Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PHASE STABILITY OF MANGANESE OXIDE USING QUANTUM MONTE CARLO AND INSIGHTS INTO MATERIALS PREDICTION IN THE BARIUM-RUTHENIUM-SULFUR PHASE SPACE BY JOSHUA SCHILLER THESIS

We present an analysis of the polymorphic energy ordering and properties of the rock salt and zincblende structures of manganese oxide using fixed node diffusion Monte Carlo (DMC). Manganese oxide is a correlated, antiferromagnetic material that has proven to be challenging to model from first principles across a variety of approaches. Unlike conventional density functional theory and some hybrid functionals, fixed node di↵usion Monte Carlo finds the rock salt structure to be more stable than the zincblende structure, and thus recovers the correct energy ordering. Analysis of the site-resolved charge fluctuations of the wave functions according to DMC and other electronic structure descriptions give insights into elements that are missing in other theories. While the calculated band gaps within DMC are in agreement with predictions that the zincblende polymorph has a lower band gap, the gaps themselves overestimate reported experimental values. Additionally, a preliminary analysis of a structure search in the barium-ruthenium-sulfur phase space using the evolutionary algorithm USPEX is presented. We identify find challenges to discovering new materials using an evolutionary algorithm as well as a potential new candidate structure, BaRu2S2 with space group 139.
Effects of storage temperature on HMF and diastase activity of strained honeys

Bu arastirmada Turkiye’de farkli firmalarca uretilen suzme cicek ve salgi bali orneklerinin HMF miktari ve diastaz aktivitesi uzerine farkli muhafaza sicakliklarinin etkisinin ortaya konulmasi amaclandi. Bu kapsamda fabrikalardan dolum tarihlerinde alinarak kalite kriterleri (nem, seker, pH, asitlik, elektriksel iletkenlik, kul) belirlenen bes farkli firmaya ait suzme cicek ve cam bali orneklerinin baslangic HMF degeri ve diastaz aktiviteleri saptandi. Ornekler, belirli sicakliklarda (10±2 °C, 22±2 °C, 35±2 °C) muhafaza edilerek uc aylik periyotlar (3, 6, 9 ve 12. ay) sonunda HMF ve diastaz aktivitesi yonunden analiz edildi. Elde edilen bulgulara gore, bir yil boyunca 10±2 °C ve 22±2 °C’de muhafaza edilen cicek ve salgi bali orneklerinin ortalama HMF degerleri Turk Gida Kodeksi (TGK) Bal Tebligi’nde sinir HMF degeri olarak belirtilen 40 mg/kg’i asmazken, 35±2 °C’de muhafaza edilen orneklerde hizla artarak 6. aydan itibaren 40 mg/kg’in uzerinde saptandi. Ayrica orneklerin 10±2 °C ve 22±2 °C’deki ortalama diastaz aktiviteleri TGK Bal Tebligi’nce belirtilen sinir deger olan 8’in altina dusmezken 35±2 °C’de muhafaza edilen cicek ballari icin bu deger 6. aydan itibaren 8’in altinda saptandi. Sonuc olarak tuketime sunulan suzme ballarda, gerek uretim sirasinda uygulanan isi islemi, gerekse muhafaza sicakligina bagli olarak artan HMF degeri ile azalan diastaz aktivitesi firmalarca belirlenen raf omrunu kisaltmaktadir. Bala ait uygun uretim ve muhafaza kosullari saglanarak, basta HMF ve diastaz olmak uzere tum kalite kriterlerinin TGK Bal Tebligi’ne uygunlugu raf omrunun sonuna kadar saglanmalidir
PROTOCOL ESTABLISHMENT FOR MULTIPLICATION AND REGENERATION OF POLYSCIAS FRUTICOSA L. Harms. AN IMPORTANT MEDICINAL PLANT IN VIETNAM

