Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
L'impact de la gouvernance sur le niveau des disponibilités des entreprises : le cas du Japon

(VF) Dans cette etude portant sur un vaste echantillon de societes japonaises, nous montrons que, comme aux Etats-Unis, une bonne gouvernance se traduit par un niveau de disponibilites plus eleve. Toutefois, cette relation ne s’explique pas par le fait que les societes japonaises a faible gouvernance procedent a plus d’investissements, mais resulte du fait que la qualite de leurs investissements est generalement moins bonne, ce qui conduit a des flux de liquidites plus faibles. Dans l’ensemble, cette etude demontre que l’impact negatif de la gouvernance sur les disponibilites observe sur la base d’indicateurs internationaux ne s’applique pas en utilisant les variables de gouvernance habituelles. (VA)In this study of a large sample of Japanese firms we show that, consistent with US findings, better governance structures are associated with larger cash holdings. However, this positive relation is not explained by the fact that Japanese firms with weaker governance structures are prone to overinvest, but stems from the fact that their investments exhibit significantly lower quality and thus generate lower cash flows. Overall, our results show that the negative relation between corporate governance and cash holdings observed in cross-country studies does not apply using standard governance variables.
A multi‐scale and multi‐disciplinary approach to monitor landscape dynamics: a case study in the Catalan pre‐Pyrenees (Spain)

A multi-scale and multi-disciplinary method was tested in the Catalan pre-Pyrenees in order to understand the relationship between landscape change, landscape processes, and ecological and social characteristics of landscapes. The three scales, and their corresponding methods, help us understand the processes of landscape change: on a general scale, a standardisation due to forest spread; on a detailed scale, a fragmentation of non-forest habitats; and on a local scale, the regeneration and scattering of woody species. Major landscape alterations have been observed through remotely sensed data. Closed forest area grew 140% at the expense of non-forest habitats such as pastures (-75%) and cultivated lands (-95%) during the past 50 years. Ecological metrics show a landscape standardisation (SHDI divided by 3) and a fragmentation of farmed landscapes. These changes, following a spatial pattern based on topography, explain the dynamic of the woody species in residual pastures, despite the persistence of cattle grazing as observed during field surveys. Yet, the forest, which constitutes the matrix of landscape, is not stable because of competition between species. The landscape change is related to the decline of the population (divided by 4.5 during the past 50 years) and the agricultural activities (number of farms divided by 2 or 3 during the past 20 years), and the favourable mild climate. The sustainable development of this territory should make the objectives of conservation, biodiversity and landscape protection and the preservation of their Mediterranean features compatible, and support agricultural activities that will contribute to this biological diversity and cultural identity.
Policy Effort Analysis on China’s New Rural Cooperative Medical System

From the perspective of rural health level, we analyze the policy effect of China's New Rural Cooperative Medical System on rural areas and inter-province in the method of quantitative analysis. The results show that from the overall level of the countryside, the establishment of the New Rural Cooperative Medical System play a positive role in safeguarding the health of farmers, improve the income situation of farmers and improve farmers' ability of resist risks. However, the effect of the New Rural Cooperative Medical System in different province on health and income levels of farmers is different. Compared to other provinces, Shandong and Liaoning provinces' effect of the implementation is relatively better.
Nonpoint Pollution: Tractable Solutions to Intractable Problems *

Nonpoint pollution goes right to a chink in the armor of conventionally trained economists (like myself) who are overtrained towards becoming protagonists of the price system. The very name "nonpoint" pollution suggests that economists see this as just an odd bit of clutter, something "non-regular" in their tidy world. Indeed, all pollution was an exception, an "externality", until recently. Then economists learned you can meter effluents and tax them, or create and trade effluent rights like private property. Thenceforth they could fit pollution into existing models and ideologies with minimum intellectual strain. Unfortunately, we can't meter runoff, it comes from areas, and its damages are spread unequally over other areas, differentially populated. Economists are ill-equipped and Undisposed to face such problems.
Using integrated visualization techniques to investigate associations between cardiovascular health outcomes and residential migration in Auckland, New Zealand

The negative health effects of living in a deprived neighborhood may influence the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD), even after controlling for sociodemographic characteristics, and there is evidence that residential mobility is associated with mortality and morbidity rates. However, few studies have investigated the application of integrated visualization techniques and statistic modeling to communicate the association between residential mobility and cardiovascular outcomes. We focus on examining the association between cardiovascular health outcomes and patient migration in Auckland, New Zealand, in two ways. First, we assess the association between all-cause mortality among patients with CVD and deprivation mobility, controlling for age, gender and ethnicity using multiple logistic regression at the individual level, and then visualize the results. Second, we identify aggregated geographical patterns of prevalence of CVD stratified using migration status, area-deprivation, ethnicity, and geographical area using kriskograms, ring-cartograms, and ringmaps to visualize the results. We reveal distinct patterns for purposefully selected subgroups and highlight disparities by geographic area, deprivation, and ethnicity before discussing the implications of our findings in relation to migration and health outcomes.
Improving Multimodel Forecasts of the Vertical Distribution of Heating Using the TRMM Profiles

