Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
On the separation of net ecosystem exchange into assimilation and ecosystem respiration: review and improved algorithm

This paper discusses the advantages and disadvantages of the different methods that separate net ecosystem exchange (NEE) into its major components, gross ecosystem carbon uptake (GEP) and ecosystem respiration (Reco). In particular, we analyse the effect of the extrapolation of night‐time values of ecosystem respiration into the daytime; this is usually done with a temperature response function that is derived from long‐term data sets. For this analysis, we used 16 one‐year‐long data sets of carbon dioxide exchange measurements from European and US‐American eddy covariance networks. These sites span from the boreal to Mediterranean climates, and include deciduous and evergreen forest, scrubland and crop ecosystems.
A NUMERICAL STUDY OF FLOW AND HEAT TRANSFER BETWEEN TWO CONCENTRIC ROTATING SPHERES WITH TIME-DEPENDENT ANGULAR VELOCITIES

Abstract. The transient motion and heat transfer of a viscous incompressible uid contained between two concentric spheres, maintained at di erent temperatures and rotating about a common axis with di erent angular velocities, is considered numerically, when the angular velocities are arbitrary functions of time. The resulting ow pattern, temperature distribution and heat transfer characteristics are presented for the various cases, including exponential and sinusoidal angular velocities. An interesting e ect, of long delays in the heat transfer of a large portion of the uid in the annulus, is observed, because of the angular velocities of the corresponding spheres.
Perception of competitiveness in the context of sustainable development: Facets of “sustainable competitiveness”

Abstract European Council agreed to the European Commission's proposal to launch a new strategy for jobs and growth ‐ the new European Union strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth ‐ “Europe 2020”. This will lead to a new concept of the competitiveness and deeper relationship between sustainable development and competitiveness. The aim of this article is to set out the future research area of competitiveness theory taking into account the development of competitiveness concept and existing research tendencies. On the one hand, for developing the new concept of competitiveness, it is necessary to critically analyse existing studies on competitiveness. Researchers, examining the problems of competitiveness, differently approach the concept of competitiveness, suggesting different definitions, classification, factors, models of competitiveness, and evaluation criteria. Despite all the discussions on competitiveness however, no clear definition or model of competitiveness has yet been developed.
Multilevel perspectives in clinical learning environments' assessment: An insight on levels involved in planning nursing education

Background: Clinical learning in nursing education is workplace-based and it involves both learning and organizational factors. Students could experience these factors both at individual and at group level. This study aimed to assess clinical learning environment as a multilevel phenomenon, by grouping students’ perceptions at different organizational levels. Method: A cross-sectional multilevel design has been conducted. 3 Italian Universities, 6 Hospitals and 73 wards have been involved in the study during 2013. Wards with at least 3 attending nursing students have been included. The sample involved 597 nursing students (average age 23.1 years, SD = 4.67 years; 72.6% females; 27.2% attending first year; 31.7% second year; 41.1% third year). Clinical Learning Environment and Supervision plus Nurse teacher ( CLES+T ) scale has been administered. Intraclass Correlation Coefficients (ICC) have been estimated at ward, at hospital and at University level. Results: All ICCs scores were above 0.10 and they indicated clinical learning environment as a multilevel phenomenon. The most pertinent level to multilevel research was the ward level. The nurse teacher scale was pertinent to Hospital and University level. Conclusions: Clinical learning environment is a multilevel phenomenon. These findings could enhance research develop ment in this field of studies. Practical implications suggest multilevel approach in order to detect the most effective organizational level to improve educational intervention.
Effect of different feeding diets on the haemolymph of the newly emerged honeybee workers Apis mellifera L.

