Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Particle-in-Cell Simulations of Collisionless Magnetic Reconnection with a Non-Uniform Guide Field

Results are presented of a first study of collisionless magnetic reconnection starting from a recently found exact nonlinear force-free Vlasov-Maxwell equilibrium. The initial state has a Harris sheet magnetic field profile in one direction and a non-uniform guide field in a second direction, resulting in a spatially constant magnetic field strength as well as a constant initial plasma density and plasma pressure. It is found that the reconnection process initially resembles guide field reconnection, but that a gradual transition to anti-parallel reconnection happens as the system evolves. The time evolution of a number of plasma parameters is investigated, and the results are compared with simulations starting from a Harris sheet equilibrium and a Harris sheet plus constant guide field equilibrium.
Rethinking State Politics: The Withering of State Dominant Machines in Brazil

Research on Brazilian federalism and state politics has focused mainly on the impact of federal arrangements on national political systems, whereas comparative analyses of the workings of state political institutions and patterns of political competition and decision-making have often been neglected. The article contributes to an emerging comparative literature on state politics by developing a typology that systematizes the variation in political competitiveness and the extent of state elites’ control over the electoral arena across Brazilian states. It relies on factor analysis to create an index of “electoral dominance”, comprised of a set of indicators of party and electoral competitiveness at the state level, which measures state elites’ capacity to control the state electoral arena over time. Based on this composite index and on available case-study evidence, the article applies the typological classificatory scheme to all 27 Brazilian states. Further, the article relies on the typological classification to assess the recent evolution of state-level political competitiveness. The empirical analysis demonstrates that state politics is becoming more competitive and fragmented, including in those states that have been characterized as bastions of oligarchism and political bossism. In view of these findings, the article argues that the power of state political machines rests on fragile foundations: in Brazil’s multiparty federalism, vertical competition between the federal and state governments in the provision of social policies works as a constraint on state bosses’ machine-building strategies. It is concluded that our previous views on state political dynamics are in serious need of re-evaluation.
Comparison of Foraging Ability Between Solenopsis invicta and Tapinoma melanocephalum ( Hymenoptera : Formicidae ) by

In this study, we investigated the foraging ability of the invasive ant Solenopsis invicta and native ant Tapinoma melanocephalum (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) by measuring their searching and recruitment time for 5 types of food (sausage, sausage & honey, honey, mealworm and peanut oil) in infested wasteland and litchi orchards in south china. The searching time was determined by measuring the time required for the first ant to find the food. The recruitment time was determined by measuring the time to recruit 10 ants to the food which was placed on petri dish 30 cm away from nest entrances. 30 colonies each of T. melanocephalum and S. invicta were tested. In the infested wasteland, the searching time of S. invicta for sausage & honey, sausage, mealworm and honey and the recruitment time of S. invicta for sausage & honey, mealworm and honey were significantly longer than those of T. melanocephalum, but the searching time of these two species of ants for peanut oil was not significantly different. In the infested litchi orchard, the recruitment time of S. invicta for sausage was significantly longer than that of T. melanocephalum, while the recruitment time for the other four types of food was not significantly different between the two species of ants. The searching time for all the five types of food was not significantly different between the two species of ants in the infested litchi orchard.
A Lattice Boltzmann Simulation of Three-Dimensional Displacement Flow of Two Immiscible Liquids in a Square Duct

A three-dimensional, multiphase lattice Boltzmann approach is used to study a pressuredriven displacement flow of two immiscible liquids of different densities and viscosities in a square duct. A three-dimensional, 15-velocity (D3Q15) lattice model is used. The effects of channel inclination, viscosity, and density contrasts are investigated. The contours of the density and the average viscosity profiles in different planes are plotted and compared with those obtained in a two-dimensional channel. We demonstrate that the flow dynamics in a three-dimensional channel is quite different as compared to that of a two-dimensional channel. We found that the flow is relatively more coherent in a three-dimensional channel than that in a two-dimensional channel. A new screw-type instability is seen in the three-dimensional channel that cannot be observed in the two-dimensional channel.
Playful learning: tools, techniques, and tactics

