth in the low Arctic: the relative importance of experimental warming, enhanced nutrient availability, snow depth and caribou exclusion

Deciduous shrub growth has increased across the Arctic simultaneously with recent climate warming trends. The reduction in albedo associated with shrub-induced ‘greening’ of the tundra is predicted to cause significant positive feedbacks to regional warming. Enhanced soil fertility arising from climate change is expected to be the primary mechanism driving shrub responses, yet our overall understanding of the relative importance of soil nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) availability and the significance of other ecological drivers is constrained by experiments with varying treatments, sites, and durations. We investigated dwarf birch apical stem growth responses to a wide range of ecological factors (enhanced summer temperatures, deepened snow, caribou exclusion, factorial high level nitrogen and phosphorus additions, and low level nitrogen additions) after six years of experimental manipulations in birch hummock tundra. As expected, birch apical stem growth was more strongly enhanced by the substantial increases in nutrient supply than by our changes in any of the other ecological factors. The factorial additions revealed that P availability was at least as important as that of N, and our low N additions demonstrated that growth was unresponsive to moderate increases in soil nitrogen alone. Experimental warming increased apical stem growth 2.5-fold—considerably more than in past studies—probably due to the relatively strong effect of our greenhouses on soil temperature. Together, these results have important implications for our understanding of the biogeochemical functioning of mesic tundra ecosystems as well as predicting their vegetation responses to climate change.
Occurrence and significance of Cenomanian belemnites in the lower Danubian Cretaceous Group (Bavaria, southern Germany)

The belemnite records of the lower Danubian Cretaceous Group (DCG, northeastern Bavaria, southern Germany) are compiled, taxonomically described and placed within the new integrated stratigraphic framework of the group. Three specimens from the lower Regensburg Formation (Saal Member) south of Regensburg can be assigned to Neohibolites cf. ultimus (d’Orbigny) and are dated as late Early Cenomanian ( Mantelliceras dixoni Zone). Eight specimens represent Praeactinocamax plenus (Blainville) and occur in an event ( plenus Event) in the lower Eibrunn Formation (Regensburg area) or basal Regensburg Formation (Roding area in the Bodenwohrer Senke). Biostratigraphy and carbon stable isotopes suggest that the belemnite horizon with P. plenus in the DCG has strictly the same chronostratigraphic position (mid-Late Cenomanian, middle Metoicoceras geslinianum Zone) as elsewhere in Central and NW Europe. The lithostratigraphic units of the lower Danubian Cretaceous Group (i.e., the Regensburg and Eibrunn formations), however, are characterized by a pronounced diachronism based on their time-transgressive (i.e., onlapping) deposition during the Cenomanian–Early Turonian transgression. The distribution of P. plenus around the Mid-European Island can be easily explained by migration around the positive area without the necessity of a marine strait across the Bohemian Massif.
The Perceived Role of Micro-Credit in Poverty Alleviation: The Case of South-South Nigeria

Gross market imperfection in resource mobilization, allocation and utilization exists in south-south Nigerian economy. This situation has given rise to dualistic tendencies in the operations of the rural and urban economies. The so called urban and semi-urban areas are seemingly developed better than the rural areas. Moreso, there is rural-urban migration that leaves the rural areas poorer and the urban areas filled with criminals because of lack of useful means of livelihood and over stretched facilities. Successive governments have evolved poverty alleviation programmes to alleviate the level of poverty. One of such among many others is the use of microcredit in poverty alleviation. However, the operations of microcredit have only been streamlined and not properly evaluated to assess its desired impact. Impact assessment of microcredit is highly recommended to know how to appropriately streamline operations.
Green Logistics Affecting the Involvement of Households in Recycling and Reuse of Plastics, Phnom Penh, Cambodia

The problem of waste is now a global one. Public and private sectors must cooperate to address the issue in order to solve the world’s limited resource and energy problem. Plastics are made from limited resource such as petroleum. Like other resources, therefore large advances could be made to recycle plastics wastes. The green and reverse logistics also provides business their bottom-line through good image as well as could reduce cost by using recyclable items form their own waste products. The study was undertaken with the objectives to: (1) study the present status of plastic waste management and the existing Phnom Penh household willingness and their influence factors to segregate plastics for recycling and reuse; (2) study how other cities encourage and obtained the participation of their population in plastics recycling and reuse and (3) recommend which policy the government should implement for plastic waste in Phnom Penh.