Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Invertebrate communities of the High Arctic ponds in Hornsund

How environmental conditions influence current distributions of organisms at the local scale in sensitive High Arctic freshwaters is essential to understand in order to better comprehend the cascading consequences of the ongoing climate change. This knowledge is also important background data for paleolimnological assessments of long−term limno− ecological changes and in describing the range of environmental variability. We sampled five limnologically different freshwater sites from the Fuglebergsletta marine terrace in Horn− sund, southern Svalbard, for aquatic invertebrates. Invertebrate communities were tested against non−climatic environmental drivers as limnological and catchment variables. A clear separation in the communities between the sites was observed. The largest and deepest lake was characterized by a diverse Chironomidae community but Cladocera were absent. In a pond with marine influence, crustaceans, such as Ostracoda, Amphipoda, and calanoid Copepoda were the most abundant invertebrates. Two nutrient−rich ponds were dominated by a chironomid, Orthocladius consobrinus, whereas the most eutrophic pond was dominated by the cladoceran Daphnia pulex, suggesting decreasing diversity along with the trophic status. Overall, nutrient related variables appeared to have an important influence on the invertebrate community composition and diversity, the trophic state of the sites being linked with their ex− posure to geese guano. Other segregating variables included water color, presence/absence of fish, abundance of aquatic vegetation and lake depth. These results suggest that since most of these variables are climate−driven at a larger scale, the impacts of the ongoing climate change will have cumulative effects on aquatic ecosystems.
Nonlinear-Electronic Transport in Fe 2 O 3 Thin-Films Grown from Grain-Oriented Iron Foils

Nonlinear-electronic transport in Fe 2 O 3 thin-films grown by thermal oxidation from grain-oriented iron foils was studied by current-voltage characteristics at room temperature as a function of the oxidation temperature. Microstructure formation and its changes were investigated by atomic force microscopy and X-ray diffraction studies. X-ray diffraction has demonstrated that average grain size was weakly increased with the growth temperature. The analysis of current-voltage characteristics shows ohmic regime at low voltages and space-charge-limited regime at higher voltages. Space-charge effects resulted from the discontinuous grain growth of the foils. Further, nonlinear-electronic transport of Fe 2 O 3 thin-films can be useful for the designing of adaptive oxide electronic devices.
Detecting Pirated Movie’s with Similarity Assessment Based on Earth Mover’s Distance

Piracy is no new lesson to every user of technology. It is a giant existing in the industry of technology numbing the heights software is reaching in terms of efficiency and use in all the sectors to an extent where even the industry of enterprise, beaurocracy, technology etc. depend upon the use of software in various ways to contribute their needs and success. Dollars are running at stakes of any industry while the piracy is acting as a dominator of all illegal transactions indirectly by giving easy and such illegal access to many users. One such victim is the entertainment industry where movies are being pirated and accessed to users causing millions of dollars of loss to the entertainment industry. Many researchers and technical specialists have made their contributions to save technology. Our paper is another potential solution with a promise of accuracy rate in detecting the pirated movies. It is a known fact that primary detection is the source of prevention. Our paper puts forth a technique that efficiency detects piracy to reduce such illegal downloads using the efficient measures of signature generation, normalization in an effective manner.
Awareness of Performance Decrements Due to Distraction in Younger and Older Drivers

Although many studies have documented the performance decrements associated with driver distractions, few have examined drivers’ awareness of these distraction effects. The current study purports to measure how well-calibrated drivers are with respect to their own performance when distracted. Forty drivers completed a series of tasks on a hand-held or hands-free cell phone while driving an instrumented vehicle around a closed test track. Subjective estimates of performance decrements were recorded and compared to actual decrements observed on multiple measures of driving performance. Although their driving performance suffered in dual-task conditions, drivers were generally not well-calibrated to the magnitude of the distraction effects (r = -.38 to .16). In some cases, estimates of distraction were opposite of the observed effects (i.e., smaller estimates of distraction corresponded to larger performance deficits). There were some age and gender differences. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for potential mitigation strategies for distracted driving.
Familiarisation to maximal recumbent eccentric cycling

