Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Returns to Education and Experience in Criminal Organizations: Evidence from the Italian-American Mafia

Is there any return to education in criminal activities? This is the first paper that investigates whether education has not only a positive impact on legitimate, but also on illegitimate activities. We use as a case study one of the longest running criminal corporations in history: the Italian-American mafia. Its most successful members have been capable businessmen, orchestrating crimes that require abilities that might be learned at school: extracting the optimal rent when setting up a racket, weighting interests against default risk when starting a loan sharking business or organising supply chains, logistics and distribution when setting up a drug dealing system. We address this question by comparing mobsters with their closest (non-mobster) neighbors using United States Census data in 1940. We document that mobsters have one year less education than their neighbors on average. None of the specifications presented identified any significant difference in the returns to education between these two groups. Private returns to education exist also in the illegal activities characterised by a certain degree of complexity as in the case of organized crime in mid-twentieth century United States.
Prevalence of Cryptosporidium Species in Children Referred to Central and Hospital Laboratories of Zabol City, South East of Iran

Background Cryptosporidiosis has a worldwide distribution, and is the commonest cause of diarrhea in children and immune compromised individuals. Since there is no data available on the prevalence of Cryptosporidium species (sp.) in Zabol city, thus this study was carried out to assess the disease prevalence and related factors influencing the disease. Materials and Methods In this cross-sectional study, 200 fecal specimens were collected from children referred to the Central or hospital labs in Zabol city, South East of Iran, during April 2014 to August 2016. Fecal examination was performed by staining with Ziel-Neelsen acid-fast to find oocysts of the parasite. The children were grouped according to the age, gender, kind of water supplies, and diarrheic and non-diarrheic condition. Data were evaluated using SPSS version 13.0 software. Results Among the children referred to the Central laboratory, 200 fecal samples from different age groups were collected. The prevalence of Cryptosporidium species was 9.7% which was higher in children under 4 years. There was a significant relationship between sources of water supply and diarrheic children infected with Cryptosporidium (P<0.05). Conclusion Cryptosporidiosis is the most infectious disease in Zabol city, especially in children. Healthy water supply significantly affects the disease prevalence.
Quinone Moieties Act as Electron Acceptors in the Reduction of Humic Substances by Humics-Reducing Microorganisms

The possibility that quinones serve as electron-accepting moieties when microorganisms transfer electrons to humic substances was investigated. Humic substances from a variety of environments had the ability to accept electrons from a humics-reducing microorganism, Geobacter metallireducens. A lignaceous carbon source for the humic substances was not necessary in order for the humic substances to act as electron acceptors. Humic substances extracted from soils typically had a greater electron-accepting capacity than humic substances extracted from aquatic sediments, and sediment humic substances had more electron-accepting capacity than dissolved aquatic humic substances. Electron spin resonance measurements at pH 10 demonstrated that humic substances that had a higher electron-accepting capacity also had a higher free radical content than did humic substances with a lower electron-accepting capacity. The ESR spectra were consistent with semiquinones as the main organic radicals. Microbial reduction of hu.
Reconstruction of solar irradiance variations in cycles 21-23 based on surface magnetic fields

Aims. We present a reconstruction of total solar irradiance (TSI) back to 1974, i.e. from the minimum of cycle 21 to the declining phase of cycle 23. We also present a cross-calibration between the magnetograms obtained by the 512 channel magnetograph and the spectromagnetograph at Kitt Peak. Methods. The TSI reconstruction is carried out using data from the 512-channel Diode Array Magnetograph and the newer spectromagnetograph on Kitt Peak. The model is based on the assumption that all irradiance changes on time-scales of a day and longer are entirely due to the variations of the surface distribution of the solar magnetic field. The reconstructed irradiance is compared with the composite of total solar irradiance measurements from PMOD/WRC (version 41). Results. A good correspondence is found with the PMOD TSI composite, with no bias between the three cycles on time-scales longer than the solar rotation period, although the accuracy of the TSI reconstruction is somewhat lower when 512 channel magnetograph data are used. This suggests that the same driver of the irradiance variations, namely the evolution of the magnetic flux at the solar surface, is acting in cycles 21–23. Different methods of comparing the magnetograms obtained by the two Kitt Peak magnetographs give somewhat different results, with factors by which 512 channel data must be divided in the range 1.38–1.63 being found. This is due to the non-linearity of the relationship between the magnetic field measured by the two instruments.
Winning the Electoral College: How Presidential Candidates Optimally Allocate Resources across States