Over the past decade, there has been an increased use of playful approaches to teaching and learning in higher education. Proponents argue that creating ‘safe’ playful spaces supports learning from failure, management of risk-taking, creativity and innovation, as well as increasing the enjoyment of learning for many students. However, the emergent field of playful learning in adulthood is under-explored, and there is a lack of appreciation of the nuanced and exclusive nature of adult play. This article will first examine the theoretical background to the field, providing an initial definition of ‘playful learning’ through the metaphor of the ‘magic circle’ and presenting a hypothesis of why play is important for learning throughout the life course. Second, it will frame the field by highlighting different aspects of playful learning: playful tools, techniques, and tactics. The third section of the article provides two case studies that exemplify different aspects of play: the EduScapes escape room design project, which uses playful failure-based learning, and the Playful Learning Conference , which employs playful principles to rethink the conference format. The article concludes by highlighting three central issues for this emerging field: lack of a research trajectory; the language of play; and unacknowledged privilege inherent in the use of playful learning. Published: 9 May 2018 This paper is part of the Special Collection: Playful Learning Conference, edited by Fiona Smart and Mark Langan. More papers from this collection can be found here Citation: Research in Learning Technology 2018, 26 : 2035 - http://dx.doi. org/10.25304/rlt.v26. 2035
Functional traits of tropical trees and lianas explain spatial structure across multiple scales

Dispersal and density dependence are major determinants of spatial structure, population dynamics and coexistence for tropical forest plants. However, because these two processes can jointly influence spatial structure at similar scales, analysing spatial patterns to separate and quantify them is often difficult. Species functional traits can be useful indicators of dispersal and density dependence. However, few methods exist for linking functional traits to quantitative estimates of these processes that can be compared across multiple species. We analysed static spatial patterns of woody plant populations in the 50 ha Forest Dynamics Plot on Barro Colorado Island, Panama with methods that distinguished scale‐specific differences in species aggregation. We then tested how these differences related to seven functional traits: growth form, dispersal syndrome, tree canopy layer, adult stature, seed mass, wood density and shade tolerance. Next, we fit analytically tractable spatial moment models to the observed spatial structure of species characterized by similar trait values, which allowed us to estimate relationships of functional traits with the spatial scale of dispersal, and the spatial scale and intensity of negative density dependence. Our results confirm that lianas are more aggregated than trees, and exhibit increased aggregation within canopy gaps. For trees, increased seed mass, wood density and shade tolerance were associated with less intense negative density dependence, while higher canopy layers and increased stature were associated with decreased aggregation and better dispersal. Spatial structure for trees was also strongly determined by dispersal syndrome. Averaged across all spatial scales, zoochory was more effective than wind dispersal, which was more effective than explosive dispersal. However, at intermediate scales, zoochory was associated with more aggregation than wind dispersal, potentially because of differences in short‐distance dispersal and the intensity of negative density dependence. Synthesis. We develop new tools for identifying significant associations between functional traits and spatial structure, and for linking these associations to quantitative estimates of dispersal scale and the strength and scale of density dependence. Our results help clarify how these processes influence woody plant species on Barro Colorado, and demonstrate how these tools can be applied to other sites and systems.
What Makes Twitterers Retweet on Twitter? Exploring the Roles of Intrinsic/Extrinsic Motivation and Social Capital

