Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Option-Based Risk Aversion Indicators for Predicting Currency Crises in Emerging Markets

Currency crises generally coincide with periods in which risk aversion increases. Option prices can be used to extract information about risk aversion in a forward-looking way. With this advantage in mind, this paper tests whether some option-based risk aversion indicators can improve currency crises prediction. The sample data refer to 14 emerging currencies from January 2007 to July 2018, covering the Subprime and the European crises. I use a probit model for panel data of these countries to estimate the probability of currency crises in a 12-month horizon. The results show option-based risk aversion indicators have the expected positive sign and are statistically significant to predict those crises. When added to traditional control variables used in the probit model, they generally improve quality and predictive power of the regressions.
ANTIOXIDANT POTENTIAL OF POLYSACCHARIDE ISOLATED FROM METHANOLIC EXTRACT OF TINOSPORA CORDIFOLIA STEM BARK

Objective: Investigation of the antioxidant efficacy of a novel polysaccharide isolated from the methanolic extract of Tinospora cordifolia stem bark with reference to its action as free radical scavengers using in vivo and in vitro approaches was performed in the study.Methods: Lipid peroxidation (TBARS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) levels were determined with and without polysaccharide treatment in the cell lines and breast and liver tissues. 7, 12- Dimethylbenz (α) anthracene-induced albino Wistar rats were used as animal models.Results: The IC50 concentration of polysaccharide was 100 μM for both the cell lines. The lipid peroxidation levels were decreased in both breast cancer cell lines and liver and breast tissues. Polysaccharide treatment showed remarkably low levels of TBARS in breast cancer cells, and a significant reduction in the activity of SOD, GPx, and CAT levels in cancer groups was found to be increased with polysaccharide treatment. The alteration was found to be induced in MCF-7 and MDA-MB-231 cell lines and in breast and liver tissues of in vivo models.Conclusion: The results showed that the polysaccharide from T. cordifolia has antioxidant potential on human breast cancer cell lines and tissues with induction of apoptosis.
Incidence of repeat breeding in varying breeds of buffaloes and cattle in different climatic conditions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (Pakistan)

Change in climatic factors poses formidable challenge to the livestock sector development in Pakistan. Repeat breeding (RB), defined as adult buffalo and cow’s failure to conceive from more than 3 times regularly spaced AI or natural services in the absence of any detectable reproductive abnormalities, is a costly problem for the dairy sector. An active surveillance was conducted aimed to address the impact of climate change on incidence of RB in different cattle and buffalo breeds in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK), Pakistan. Through multistage cluster sampling 3 different climatic and geographic clusters were selected. Total of 1167 animals were included in the study. Out of total 586 were cows and 581 were buffaloes. The sampled population was stratified on parity basis into primiparous and multiparous cow’s and buffalo sub-groups. The overall incidence of RB was calculated 27.33%. RB incidence was significantly (P<0.05) higher in buffaloes (33.04%) than in cattle (21.67%). Whereas RB in multiparous (29.28%) were significantly (P<0.05) higher than primiparous (23.71%) cattle and buffaloes. Significant variations in incidence of RB with season were observed. The results also elicit the significant impact of monthly mean temperature, humidity, average annual rainfall, altitude and breed on the incidence of RB. The culling percentage was significantly (P<0.05) higher in repeat breeder buffaloes (77%) than in cattle (23%). In conclusion the result shows that exotic and cross bred cattle breeds were more efficient reproductively than buffaloes and non descriptive breeds of cattle in varying environmental conditions. It was also concluded that RB is a multi-factorial problem that involves a number of intrinsic and extrinsic factors fixed to the animal.
Joint Scheduling and Precoding for mmWave and Sub-6GHz Dual-Mode Networks

