Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
User-Producer Interaction in the Brazilian Oil Industry: The Relationship Between Petrobras and its Suppliers of Wet Christmas Tree

The objective of this work is to analyze the importance of the user-producer interaction for the innovative process of the Brazilian oil industry from the 2000s. To do so, we selected two of the three providers installed in Brazil that produce the set of valves used in the oil wellhead to control its production, set which is called wet Christmas tree (WCT), the Norway's Aker Solutions and the American FMC Technologies. The results of this analysis indicate not only the development of the oil industry in Brazil is marked by a strategy of cooperative innovation, but they also reveal the importance of geographical proximity and direct cooperation, especially between the centers of engineering and research and development of companies. Furthermore, these partnerships are not limited to the adaptation of products to new needs, but they also include the development of new systems.
Improving professionalism in South African local government

It is assumed that public sector organisations will act in a professional way in the execution of their daily tasks. However, the contrary is experienced when assessing the performance of local government in South Africa. Municipal service delivery is often plagued by alleged financial irregularities, maladministration, corruption, mismanagement, service delivery protests and lack of trust by citizens. To improve this situation, it is proposed that particular competencies and capabilities be acquired by employees to promote more professional conduct; that an environment of more responsiveness, high performance and clear accountability be created; a culture of really putting people first be inculcated; financial sustainability and management be ensured; and that institutional capacity be improved through direct and indirect support interventions.
On Goodness‐of‐Fit Tests for Aalen's Additive Risk Model

Abstract. In this paper we propose goodness‐of‐fit tests for Aalen's additive risk model. They are based on test statistics the asymptotic distributions of which are determined under both the null and alternative hypotheses. The results are derived using martingale techniques for counting processes. An important feature of these tests is that they can be adjusted to particular alternatives. One of the alternatives we consider is Cox's multiplicative risk model. It is perhaps remarkable that such a test needs no estimate of the baseline hazard in the Cox model. We present simulation studies which give an impression of the performance of the proposed tests. In addition, the tests are applied to real data sets.
Considering the Smartphone Learner: an investigation into student interest in the use of personal technology to enhance their learning

Ownership of mobile smartphones amongst the general consumer, professionals and students is growing exponentially. The potential for smartphones in education builds upon experience described in the extensive literature on mobile learning from the previous decade which suggests that the ubiquity, multi-functionality and connectivity of mobile devices offers a new and potentially powerful networked learning environment. This paper reports on a collaborative study conducted by an undergraduate student with the support of two members of academic staff. The research sought to establish the extent to which students are autonomously harnessing smartphone technology to support their learning and the nature of this use. Initial findings were explored through student interviews. The study found that students who own smartphones are largely unaware of their potential to support learning and, in general, do not install smartphone applications for that purpose. They are, however, interested in and open to the potential as they become familiar with the possibilities for a range of purposes. The paper proposes that more consideration needs to be given to smartphones as platforms to support formal, informal and autonomous learner engagement. The study also reflects on its collaborative methodology and the challenges associated with academic innovation.
The Physical and Mental Health of Off-Reserve First Nations Children of Teen Mothers

The teen birth rate for First Nations women is higher than the teen birth rate for non-Aboriginal women. While associations between physical and behavioural outcomes have been examined in non-Aboriginal children with teen mothers, fewer studies have focused on First Nations children of teen mothers. This study uses data from the 2006 Aboriginal Children’s Survey to compare physical and mental health outcomes of 2- to 5-year-old off-reserve First Nations children of teenage and older mothers. There were few differences in physical health outcomes between off-reserve First Nations children of teen mothers and older mothers with the exception of dental health. However, for all of the mental health outcomes examined, child prosocial behaviours, emotional symptoms, inattention-hyperactivity, and conduct problems, scores were poorer for off-reserve First Nations children of teen mothers. Although the differences in prosocial and emotional problems were attributable to socio-economic factors, differences in child inattention-hyperactivity and conduct problems were not. Future research would help our understanding of the differences in outcomes between off-reserve First Nations children of teen and older mothers.
Regional unemployment and productivity in Europe

We analyse the relationship between regional unemployment and labour productivity in Europe, basing our empirical analysis on the predictions of a Neary-type General Oligopolistic Equilibrium trade model with efficiency-wages. Using semiparametric and dynamic panel data estimators and controlling for other factors, we give evidence of a nonlinear relationship between productivity and regional unemployment in Europe: with a level of productivity smaller than a certain threshold, this relationship is negative, while no relation occurs in the case of higher productivity regions. This evidence proves an important role of a wage-floor (induced by efficiency wages and exacerbated by institutional factors) under which the productivity gap cannot be compensated by a wage gap. Copyright (c) 2007 the author(s). Journal compilation (c) 2007 RSAI.
Maximization of ICRF power by SOL density tailoring with local gas injection