Polysicas fruticosa (L) Harm is one of the most common medicinal plants used by diverse cultures and tribal groups. An efficient protocol for rapid propagation of Polysicas fruticosa, of the family Araliaceae, was developed using leaf explants culture. The leaf explants cultured on Murashige and Skoog (MS) basal medium were supplemented with various concentrations and combinations of auxins and cytokinins. Callus induction was obtained within 4 weeks, 2,4-D at 3mg/l formed profuse callus and the degree was found to be the highest (++++) among all the treatments. The best response to shoot induction, with maximum shoot number 8.21(mean number of shoot per explant) was obtained using 5.0 mg/l 6-benzyl aminopurine (BA) in combination with 0.1 mg/l Naphthalene Acetic Acid (NAA). In vitro shoots were rooted on 0.5mg/l of NAA supplemented medium. The rooted shoots were successfully acclimatized and established under natural conditions, with 74% survival rate.
Influence of spatial variation in sap flux density on estimates of whole-tree water use in Avicennia marina

Sap flux density measurements are used worldwide as a relatively inexpensive means to provide an estimate of whole-tree and whole-stand water use in forest ecosystems. However, erroneous up-scaling from point measurements to the entire sapwood area remains an important issue, since sap flux density is hardly ever constant throughout the cross-section of a tree. In this study, two widely used sap flow methodologies (the Heat Ratio Method or HRM and the Heat Field Deformation method or HFD) are used to assess radial and azimuthal variations in sap flux density in the mangrove species Avicennia marina or grey mangrove, a species that is characterised by a secondary growth via successive cambia, resulting in an atypical sapwood pattern of xylem patches braided with phloem strings. Sap flux density values were scaled up to whole-tree water use in different ways. Initial estimates of sap flux were made from point measurements, ignoring spatial variations. We then adjusted these measurements by including radial and azimuthal variations assessed by measurements of radial profiles and multiple sensors around the circumference of the tree, respectively. Our results showed a discrepancy of 237+/-26% between the lowest and highest water use estimate, as a consequence of the high radial and azimuthal variations in sap flux density in this species. Our study indicates that caution is required when interpreting sap flux density values, hence it is crucial to account for radial and azimuthal variation when scaling up from point measurements to whole-tree water use.
Estimation of Feeds and Fodders for Livestock Population of Ethiopia and Mitigation of Feed Shortage

The aim of this paper was to review estimation of feeds and fodders for livestock population of Ethiopia and mitigation of feed shortage. Shortage of feed is one of the major constraints that limit cattle production in Ethiopia. Major feed resources for cattle in the country are natural pasture, crop residue, and crop aftermath and non-conventional feed resources. This available animal feed satisfies only 63% of demand at a national level. Strategies like a use of fodder tree, integration of forage production into crop farming system, sustainable conservation of hay and crop residues during a surplus season, proper storage, processing and proper utilization of available feed resources are an option to mitigate feed shortage. Keywords : feed resource, feed estimation, mitigation strategies
Auction-theoretic analyses of the first offshore wind energy auction in Germany

The first offshore wind energy auction in Germany led to a striking result. The average award price was 0.44 ct/kWh and even more interesting, 3 out of 4 awarded projects had a strike price of 0.0 ct/kWh. That implies that those projects will only receive the actual wholesale market price for electricity as revenue. Although there has been a strong decline in costs of offshore wind projects, such a result is still surprising. We analyzed this result auction-theoretically and showed how the auction design and the market environment can explain part of the outcome. However, another aspect of the explanation is the high risk that the awarded bidders take regarding the future development of both the project costs and the wholesale market price.
Shipping Markets and Freight Rates: An Analysis of the Baltic Dry Index

Shipping, although a crucial component of the transportation of commodities worldwide, is hardly present in the finance literature at this point. The first and foremost goal of this article is to describe and explain from an economic perspective the key features of shipping markets; the second one is to analyze the behavior of freight rates, which define the final cost of an imported commodity. The authors focus on the major index, the BDI (Baltic Dry Index), and propose some diffusion models able to capture the unique features of its trajectories, namely large swings and continuity. Their performance is exhibited on a database covering the period 1988–2010. Such spot models should facilitate the growth of the market of freight rates options, a safe hedging instrument for farmers and cooperatives that ship their grains to distant destinations.
Analysis of three genetic polymorphisms in Malaysian essential hypertensive and type 2 diabetic subjects