Abstract Recently the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Tropical Rainfall Measuring Mission (TRMM) project office made available a new product called the convective–stratiform heating (CSH). These are the datasets for vertical profiles of diabatic heating rates (the apparent heat source). These observed estimates of heating are obtained from the TRMM satellite’s microwave radiances and the precipitation radar. The importance of such datasets for defining the vertical distribution of heating was largely the initiative of Dr. W. -K. Tao from NASA’s Goddard Laboratory. The need to examine how well some of the current cumulus parameterization schemes perform toward describing the amplitude and the three-dimensional distributions of heating is addressed in this paper. Three versions of the Florida State University (FSU) global atmospheric model are run that utilize different versions of cumulus parameterization schemes; namely, modified Kuo parameterization, simple Arakawa–Schubert parameteri.
Nonlinear energy fluxes and the finite depth equilibrium range in wave spectra

Results using a finite depth representation of Webb's [1978] transformation of Herterich and Hasselmann's [1980] equation for the rate of change of energy density in a random-phase, spatially homogeneous, finite depth wave spectrum show that the equilibrium range in finite depth preserves a k−2.5 form consistent with Resio and Perrie's [1991] deepwater results and that the relaxation time toward an equilibrium range in shallow water is considerably faster than in deep water. Results from this finite depth nonlinear energy transfer representation compared to previously calculated results of analytical spectral situations show agreement, and the finite depth Zakharov [1968] and Herterich and Hasselmann [1980] forms are shown to be numerically equivalent. Spectral analyses of matching wave spectra sets at sites in 8 and 18 m depths at Duck, North Carolina, show a k−2.5 shape in the equilibrium range and show energy gains above the spectral peak and at high frequencies with energy loss in the midrange of frequencies near the spectral peak, consistent with four-wave interactions. Spectral energy losses between these two sites correlate with spectral energy fluxes to high frequencies, again consistent with four-wave interactions. The equilibrium range coefficient shows strong dependence on friction velocity at both gages.
The mechanism and timescales of soil formation in the hyper-arid atacama desert, Chile

Wang, Fan. Ph.D., Purdue University, December 2013. The mechanism and timescales of soil formation in the hyper-arid Atacama Desert, Chile. Major Professor: Greg Michalski. The planetary surfaces that evolve in the near absence of water are strikingly different from surfaces where water is abundant, but their formation is poorly documented. This research is an in-depth exemplary work in the Atacama Desert in northern Chile to understand the soil formation in hyper-arid environments, as an analog for planetary surfaces such as the Mars. In detail, the basic mechanism regarding the source material, timescale, paleo-climatic settings and the role of crypto-biotic crusts have been investigated to constrain the Atacama soil development. The geochemical, isotopic and mineralogical composition of atmospheric dust deposited along a West-East transect in the Atacama Desert, stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Andean Altiplano, was evaluated. Results suggested that the deposited salts are mainly sourced from marine aerosol, as well as fog, local entrainment of surface material and secondary reactions. A comparison of the deposition data with the geochemistry of a paleosol in the hyper-arid core of the Atacama showed that the total paleosol ion composition can be explained by long-term accumulation of atmospheric deposition, while post-depositional leaching and salt precipitation account for the ion segregation typically found in the Atacama soil profiles. This has led to a proposed soil formation mechanism in hyper-arid environments consisting of four stages of
Separability Criterion for Density Matrices.

A quantum system consisting of two subsystems is {ital separable} if its density matrix can be written as {rho}={summation}{sub {ital Aw}}{sub {ital A}}{rho}{prime}{sub {ital A}}{circle_times}{rho}{double_prime}{sub {ital A}}, where {rho}{prime}{sub {ital A}} and {rho}{double_prime}{sub {ital A}} are density matrices for the two subsystems, and the positive weights {ital w}{sub {ital A}} satisfy {summation}{ital w}{sub {ital A}}=1. In this Letter, it is proved that a necessary condition for separability is that a matrix, obtained by partial transposition of {rho}, has only non-negative eigenvalues. Some examples show that this criterion is more sensitive than Bell{close_quote}s inequality for detecting quantum inseparability. {copyright} {ital 1996 The American Physical Society. }
Are pleiotropic effects of statins real?