This study examined what determinants affect the intention of retweeting on Twitter from the perspectives of motivations and social psychology. The primary theoretical foundations are the theory of reasoned action (TRA), motivation theory and social capital theory. An online survey was administrated to collect the data. The data collected was analyzed using the structural equation model (SEM). The findings showed that both the attitude toward the retweeting behavior and subjective norm have significant effects on the intention to retweet. The results also showed that the attitude toward the retweeting behaviors was influenced by the individual intrinsic motivation and the norm of reciprocity. Social trust also had a significant influence on the intention to retweet. This study discusses the implications of these findings. 요 약 본 논문의 주 목적은 동기와 사회적 심리 관점에서 리트윗 행위의도에 영향을 미치는 요소를 살펴보는 것이다. 주요 이론적 근거로는 합리적 행위 이론, 동기 이론 및 사회적 자본 이론을 사용하였다. 온라인 서베이를 통하여 자료를 수집하였 으며, 구조 방정식 모델을 이용하여 수집된 자료를 분석하였다. 본 연구의 결과는 리트윗 행위에 대한 태도와 주관적 규범이 리트윗 의도에 유의미한 영향을 미치고 있음을 보여준다. 또한 리트윗 태도는 개인의 내적 동기와 호혜성 규범에 영향을 받고 있음을 보여준다. 더불어 사회적 신뢰는 리트윗 행위 의도에 유의미한 영향을 미치고 있음을 나타낸다. 연구의 결과가 지닌 함의들에 대해서도 토의해본다.
Investor Sentiment and the Fragility of Liquidity

This paper studies the relationship between investor sentiment and the fragility of liquidity: the property that a small funding shock to the investors’ capital can lead to a large jump in stock illiquidity. I argue that investors’ negative sentiment plays an important role in amplifying the market liquidity impact of funding shocks to investors. I test this hypothesis using data on monthly outflows from mutual fund investors of a large cross-section of US stocks over the period 1991-2009. I define the variable OutFlow to present the percent of the shares of a given stock owned by mutual funds that is subjected to mutual fund outflows. Using a vector autoregression (VAR) framework, I find that an OutFlow equivalent to 1% of a stock’s market value leads to a 22% increase in Amihud illiquidity. Given the same level of mutual fund outflows, a one-standard-deviation increase in negative sentiment leads to an additional 33% jump in illiquidity. In the cross-section of stocks, liquidity is more fragile among stocks which are more sensitive to shifts in investor sentiment. Furthermore, I find economically significant returns for liquidity provision during periods of negative sentiment.
FROM MOUNTAIN-TYPE RIVER IN LUBLIN UPLAND

The size structure and the condition of brown trout from a mountain-type river were determined based on 367 individuals of the species. The fish were caught three times in 2007 in the river Ciemięga at two sites: in Dys and Pliszczyn. Overall, the total length of the trout ranged from 7 to 45 cm, and their body weight ranged from 4 to 830 g. At both sites, brown trout with overall length of 10 to 15 cm dominated, and additionally at the Pliszczyn site there were also numerous fish with lengths from 15 to 20 cm. Higher values of the condition factor were characteristic of brown trout from the Dys site (K = 1.08), where the river is more like a lowland river in character.
LATTICE BOLTZMANN SIMULATION OF FLUID FLOW IN POROUS MEDIA OF TEMPERATURE-AFFECTED GEOMETRY 1

The Lattice Boltzmann method (LBM) has been applied for flow and heat transfer computations. The simulations have been performed with the singlerelaxation time model and an advanced formulation of boundary conditions for LBM. For non-isothermal cases, a second distribution function has been used. First, validation tests are reported for heated flow past a single obstacle as well as over a set of regularly and randomly arranged obstacles (grains) that make up a simplified model of a porous medium. The Nusselt number for heat transfer in flow past a single obstacle has been computed. Next, novel simulations of non-isothermal flow in a porous medium of temperature-affected geometry have been undertaken. For the purpose, the thermal dilatation of grains has been accounted for. Results are presented for the pressure head loss and time-varying temperature profiles in the medium. Qualitative computations accomplished to date constitute an encouraging first step to proceed further towards the impact of temperature-affected geometry in such flows, in particular for the coking process.
Nutrient Dynamics in Stormwater Runoff from Green Roofs with Varying Substrate

