Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Non-price Effects of Mergers and Acquisitions

In this paper, we summarize the economic literature on non-price effects of mergers and acquisitions (M&As). Specifically, we discuss the effects of M&As on innovation, product variety, and sustainability. Although the relationship is theoretically ambiguous, the vast majority of ex-post evaluations of horizontal M&As finds large negative effects on innovation inputs and outputs. Results are mixed for outcomes related to variety and product quality. Literature on merger effects on sustainability is still scarce and not conclusive so far. Overall, the existing literature indicates that non-price effects of horizontal mergers seem to amplify negative consequences for consumers from price increases through reduced competition. We derive a number of ideas and options for merger policy.
Polarization in Reddit Discussions

We investigate the formation of polarized groups of users in Reddit. We consider the formation of two types of polarized groups, namely, groups that barely communicate with each other ( unsigned ), and groups that communicate to express disagreement ( signed ). We study the formation of polarized groups both within ( intra ), and across communities ( inter ), that discuss the same topic. We also investigate the impact of controversial discussions in group polarization. We adopt an approach that exploits the structure of the user interactions. Our results show that: (i) there is evidence of unsigned inter-polarization and (ii) signed intra-polarization.
Flux and age of dissolved organic carbon exported to the Arctic Ocean: A carbon isotopic study of the five largest arctic rivers

The export and Δ14C‐age of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) was determined for the Yenisey, Lena, Ob', Mackenzie, and Yukon rivers for 2004–2005. Concentrations of DOC elevate significantly with increasing discharge in these rivers, causing approximately 60% of the annual export to occur during a 2‐month period following spring ice breakup. We present a total annual flux from the five rivers of ∼16 teragrams (Tg), and conservatively estimate that the total input of DOC to the Arctic Ocean is 25–36 Tg, which is ∼5–20% greater than previous fluxes. These fluxes are also ∼2.5× greater than temperate rivers with similar watershed sizes and water discharge. Δ14C‐DOC shows a clear relationship with hydrology. A small pool of DOC slightly depleted in Δ14C is exported with base flow. The large pool exported with spring thaw is enriched in Δ14C with respect to current‐day atmospheric Δ14C‐CO2 values. A simple model predicts that ∼50% of DOC exported during the arctic spring thaw is 1–5 years old, ∼25% is 6–10 years in age, and 15% is 11–20 years old. The dominant spring melt period, a historically undersampled period, exports a large amount of young and presumably semilabile DOC to the Arctic Ocean.
Relationship of degree‐days above freezing to runoff

The tributary drainage-area (Fig. 1) of the Coeur d'Alene, St. Joe, and St. Maries rivers in northern Idaho supplies the inflow into Coeur d'Alene Lake, which forms the storage-reservoir for several hydroelectric power developments located on the Spokane River. The entire source of power of the Washington Water Power Company which operates these plants is from hydroelectric power. It was therefore important to obtain some method of predicting water-supply for the approaching low-water period each year.
Software to prototype 3D Interaction Technique Empirical Evaluation

Designing usable and effective 3D Interaction Technique (3D IT) is very challenging for system developers and human factors specialists. Indeed, time consuming empirical evaluation is necessary to have an idea about the goodness of 3D IT at the end of its development lifecycle. This may induce a huge loss of time if the result appears to be not satisfying at the end. We have designed and implemented an Empirical Evaluation Assistant to rapidly gather significant feedbacks about the usability of 3D IT during its development lifecycle. Thus, it may be possible to enhance iteratively the 3D IT before it would be classically evaluated by ergonomics experts at the end of its development lifecycle. EEA has been used to gather results about a 3D IT developed in our research laboratory which is still under study. Results show that EEA has permitted to redesign some characteristics of this 3D IT.
Robust Near-Optimal Arm Identification With Strongly-Adaptive Adversaries