This paper addresses the question of how candidates in a two-player, n-state election can optimally allocate their resources across states to maximize their probability of winning. It begins with an overview of the Electoral College system and an analysis of past theoretical papers. The model in this paper diverges from this literature in two respects. First, candidates are assumed to maximize their probability of winning rather than their expected number of electoral votes. Many authors have assumed the latter to simplify the problem, but the two objectives are not necessarily equivalent. Second, the functional form analyzed, which maps spending within a state to the probability that a candidate wins the state, has yet to be investigated in detail. In a simplified set-up no pure-strategy equilibrium emerges in this model, but a mixed strategy equilibrium does exist. This breaks with previous authors such as Snyder (1989), who have shown the existence of a pure-strategy equilibrium under certain conditions. The crucial difference between Snyder’s model and the one examined in this paper is the concavity of each candidate’s objective function. Concavity arises in Snyder’s model and fails to emerge in this paper because of differences in the second derivatives of the functions for the probability of winning a state. This analysis offers many avenues for further research, such as expanding the results to include more states with different numbers of electoral votes, candidates with unequal resources, and bias within states. Some hypotheses and ideas for unequal endowments and bias are discussed in the concluding sections.
Disseminated Tuberculosis in Captive Malayan Tapir (Tapirus indicus)

Tuberculosis caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is an important zoonotic disease that concerns the survival of endangered species and public health aspects. A 17-year-old, female Malayan tapir from a zoo in Thailand died with a sign of panting after anesthesia for the treatment of her oral problems. Grossly, multiple caseous white nodules were scattered throughout the parenchyma and bulged from the capsular surface in affected organs such as lung, lymph node and liver. Histologic examination revealed multifocal to coalescing granulomas characterized by caseous necrotic center, loosely organized inflammatory zone with low numbers of Langhans’s giant cells and thin fibrotic zone. A few acid fast bacilli were found within the multinucleated giant cells at the periphery of the granulomas. Mycobacterium tuberculosis was identified from affected organs using specific Rv1970 PCR primer. The aim of this study is to report a rare case of disseminated tuberculosis caused by M. tuberculosis in a captive Malayan tapir.
Organic enrichment at salmon farms in the Bay of Fundy, Canada: DEPOMOD predictions versus observed sediment sulfide concentrations

A model for predicting benthic impacts of fish farms (DEPOMOD) was used to pre- dict organic carbon deposition rates at 6 salmon farms in the southwestern New Brunswick (SWNB) area of the Bay of Fundy, Canada. Model predictions of the seafloor area with elevated deposition rates were compared to the areas of seafloor with elevated observed sulfide concentra- tions. DEPOMOD predictions with resuspension appeared to overestimate the rate of resuspen- sion of waste particles where current speeds were moderate to high; therefore, model runs with- out resuspension were used for comparisons. There were no consistent relationships between current speeds and the predicted (without resuspension) area with elevated deposition rates and the areas with elevated sulfide concentrations. There was a positive relationship between the areas with elevated deposition rates and the areas with elevated sulfide concentrations at 3 sites, with a better fit when the DEPOMOD runs used average daily feeding rates during 1 mo periods including the date of sediment sampling (compared to average feeding rates during 3 mo feeding periods ending near the date of sampling). Because the predicted area with elevated deposition rates (without resuspension) was strongly correlated with the feeding rate, it is important that the appropriate feeding rate be used in model runs. At sediment sampling stations where predicted deposition rates were low, sulfide concentrations were usually low; however, at sampling stations where predicted deposition rates were elevated, sulfide concentrations showed high variability. Implications for the use of DEPOMOD for management of the salmon aquaculture industry in SWNB are discussed.
Cover crops of oats, stooling rye and three annual ryegrass cultivars influence maize and Cyperus esculentus growth

Bezuidenhout SR, Reinhardt CF & Whitwell MI (2012). Cover crops of oats, stooling rye and three annual ryegrass cultivars influence maize and Cyperus esculentus growth. Weed Research 52, 153–160. Summary No information is available on the effect of cover crops on weed growth in maize production in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. In a field experiment, the influence of two preceding cover crops, stooling rye and annual ryegrass, on the growth of maize and the weed Cyperus esculentus were compared with herbicides and weed control by hoeing. Maize emergence and early growth were delayed in the presence of physical residues of both cover crop species, especially annual ryegrass. Growth of C. esculentus was significantly inhibited in the inter-row maize planting lines by the cover crops for the first 16 days after maize emergence, but this effect had diminished by day 28. In a pot experiment, the influence of the same two cover crops on maize and C. esculentus growth was evaluated together with oats and two additional annual ryegrass cultivars. Here, the growth of maize and C. esculentus were suppressed, especially by the root residues of the annual ryegrass, in particular the cultivar Midmar. Chemical analysis of the leachate of the root residues indicated the presence of phenolic acids and benzoxazolin-2(3H)-one. To achieve effective weed control, a weed management strategy combining the mulch retained on the soil surface, with a possible reduction in the type and amount of herbicide, should be implemented.
Analysis of Multiuser DSSS with Different M-PSK Modulation Under Noise Effects

