Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Examining Factors Influencing E-Banking Adoption: Evidence from Bank Customers in Zambia

This paper contributes to the electronic banking (e-banking) literature by applying the modified Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) in an under-researched Zambian context. Specifically, it examines the influence of e-banking technology’s perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use and trust (safety and credibility) on e-banking adoption. Based on a quantitative correlational design, primary sample data were collected from 222 bank customers from two of Zambia’s largest cities. The findings indicate that the modified TAM model is applicable in the Zambian context and that perceived usefulness, ease of use and trust each significantly positively influences attitude to e-banking. In turn attitudes to e-banking influence intention and actual adoption of e-banking services. For scholars, practitioners and policy makers, the study shows that improving perceptions of trust (safety, security and credibility), usefulness and ease of use of e-banking systems would result in increased adoption. This paper is the first to extend the modified TAM model into the under-researched developing country context of e-banking in Zambia.
Surface differential rotation and prominences of the Lupus post T Tauri star RX J1508.6–4423

We present in this paper a spectroscopic monitoring of the Lupus post T Tauri star RX J1508.6-4423 carried out at two closely separated epochs (1998 May 06 and 10) with the UCL Echelle Spectrograph on the 3.9-m Anglo-Australian Telescope. Applying least-squares convolution and maximum entropy image reconstruction techniques to our sets of spectra, we demonstrate that this star features on its surface a large cool polar cap with several appendages extending to lower latitudes, as well as one spot close to the equator. The images reconstructed at both epochs are in good overall agreement, except for a photospheric shear that we interpret in terms of latitudinal differential rotation. Given the spot distribution at the epoch of our observations, differential rotation could only be investigated between latitudes 15° and 60°. We find in particular that the observed differential rotation is compatible with a solar-like law (i.e., with rotation rate decreasing towards high latitudes proportionally to sin 2l, where l denotes the latitude) in this particular latitude range. Assuming that such a law can be extrapolated to all latitudes, we find that the equator of RX J1508.6-4423 does one more rotational cycle than the pole every 50 ±10 d, implying a photospheric shear 2 to 3 times stronger than that of the Sun. We also discover that the Hα emission profile of RX J1508.6-4423 is most of the time double-peaked and strongly modulated with the rotation period of the star. We interpret this rotationally modulated emission as being caused by a dense and complex prominence system, the circumstellar distribution of which is obtained through maximum entropy Doppler tomography. These maps show in particular that prominences form a complete and inhomogeneous ring around the star, precisely at the corotation radius. We use the total Hα and Hβ emission flux to estimate that the mass of the whole prominence system is about 10 20g. From our observation that the whole cloud system surrounding the star is regenerated in less than 4 d, we conclude that the braking time-scale of RX J1508.6-4423 is shorter than 1 Gyr, and that prominence expulsion is thus likely to contribute significantly to the rotational spindown of young low-mass stars.
galics- VI. Modelling hierarchical galaxy formation in clusters

High-resolution N-body re-simulations of 15 massive (10 14 10 15 M⊙) dark matter haloes have been combined with the hybrid galaxy formation model GalICS (Hatton et al. 2003), to study the formation and evolution of galaxies in clusters, within the framework of the hierarchical merging scenario. This paper describes the high-resolution resimulation technique used to build the dark matter halo sample, and discusses its reliability. New features incorporated in GalICS include a better description of galaxy positioning after dark matter halo merger events, a more reliable computation of the temperature of the inter-galactic medium as a function of redshift, that also takes into account the re ionisation history of the Universe, and a semi-analytic description of the ram pressure strippi ng of cold gas from galactic discs, suffered by galaxies during their motion through the diffuse hot intra-cluster medium. Within the multitude of available model results, we choose to focus here on the luminosity functions, morphological fractions and colour distributions of galax ies in clusters and in cluster outskirts, at z = 0. No systematic dependency on cluster richness is found either for the galaxy luminosity functions, morphological mixes, or colour distributions. Moving from higher density (cluster cores), to lower density environments (clust er outskirts), we detect a progressive flattening of the luminosity functions, an increase of the fr action of spirals and a decrease of that of ellipticals and S0s, and the progressive emergence of a bluer tail in the distributions of galaxy colours, especially for spirals. As compared to cluster spirals, early-type galaxies show a flatter luminosity function, and more homogeneous and redder colours. An overall good agreement is found between our results and the observations, particularly in terms of the cluster luminosity functions and morphological mixes. However, some discrepancies are also apparent, with too faint magnitudes of the brightest cl uster members, especially in the B band, and galaxy colours tendentially too red (or not blue enough) in the model, with respect to the observations. Finally, ram pressure stripping appea rs to affect very little our results.
Case variation: Viruses and star wars