Experiments have been performed under the coordination of the International Tokamak Physics Activity (ITPA) on several tokamaks, including ASDEX Upgrade (AUG), JET and DIII-D, to characterize the increased Ion cyclotron range of frequency (ICRF) antenna loading achieved by optimizing the position of gas injection relative to the RF antennas. On DIII-D, AUG and JET (with the ITER-Like Wall) a 50% increase in the antenna loading was observed when injecting deuterium in ELMy H-mode plasmas using mid-plane inlets close to the powered antennas instead of divertor injection and, with smaller improvement when using gas inlets located at the top of the machine. The gas injection rate required for such improvements (~0.7 × 1022 el s−1 in AUG, ~1.0 × 1022 el s−1 in JET) is compatible with the use of this technique to optimize ICRF heating during the development of plasma scenarios and no degradation of confinement was observed when using the mid-plane or top inlets compared with divertor valves. An increase in the scrape-off layer (SOL) density was measured when switching gas injection from divertor to outer mid-plane or top. On JET and DIII-D, the measured SOL density increase when using main chamber puffing is consistent with the antenna coupling resistance increase provided that the distance between the measurement lines of sight and the injection location is taken into account. Optimized gas injection was also found to be beneficial for reducing tungsten (W) sputtering at the AUG antenna limiters, and also to reduce slightly the W and nickel (Ni) content in JET plasmas. Modeling the specific effects of divertor/top/mid-plane injection on the outer mid-plane density was carried out using both the EDGE2D-EIRENE and EMC3-EIRENE plasma boundary code packages; simulations indeed indicate that outer mid-plane gas injection maximizes the density in the mid-plane close to the injection point with qualitative agreement with the AUG SOL density measurements for EMC3-EIRENE. Field line tracing for ITER in the 15 MA QDT = 10 reference scenario indicates that the planned gas injection system could be used to tailor the density in front the antennas. Benchmarking of EMC3-EIRENE against AUG and JET data is planned as a first step towards the ITER SOL modelling required to quantify the effect of gas injection on the SOL density in front of the antennas.
Using multivariate analysis and stable isotopes to assess the effects of substrate type on phytobenthos communities

Abstract For more than a century, artificial substrates have been employed in phytobenthos studies. In the present study, we compared the phytobenthos community structure in a field experiment over 3 seasons (summer, autumn, and winter) on 3 types of artificial substrates (brick, brown clay tiles, and grey clay tiles) and 3 natural substrates (macrophytes, rocks, and sediment) in a small, temperate system. A combination of multivariate analyses (cluster, multi-response permutation procedure, indicator species [IndVal], and canonical correspondence analysis [CCA]) and stable isotope analysis was used. We identified 96 total phytobenthos taxa. Artificial substrates resulted in different substrate communities, as shown by stable isotope analysis, cluster analysis, and a multi-response permutation procedure, with only those communities growing on grey tiles being similar to natural substrate communities. Overall, artificial substrates exhibited slightly higher species richness compared to natural substrates over the 3 seasons, although there were no significant differences (p> 0.05). Phytobenthos grown on brown tiles, rocks, and bricks showed seasonal variability of the carbon isotope δ13C values using one-way ANOVA (p< 0.05). Phytobenthos community structure did not show great seasonal variation; however, CCA identified water flow, conductivity, ammonium, phosphate, and water depth as important in structuring phytobenthos communities on different substrates. IndVal analysis showed that common phytobenthos taxa were not restricted to a single substrate, but preference was generally high for natural substrate, especially rocks, compared to artificial substrates. Substrate microhabitat type seems to influence the communities within the study areas.
Spatial Pattern and Characteristic of Tree-fall Gaps to Approach Ecological Forestry in Northern Iran

Gaps created by falling trees (tree-fall gaps) are a natural disturbance in forest ecosystems. Understanding scale, pattern and the effect of gaps on regeneration is important to current and future forest management. The aim of this study was to determine the size, shape and the spatial pattern of tree-fall gaps and of associated regeneration. This study was carried out in three parcels (No.15, 18 and 19) of second District Shastkalateh forest in northern Iran. The size, location and regeneration of all tree-fall gaps were measured in these parcels. One way ANOVA was used to compare gap features and regeneration and Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was used to test the relationship between gap size and regeneration density. The results showed that the total area of gaps created by tree-fall in three parcels was 13.72 ha, or 7.4% of the total area, and on average there were 1.06 gaps per hectare. Gap size ranged from 49 m2 to 1827m2, with mean gap size being 658.2m2. Most (69.2%) gaps were 200 m2 to 1000 m2. Results of spatial pattern analysis showed both uniform and irregular shapes for gaps in three parcels. ANOVA analysis showed a statistically significant difference between gap size and regeneration density and the Spearman rank correlation showed a direct relationship between gap size and the number of seedlings. These results provide information to enable forests to be managed according to ecological principles.
Diversity management and human resources productivity: Mediating effects of perceived organizational attractiveness, organizational justice and social identity in Isfahan’s steel industry