One major concern with urban development is the increasing amount of stormwater runoff from large expanses of impervious surfaces. These impervious surfaces reduce the ability of stormwater to infiltrate into the soil and eventually groundwater, which leads to greater amounts of surface runoff. Green technology serves as a viable solution to many of the environmental problems presented by modern development. Fifteen mock, extensive green roofs were built in the fall of 2008 at the Watershed Research and Education Center in Fayetteville, Arkansas. The goals of this project were to (1) measure the amount of stormwater runoff from varying treatments and control roofs, (2) measure the stormwater runoff quality from varying treatments, and (3) study the release of nutrients over time from the green roofs with added compost. Our results show that after an initial flush of nutrients from green roofs with added compost, many nutrient concentrations, such as total organic carbon (TOC), total nitrogen (TN), nitrate-N (NO3-N), and other physiochemical properties have been reduced. However, even after two years, P concentrations in runoff water still exceed 1 mg/L from green roofs using compost in the growing matrix. Analysis of the remaining nutrients in the compost shows that TP loads from green roofs with added compost could be elevated for a number of years. The results from this study provide a benchmark for developing green roofs in Northwest Arkansas or other similar climactic regions. This thesis is approved for recommendation to the Graduate Council.
SNFWorking Paper No. 74/05 TAKING ABC TO COURT – A RESEARCH NOTE ON COST ORIENTED ACCESS PRICES IN TELECOM by

This report is one of a series of papers and reports on telecommunication economics published by the Institute for Research in Economics and Business Administration (SNF) as part of its telecommunication economics program. The main focus of the research program is to study the deregulation process of the telecommunication industry, and the economic and organizational consequences of changes in markets, technology and regulation. Being started in 1992, the program is now in its fourth period ending in 2005/2006. The program is financed by Telenor AS
Concrete-encased CFST structures : behaviour and application

Concrete-encased CFST (concrete-filled steel tube) is a kind of composite structure comprised of a CFST component and a reinforced concrete (RC) component. The concrete encased CFST possesses superior ductility and higher stiffness. They are gaining popularity in high-rise buildings, large-span structures, bridges, subway stations and workshops. This paper initially reviews the recent research on concrete-encased CFST structures. The major research findings on bond performance, static performance, dynamic performance and fire resistance are presented. This paper also outlines some construction considerations, such as the utilization of materials, the fabrication of the steel tube, and the methods of casting the inner and outer concrete. Finally, some typical practical projects utilizing concrete-encased CFST members are presented and reviewed.
Managing Supply Chain Networks: A Framework for Achieving Superior Performance through Leadership Capabilities Development in Supply Chain Node

Leadership capability is acknowledged as a major challenge for organizations and a pre-requisite for sustaining high levels of organizational performance and supply chain competitiveness. Recent research highlights how globalisation has led to the extension of domestic supply chains, particularly SME ones, to include both suppliers and customers globally. This paper examines the role capabilities development in managers and leaders as nexus of their supply chain networks have to play in achieving better performance through case studies. Once banished to the backburners of business management thinking, leveraging core leadership competencies is now critical to company‟s superior performance in supply chain networks.
Inflation, Interest rate and firms' performance: the evidences from textile industry of Pakistan

This research is investigating the effects of macroeconomic variables on the performance of textile industry of Pakistan. The penal data of fifty different textile firms listed at Karachi stock exchange are selected as sample for this research. The penal data of textile firms has been gathered from annual reports. In order to test the hypothesis regression model is applied. The research investigates the independent variables; whereas, inflation and interest rate has a significant and positive impact on Return on Asset (ROA). Furthermore, the inflation rate found positively insignificant with Return on Equity (ROE) but interest rate found highly significant and having a positive impact on ROE. The study emphasize that inflation rate should be kept in single digit for the further betterment of the overall economy. Key terms: Inflation (INF), Interest rate (INT), Returns on assets (ROA), Return on equity (ROE), Performance (P)
PRE-SERVICE CLASSROOM TEACHERS’ MISLEARNINGS OF CLASSIFICATION OF THE PLANT KINGDOM AND THE EFFECT OF PORPHYRIOS TREE ON REMOVING THEM