This article discusses morphological case variation, arguing that individual cases are not syntactic objects or features but PF interpretations of a range of different underlying syntactic relations. Nevertheless, it turns out that case variation can, to a large extent, be analyzed in terms of only two atomic ‘ingredients’: event licensing of NPs and PF marking of the licensing relation (where marking is analyzed in terms of Chomskyan case stars). Ergative is a Voice/ag*-case, whereas accusative is a v*-case, licensed under c-command by Voice/ag (ergative and accusative marking thus being two sides of the same coin). Individual cases in case-expanding morphological/PF case systems, it is argued, behave like viruses, striving to expand beyond their original ‘reasonable’ domain.
Consistent large-eddy simulation of a temporal mixing layer laden with evaporating drops. Part 1. Direct numerical simulation, formulation and a priori analysis

Large-eddy simulation (LES) models are presented and evaluated on a database obtained from direct numerical simulation (DNS) of a three-dimensional temporal mixing layer with evaporating drops. The gas-phase equations are written in an Eulerian frame for two perfect gas species (carrier gas and vapour emanating from the drops), while the liquid-phase equations are written in a Lagrangian frame. The effect of drop evaporation on the gas phase is considered through mass, momentum and energy source terms. The DNS database consists of transitional states attained by layers with different initial Reynolds numbers and initial liquid-phase mass loadings. Budgets of the LES equations at the transitional states show that, for the mass loadings considered, the filtered source terms (FSTs) are smaller than the resolved inviscid terms and some subgrid scale (SGS) terms, but larger than the resolved viscous stress, heat flux and mass flux terms. The irreversible entropy production (i.e. the dissipation) expression for a two-phase flow with phase change is derived, showing that the dissipation contains contributions due to viscous stresses, heat and species-mass fluxes, and source terms. For both the DNS and filtered flow fields at transition, the two leading contributions are found to be the dissipation due to the energy source term and that due to the chemical potential of the mass source. Therefore, the modelling effort is focused on both the SGS fluxes and the FSTs in the LES equations. The FST models considered are applicable to LES in which the grid is coarser than the DNS grid and, consistently, ‘computational’ drops represent the DNS physical drops. Because the unfiltered flow field is required for the computation of the source terms, but would not be available in LES, it was approximated using the filtered flow field or the filtered flow field augmented by corrections based on the SGS variances. All of the FST models were found to overestimate DNS-field FSTs, with the relative error of modelling the unfiltered flow field compared to the error of using computational drops showing a complex dependence on filter width and number of computational drops. For modelling the SGS fluxes and (where possible) SGS variances, constant-coefficient Smagorinsky, gradient and scale-similarity models were assessed on the DNS database, and calibrated coefficients were statistically equivalent when computed on single-phase or two-phase flows. The gradient and scale-similarity models showed excellent correlation with the SGS quantities. An a posteriori study is proposed to evaluate the impact of the studied models on the flow-field development, so as to definitively assess their suitability for LES with evaporating drops.
Basis Volatilities of Corn and Soybean in Spatially Separated Markets: The Effect of Ethanol Demand

The 2006 spike in corn-based ethanol demand has contributed to the increase in basis volatility in corn and soybean markets across the United States, which has, to a significant degree, led to the observed large jumps in the prices of the two commodities. Despite the overall rise in basis volatility, there remain differences in the degree of volatility that exists across spatially separated markets, which might be caused by factors such as transportation costs, seasonality, and time-to-delivery. The focus of this study is threefold first, this work models basis data for six corn and soybean markets by using a multivariate GARCH model that incorporates the spatial linkages of these markets; next, the model is used to investigate whether the increase in ethanol demand has significantly aided in the rise of basis volatilities; and last, the spatio-temporal linkages among basis volatilities in different markets are examined under various scenarios of spot-price shocks.
Evaluating a Three-Dimensional Slot Design for the Combustor-Turbine Interface