The clinical benefits of statins are strongly related to their low density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering properties. However, because mevalonic acid (MVA), the product of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-3-glutaryl coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase reaction, is the precursor not only of cholesterol but also of nonsteroidal isoprenoid compounds, the inhibition of HMG-CoA reductase may result in pleiotropic effects, independent of their hypocholesterolemic properties. The discrimination between the pleiotropic from LDL-C lowering effects may potentially be more evident during the early phase of treatment since plasma MVA levels drop up to 70% within 1–2 hours while a reduction of LDL-C, detectable after 24 hours, became significant after 6–7 days. Therefore, the deprivation of circulating MVA-derived isoprenoids in the early phase of treatment could be the main mechanism responsible for the atheroprotective effect of statins. This early window of protection in the absence of LDL-C lowering suggests that the anti-inflammatory and the pleiotropic properties of statins may have clinical importance. Therefore, acute coronary syndromes could represent a clinical condition for addressing the early benefits of statins therapy, ie, within 24 h of the event, independent of LDL-C lowering.
When Does Crowd Size Matter? The Influence of Diversity and Experience on the Effects of Crowd Size

One advantage of crowds over traditional teams is that crowds enable the assembling of a large number of individuals to address problems. The literature is unclear, however, about when crowd size leads to better outcomes. To better understand the effects of crowd size we conducted a study on the retention and performance of 4,317 articles in the WikiProject Film community. Results indicate that crowd composition, specifically diversity and experience, is vital to understanding when size leads to better retention and performance. Crowd size was positively related to retention and performance when crowds were high in diversity and experience. Retention was important to determining when crowd size led to better performance. Crowd size was positively related to performance when retention was low. Our results suggest that crowds benefit from their size when they are diverse, experienced, and have low retention rates.
Residual solar cycle influence on trends in ionospheric F2‐layer peak height

[1] The longest data sets available for estimating thermospheric temperature trends are those from ground-based ionosondes, which often begin during the International Geophysical Year of 1957, close to a solar activity maximum. It is important to investigate inconsistencies in trend estimates from these data sets so that trends can be clearly determined. Here we use selected ionosonde stations to show that one of the most significant factors affecting the trend estimates is the removal of the solar cycle. The stations show trend behavior that is close to the behavior of a theoretical model of damped harmonic oscillation. The ringing features are consistent with the presence of solar cycle residuals from the analysis with an amplitude of 2.5 km. Some stations do not show trend behavior that is close to either the average behavior of the stations studied here or the theoretical model of oscillation. Four European stations (Poitiers, Lannion, Juliusruh, and Slough), three of which are closely located in western Europe, were analyzed with the expectation that their trend should be similar. Only Poitiers and Juliusruh showed an evolution that was close to the average behavior of other stations, while the other two were significantly different. The primary cause of this appears to be changes in the M(3000)F2 parameter and demonstrates the importance of incorporating consistency checks between neighboring ionosondes into global thermospheric trend estimates.
The shear wave velocity underneath Bucharest city, Romania, from the analysis of Love waves

SUMMARY From the dispersion of Love waves, we infer models of shear wave velocity structure underneath Bucharest (Romania) at depths down to 2 km that can contribute to seismic hazard estimation. Waves from eight regional events recorded during 10 months with a network of 34 seismic broad-band stations of the URban Seismology (URS) experiment are used. Although these events provide poor azimuthal coverage the data reliably constrain a shear wave velocity model with an interface between the Neogene and the Cretaceous sediments that is dipping northwards towards the Carpathian mountains. Array processing techniques that account for non-uniform wave propagation are used to estimate the dispersion of structural phase velocity. From this, we infer subsurface structure at three different latitudes. The Neogene sediments are represented by a gradient layer with no significant lateral variation. Shear wave velocity increases from approximately 400 m s −1 near the surface to 1 km s −1 at 1 km depth and 5 km in the south, and to 1.35 km s −1 at 1.5 km depth and 5 km in the north from the centre of Bucharest, respectively. For the half-space representing the Cretaceous sediments, we obtain shear wave velocities of 2.7–2.9 km s −1 . The results are consistent with results from boreholes and shallow seismics for the near-surface structure and results from receiver function studies and crustal refraction seismic studies for the deeper structure. The details of the Neogene layer comprising a vertical gradient fill a gap in existing models of the subsurface structure of Bucharest and can contribute to modelling of seismic hazard for the city. Since the signalto-noise ratio restricted useful data to the frequency range from 90 to 290 mHz, the inversion could not constrain the near-surface velocity independently. Due to strong trade-off between near-surface velocity and depth of half-space, the latter had to be introduced as ap rioridata from previous studies.
Identification and distribution of viruses infecting sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) in KwaZulu-Natal province, South Africa