A millimeter wave (mmWave) and sub-6 GHz ($\mu$Wave) dual-mode network can take advantages of the signals over both bands. The user scheduling in the medium access layer and the transmit precoding in the physical layer are coupled and should be optimized jointly. This work investigates the joint cross-layer optimization problems for two dual-mode systems: the full dual transmission system in which each user equipment can be scheduled over both frequency bands and the half dual transmission system in which each user equipment can only be scheduled over one band. A concave expression is adopted to lower-bound the achievable rate of each user equipment with perfect and imperfect channel estimation. Based on the lower bound, effective algorithms are proposed to solve the joint cross-layer optimization problems. The proposed algorithms can also be used for other dual-mode networks. Simulations show superiority of joint transmit precoding for the two frequency bands signals. Moreover, the full dual transmission system outperforms the half dual transmission system in terms of the minimum rate. The rate degradation of the half dual transmission system is insignificant while its implementation complexity is much lower than the full dual transmission system.
Plants Defense System Resist against the Pathogen Attack: Transcription Factors in Focus

Transcription factors play important roles to drive different pathways by regulating gene expression. Apart from gene expression regulation, these TFs also have vital importance in plant immune system. Both PTI and ETI mode if immunity is important for plants but ETI has a central role in the defense system of a plant. ETI activates the hypersensitive response in which programmed/localized cell death is involved which ranked ETI quantitatively stronger than PTI which is effective in host resistance defense mechanism. Phytohormone such as salicylic acid, jasmonate, abscisic acid and ethylene and their components interact each other either positively or negatively. Their role in plant defense response has been documented.
Effect of Herbaceous Layer Interference on the Post-Fire Regeneration of a Serotinous Pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton) across Two Seedling Ages

Herbaceous vegetation is a major source of interference with the regeneration of woody species. This is particularly the case after forest fires, as a dense herbaceous layer usually regenerates naturally. Although the competitive effect of the herbaceous vegetation upon tree seedlings has been widely studied, there are still gaps in knowledge for management related to the effect of tree seedling age and size on the outcome of the interaction. In this study, we seek to determine the response of maritime pine (Pinus pinaster Aiton) seedlings to herbaceous competition at two different seedling ages. For that, two treatments of herbaceous competition were implemented, namely unweeded (no action around pine seedlings) and weeded (herbaceous cover removed around pine seedlings). Treatments were conducted twice (2 and 4 years after the fire), and we monitored seedling survival and growth at the end of each growing season. The treatments were implemented across three adjacent landscape units that differed in the management of burned wood and that are representative of common post-fire scenarios: no intervention, salvage logging, and an intermediate degree of intervention. Weeding increased seedling survival from 44.7% to 67.8% when seedlings were 2 years old, but had no effect for four-year-old seedlings, which showed 99% survival. Seedling growth also increased in the weeding treatment, but only slightly. Moreover, growth (and survival for two-year-old seedlings) was strongly correlated with initial seedling size, particularly in the case of two-year-old seedlings. Initial pine seedling height was strongly and positively correlated with the height of the herbaceous layer, supporting the existence of microsite features that promote plant growth above competitive effects. The results support that management actions conducive to foster post-fire pine forest restoration in this Mediterranean ecosystem should reduce herbaceous competition at early stages after fire (second or third year) and focus on larger seedlings.
Changes in gene expression shift and switch genetic interactions

An important goal in disease genetics and evolutionary biology is to understand how mutations combine to alter phenotypes and fitness. Non-additive interactions between mutations occur extensively and change across conditions, cell types, and species, making genetic prediction a difficult challenge. To understand the reasons for this, we reduced the problem to a minimal system where we combined mutations in a single protein performing a single function (a transcriptional repressor inhibiting a target gene). Even in this minimal system, a change in gene expression altered both the strength and type of genetic interactions. These seemingly complicated changes could, however, be predicted by a mathematical model that propagates the effects of mutations on protein folding to the cellular phenotype. We show that similar changes will be observed for many genes. These results provide fundamental insights into genotype-phenotype maps and illustrate how changes in genetic interactions can be predicted using hierarchical mechanistic models. One sentence Summary Deep mutagenesis of the lambda repressor reveals that changes in gene expression will alter the strength and direction of genetic interactions between mutations in many genes. Highlights Deep mutagenesis of the lambda repressor at two expression levels reveals extensive changes in mutational effects and genetic interactions Genetic interactions can switch from positive (suppressive) to negative (enhancing) as the expression of a gene changes A mathematical model that propagates the effects of mutations on protein folding to the cellular phenotype accurately predicts changes in mutational effects and interactions Changes in expression will alter mutational effects and interactions for many genes For some genes, perfect mechanistic models will never be able to predict how mutations of known effect combine without measurements of intermediate phenotypes
Motion planning using stomp apllied to UR5 manipulators