Genetic polymorphisms were associated with an increase in the risk of developing disease and they are integral to the development of genetic marker to identify the individuals at risk. The genotypic distribution of various genetic polymorphisms involved in essential hypertension (EHT) and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) in Malaysian subjects has not been well characterized. The main objective of this study was to determine the association of S477X polymorphism of LPL gene, A6244G polymorphism of IRS-1 gene and C825T polymorphism of GN�3 gene with EHT and T2DM in Malaysian subjects. This study includes 70 EHT, 60 T2DM, 65 EHT with T2DM and 75 control subjects. Genotyping of all the three polymorphisms was performed by PCR-RFLP method with the respective primers and restriction enzymes. The genotypic and allelic frequencies of the respective polymorphisms of the genes did not differ significantly (p>0.05) with EHT and T2DM in Malaysian subjects. The results of this study suggested that, S477X genotypes of LPL gene, A6244G genotypes of IRS-1 gene and C825T genotypes of GN�3 gene was not associated with EHT and T2DM in Malaysian subjects.
Heat transfer simulation of evacuated tube collectors (ETC): an application to a prototype

Since fossil fuels shortages are predicted for the forthcoming generations, the use of renewable energy sources is playing a key role and is strongly recommended worldwide by national and international regulations. In this scenario, solar collectors for hot water preparation, space heating and cooling are becoming an increasingly interesting alternative, especially in the building sector because of population growth. Thus, the present paper is addressed to numerically investigate the thermal behaviour of a prototypal evacuated tube by solving the heat transfer differential equations using the Finite Element Method. This is to reproduce the heat transfer process occurring within the real system, helping the industry improve the prototype.
Long-term change and spatial anomaly of warm season afternoon precipitation in Tokyo

The long-term trend of precipitation at the central part of Tokyo was analyzed using digitized hourly data for 118 years (1890-2007). It was found that “no preceding precipitation” (NPP) cases, defined as not preceded by ≥ 1 mm precipitation for the last six hours, showed an increasing trend of precipitation as a rate of 30%/century or more from afternoon to early evening of the warm season. Analysis for spatial precipitation patterns for NPP cases, using hourly data on the AMeDAS network for the recent 30 years (1978-2007), also showed a positive anomaly in Tokyo in the afternoon of the warm season. These facts suggest the reality of the urban heat-island effect on the increase of warm season short-term precipitation in Tokyo.
IS PBL CULTURE FAIR? THE INFLUENCE OF GROUP CULTURAL COMPOSITIONS ON STUDENT PERFORMANCE IN A PROBLEM BASED LEARNING SETTING

This paper reports the result of an exploratory study of the application of Terenzini et al. (2001) and Eringa et al. (2002) to an educational institution, one of the N’etherlands’ higher education in which apply PBL as an educational system. Recently, the International Hospitality Management (IHM) undergraduate program has decided to deploy internationalization and interculturalization as a strategic instrument for the diversification of its curriculum. One of the consequences is that large groups offoreign students have been attracted to the IHM. The purpose of this study is to investigate how the student nationalities and the group cultural compositions in PBL groups influence the student performance. Student performance is measured by learning process assessment (PBL participation points) and learning outcomes assessment (Total points for the module). More specifically, this study focuses on possible cultural bias (nationalities) that might accompany the form of assessment that the IHM uses. The results indicate that no significant differences exist between groups that are more or less divergent.
Regional Tendencies of Corporate Social Responsibility