As turbine inlet temperatures are pushed ever higher in an attempt to improve efficiency and power, it has become critical to cool component surfaces. One surface that is particularly difficult to treat because of the complex flow field that surrounds it is the nozzle guide vane endwall. Past studies have indicated that leakage bypass flow emerging from the combustor-turbine junction may be effectively harnessed for cooling purposes. When combined with endwall film-coolant injection, component service life may be significantly extended. This paper presents results from a computational study investigating a three-dimensional slot geometry at the combustor-turbine interface. The downstream edge of the slot was scalloped using a simple periodic function intended to enhance thermal benefit to the endwall by manipulating coolant distribution. Effects of varying the slot geometry amplitude and phase were investigated along with the slot nominal width and upstream distance from the vane. Initial results indicate dramatic effects can be realized depending upon the scalloping used. © 2009 ASME
Asymptotic gravity wave drag expressions for non‐hydrostatic rotating flow over a ridge

Asymptotic expressions are derived for the mountain wave drag in flow with constant wind and static stability over a ridge when both rotation and non‐hydrostatic effects are important. These expressions, which are much more manageable than the corresponding exact drag expressions (when these do exist) are found to provide accurate approximations to the drag, even when non‐hydrostatic and rotation effects are strong, despite having been developed for cases where these effects are weak. The derived expressions are compared with approximations to the drag found previously, and their asymptotic behaviour in various limits is studied. Copyright © 2008 Royal Meteorological Society
Maximal Spanning Time for Neighborhood Growth on the Hamming Plane

We consider a long-range growth dynamics on the two-dimensional integer lattice, initialized by a finite set of occupied points. Subsequently, a site $x$ becomes occupied if the pair consisting of the counts of occupied sites along the entire horizontal and vertical lines through $x$ lies outside a fixed Young diagram $\mathcal{Z}$. We study the extremal quantity $\mu(\mathcal{Z})$, the maximal finite time at which the lattice is fully occupied. We give an upper bound on $\mu(\mathcal{Z})$ that is linear in the area of the bounding rectangle of $\mathcal{Z}$, and a lower bound $\sqrt{s-1}$, where $s$ is the side length of the largest square contained in $\mathcal{Z}$. We give more precise results for a restricted family of initial sets, and for a simplified version of the dynamics.
Highly Accurate and Fully Automatic 3D Head Pose Estimation and Eye Gaze Estimation Using RGB-D Sensors and 3D Morphable Models

This work addresses the problem of automatic head pose estimation and its application in 3D gaze estimation using low quality RGB-D sensors without any subject cooperation or manual intervention. The previous works on 3D head pose estimation using RGB-D sensors require either an offline step for supervised learning or 3D head model construction, which may require manual intervention or subject cooperation for complete head model reconstruction. In this paper, we propose a 3D pose estimator based on low quality depth data, which is not limited by any of the aforementioned steps. Instead, the proposed technique relies on modeling the subject’s face in 3D rather than the complete head, which, in turn, relaxes all of the constraints in the previous works. The proposed method is robust, highly accurate and fully automatic. Moreover, it does not need any offline step. Unlike some of the previous works, the method only uses depth data for pose estimation. The experimental results on the Biwi head pose database confirm the efficiency of our algorithm in handling large pose variations and partial occlusion. We also evaluated the performance of our algorithm on IDIAP database for 3D head pose and eye gaze estimation.
What Type of Process Underlies Options? A Simple Robust Test

We develop a simple robust test for the presence of continuous and discontinuous (jump) com­ponents in the price of an asset underlying an option. Our test examines the prices of at­the­money and out­of­the­money options as the option maturity approaches zero. We show that these prices converge to zero at speeds which depend upon whether the sample path of the underlying asset price process is purely continuous, purely discontinuous, or a mixture of both. By applying the test to S&P 500 index options data, we conclude that the sample path behavior of this index contains both a continuous component and a jump component. In particular, we find that while the pres­ence of the jump component varies strongly over time, the presence of the continuous component is constantly felt. We investigate the implications of the evidence for parametric model specifications.
Orientation contrast imaging of microstructures in rocks using forescatter detectors in the scanning electron microscope