Five diets were compared for measuring their effects on the differential haemocytes types of the newly emerged worker bees, and also on their haemolymph proteins, lipids and glucose content. As blood haemocytes cell play a role in defending honeybees against parasites and pathogens. Five groups of newly emerged worker bees were fed with one of the following diets in patty form with sugar: faba bean (Vicia faba) pollen, maize (Zea mays) pollen, date palm (Phoenix dactylifera) pollen, Egyptian clover (Trifolium alexandrinum) pollen and soya bean (Glycine max) flour (as pollen supplement). Differential haemocyte counts (DHC) were evaluated in smears of their haemolymph. The types of the haemocytes (prohaemocytes, plasmatocytes, oenocytoids, granulocytes, coagulocytes and binucleated cells) were recorded. The most abundant type was plasmtoycte cells (over 90%) followed by granulocyte cells and coagulocyte cells. These blood cells perform phagocytosis and encapsulation of foreign bodies in the honeybee body cavity. Feeding honeybees with these different diets caused significant differences between the haemocyte cells. The highest number of plasmatocyte cells recorded in bees which fed on maize pollen, while the lowest was found in bees fed on bean pollen. The highest protein content was found in the haemolymph of bees fed on date palm and the lowest was found in bees fed on bean pollen and the difference was non-significant. The difference in lipids content was non-significant in worker bees fed on these different diets. There was a significant difference in glucose content between bees fed on maize pollen and date palm pollen.
The Soft X-Ray Blast in the Apparently Subluminous GRB 031203

GRB 031203 was a very low apparent luminosity γ-ray burst (GRB). Coincidentally, it was also the first GRB with a dust-scattered X-ray halo. The observation of the halo allowed us to infer the presence of a large soft X-ray fluence in the total burst output. It has also been claimed, however, that GRB 031203 was intrinsically subenergetic, representative of a class of spectrally hard, low-energy bursts quite different from other GRBs. A careful reanalysis of the available data confirms our original finding that GRB 031203 had a very large soft X-ray component, the time of which can be constrained to within a few minutes after the burst, strongly suggesting that while GRB 031203 did indeed have a very low apparent luminosity, it was also very soft. Notions propagated in the literature regarding the uncertainties in the determination of the soft X-ray fluence from the halo data and on the available constraints from the hard X-ray data are addressed: the properties of the scattering dust along the line of sight (grain sizes, precise location, and geometry) are determined directly from the high-quality X-ray data so that there is little uncertainty about the scatterer; constraints on the X-ray light curve from the INTEGRAL spacecraft at the time of the soft X-ray blast are not complete because of a slew in the spacecraft pointing shortly after the burst. Claims that GRB 031203 was intrinsically underenergetic and that it represents a deviation from the luminosity-peak-energy relation do not appear to be substantiated by the data, regardless of whether the soft X-ray component is (arbitrarily) declared part of the prompt emission or the afterglow. We conclude that the difference between the soft and hard X-ray spectra from XMM-Newton and INTEGRAL indicate that a second soft pulse probably occurred in this burst, as has been observed in other GRBs, notably GRB 050502B.
Recycled concrete aggregate as a road base material

Natural crushed aggregate (NCA) is the most common material for aggregate throughout the world. The consumption of the NCA itself is rising up through the years. Concrete structures and road construction are some of the most consuming aggregate material, especially NCA. Therefore, aggregate such as recycled concrete aggregate (RCA) has become an alternative material for some particular civil construction. The implementation of RCA as road construction material has been raised for a long time ago especially in road base layer. Road base layer as foundation for road pavement must provide an adequate strength to hold the working load on the pavement surface. RCA is more heterogeneous material compared to NCA as the RCA contain many substances, such as aggregate, cement, sand, and some additive substances. Hence, it effects the strength of the RCA as construction material. In this paper, the properties of the RCA are investigated to get the characteristic of the aggregate. Density, water absorption, aggregate crushing value (ACV), compaction, and penetration test (CBR) were conducted in this research. An improvement by using plastic strips as addition also proposed to strengthen the RCA as road base material.
Biomass and Nutrient Accumulation of Cover Crops in the Crop Off-season in Cerrado, in Goiás State, Brazil