In this work, we study the best arm identification problem in the adversarial multi-armed bandits framework. We define a strongly-adaptive adversarial model in this framework, based on strongly-adaptive adversaries in security and distributed systems. On the negative side, we show the increased strength of the adversarial model by proving that it is impossible for any best-arm identification algorithm to return an arm with rank <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\boldsymbol{\leq}\left\lfloor\frac{\boldsymbol{\epsilon}\boldsymbol{K}}{ \mathbf{1}\boldsymbol{+}\boldsymbol{\epsilon}_{\mathbf{0}}}\right\rfloor$</tex-math></inline-formula>, where <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$K$</tex-math></inline-formula> is the number of arms, <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\epsilon$</tex-math></inline-formula> is the adversary's budget and <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\epsilon_{0}$</tex-math></inline-formula> is the breaking point of the robust mean estimation subroutine. On the positive side, we construct a novel sequential elimination algorithm which returns a near-optimal arm (with rank <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\boldsymbol{\leq}\left\lceil(\mathbf{1}\boldsymbol{+}\boldsymbol{\lambda}) \left\lfloor\frac{\boldsymbol{\epsilon}\boldsymbol{K}}{\boldsymbol{\epsilon}_{ \mathbf{0}}}\right\rfloor\right\rceil$</tex-math></inline-formula> where <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\boldsymbol{\lambda}\boldsymbol{>}\mathbf{0}$</tex-math></inline-formula> is a function of <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\epsilon$</tex-math></inline-formula> and <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\epsilon_{0}$</tex-math></inline-formula> and tends to 0 for small <inline-formula><tex-math notation="LaTeX">$\epsilon$</tex-math></inline-formula>) with high probability. We evaluate our algorithm on both synthetic and real-world datasets and empirically demonstrate that our algorithm returns a near-optimal arm under a strongly-adaptive adversarial model.
Productivity and accessibility of road transportation infrastructure in Spain: a spatial econometric approach

Road transportation infrastructure projects in Spain have been promoted, raising the quality of Spain’s road transportation network to European standards in a short period of time. The objective of this chapter is to measure the output effect of road transportation infrastructure in Spain in the period between 1997 and 2006. In particular we estimate a production function using a panel dataset of Spanish provinces (NUTS 3) in order to account for marginal productivity effects within a province and to document the existence of spillover effects outside the provincial boundaries through the use of spatial econometric methodologies. Road infrastructure endowment indicators are measured using three different indicators: an accessibility measure, the traditional road stock indicators and a variable to accommodate the stock indicator to the degree of utilization. Estimation results show that road transportation infrastructure positively impacts upon the performance of the Spanish economy. The spillover effects of road infrastructure stock and accessibility on neighbouring provinces are larger than direct impacts caused by the infrastructure where it is located.
European Journal of Educational Research

: The onset of the Coronavirus disease COVID-19 crisis has forced pedagogical institutes to adopt online teaching/learning as an urgent strategy to cope with the pandemic. Utilizing the theories of social capital, knowledge sharing, and mobile learning constructs, this research aims to investigate the association among these constructs in one of the higher education institutes in the context of developing countries. Additionally, to improve our understanding of the mediation effect of mobile learning on this relationship, the author used the structural equation modeling technique to analyze the data from questionnaires administered to undergraduate students attending classes during the pandemic. Results revealed that the relationship between social capital factors and knowledge sharing is significantly positive. Results also showed that there is a partial mediation to back up the correlation of social capital factors and knowledge sharing
Changes in Climate at High Southern Latitudes: A Unique Daily Record at Orcadas Spanning 1903–2008

Abstract The climate observations at Orcadas represent the only southern high-latitude site where data span more than a century, and its daily measurements are presented for the first time in this paper. Although limited to a single station, the observed warming trends are among the largest found anywhere on the earth, facilitating the study of changes in extreme temperatures as well as averages. Factors that may influence Antarctic climate include natural variability; changes in greenhouse gases; and, since about the mid-1970s, the development of the ozone hole. The seasonality of observed warming and its temporal evolution during the century are both key for interpretations of Antarctic climate change. No statistically significant climate trends are observed at Orcadas from 1903 to 1950. However, statistically significant warming is evident at Orcadas throughout all four seasons of the year since 1950. Particularly in austral fall and winter, the warming of the cold extremes (coldest 5% and 10% of days).
Clustering of down-hole physical properties measurement to characterize rock units at the Victoria Cu-Ni property