BACKGROUND: Isokinetic eccentric cycling is increasingly being utilised to examine the effect of chronic eccentric muscle training however little is known about how individuals familiarise to such a unique training modality. OBJECTIVE: To examine longitudinal variation in power output and lower limb muscle activation during familiarisation to maximal recumbent isokinetic eccentric cycling. METHODS: Twelve male volunteers, unfamiliar with eccentric cycling, completed four trials, separated by 7-10 days, each comprising 6 × 10 s maximal isokinetic eccentric efforts between 20-120 rpm. Peak power and average power output (PO), and surface electromyography (sEMG) of the rectus femoris (RF), vastus lateralis (VL), biceps femoris (BF), and medial gastrocnemius (MG) were recorded throughout. Systematic error across repeated trials was assessed using one-way ANOVA, and random error quantified using coefficient of variation (CV, %). RESULTS: Average PO at 60 rpm and RF activation at 20 rpm increased from trial 1-2 (p < 0.05), with no other systematic error between trials at any cadence. Across all cadences, the CV for peak PO (∼ 13%), average PO (∼ 10%), VL activation (∼ 13%) and RF activation (∼ 19%) was moderate and plateaued after one familiarisation (i.e. T2-T3). However, for BF (∼ 24%) and MG (∼ 22%) activation reliability was generally poor. For the majority of variables the reliability was best at 60 rpm. CONCLUSIONS: Therefore, with one familiarisation, 60 rpm is recommended to achieve moderate between-session reliability in the measurement of power output and lower limb muscle activation during recumbent, eccentric cycling.
Dissipation Behavior of a Mancozeb Residue (Dithiocarbamate Fungicide) in Tomato Under South Moroccan Climatic Condition

Dissipation behavior of mancozeb, a widely used dithiocarbamte fungicide, applied under field condition on tomato at recommended dose was undertaken under greenhouses and open field during October and March in Souss-Massa area (south of Morocco) climatic condition. Residue levels of mancozeb were determined by using a simple method consisting in a hot acid digestion of the whole sample to evolve carbon disulfide (CS 2 ), which is further quantified by spectrophotometry. Degradation rate in both open field and greenhouse followed first order kinetic. Half lives were 1.77 and 1.3 days in open field and in greenhouse were 2.0 and 1.8 days for October and March period respectively. Based on the observation reported, a pre harvested interval of at least three days after pesticide application at recommended dose may be suggested.
The breaking of interfacial waves at a submerged bathymetric ridge

The breaking of periodic progressive two-layer interfacial waves at a Gaussian ridge is investigated through laboratory experiments. Length scales of the incident wave and topography are used to parameterize when and how breaking occurs. Qualitative observations suggest both shear and convection play a role in the instability of waves breaking at the ridge. Simultaneous particle image velocimetry (PIV) and planar laser-induced fluorescence (PLIF) measurements are used to calculate high resolution, two-dimensional velocity and density fields from which the local gradient Richardson number Rig is calculated. The transition to breaking occurred when 0.2 ≤ Rig ≤ 0.4. In these wave-ridge breaking events, the destabilizing effects of waves steepening in shallow layers may be responsible for breaking at higher Rig than for similar waves breaking through shear instability in deep water (Troy & Koseff, J. Fluid Mech., vol. 543, 2005b, p. 107). Due to the effects of unsteadiness, nonlinear shoaling and flow separation, the canonical Rig > 0.25 is not sufficient to predict the stability of interfacial waves. A simple model is developed to estimate Rig in waves between finite depth layers using scales of the incident wave scale and topography. The observed breaking transition corresponds with a constant estimated value of Rig from the model, suggesting that interfacial shear plays an important role in initial wave instability. For wave amplitudes above the initial breaking transition, convective breaking events are also observed.
The effect of market orientation on innovation speed and new product performance