The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of cover crops as for biomass production and nutrient accumulation during the crop off-season in an oxisol in Cerrado, in Goias State, Brazil. The experiment was performed in Rio Verde, GO, Brazil, from November, 2007 to October, 2008. It was used a randomized block design, with plots divided according to time, with cover crops, and subplots, concerning biomass sampling, with four repetitions. The evaluated cover crops were: Brachiaria ruziziensis , Pennisetum glaucum and B. ruziziensis + Cajanus cajan , and as a reference, fallow treatment with sponteneous species. The biomass samples were collected five times, since the desiccation date of P. glaucum , 60 days after cover crop sowing, which occurred on June, 12 th , 2008. The P. glaucum has shown the greatest amount of biomass and nutrient accumulation at 60 days after sowing, while the B. brizantha , B. ruziziensis and B. ruziziensis + C. cajan have shown significant accumulation in the end of the crop off-season.
Determinants of sustainable continuous improvement (Kaizen) implementation in Malaysian automotive part supplier SMEs

Globalization has caused many organizations to adapt themselves to the ever-changing business environment in order to sustain in this competitive market condition. Malaysian automotive part suppliers SMEs are also affected by the globalization. To remain competitive in this challenging business environments, the SMEs need to ensure continuous improvement are being implemented as part of their business strategy. This paper presents findings from a larger study on Kaizen implementation among automotive part supplier SMEs in Malaysia. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with four automotive part supplier SMEs located in Selangor and Pahang. The data during the interview were recorded, transcribed and coded before being divided according to relevant themes. Top management commitment, training, kaizen champion, supportive organization culture, communication, recognition and reward and employee empowerment are found to be among the determinants for successful continuous improvement. The findings from this study are useful to help companies to embark or sustain their kaizen activities. Furthermore, it is useful information to respective government agencies to develop policies that can help Malaysian automotive industry especially the SMEs to sustain their business.
Electronic Modeling and Optical Properties of CuIn 0.5 Ga 0.5 Se 2 Thin Film Solar Cell

In this work, the band structure and optical-related properties of CuIn0.5Ga0. 5Se2 thin film are presented. The calculation is performed by the full-potential linearized augmented plane wave (FPLAPW) method. The spin-orbit coupling is considered. The result for the dielectric function is in good agreement with earlier experimental measurements and simulations. Based on the complex dielectric function, the dielectric constant, the absorption coefficient, the complex refractive index and the reflectivity at normal incidence are explored. We found that they are comparable with the earlier results.
An Analysis: The Usage of Metadiscourse in Argumentative Writing by Malaysian Tertiary Level of Students

This paper analyzes the results of a corpus-based study on the usage of metadiscourse in argumentative writing by Malaysian college students. The aims of the study is to examine the frequency and distribution of metadiscourse used by the particular students in argumentative writing as well as to analyze the errors that made by the particular students in using metadiscourse. The finding shows that Malaysian college students are more inclined to using textual metadiscourse instead of interpersonal metadiscourse. Besides, the selected students are using less code glosses and stance indicator in their argumentative writing. In addition, Malaysian college students committed quite a number of errors in using metadiscourse and practices are needed to train them in using metadiscourse correctly. These findings are useful for Malaysian tertiary level of educators or teachers as they help the educators to figure out the weaknesses of students in using metadiscourse.
“Get to the bridge and I will help you to cross”: Merit, Personal Connections and Money in Access to Nigerian Higher Education

This article examines the methods students use to gain access to a university in Nigeria's elite federal sector. It explains the relationships between three “currencies” – merit, personal connections and money – that are utilised by students to achieve their goals. I argue that influences representing the official rules – merit – and those representing semi-official or unofficial processes – personal connections and money – intersect in ways that reveal the complexity of the relationship between state and society in contemporary Nigeria. This analysis reveals that in this case the hybrid interpretation of the neopatrimonial state, which views official and unofficial norms as existing in parallel and suffusing one another, has more analytical value than its counterpart, the wholesale state privatisation thesis.
Aerobic Fitness Relation to Match Performance of Japanese Soccer Referees