In this paper, we experiment the use of an algorithm for motion planning, Stochastic Trajectory Optimization for Motion Planning (STOMP), in a Moveit! simulation environment. A brief presentation of the algorithm is made and its effectiveness is discussed, as well as the effects of the variation of some of its parameters. Resumo—Neste trabalho, experimenta-se a utilização de um algoritmo para planejamento de trajetória, Stochastic Trajectory Optimization for Motion Planning (STOMP), em um ambiente de simulação provido pelo Moveit! Uma breve apresentação do algoritmo é feita e sua eficácia é discutida, bem como os efeitos da variação de alguns dos seus parâmetros.
Determination of trace and rare earth elements in marine sediment reference materials by ICP-MS : Comparison of open and closed acid digestion methods

The ICP-MS determination of REE and several other trace elements in six USGS and Canadian marine sediment reference materials (GSMS-2, GSMS-3, HISS-1, PACS-2, MESS-1, MESS-3) was investigated. The sediment samples were dissolved following open and closed acid digestion procedures, and the methods were evaluated and compared. About 50 mg of the sample powder was used in both digestion techniques with an appropriate dilution, making the solutions suitable for ICP-MS analysis. 103 Rh was used as an internal standard to compensate for the signal drift due to changes in the nebulizer efficiency and other associated matrix interferences. Excellent agreement was observed between the ICP-MS data obtained by both digestion techniques and the certified values, (where available for comparison), for the majority of elements, including all REEs. For a few of the trace elements, such as Cr, Ni, Sr, and Pb, the closed digestion method was found to be very effective due to the controlled temperature and pressure maintained on the sample for many hours. The accuracy and precision achieved was better than 5% RSD in most cases, and the detection limits for most of the elements were in the ppt to sub-ppt range. For the first time, this study provides comprehensive data of trace and REEs by ICP-MS in GSMS-2, GSMS-3, HISS-1, PACS-2, and MESS-3 for which currently only few trace and very few REE-certified values are available in the literature. The analytical data of five marine sediment samples collected from the Bay of Bengal showed that the closed acid digestion technique is a suitable method for the precise ICP-MS determination of trace elements and REEs.
Genetic parameter estimates for juvenile body weight in indigenous Uttara chickens

The aim of the present study was to estimate genetic parameters of juvenile body measurements in indigenous Uttara chickens. Body measurement records at birth of 1907 chicks sired by 25 breeder cocks and 200 breeder hens were used in heritability calculation. Genetic parameters were estimated for Uttara chicken juvenile body weights at hatching, and at 4 weeks, 8 weeks, 12 weeks, 16 weeks and 20 weeks of age. Heritability of all body measurements was estimated by paternal half-sib method. Heritability estimates can be used to improve body measurements of indigenous Uttara hens. The sex dimorphism effects were estimated at 2 weeks of age and were present at later ages. These results indicate that mass selection method based on the individual phenotype of the chickens at different ages can provide genetic improvement in the flock. Thus, early body measurements of the Uttara chickens could be used for prediction of the size of the adult Uttara.
The Effects of Diversity Management on Employee Intention to Quit: Mediating Role of Employee Motivation