Purpose – It has been argued that innovation speed has been inappropriately absent in models of market orientation. The present study seeks to provide new insights into whether and how market orientation's three main components: intelligence generation, intelligence dissemination, and responsiveness affect innovation speed and new product performance, and about the mediating role of innovation speed.Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from a sample of 247 firms in a variety of manufacturing industries. A mail survey was developed to collect the data.Findings – The results indicate that intelligence generation has an indirect positive effect on innovation speed via intelligence dissemination and responsiveness. Intelligence dissemination influences innovation speed positively, both directly and indirectly through responsiveness. Findings report a curvilinear (J‐shaped) relationship between responsiveness and innovation speed. With regard to the effect of the market orientation's components on.
An Exploratory Examination of Relationship Value in Inter-enterprise Cooperation

On the basis of fairness theory, relationship marketing theory and social exchange theory, this manuscript develops a conceptual model to confirm three perceived fairness ( distributive fairness, procedural fairness and interactional fairness), as well as three kinds of relationship quality ( satisfaction, trust and commitment) which can help to study the relationship value of corporate cooperation. Questionnaires of 198 B2B companies from the automotive industry indicate that procedural fairness and interactional fairness affect the relationship value through satisfaction, while distributive fairness affects the relationship value not through satisfaction. The results also indicate that satisfaction has a significant positive effect on trust, and trust has a significant positive effect on commitment. What`s more, satisfaction, trust and commitment all show a significant positive effect on relationship value. Keywords-fairness; relationship quality ; relationship value
THE CANNABINOID SYSTEM AND ITS IMPORTANCE IN THE PERINATAL PERIOD

El cannabinoide es un sistema de reciente descubrimiento, constituido por unos ligandos endógenos, que mayoritariamente derivan del ácido araquidónico, y sus receptores específicos. Los endocannabinoides participan en la regulación de la transmisión sináptica, mediante la cual ejercen sus efectos psicoactivos, motores y anticonceptivos, entre otros; asimismo desarrollan efectos extraneurales, especialmente inmunomodulación y vasodilatación. Los descubrimientos recientes apuntan a un papel relevante de este sistema en la ontogenia del ser humano, postulándose una participación destacada en la implantación y desarrollo inicial del embrión, en el desarrollo cerebral fetal, y en el inicio de la lactancia tras el nacimiento. Asimismo, sus efectos vasodilatadores e inhibidores de la liberación de aminoácidos excitotóxicos y de citocinas, así como moduladores del estrés oxidativo y de la producción tóxica de óxido nítrico, justifican la creciente evidencia de un posible papel neuroprotector de los cannabinoides en la asfixia perinatal.
The effect of massive neutrinos on the Sunyaev–Zel'dovich and X-ray observables of galaxy clusters

Massive neutrinos are expected to influence the formation of the large-scale structure of the Universe, depending on the value of their total mass, $\Sigma m_\nu$. In particular Planck data indicate that a non-zero $\Sigma m_\nu$ may help to reconcile CMB data with Sunyaev-Zel'dovich (SZ) cluster surveys. In order to study the impact of neutrinos on the SZ and X-ray cluster properties we run a set of six very large cosmological simulations (8$h^{-3}$ Gpc$^3$ comoving volume) that include a massive neutrino particle component: we consider the values of $\Sigma m_\nu$ = (0, 0.17, 0.34) eV in two cosmological scenarios to test possible degeneracies. Using the halo catalogues extracted from their outputs we produce 50 mock light-cones and, assuming suitable scaling relations, we determine how massive neutrinos affect SZ and X-ray cluster counts, the $y$-parameter and its power spectrum. We provide forecasts for the South Pole Telescope (SPT) and eROSITA cluster surveys, showing that the number of expected detections is reduced by 40 per cent when assuming $\Sigma m_\nu$ =0.34 eV with respect to a model with massless neutrinos. However the degeneracy with $\sigma_8$ and $\Omega_m$ is strong, in particular for X-ray data, requiring the use of additional probes to break it. The $y$-parameter properties are also highly influenced by the neutrino mass fraction, $f_\nu$, with $ \propto(1-f_\nu)^{20}$, considering the cluster component only, and the normalization of the SZ power spectrum is proportional to $(1-f_\nu)^{25-30}$. Comparing our findings with SPT and Atacama Cosmology Telescope measurements at $\ell$ = 3000 indicates that, when Planck cosmological parameters are assumed, a value of $\Sigma m_\nu\simeq0.34$ eV is required to fit with the data.
New Approaches to Quality Assurance in the Changing World of Higher Education