Based on the theoretical and empirical studies carried out in eight countries (Estonia, Latvia, Finland, Belarus, Lithuania, Poland, the Ukraine, and Denmark), tendencies of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in the region are presented. Similarities and differ - ences in training of managerial personnel, ethics of activities of organizations, fostering of corporate social responsibility in the government policy, corporate involvement and expectations, communication with stakeholders, and in other aspects are highlighted. In spite of the different tendencies of political and social development, corporate social responsibility formed in the countries of the region and some common problematic tendencies are highlighted.
LOW GAMMA TRANSITION OPTICS FOR THE SPS: SIMULATION AND EXPERIMENTAL RESULTS FOR HIGH BRIGHTNESS BEAMS

The single bunch transverse mode coupling instability (TMCI) at injection is presently one of the main intensity limitation for LHC beams in the SPS. A new optics for the SPS with lower transition energy yields an almost 3-fold increase of the slip factor at injection energyand thus a significantly higher TMCI threshold, as demonstrated both in simulations and in experimental studies. It is observed furthermore that the low gamma transition optics yields better longitudinal stability throughout the entire acceleration cycle. In addition, simulations predict a higher threshold for the electron cloud driven single bunch instability, which might become an important limitation for high intensity LHC beams with the nominal 25ns bunch spacing. This contribution gives a summary of the experimental and simulation studies, addressing also space charge effects and the achievable brightness with high intensity single bunch beams.
The Role of Internet-Specific Epistemic Beliefs and Self-Regulation in High School Students' Online Academic Help Seeking: A Structural Equation Modeling Analysis

Three instruments (i.e., Internet-specific epistemic beliefs, self-regulation, and online academic help seeking questionnaires) were administered to 319 high school students with the aim of understanding the role of Internetspecific epistemic beliefs and self-regulation in their online academic help seeking. Through a structure equation modeling analysis, the results confirm the mediated effects of self-regulation on the relationships between Internet-specific epistemic beliefs and online academic help seeking. Interestingly, naïve beliefs about how Internet-based knowledge is constructed and sophisticated beliefs about how Internet-based knowledge is evaluated are verified to be linked with the students' online academic help seeking. The results imply that, with the focus on the Internet as a context of information, the positive influences of sophisticated epistemic beliefs on learning might be challenged, and the role of personal epistemic beliefs should be reinterpreted.
A survey on Chlorella vulgaris effect's on performance and cellular immunity in broilers

In order to evaluate the effects of chlorella on broiler performance and immune system, an experiment was performed by using 80 ROSS 308 male broiler chicks. The experiment was accomplished in completely randomized design including 5 treatments with 4 replication and 4 observations in each replicate. The basal diet was based on corn-soybean meal (control) and without any additives. A graded level of chlorella (0.07, 0.14 and 0.21%) was added to basal diet to formulating diets 2, 3 and 4 respectively. An extra diet (diet 5) was formulate by adding a commercial prebiotic to the basal diet. Results showed that feed conversion ratio significantly decreased by adding the chlorella and commercial prebiotic to the basal diet at 42 d of age (p<0.05). chlorella treatment had numerical increase in response to phitohemoglotenine-P at 35 d. Results of this study showed that chlorella could improve performance and may increase cell immune response.
Impacts of Electroosmosis Forces on Surface-Tension- Driven Micro-Pumps

The purpose of this work is to investigate the influences of the electro-osmosis forces on the performance of a surface tension driven passive micro-pump. This work is in continuation of our previous work in which a surface tension driven passive micro-pump was numerically simulated for the first time. In this work, electroosmosis forces are inserted on the side walls of a 2D micro-channel. A water droplet, which is equivalent to a circle of radius ~1.07 mm in 2D domain, is placed onto an entry port of 1.8 mm diameter. The contact angle of the inlet droplet is considered 122.74 degrees. The entry port is connected to the exit port via a 5 mm long rectangular micro-channel. The height of the micro-channel and the entry and exit ports are 0.1 and 1.1 mm respectively. Another water droplet is placed onto the exit port of 2.5 mm diameter and the droplet diameter is considered such that its maximum height from the port is 0.4 mm. The electroosmosis forces are changed from 1e 5 to 1e 6 .
Antimicrobial Perspectives for Graphene-Based Nanomaterials