Summary Magnetic susceptibility, density, and gamma ray counts are three physical properties measured within a hole drilled at Victoria property, were used to identify rock types. The fuzzy k-means clustering algorithm was used to divide the data into different clusters, each of which represented a rock group with similar physical properties characteristics. The number of clusters reveals the number of rock groups which are identifiable based on physical properties measurements. Characterization of physical properties of rocks within the hole will help to modify the geological model and plan further exploration activities.
Qualitative analysis of the transmission and preservation strategies for Qin'an Xiaoqu folk music in Gansu, China

This qualitative analysis aims to investigate the current state of transmission and conservation of Qin'an Xiaoqu folk music in Gansu, China. The research adopts a comprehensive approach, combining qualitative research techniques, fieldwork, literature analysis, and interviews. Key informants, including musicians, folk artists, cultural experts, and residents, contribute their knowledge and experiences related to Qin'an Xiaoqu. Ethnographic observations, participant observations, and in-depth interviews provide firsthand insights into the musical characteristics, historical significance, and cultural relevance of this tradition. The results underscore the historical, cultural, and spiritual importance of Qin'an Xiaoqu, reflecting the essence of the Chinese nation. However, challenges such as weak awareness, funding constraints, lack of successors, and changing cultural environment threaten its continuity. The research proposes strategies such as cultivating professional archivists, enhancing education transmission, and supporting musicians to preserve and transmit this musical heritage effectively. By recognizing its significance and implementing robust conservation strategies, this cherished musical legacy can endure for future generations, reinforcing the enduring spirit of Chinese culture.
A Holistic Approach of Homoeopathy in Cases of Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

Polycystic ovarian disease (PCOD) can be positively impacted by homeopathic therapy, which is founded on the ideas of individualization and symptom similarity. To address the distinct symptomatology of PCOD patients, Homoeopathy offers gentle, non-invasive treatments including Pulsatilla, Sepia, and Lachesis. These treatments work to normalize menstrual cycles, balance hormones, and lessen ovarian cysts. Homoeopathy is a promising treatment for PCOD management since it has few adverse effects and, when used by trained professionals, improves the well-being of those who are affected. Key words: Homoeopathy, Repertory, Medicine, Polycystic ovarian disease, Nux Moschata
Influence of weather condition on pelagic fish landings in Kota Kinabalu, Sabah, Malaysia

It is a widely held belief that meteorological conditions have impact on fish landing, leading us to find out how they affect the abundance and diversity of fishes in Kota Kinabalu throughout the year. Monthly fish landings for Kota Kinabalu were studied together with the available meteorological data for the past 11 years. Results indicate that the highest abundance of fish landing was in 2007 with 42,974 tonnes and 11 major species. In contrast, 2009 recorded the lowest fish landings with 27,397 tonnes and eight major species. From the monsoon aspect, the highest average abundance of 4,969 tonnes with 10 major species of fishes was recorded during the Southwest monsoon. During the Northeast monsoon and the Inter monsoon period, fish landings of 3,365 tonnes with 10 major species and 3,152 tonnes with nine major species were recorded, respectively. The prominent fish species during the study period were Ilisha elongata, Nemipterus sp. and Sardinella albella. The correlation between pelagic fish landings with rainfall, temperature, wind and Southern Oscillation Index (SOI) values suggested that the abundance and diversity of fishes were believed to be sensitive to weather parameters. Results indicate that the correlation coefficient between rainfall and fish landings is +0.60 with rainfall leading by two months. Also, fish landings and temperature are correlated with a correlation coefficient of +0.76 with temperature leading by three months. However, a negative correlation (with correlation coefficient of -0.83) between SOI values and fish landings is found when two months before fish landings increase, the SOI values become low or negative. It is not only meteorological conditions during monsoon periods that affect fish landings in Kota Kinabalu, but also the influence of ENSO (El Nino Southern Oscillation).
Study of lightning channel through 3D reconstruction images: a case study