Employee is a bloodstream of any organization. Accomplishment of any organizational goal is depending on employees performance. Aim of Study : The purpose of this study is to examine the effect of DM on the employee, intention to quit with the mediating role of EM. Methodology: The implementation of this research is conducted on charge nurses of intensive care units in tertiary hospital. Collection of data was done from 121 people from both genders. The purpose of this study is to examine that how the diversity management can reduce turnover intention and how motivation can improve the work performance and help to reduce employees intention to quit. Results: By using multiple regression tests, the results shows the significant negative correlation between diversity management and employee intention to quit also discussed that mediation exist in this relationship. Conclusion: The results of this study shows that diversity management practices can help to reduce turn over intention and motivation can help to manage the diversity that can lead to retention of the employees in the organization. Keywords: diversity management, employee intention to quit, employee motivation. DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/79-04 Publication date: August 31 st 2020
An economic assessment of lignocellulosic biomass power plants

In 2016, electricity generation from solid biomass increased by 0.7 Mtoe in EU, compared with 2015, to 10.3 Mtoe (119.78 TWh), a 7.6% growth rate. Solid biomass may be used for: i) heating & cooling and hot water for domestic uses, ii) heating for industrial processes and iii) power generation. Unlike other renewable energy sources (RES), such as wind and solar photovoltaic (intermittent energy sources), solid biomass power plants provide dispatchable energy when needed. Therefore, the security of supply could also be increased. In addition, the use of solid biomass has significant advantages, such as the creation of jobs related to the power plant and collection of raw material used to produce energy. In this paper, an economic assessment of forest biomass power plants is carried out in the Iberian electricity system. According to current Spanish electrical regulation, in which three economic parameters are considered as income (day-ahead market, operation and investment), an economic model has been developed for the regulatory useful life (25 years). Investment costs for biomass power plants of 15, 30 and 50 MWe have been estimated. Operation & Maintenance and fuel costs, considering different prices of wet biomass (50-60 € t-1) with a moisture content of 40% and a lower calorific value of 2.8 MWh t-1 on average, have also been considered in the economic model. Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR) and payback period have been obtained in all scenarios. The results obtained show that a biomass power plant with a power of 50 MWe may produce 337.5 GWh year-1of net electrical energy using 446.43 kt year-1 of wet biomass. Considering a price of electrical energy of 145 € MWh-1 and a woody biomass cost of 0.0178 € kWh-1, the NPV and IRR reach 165.6 M€ and 17.63%, respectively.
Interne Ansätze zur Nachhaltigkeitsbewertung in der externen Berichterstattung – konzeptionelle und empirische Analyse der DAX-Unternehmen

Die Versorgung der Stakeholder mit ökologischen und sozialen Informationen gewinnt immer weiter an Bedeutung. Mit der Veröffentlichung der EU-Richtlinie 2014/95/EU sind die Anforderungen im Rahmen der externen Berichterstattung hinsichtlich der ökologischen und sozialen Nachhaltigkeit an die Unternehmen gestiegen. Zu einer transparenten und nachprüfbaren Informationsversorgung können interne Bewertungsansätze dienen. Ziel dieses Beitrags ist die Analyse der Berücksichtigung der laut Literatur etablierten internen Bewertungsansätze in der externen Berichterstattung. Dabei wird u.a. auf ein Index-Modell zurückgegriffen und das Rahmenwerk der Global Reporting Initiative sowie die nichtfinanziellen Erklärungen der DAX-Unternehmen untersucht. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Unternehmen in nichtfinanziellen Erklärungen vorwiegend auf ökologische Bewertungsansätze Bezug nehmen. Soziale Ansätze finden wenig Beachtung.
The Research Of Group Mobility Model Based On Spectral Clustering Algorithm In Opportunistic

---------------------------------------------------------------------- ABSTRACT ----------------------------------------------------------------------- The research on group mobility in the opportunity network concerns what nodes ’ mobility may bring about, in contrast to the preciously-proposed group mobility approaches that are unilateral in the thoughts of the constitution of groups by nodes, resulting in, the distortion of reality to reflect group behavior characteristics that are revealed in the situations of their application. Based on the Spectral Clustering algorithm, this paper proposes the group mobility model (SCM), which takes the advantage of node ’ s own properties, such as its spatial position, to set up node ’ s affinity matrix, extract main characteristics from arbitrarily distributed nodes with the aid of spectral clustering algorithm, and regarding the needs of a task assigned cluster nodes dynamically in a fixed time. The model depicts truly and effectively the group characteristics of node ’ s mobility, accomplish the conducts of group mobility and clustering well.
Logging Contractors’ Growth in the Southern Cone: An Analysis of Contractor Business Strategies, Innovation, and Mechanization