Changes of that magnitude evidently imply changes in higher education, and these should also mean that quality assurance processes and procedures should also change. This is what we expect to discuss during this conference: How can QA keep its relevance, and how it can effectively make a difference in the quality of higher education institutions, their operation, their programs and in general, in the capacity of higher education to answer to the current and future needs of society, at the local, national and regional levels.
Markets for Public Services: Strong Incentives in the Liberal State Vs. Comprehensive Planning in the Welfare State?

This paper suggests that the partial but strong incentives that characterized privately valuable public services in the liberal state might be more effective than the comprehensive but weak incentives introduced by the ‘internal markets’ created when reforming the welfare state. The paper compares three organizational forms: (1) the bureaucratic expense center used to provide privately valuable services such as healthcare through the organizations created by the welfare state; (2) the internal markets introduced to reform them; and (3) the hybrid solutions that have been used by the liberal state since the 19 th century to provide such privately valuable services. This comparison suggests that market forces may play a better role in organizing public services when they are limited to a few variables, which makes stronger incentives possible and, at the same time, reduces the need for extensive planning and supervisory staff.
Use of Concrete Additives to Improve the Quality of Stormwater Runoff from a Car Park

This paper describes a three-year study of two innovative stormwater infiltration/filtration systems and their ability to reduce and retain pollutants present within stormwater runoff. The systems contain specially designed porous concrete pipes. Stormwater exfiltrates through the permeable walls of the pipes into the surrounding substrate media material. Iron oxides are recognised for their ability to remove heavy metals from stormwater, due to the process of chemical precipitation. The porous concrete pipes used within the system located within the Mills Park Tennis Centre, Asquith, were injected with iron oxides during the manufacturing process. The porous pipes within the second study system located within Hindmarsh Park, Kiama, did not have iron oxide additives. The influence of these iron oxides forms the focus of this paper. Overall, it was found that the Asquith system had the ability to remove substantial amounts of dissolved copper and zinc from the car park runoff. Significantly lower outlet concentrations were achieved by the Asquith system. The dissolved iron concentration was found to increase after passing through the Asquith system, indicating that the iron oxide injected pipes were leaching iron. Comparisons with water quality guidelines indicate that the resulting iron concentrations are still below the recommended guideline levels.
Wages in Kind and Economic Development―Their Impacts on Labor Supply and Food Security of Rural Households in Developing Countries―