Soccer referees enforce the game rules. They are responsible for controlling player behaviour during match play (Castagna et al., 2007). Therefore, they are obliged to be in the best position to view a play by keeping up with players and making appropriate decisions (Weston et al., 2010, 2012). Recent reports have described that the risk of incorrect decisions was lowest when the distance from a foul was as short as 11–15 m (Mallo et al., 2012). The mean distance from a foul during a match (i.e., 15 m) coincides with this suggested distance (Krustrup & Bangsbo 2001; Krustrup et al., 2009; Weston et al., 2010, 2011a). To be within an appropriate distance from foul plays, referees must demonstrate and maintain a high level of aerobic fitness. For example, soccer referees cover 10–12 km during a match, with 10–20 % of it covered by high-intensity running (HIR ≥ 15 km·h-1) (Krustrup & Bangsbo 2001; Krustrup et al., 2009; Weston et al., 2012). These match activity profiles are similar to those required of players (Castagna et al., 2007; Weston et al., 2011b). Especially, the distance covered at HIR has been regarded as an important requisite for referees, given the intermittent nature of soccer (Krustrup & Bangsbo 2001; Krustrup et al., 2009). Previous studies have demonstrated that, for experienced Italian elite-level referees, both the maximal oxygen uptake (V 4 O2max) and running speed at blood lactate concentration of 4 mmol·L-1 (onset of blood lactate accumulation; OBLA) are correlated with the total distance covered. Actually, V 4 O2max is regarded as a slightly better predictor of the total distance than OBLA is (Castagna et al., 2002; Castagna & D'Ottavio 2001). Neither V 4 O2max nor the speed at OBLA (s-OBLA) is correlated with the distance covered at HIR. For these studies, however, video images were used to calculate running speeds. Consequently, the accuracy might be limited. Therefore, further investigations of the correlation between the aerobic fitness parameters (V 4 O2max Aerobic Fitness Relation to Match Performance of Japanese Soccer Referees
Identification of Global and Local Shocks in International Financial Markets via General Dynamic Factor Models

We employ a two-stage general dynamic factor model method to analyse the co-movements between returns and between volatilities of stocks belonging to the US, European, and Japanese financial markets. We find evidence of two common shocks driving the dynamics of volatilities - one global (worldwide) shock and one US-European shock and four "national" shocks in the panel of returns, but no global one. Co-movements in the returns and volatilities panels increased considerably in the period 2007-2012 associated with the Great Financial Crisis and the European Sovereign Debt Crisis. We interpret this finding as the sign of a surge, during crises, of interdependencies across markets, as opposed to contagion. Finally, we show that the global volatility shock, identified via natural timing assumptions, has homogeneous dynamic effects within each individual market but more heterogeneous effects across them, and also has good predictive power on aggregate realised volatilities.
The Expression of Motion Events: A Quantitative Study of Six Typologically Varied Languages

In lieu of an abstract, here is a brief excerpt: More than two decades of intense research on motion event typology, emanating from the influential proposal of Talmy (1991, 2000) of a universal binary classification of languages into verb-framed (VF), such as French, and satellite-framed (SF), such as English, still leaves many questions unresolved. One such question is whether serial-verb languages such as Thai should be considered a third type (Zlatev and David 2003; Zlatev and Yangklang 2004), generalized by Slobin (2004) as equipollently-framed (EF). A second question is whether these two or three types should be regarded as in some sense ‘distinct’ (even if they have minor expression patterns conflicting the dominant, type-characteristic ones), or rather as forming continua with respect to certain dimensions, such as the propensity to express MANNER (Slobin 2004) or PATH (Ibarretxe-Antunano 2009). A third and related question is whether the notion of language types (with respect to motion typology or in general) should not be abandoned, and languages rather be described as conglomerates of constructions and strategies, with complex overlaps (Kopecka 2006; Beavers, Levin & Tham 2010; Croft et al. 2010). In the research reported here, we address these questions, using an empirical approach based on elicited data from six carefully chosen languages. Two of these are the Romance languages French and Piedmontese, which can both reasonably be expected to be of the VF type. We also analyzed the Germanic languages Swedish and German and the Slavic language Polish, all three typically considered as SF. Finally, we included Thai (Tai-Kadai), classified as EF by Slobin (2004).
Inhibited growth in the photosymbiont-bearing foraminifer Marginopora vertebralis from the nearshore Great Barrier Reef, Australia