Students may acquire mislearnings in the course of their academic lives for various reasons and keep them for a lifetime. Some of the most common of those mislearnings are the alternative conceptions university students have about Biology lesson. This study was conducted through one-to-one interviews with 54 students at the 1st grade of the Department of Classroom Teaching in order to determine university students’ alternative learnings about the classification and the diversity of plants and remove these alternative learnings if there were any. In the end, it was found that students had mislearnings about the classification and the diversity of plants. The main mislearning was that students classify some of the plants they knew well in a wrong way according to the criteria which was not biological; for example, they thought fern and bryophyte were plants with seeds, fungi were plants, and the plants belonging to the family of Pinaceae did not have real leaves so they were included in the class of plants without seeds. In order to remove these mislearnings ‘Porphyrios Tree’, which has a structure similar to a concept map, was used. As a result, a great majority of pre-service teachers’ alternative conceptions about the classification of plants were removed through this method of application. Key words: classification, mislearnings, plants, porphyrios tree, pre-service teachers.
One- or Two- Levels Treatment by Arthroplasty of Cervical Degenerative Disease. Preliminary Results after 5 Years Postoperative Controls

Introduction: Although cervical arthroplasties have been widely used with some success over the last decade, long terms results are missing, particularly for the latest designed implants such as semi constrained prostheses. Material and methods: 89 patients were enrolled in an observational study evaluating long term safety and potential complications related to the use of the cervical prosthesis Baguera® C. All patients had been treated at one or two levels between June 2009 and June 2011. At the 5 years FU visit, the patients were evaluated clinically and neurologically, and with self-assessment questionnaires (NDI, SF12). Radiological examination was performed by lateral X-rays in neutral, flexion and extension positions. Results: There were no reoperations at the arthroplasty level, no fracture of system components, no loss of fixation, and no migration nor subsidence. 17 patients had signs of adjacent level(s) degeneration. The performance related to Baguera®C usage, was evaluated at 5+ Y. PO by three parameters: Range of Motion (ROM), NDI and SF-12 scores. ROM at the treated level was 8.6° ± 5.0°. 87.7% of the treated levels showed preserved motion. NDI score was 19.5% ± 14.1%. 92% of the subjects reported NDI scores over 50%, and 74.2% of the subjects reported NDI scores under 30% and 45% of the subjects reported NDI scores under 10%. The QOL Index and Patient Satisfaction (SF-12 scores) reached 48.5 ± 8.6 for the PCS physical score and 48.0 ± 10.5 for the MCS Mental score. Both SF-12 components, physical and mental, were close to a normal health status (50%). Conclusion: Cervical disc replacement with the Baguera®C prosthesis shows excellent safety, clinical results and long-term motion preservation. There was no index or adjacent level reoperation after 5 years. Radiological progression of adjacent level degeneration was seen in a significant minority of cases, but without clinical expression.
The Association Between Morphological Awareness and Literacy in English Language Learners From Different Language Backgrounds

Purpose: The main goal of this study was to examine whether the morphological structure of a child's first language determined the strength of association between morphological awareness and reading and spelling skills in English, their second language. Methods: The sample consisted of 888 Grade six students who had English as their first language and 244 English Language Learners (ELLs) who came from seven home language backgrounds: Chinese, Filipino, Germanic, Korean, Persian, Romance, and Slavic. Participants were given a series of standardized tests for word reading, reading comprehension, and spelling, and experimental measures of morphological, phonological, and syntactic awareness, as well as reading fluency and reading comprehension. Results: The results revealed that children in the ELL groups differed from the English monolingual group mostly on the oral language tasks, but their reading skills were high and equivalent to those of the monolingual group. Moreover, it was confirmed that morphological awareness is important for all aspects of reading and spelling, and its influence is independent of that of phonological awareness and syntactic awareness. Conclusion: The associations between morphological awareness and reading and spelling in a second language seem to be influenced by the morphological structure of the home language, such that the association was stronger for children whose home languages were morphologically transparent.