: Lot of applications in these days is using Spread spectrum communication systems. Direct Sequence Spread Spectrum (DSSS) system can reduce the effects of interference on the transmitted information and it is suitable for design of multi-user systems where the entire bandwidth of the RF carrier is made available to each user. It is robust against channel impairments. The aim of this paper is to study the performance of multiuser DSSS system under adaptive white Gaussian noise AWGN radio impairment for different types of baseband phase shift keying modulation. The simulation process is performed using Simulink tool where the signals from the base station are modulated using M-PSK method and then transmitted to varying number of mobiles (one to eight). The signal received at each mobile will be demodulated using the same M-PSK method and then estimated separately. The simulation results show that the bit error rate (BER) increases as a result of increasing the number of users and/or the M value of the M-PSK modulation mode. So, M-PSK is better in term of BER when the value of M is small.
Optimization of Ex-warehouse and Warehousing for Logistics Park Based on Computer Simulation

The logistics industry is regarded as a new product of the new time, and it is quickly covering most of the region. This paper is devoted to simulate the operation process of logistics park, the Arena modeling is used to construct the ex-warehouse and warehousing model of logistics park for its more in-depth analysis and research, so as to find out the optimization of logistics operation process, and improve the efficiency of resource utilization. The effective method of ex-warehouse and warehousing for logistics park is obtained, and it can provide some reference for high speed and effective logistics network.
A Theory of Private Equity Turnarounds

This paper explores the advantage of private equity in turnaround situations. Since the analysis and recovery plan of floundering businesses is typically carried out by an external turnaround specialist, it is not clear what causes a breakdown in the ownership-management separation. The paper explores scenarios under which the transfer of ownership to private equity prior to implementing an operational turnaround can emerge as an optimal solution. Also considered is the possibility of investment syndication by which it the potential buyer can share the transaction with other private equity firms. Various alternatives are considered to approach the turnaround process, in particular, ones that allow for management replacement and others that do not.
USING SOCIAL NETWORKING IN EFL CLASSROOM IN HIGHER EDUCATION

University students in Turkey face a lot of problems while learning a second language. One of the most significant problems is that the students lack motivation and urge to study a foreign language, especially using traditional learning techniques. This study included a group of Turkish university-level pre-intermediate students that have started to utilise a social networking website (Edmodo.com) as a language learning device beside their regular classes. A tailor-made supplementary program was developed to adapt the present curriculum. During the study, the students were asked to do assignments and received teacher feedback on Edmodo.com. After a brief of overview of social networking and language learning opportunities, this paper discusses motivational benefits, the changing role of teachers and adaptation issues being faced during the research, while presenting a case study and an analysis of the feedback taken from the questionnaires.
Effects of nitrogen fertilization on the abundance of enchytraeids and microarthropods in Scots pine forests

The effect on the abundance of enchytraeids and microarthropods of the nitrogen fertilizers, ammonium nitrate and urea, was studied. The experimental sites were three Scots pine stands in central and northern Sweden. Doses of fertilizers were similar to those used in practical forestry in Sweden but the effects of different doses of ammonium nitrate were also investigated. A significant decrease in the abundance of Enchytraeidae, Collembola and Cryptostigmata after ammonium nitrate fertilization was observed in one of the experiments. On the basis of this study and previous investigations, the following patterns of response to nitrogen fertilizers are discussed: 1) A shortterm effect with decreased abundance owing to ammonium toxicity or a "salt effect". 2) A long-term effect with increasing abundance resulting from increased food supply.
Clustering as modern concept of regional development: Experience of Japan

In the modern conditions clustering concept became one of the most popular modern trends, especially in the Asia-Pacific region. Japan has one of the most successful experience of cluster policy. It has a great variety of different forms of clusters in its regions: technology parks, industrial parks, science parks and others. Nowadays, Japanese government provided a number of Business Startup Support Programs for supporting innovation sectors in Japanese regions. This measure became one of the most successful in regional development. Japan is actively implementing a number of programs for development of scientific and technological cooperation with private enterprise and science centers. Nowadays, clustering also became one of the main sphere of New Economic Growth Strategy of Japan.
Internet Addiction and Its Correlation with Depression, Anxiety, Stress, and Loneliness in Undergraduate Students of UIN Malang