Forty-three lightning flashes were observed, during the summers from 2010 to 2013, in the urban area of Sao Bernardo do Campo, Sao Paulo. The 10 thunderstorms were monitoring simultaneously by a stereo system, E-field measurement and BrasilDat network. Several images of tortuous flashes were observed to identify the real tortuosity of the channel. The positive cloud-to-ground lightning flashes presented longer horizontal and transversal displacements than the negative cloud-to-ground flashes. Cases of stepped leader and its respective return stroke were observed on stereo vision identifying the main channel used by return stroke. Long horizontal and transversal channels were observed on looping events. Most electromagnetic models and studies of stepped leader propagation do not consider the real lightning flashes tortuosity. So, the application of stereo vision on lightning flashes images can come up with details of the real lightning flashes tortuosity as well as clarify looping events.
20 Years of natural recovery after wildfire on northern Nevada rangelands

In recent decades Northern Nevada has experienced a dramatic increase in cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). As a result, wildfire frequency and size has increased. The objective of this project was to examine natural vegetation recovery and trend following 1985 wildfires. Density and cover measurements determined a high but fluctuating occurrence of cheatgrass and minimal change of perennial grass and shrubs. Loamy 8-10 ecological sites have a greater potential for consistently producing more cheatgrass plants and cover than loamy 5-8 and droughty loam sites.
A NEW ROLLER BEARING FAULT DIAGNOSIS METHOD BASED ON VMD ENERGY ENTROPY AND BSOA-LSSVM

This paper presents a new method for roller bearing fault diagnosis based on least square support vector machine (LSSVM) with parameters optimized by Backtracking Search Optimization Algorithm (BSOA), namely BSOA-LSSVM. First, roller bearing acceleration vibration signals are decomposed into functions by using Variational Mode Decomposition (VMD) method. Second, initial feature matrices are extracted from those functions by energy entropy to obtain feature matrix. Third, these values serve as input vector for BSOA - LSSVM classifier. Experimental results showed that the proposed method gave the higher classification accuracy (100%) and shorter computational time than other method.
Investigation of Fluoride Level in Drinking Water Supplies of Qaemshahr City (North of IRAN) from 2006 to 2012

Background and purpose: Fluoride is one of the fundamental and required components in human body. The current study intends to survey the status of fluoride in drinking water supplies (underground water source and drinking water) in Qaemshahr city from 2006 (march/21) to 2012(march/19) and comparison with universal standards, national and climatic conditions. Materials and Methods: This is a descriptive and sectional study. Samples were experimented in Qaemshahr water and wastewater department laboratory. Fluoride concentration in samples has been measured by DR 2800 and SPADNS Fluoride Reagent Solution. Results were analyzed with Excel software. The medium of maximum temperature in different seasons has been obtained from meteorology department. Then fluoride levels in several years have been compared to each other and to universal, national and climatic standards. Results: Comparing to standards National standards of IRAN and according to climatic conditions, proper levels of fluoride were in underground water sources respectively (9 % - 0.9 %) in spring, (17 % - 6.5 %) in summer and, (13 % - 0.00 %) in autumn and in winter. Also in Urban water distribution network were respectively (3.2 % - 3.2 %) in spring, (12.5 % - 5 %) in summer, (8.3 % - 0.00 %) in autumn and, (0.00 % - 0.00 %) in winter. The Fluoride levels in 100% of samples were lower than standards (MCLG and MCL= 4 mg/l). Conclusion: No significant relation was observed between fluoride concentrations obtained in different seasons and in different years. In most cases the Fluoride levels in studied city were lower than universal standards, national and climatic conditions. It is recommended that adding fluoride to food chain of the studied citizens should be noticed by the relevant authorities. (*Boudaghimalidareh H. Alinezhad A. Boudaghimmalidareh P. Mahvi A. Investigation of Fluoride Level in Drinking Water Supplies of Qaemshahr City (North of IRAN) from 2006 to 2012. IJHS 2013; 1(2):19-27) http://jhs.mazums. ac.ir
Decoding the fashion trend of sports shoes with empowered computer vision