A survey to determine occurrence and distribution of viruses infecting sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam. ) was conducted in major sweet potato growing areas in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Eighty-four symptomatic vine samples were collected and graft-inoculated onto universal indicator plants, Ipomoea setosa Ker. Gawl. and Ipomoea nil (L.) Roth. Six weeks post-inoculation, typical sweet potato virus-like symptoms of chlorotic flecking, leaf deformation, stunting, chlorotic mosaic, and distinct interveinal chlorotic patterns were observed on indicator plants. Under a transmission electron microscope, negatively stained preparations of crude leaf sap and ultra-thin sections from symptomatic grafted I. setosa plants revealed the presence of elongated flexuous particles and pinwheel-type inclusion bodies that are characteristic to the cytopathology of potyviruses. A majority of leaf samples (52%) from graft-inoculated indicator plants tested positive for virus and showed occurrence of Sweet potato feathery mottle virus (SPFMV), Sweet potato mild mottle virus (SPMMV), Sweet potato chlorotic stunt virus (SPCSV), Sweet potato chlorotic fleck virus (SPCFV), Sweet potato virus G (SPVG), Sweet potato mild speckling virus (SPMSV) and Sweet potato caulimo-like virus (SPCaLV) using nitrocellulose membrane enzymelinked immunosorbent assays. The most frequently detected viruses were SPFMV (39%), SPVG (30%), followed by SPCSV (13%) and SPMMV (12%). SPCaLV and SPCFV at 10% and SPMSV at 7% were found exclusively in samples collected from one area. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction of total plant RNA isolations confirmed the presence of SPFMV, SPVG, SPCSV and SPMMV as the most prevalent viruses infecting sweet potato in KZN.
Two Stable Equilibria of the Atlantic Subpolar Gyre

The cyclonic circulation of the Atlantic subpolar gyre is a key mechanism for North Atlantic climate variability on a wide range of time scales. It is generally accepted that it is driven by both cyclonic winds and buoyancy forcing, yet the individual importance and dynamical interactions of the two contributions remain unclear. The authors propose a simplified four-box model representing the convective basin of the Labrador Sea and its shallow and deep boundary current system, the western subpolar gyre. Convective heat loss drives a baroclinicflow of relatively light water around the dense center. Eddy salt flux from the boundary current to the center increases with a stronger circulation, favors the formation of dense waters, and thereby sustains a strong baroclinic flow, approximately 10%‐25% of the total. In contrast, when the baroclinic flow is not active, surface waters may be too fresh to convect, and a buoyancy-driven circulation cannot develop. This situation corresponds to a second stable circulation mode. A hysteresis is found for variations in surface freshwater flux and the salinity of the near-surface boundary current. An analytical solution is presented and analyzed.
Impact heating and coupled core cooling and mantle dynamics on Mars

Several giant impact basins of mid‐Noachian age have been identified on Mars, and the global magnetic field appears to have vanished at about the same time. The impacts that formed these basins delivered a large amount of heat to the planetary interior, modified the pattern of mantle convection, and suppressed core cooling, potentially contributing to the cessation of dynamo activity. Here we investigate the thermal evolution of Mars in response to the largest basin‐forming impacts, using a new method of coupling models of mantle convection with parameterized core cooling. We find that heating by a large impact generates a strong hemispheric upwelling in the mantle, which quickly spreads into a warm layer beneath the stagnant lid. The impact heating of the core leads to spherically symmetric stratification of the core; the outermost layers are strongly heated. This acts as a thermal “blanket” that prevents cooling of the interior and shuts down core convection. While the hottest part of the thermal blanket in the outermost core disappears relatively quickly, dynamo activity does not restart for ~100 Myr, and the core does not return to a fully convective state for ~1 Gyr following the impact.
Structural and Evolutionary Analysis Indicate That the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro Is a Challenging Target for Small-Molecule Inhibitor Design

The novel coronavirus whose outbreak took place in December 2019 continues to spread at a rapid rate worldwide. In the absence of an effective vaccine, inhibitor repurposing or de novo drug design may offer a longer-term strategy to combat this and future infections due to similar viruses. Here, we report on detailed classical and mixed-solvent molecular dynamics simulations of the main protease (Mpro) enriched by evolutionary and stability analysis of the protein. The results were compared with those for a highly similar severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) Mpro protein. In spite of a high level of sequence similarity, the active sites in both proteins showed major differences in both shape and size, indicating that repurposing SARS drugs for COVID-19 may be futile. Furthermore, analysis of the binding site’s conformational changes during the simulation time indicated its flexibility and plasticity, which dashes hopes for rapid and reliable drug design. Conversely, structural stability of the protein with respect to flexible loop mutations indicated that the virus’ mutability will pose a further challenge to the rational design of small-molecule inhibitors. However, few residues contribute significantly to the protein stability and thus can be considered as key anchoring residues for Mpro inhibitor design.