Conventional antibiotic therapies are becoming less efficient owing to the emergence of antibiotic-resistance bacterial strains. The development of novel antibacterial material to effectively inhibit or kill bacteria is crucial. During the last decade, inorganic nanoparticles and semiconductors have played an increasingly important role in combating bacterial infections. Graphene, since its discovery in 2004, has drawn tremendous attention from the scientific community as a promising nanomaterial (NM) owing to its multiple properties such as its unique mechanical stiffness, outstanding electronic transport, specific surface areas, thermal stability, conductivity, optical properties, low toxicity, and last but not the least, its excellent antibacterial property. Here, a comprehensive view on the antibacterial properties of graphene-based NMs is summarized. In our group, efforts were made to synthesize a graphene-based photothermal agent and magnetic reduced graphene oxide functionalized with glutaraldehyde for the efficient capture and effective killing of both Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus and Gram-negative Escherichia coli bacteria upon near-infrared laser irradiation. We also prepared a smart magnetic graphene within 1 min by solid-state microwave reaction for drinking water purification. It can effectively kill pathogens such as E. coli, remove heavy metals, and is less toxic to zebrafish. Nevertheless, the development of graphene-based antibacterial materials toward practical applications warrants the understanding of their exact interaction mechanism. Hence, the mechanism of action for graphene-based composites toward bacteria is explored. 3.
The Moderating Effect of Guanxi on the Dynamic Capacity and Competitive Advantage of Chinese International Contractors

With the active support of the national policy “One Belt and One Road” Initiative, Chinese contractors seized this historic opportunity to accelerate strategic globalization, and they gradually stood out in international construction projects owing to their low-cost advantage. However, despite China having large-scale contractors and wide-range business, compared to developed countries, a considerably large gap still exists. China is confronted with complex and changeable international projects filled with increasing competition. Thus, it is both a focus issue and a major task for Chinese international contractors, and many scholars, to consider how Chinese contractors can obtain and maintain long-term competitive advantages to improve their capabilities in response to dynamic environmental changes. Therefore, the objectives of this study are (1) to study the influence of the dynamic capability of Chinese contractors on competitive advantage in a project and (2) to explore the moderating effect of Chinese guanxi on the dynamic capability and competitive advantage of Chinese international contractors. This study primarily aimed at researching the impact of dynamic capacity of Chinese contractors on competitive advantage and the moderating effects of Chinese guanxi. The findings suggest that the environmental perception capability and the integration and coordination capability of the dynamic capability have a significant positive effect on the project competitive advantage; business guanxi positively moderates the relationship between the environmental perception capability and the competitive advantage. Business guanxi also negatively moderates the relationship between learning ability and competitive advantage, while political guanxi negatively moderates the relationship between the environmental perception capability and competitive advantage. This paper contributes to the construction management literature not only by providing empirical evidence on the dynamic capability and competitive advantage of Chinese contractors but also by expanding guanxi research. The results may also help Chinese contractors by providing strategic reform guidance and sustainable development in international construction projects.
Brand Extension of Fast Moving Consumer Goods to Customers’ Perception

The cost of launching a totally new product or brand is usually very high accompanied by the risk of failure in an overcrowded market. Therefore, brand extension strategy is used due to its built in advantages. This research examined in depth, the factors in a brand extension which influence to customer perception about the existing brand in fast moving consumer goods (FMCG) sector. Four variables such as brand fit, perceived quality, brand familiarity and customer innovativeness, were used to establish the relationship with the customers’ perception. A questionnaire was developed and distributed to 200 respondents from hypermarket FMCG products’ consumers in Melaka city. It was found that in the context of personal hygiene products, only brand fit and perceived quality have a strong influence on the customer perception. Marketer should, however, carefully to evaluate their extension especially for local brand since not all factors in this extension significantly influence the customer perception.