To adapt to the rapidly changing market and capricious trends, fashion brands need to understand trends and market conditions precisely and fast to produce marketable products. The traditional fashion trend analysis has relied heavily on the subjective judgement of experts, inevitably leading to biased decisions and is time-consuming. The development of computer vision and machine learning provides an objective and systematic approach to processing images and analysis of fashion products. However, most studies focus on clothing trends analysis, few are on shoe trends analysis. Hence, this study aimed to decode and analyse the fashion trend of sports shoes with empowered computer vision technology. In this paper, a dataset containing e-commerce images of sports shoes with precise annotations was established; then Mask-RCNN was utilized to classify and extract the shoe from the background image; a modified version of the K-means clustering algorithm was employed to detect the shoe colour. The results indicated that fashionable sports shoes and casual sports shoes were the most prevalent two styles. Besides neutral tones, yellow, red ochre and reddish orange were popular in casual sports shoes, fashion sports shoes and basketball shoes respectively and Atlantic Blue in board shoes and trainers. This study demonstrated the promising potential of computer vision and machine learning as a new method to analyse footwear fashion trends efficiently and economically.
The Interactions of Soy Protein and Wheat Gluten for the Development of Meat-like Fibrous Structure

Consumers who are environmentally and health conscious are increasingly looking for plant-based alternatives to replace animal-based products in their daily diets. Among these alternatives, there is a growing demand for meat analogues that closely resemble the taste and texture of meat. As a result, significant efforts have been dedicated to developing meat analogues with a desirable meat-like structure. Currently, soy protein and wheat gluten are the main ingredients used for producing these meat analogues due to their availability and unique functionalities. This study observed that high moisture extrusion at moisture levels of 50–80% has become a common approach for creating fibrous structures, with soy protein and wheat gluten being considered incompatible proteins. After the structuring process, they form two-phase filled gels, with wheat gluten acting as the continuous phase and soy protein serving as a filler material. Moreover, the formation of soy protein and wheat gluten networks relies on a combination of covalent and non-covalent interaction bonds, including hydrogen bonds that stabilize the protein networks, hydrophobic interactions governing protein chain associations during thermo-mechanical processes, and disulfide bonds that potentially contribute to fibrous structure formation. This review provides case studies and examples that demonstrate how specific processing conditions can improve the overall structure, aiming to serve as a valuable reference for further research and the advancement of fibrous structures.
Decay and nutrient release in Vulpia myuros grasses,a species suitable for soil conservation in temperate zone orchards

The grass species Vulpia myuros has a September-to-June growth period and can enhance orchard soils and prevent water loss and soil erosion.However,orchard managers are often concerned by the species' presence as a competitor for nutrients with fruit trees.This paper reports an investigation of the decomposition and nutrient release rates of V.myuros in the Qingdao area of northern China,which has a humid climate.Dead V.myuros was collected in late June 2012 and buried at the depth of 10 cm in soils with three moisture content levels(65%,75% and 85%). Decay rates and the release rates of carbon,nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium were measured every ten days between July and October.Results showed that V.myuros has a very fast decay rate,with approximately 30% decomposed within 80 days.This decay releases carbon,nitrogen,phosphorous and potassium,principally during the first 20-40 days.Potassium had the fastest release rate,followed by phosphorous,while nitrogen and carbon were the slowest.Soil moisture had a significant effect on decomposition.The decay rate is accelerated when moisture levels are raised from 65%to 85%. The study concludes that V.myuros can supply nutrients to fruit trees and does not compete with them,as previously thought.Thus V.myuros can be used in the temperate hilly regions in northern China in order to enhance nutrient cycling in orchard ecosystems.