Growth rates of benthic photosymbiont-bearing foraminifera are strongly influenced by nutrient concentrations and temperature, yet little is known about the effect of terrestrially derived nutrients on growth rates of foraminifera in the field. This study investigates the growth response of Marginopora vertebralis to enhanced terrestrially derived nitrogen and phosphate under both field and laboratory conditions. The field studies were conducted around the Whitsunday Islands in the Great Barrier Reef (GBR), Australia, once during a peak flooding period and once during the dry sea- son. During the flood season, dissolved inorganic nitrogen and particulate phosphate increased 2- to 5-fold from terrestrially derived runoff from the Proserpine River catchment compared to the dry sea- son. Increased exposure to nutrients derived from terrestrial runoff negatively affected the growth rate of M. vertebralis in the field and in a comparative laboratory experiment. The field study showed a clear effect of site proximity to the river mouth and the intensity of the river discharge. Growth rates were higher in the reduced terrestrial runoff conditions at the offshore sites. When exposed to natu- rally enriched dissolved inorganic nitrogen and phosphate in the laboratory experiment, growth rate of M. vertebralis was reduced 51 and 37 %, respectively, compared with ambient controls. Eutrophi- cation likely causes destabilisation in the coupling of photosynthesis and growth within the photo- symbiont by restricting photosynthate translocation to the host. In addition to nutrient effects, we also tested the effect of summer (28°C) and winter (22°C) temperatures on foraminiferal growth in the lab- oratory. Growth rates were significantly lower in the warmer treatment than in the cooler treatment. Therefore, both increased temperatures and higher nutrient concentrations appear to negatively affect growth in photosymbiont-bearing benthic foraminifera. Overall, management of local stressors (in this case nutrient runoff) might ameliorate the impact of climate change (increased temperature) on calcifying photosymbiont-bearing organisms.
Behavioural Neurology of Personality Disorders: A Bi-dimensional Model

This study explored a new scientific approach for analysing mental disorders, as a possible way to modernise Kraepelinian psychiatry, using neurobehavioral principles to develop a model of personality (and personality disorders), as an example. The model uses a two-dimensional approach (behavioural and pathophysiological) to define personality disorders, instead of the prevailing one-dimensional (behavioural) approach used in Kraepelinian psychiatry. The model is also biological, socio-neurodevelopmental, and dimensional (non-categorical) and aims to integrate with clinical principles to the extent possible. The model begins from a platform of three origins of personality and personality disorders: basic skills (visceral, physical, and emotional and social intelligence), maturity, and environment. The model incorporates modern discoveries of neurosciences and makes them more amenable to clinical practice.
The Financial Performance and Corporate Governance Disclosure: A Study in the Annual Reports of Listed Companies of Bangladesh

This research aims to test empirically the relationship between the Financial Performances (Profitability) and the level of Corporate Governance Disclosure (CGD) by the listed non-financial companies in Bangladesh. Data are taken from annual reports of the listed companies in the 2007. This paper is based on a sample of 94 listed companies and Used OLS as a method of estimation. The extent of corporate governance disclosure level is measured using 40 items of information and financial performance (profitability) is measured by return on assets (ROA). Using an unweighted approach for measuring corporate governance disclosure, this approach is most appropriate when no importance is given to any specific user-groups. After establishing the disclosure index, a scoring sheet was developed to assess the extent of corporate governance disclosures. The result shows that the level of Corporate Governance Disclosure (CGD) is positively correlated with the Financial Performances (Profitability). The study provides empirical evidence to policy makers and regulators in South Asia.