This paper investigates the function of various modes of wage payment, focusing on the role of in­kind wages in enhancing household food security in developing countries. It first demonstrates the importance of in­kind wage payment in the initial phase of eco­ nomic development through compiling historical records from Asian countries including pre­war Japan and colonial India. This section is followed by a survey of theoretical explanations of in­kind wages. As a relatively unexplored explanation, this paper then develops a theoretical model of labor supply to different labor contracts, incorporating considerations of food security as the main explanation for in­kind wages. The theoret­ ical model predicts that when food security considerations are important for workers, possibly due to poverty and thin food markets, they work more under a contract with wages paid in kind (food) than under a contract with wages paid in cash. This predic­ tion is supported by empirical evidence from rural Myanmar. Estimation results of the reduced­form determinants of labor supply show that workers supply more labor to a job whose wages are paid in kind when the share of staple food in workers’ budget is higher and the farmland on which they produce food themselves is smaller. JEL classification codes : J33, Q12, O12. ∗The author is grateful to Hideshi Itoh, Sonia Laszlo, Ryo Kambayashi, Stefan Klonner, Yasu Sawada, Kei Kajisa, Akio Takahashi, Yutaka Arimoto, Tomohiro Machikita, and other seminar participants at the North­ east Universities Development Consortium Conference, the Japanese Economic Association Annual Meeting, the Japan Agricultural Economics Association General Meeting, the microeconomics research seminar at the University of Tokyo, the Hi­Stat conference at Hitotsubashi University, and the contract theory workshop at Hitotsubashi University for useful comments on earlier versions of this paper. †Institute of Economic Research, Hitotsubashi University, 2­1 Naka, Kunitachi, Tokyo 186­8603 Japan. Phone: 81­42­580­8363; Fax. : 81­42­580­8333. E­mail: kurosaki@ier.hit­u.ac. jp.
IN VITRO DISSECTION OF ANTI-DIABETIC EFFECTS OF COMPOUND A, A DISSOCIATING GLUCOCORTICOID RECEPTOR LIGAND

Compound A (CpdA), or 2-(4-acetoxyphenyl)-2-chloro-N-methyl-ethyl-ammonium chloride, is a stable analog of the hydroxyl phenyl aziridine precursor found in the Namibian shrub Salsola tuberculatiformis Botschantzev. It belongs to the group of so-called “dissociated” GC receptor ligands that downmodulate pro-inflammatory gene expression via the transrepression mechanism, but without physically binding to DNA. We have recently reported that the in vivo administration of CpdA exerts a strong protective effect in a pharmacological model of type 1 diabetes in mice. The goal of this study was to investigate in more detail the effects of CpdA on multiple immune system components, as well as on target pancreatic beta cells in direct in vitro exposure. The utility of CpdA in diabetes prevention was evaluated through its addition to mitogen-activated spleen, lymph node and peritoneal cells of C57BL/6 mice, and to murine pancreatic islets and INS-1 and RINm5F beta cell lines. CpdA modulated immune cell-derived cytokine production in vitro by restraining the pro-inflammatory M1/Th1/Th17 response and switching it towards an anti-inflammatory Th2 profile. However, it did not preserve beta cells from the cytotoxic action of inflammatory cytokines. Thus, the anti-diabetic properties of CpdA are mediated through the modulation of immune cell differentiation pathways rather than through rescue of target cells from autoimmune attack. [Projekat Ministarstva nauke Republike Srbije, br. 173013]
A comparative study of spherical microphone arrays based on subjective assessment of recordings reproduced over different audio systems

This study presents an evaluation of sound recordings acquired with two rigid spherical microphone arrays of the exact same size fitted with different type of capsules. These two sets of capsules were of small and large membrane sizes respectively. Objective evaluation has been previously performed by the authors by analyzing the reconstructed spherical harmonic components. Listening tests are conducted to evaluate the perceived quality of the signals acquired with the two arrays and indicate the possible degradation due to the signal processing techniques used to calculate the spherical harmonic components. The subjective evaluation has indicated a slight but significant preference on the array with the large membrane sensors.
Frequency Estimation in the Fault Detection of Rolling Element Bearing

Faulty rolling element bearings under very low shaft speed and light load exhibit vibrations which possess periodic envelope-autocorrelations. The main frequencies of this envelope-autocorrelation are the fault characteristic frequency and its harmonics. In this paper, one of the improved Notch Filtering Techniques with a designed filter is used to estimate the fault characteristic frequency and its harmonics. The designed filter is used to remove the estimated frequency. With this technique, the fault characteristic frequency and its harmonics can be accurately estimated.