The arrival of the internet in addition brings positive impacts such as facilitate communication. However, it also brings negative impacts. One of the negative impact brought by the technological development is the phenomenon called internet addiction that has been widely studied. This study aims to find the relationship between internet addiction with depression, anxiety, and stress. A total of 166 UIN Malang undergraduate students were selected as research subjects. Each of the subjects were given IAT scale, DASS-42, and UCLA Loneliness scale to measure each variable of the research. We asked the participants to fill in the questionnaires, including the demographic characteristic of the internet they use such as the device they use for accessing the internet, the provider they use, the reason they access the internet and so on. Pearson correlation conducted found that there is a correlation between internet addiction, depression (r = .32, p < 0.05) , anxiety (r = .39, p < 0.05), stress (r = .39, p < 0.05, and loneliness (r = .19, p < 0.05). The correlation score of internet addiction and loneliness are quite small; this is because of the culture diversity among the subjects. These correlation results indicate that people with internet addiction tend to have depression, anxiety, stress, and loneliness.
Fat Tails and Spurious Estimation of Consumption-Based Asset Pricing Models

The standard generalized method of moments (GMM) estimation of Euler equations in heterogeneous-agent consumption-based asset pricing models is inconsistent under fat tails because the GMM criterion is asymptotically random. To illustrate this, we generate asset returns and consumption data from an incomplete-market dynamic general equilibrium model that is analytically solvable and exhibits power laws in consumption. Monte Carlo experiments suggest that the standard GMM estimation is inconsistent and susceptible to Type II errors (incorrect non-rejection of false models). Estimating an overidentified model by dividing agents into age cohorts appears to mitigate Type I and II errors.
Radar analysis of precipitation development in Florida cumulus clouds

The initiation and rapid acceleration of the precipitation process through collision-coalescence in warm cumulus clouds requires a mechanism for droplet spectral broadening, specifically the growth of the large end tail of the droplet spectrum. One of the simplest hypotheses, developed more than a half century ago, is that giant and ultragiant aerosols, such as sea-salt particles in marine environments, form large droplets upon entering cloud base (Woodcock and Gifford 1949). Although giant and ultragiant aerosols have the potential to produce large raindrops in time frames consistent with the growth of warm cumulus clouds, it is uncertain whether the concentration of these particles is sufficient to produce significant amounts of rain at the ground. One of the goals of the Small Cumulus Microphysics Study (SCMS), which was conducted in the summer of 1995 near Cape Canaveral Florida, was to study warm cumuli in their earliest stages, with the goal of understanding the factors that control the time to onset of precipitation. During SCMS, there were significant variations from day to day in the CCN concentrations, ranging from more maritime conditions (359 ± 142 cm) to continental conditions (1411 ± 388 cm) (Hudson and Yum 2001). These variations were associated with the prevailing wind direction, which in different time periods was either onshore or offshore of the east Florida coast. Hudson and Yum (2001) found that an apparent cloud droplet mean size threshold for the onset of drizzle was almost never exceeded in the continental clouds but was often exceeded in the maritime clouds, especially at higher altitudes. They concluded that in the SCMS clouds higher CCN concentrations suppressed drizzle formation. Hudson and Yum’s study suggests that giant and ultragiant aerosols apparently had little effect on the formation of precipitation in these clouds. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the radar reflectivity evolution of SCMS clouds with the goal of determining whether any significant differences are detectable in the time to onset of precipitation that can be associated with the clouds’ continental or maritime characteristics. For this study we have examined the
Fire Effects on Semidesert Grasses and Shrubs.

1 Central headquarters maintained in cooperation with CoZorado State University at Fort Collins. Author stationed at Tucson, Arizona, in cooperation with the University of Arizona. world (Humphrey, 1958; Weaver and Clements, 1938). Thornber (1910) observed that several semidesert shrubs were killed by fire in southern Arizona. More recently, Humphrey (1949), Humphrey and Everson (1951), and Reynolds and Bohning (1956) have reported on the effects of fires in killing semidesert shrubs. The effects of burning on associated annual and perennial grasses have received less attention. The present studies consisted of measuring changes in grass and shrub cover after burning and reburning to determine (1) the effectiveness of planned burning for shrub control, and (2) the direct and indirect effects of burning on perennial grasses. The study period, 1952-1965, included several years with precipitation above average and several years with precipitation below average.