Acknowledged by most researchers and scholars, human resource productivity is the most important factor in the resistive economy and business. On the other hand, Workforce diversity is one of the major challenges of this century; and perhaps for managers, managing diversity is more important than seeking diversity to maximize the human resource productivity. The present study aims to analyze the effects of diversity management and its approaches on HR productivity, with an emphasis on the role of cognitive mediator variables, including perceived organizational attractiveness, organizational justice, and social identity in the Mobarakeh Steel and Isfahan Steel companies of Iran. According to the sample size formula in Structural Equation Modeling, this study sample comprises 500 employees. Data analysis was conducted using SEM and path analysis by LISREL8.8. The results of this study confirmed the conceptual model: the effects of diversity management on human resource productivity. The mediator role of perceived organizational attractiveness, perceived organizational justice, and perceived social identity, has also been verified.
Estimates of slip weakening distance for different dynamic rupture models

We model the dynamic propagation of a 2‐D in‐plane crack obeying to either slip weakening (SW) or rate‐ and state‐dependent friction laws (R&S). We compare the value of slip weakening distance (Dc), adopted or estimated from the traction versus slip curves, with the critical slip distance measured as the slip at the time of peak slip velocity (D′c). The adopted friction law and the constitutive parameters control the slip acceleration as well as the timing and the amplitude of peak slip velocity. Our simulations with R&S show that the direct effect of friction and the friction behavior at high slip rates affect the timing of peak slip velocity and thus control the ratio D′c/Dc. The difference observed in this study between the Dc values and the inferred D′c can range between few percent up to 50%.
Philopatry and natal dispersal in a sedentary population of western marsh harrier

Dispersal is a key life-history trait because it influences population dynamics and population genetic structure. From a behavioural perspective, the study of natal dispersal requires some understanding of the mechanisms that affect individual movements, because movements of an animal form a path that is continuous throughout its life. Our aim was to investigate juvenile dispersal strategies in the western marsh harrier Circus aeruginosus, between fledging and first breeding attempt (from 1 to 4 years later, depending on the sex and individual). Using radio tracking, we monitored dispersing juvenile harriers and their home-range size variations within a sedentary population in central western France from 2001 to 2007. Juvenile dispersal strategy was mainly characterized by a very high natal philopatry (i.e. birds that remained within the study area) and short-distance dispersal. All but one bird (out of 39) remained within the study area between their first winter and their first spring, and 96.0% during their first spring. The distance moved at 2 years of age was significantly larger for males than for females (3800±sd 3593 m and 935±sd 481 m for seven males and six females, respectively), in contrast to most bird species studied so far. Home-range size was not sex biased and significantly decreased with age. In addition, non-breeding birds had larger home ranges (1603±sd 2128 ha) than breeders (349±sd 185 ha). Using data obtained from other populations, juvenile marsh harrier dispersal strategies appeared to be determined by migratory status (migratory birds dispersing farther) and demographic parameters (juvenile survival or fecundity).
Consistency issues of aqueous solubility data and solution thermodynamics of electrolytes

Abstract For the calculation of aqueous solubility of electrolytes, thermodynamic data from different sources are required. This can lead to errors if the data are inconsistent. This study reveals that some often-used semi-empirical equations for CO2 solubility and other equilibria are inconsistent with CODATA (Committee on Data for Science and Technology) key thermodynamic data. The equations were recalculated to make them consistent with CODATA. Combining standard thermodynamic data of NaCl with the Pitzer model leads to significant deviations from the accepted experimental value at 25 °C. Owing to the inadequacy of the Pitzer model at molalities exceeding 6 mol kg–1, this model leads to poor predictions of the HCl vapor pressure in equilibrium with highly concentrated aqueous HCl solutions. A long-standing inconsistency problem is related to the solubility of calcium carbonate. The main problem is disagreement on the existence of the CaHCO3+ ion pair. It is shown that the inconsistency largely disappears if it is assumed that the CaHCO3+ exists at low ionic strength, but becomes less stable at higher ionic strength.
Cardiac Parameters and Interleukin-6 Differences between Adolescents with Hepatitis B Infection versus those Complicated with Hepatocelluar Carcinoma