Forest plantations have increased in South America for several decades. Harvesting is performed mainly through contractor companies. Our hypothesis is that logging contractors that innovate, grow more than others. We analyzed logging contractors through production and innovation, working in Argentina (22), Brazil (35) and Uruguay (10), through surveys between 2008 and 2012. Factors that affected firm growth were analyzed with linear mixed effect models. In all three countries there was a preponderance of logging contractors with cellulose companies. Our results show that logging firms that had mutualistic supply chain relations with the contracting organizations had better production indicators and lower cost per ton than other independent harvesting contractors. In the last 10 years, mechanization increased significantly, reducing the number of employees. Innovation was the most significant variable in enhanced logging production. For the period from 10 to 5 years before the survey period, the number of employees and type of contracting company were most significant on loggers’ growth. During the last 5-year period before the survey period, the number of employees and innovation were significant. Thus, during the last 10 years, logging companies shifted from growth based on type of the firm to the amount of innovation by firms, and contracting companies.
A Novel System for Measuring Alternating Current Impedance Spectra of Series-Connected Lithium-Ion Batteries With a High-Power Dual Active Bridge Converter and Distributed Sampling Units

Alternating current (ac) impedance spectra facilitate lithium-ion battery management. Realizing a low-cost and low-complexity onboard impedance measuring system is a vital issue for the management based on the ac impedance. In the article, a novel impedance measuring system combined with a high-power dual active bridge (DAB) converter and distributed sampling units is proposed and verified. The DAB converter is designed to generate the ac disturbance to ensure a quasi-steady measurement of the battery impedance. The distributed signal sampling units simultaneously measure the voltage and current of all the series-connected battery cells in a module to measure their impedance. The measured impedance in a frequency range of 0.1–500 Hz shows the feasibility of the system. The root-mean-square errors of the measured impedance phase from 0.2 to 200 Hz and the magnitude from 0.1 to 500 Hz are less than 6.9% and 4.0%, respectively. The errors in some frequency ranges are slightly larger, which are analyzed. The novelty is reflected in that the system is easily integrated into a bidirectional onboard charger and compatible with the battery management system, thus reducing costs and complexity. It provides a basis for the onboard application of the battery impedance.
Response of Soybean Offspring to a Dicamba Drift Event the Previous Year

Abstract In the occurrence of dicamba drift, it is not well understood what measurements from soybean plants would correlate with damage to soybean offspring; therefore, possible relationships are of great interest. Sixteen drift trials were established in 2014 and 2015 at the Northeast Research and Extension Center in Keiser, AR. A single 8-m-wide by 30- or 60-mlong pass with a high-clearance sprayer was made in each soybean field, resulting in a dicamba drift event. Seeds were collected from plants in each drift trial and planted in the field in 2015 and 2016. Data were subjected to correlation analysis to determine pairwise associations among parent and offspring observations. Auxin-like symptomology in offspring consistent with dicamba, primarily as leaf cupping, appeared in plots at the unifoliate and first trifoliate stages. Auxin-like symptoms were more prevalent in offspring collected from plants from later reproductive stages as opposed to early reproductive stages. The highest correlation coefficients occurred when parent plants were treated at the R5 growth stage. Parent mature pod malformation was correlated with offspring emergence (r= - 0.37, P = 0.0082), vigor (r= - 0.57, P ≤⃒ 0.0001), injury (r =0.93, P ≤⃒ 0.0001), and percent of plants injured (r=0.92, P ≤⃒ 0.0001). This research documents that soybean damaged from dicamba drift during the R1 to R6 growth stages can negatively affect offspring and that occurrence of pod malformation after dicamba drift at the R5 growth stage may be indicative of injury to the offspring. Nomenclature: Dicamba; glyphosate; soybean, Glycine max (L.) Merr.