Background and study aim: Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a major risk factor of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in all age groups. There is a need to differentiate between them in the adolescence age by laboratory and physical examination for assessment of different outcomes of both diseases. Subjects and Methods: Cross sectional study that included Session [UserIDID] adolescents with HBV, another Session [UserIDID] with HCC with age ranging from 12 and up to 17 years. They were selected from those admitted to Tropical Medicine Department, Menofia University and Tropical Medicine Department, Zagazig University. All patient underwent laboratory assessment of interleukin6 (IL6) and were further examined at the Cardiology Unit in Pediatric department of Ain Shams University hospitals for complete echo-cardiographic and anthropometric evaluation. Results: Twenty four patients have HCC were examined with mean age (14.15± 3.01) years and another Session [UserIDID] are having HBV (14.64±3.13) years. Differences were found between both groups as regards IL6 as mean values were (13.29 pg/ml) in HBV and (77.63 pg/ml) in HCC group while no differences were detected as regards cardiac and anthropometric evaluations. Conclusion: IL6 seems to be a useful marker to compare between HBV and HCC in adolescent patients instead of depending on clinical cardiac evaluation or growth parameters that showed no differences.
Links between MIS 11 millennial to sub-millennial climate variability and long term trends as revealed by new high resolution EPICA Dome C deuterium data - A comparison with the Holocene

Abstract. We expand here the description of the Antarctic temperature variability during the long interglacial period occurring ~400 thousand years before the present (Marine Isotopic Stage, MIS 11). Our study is based on new detailed deuterium measurements conducted on the EPICA Dome C ice core, Antarctica, with a ~50 year temporal resolution. Despite an ice diffusion of a length reaching ~8 cm at MIS 11 depth, the data allow us to highlight a variability at multi-centennial scale for MIS 11, as it has already been observed for the Holocene period (MIS 1). The differences between MIS 1 and MIS 11 are analysed regarding the links between multi-millennial trends and sub-millennial variability. The EPICA Dome C deuterium record shows an increased variability and the onset of millennial to sub-millennial periodicities at the beginning of the final cooling phase of MIS 11. Our findings are robust with respect to sensitivity tests on the somewhat uncertain MIS 11 duration.
Chitosan effects on phytopathogenic fungi and seed germination of Jatropha curcas L.

J atropha curcas es una planta con gran potencial agricola e industrial. En este estudio se aislaron dos hongos de semillas no germinadas. Los aislamientos fungicos se identificaron morfologica y molecularmente como Fusarium equiseti y Curvularia lunata . Los efectos del quitosano se evaluaron sobre el crecimiento micelial, esporulacion y germinacion de esporas de F. equiseti y C. lunata . Ademas, se estudio el efecto sobre la germinacion de las semillas de J. curcas . Los resultados demostraron que todas las concentraciones probadas de quitosano (0.5, 1.0, 2.0 y 4.0 mg·mL-1) inhibieron el crecimiento micelial de los hongos. Las respuestas de esporulacion y germinacion de esporas fueron diferentes dependiendo de la especie fungica; el quitosano inhibio completamente la esporulacion C. lunata y la germinacion de esporas de F. equiseti . La inoculacion con F. equiseti y C. lunata redujo la germinacion de semillas de J. curcas 20 y 26.6 %, respectivamente; sin embargo, la aplicacion de quitosano antes de la inoculacion inhibio la actividad patogenica. En conclusion, el quitosano no afecto la germinacion de las semillas y causo efectos inhibitorios en F. equiseti y C. lunata. Este es el primer reporte del efecto del quitosano en J. curcas .
Penalty-based spatial smoothing and outlier detection for childhood obesity surveillance from electronic health records

Childhood obesity is associated with increased morbidity and mortality in adulthood, leading to substantial healthcare cost. There is an urgent need to promote early prevention and develop an accompanying surveillance system. In this paper, we make use of electronic health records (EHRs) and construct a penalized multi-level generalized linear model. The model provides regular trend and outlier information simultaneously, both of which may be useful to raise public awareness and facilitate targeted intervention. Our strategy is to decompose the regional contribution in the model into smooth and sparse signals, where the characteristics of the signals are encouraged by the combination of fusion and sparse penalties imposed on the likelihood function. In addition, we introduce a weighting scheme to account for the missingness and potential non-representativeness arising from the EHRs data. We propose a novel alternating minimization algorithm, which is computationally efficient, easy to implement, and guarantees convergence. Simulation shows that the proposed method has a superior performance compared with traditional counterparts. Finally, we apply our method to the University of Wisconsin Population Health Information Exchange database.