Abstract We have developed a system using 'forescatter detectors' for backscattered imaging of specimen surfaces inclined at 50−80°C to the incident beam (inclined-scanning) in the SEM. These detectors comprise semiconductor chips placed below the tilted specimen. Forescatter detectors provide an orientation contrast (OC) image to complement quantitative crystallographic data from electron backscatter patterns (EBSP). Specimens were imaged using two detector geometries and these images were compared to those collected with the specimen surface normal to the incident beam (normal-scanning) using conventional backscattered electron detector geometries and also to an automated technique, orientation imaging microscopy (DIM). When normal-scanning, the component of the BSE signal relating to the mean atomic number (z) of the material is an order of magnitude greater than any OC component, making OC imaging in polyphase specimens almost impossible. Images formed in inclined-scanning, using forescatter detectors, have OC and z-contrast signals of similar magnitude, allowing OC imaging in polyphase specimens. OC imaging is purely qualitative, and by repeatedly imaging the same area using different specimen-beam geometries, we found that a single image picks out less than 60% of the total microstructural information and as many as 6 combined images are required to give the full data set. The DIM technique is limited by the EBSP resolution (1−2°C) and subsequently misses a lot of microstructural information. The use of forescatter detectors is the most practical means of imaging OC in tilted specimens, but it is also a powerful tool in its own right for imaging microstructures in polyphase specimens, an essential asset for geological work.
Factors Influencing Innovation and Competitiveness in the Service Sector in Nigeria: a Sub-Sectoral Approach

This study examined the factors that influence innovation and competiveness in the indigenous Nigeria's oil and gas servicing firms. Th is was done with a view to making appropriate strategic recommendations to enhance firm-level innovativeness so as to increase indigenous participation in the sub-sector. The study, wh ich used primary and secondary data sources, was based on a sample of the indigenous oil and gas servicing firms in Nigeria. Four types of questionnaire were ad ministered in each firm. A total of 400 questionnaires were administered on heads of Production, Engineering, Finance and Administration in the firms out of which 70% were returned and found suitable for analysis. This was supplemented with field observations and interviews. Secondary data were sourced fro m the internet and other published sources. The data so obtained were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The technological factors that accounted for the innovation performance included the educational qualifications, training and prior work experience of the heads of technical department, nu mber of r&d staff and training, innovation, and, r&d in- vestment. The important non-technological factors included interaction with co mpetitors, consumers, suppliers and training institution. In conclusion, our study found out that the most important factors that influence innovation in the sub-sector are r&d ex- penditure and training.
Actinide Production in the Neutron-rich Ejecta of a Neutron Star Merger

The rapid neutron-capture (“r-”) process is responsible for synthesizing many of the heavy elements observed in both the solar system and Galactic metal-poor halo stars. Simulations of r-process nucleosynthesis can reproduce abundances derived from observations with varying success, but so far they fail to account for the observed overenhancement of actinides, present in about 30% of r-process-enhanced stars. In this work, we investigate actinide production in the dynamical ejecta of a neutron star merger (NSM) and explore whether varying levels of neutron-richness can reproduce the actinide boost. We also investigate the sensitivity of actinide production on nuclear physics properties: fission distribution, β-decay, and mass model. For most cases, the actinides are overproduced in our models if the initial conditions are sufficiently neutron-rich for fission cycling. We find that actinide production can be so robust in the dynamical ejecta that an additional lanthanide-rich, actinide-poor component is necessary in order to match observations of actinide-boost stars. We present a simple actinide-dilution model that folds in estimated contributions from two nucleosynthetic sites within a merger event. Our study suggests that while the dynamical ejecta of an NSM are likely production sites for the formation of actinides, a significant contribution from another site or sites (e.g., the NSM accretion disk wind) is required to explain abundances of r-process-enhanced, metal-poor stars.
Net radiative effects of dust in the tropical North Atlantic based on integrated satellite observations and in situ measurements

Abstract. In this study, we integrate recent in situ measurements with satellite retrievals of dust physical and radiative properties to quantify dust direct radiative effects on shortwave (SW) and longwave (LW) radiation (denoted as DRESW and DRELW, respectively) in the tropical North Atlantic during the summer months from 2007 to 2010. Through linear regression of the CERES-measured top-of-atmosphere (TOA) flux versus satellite aerosol optical depth (AOD) retrievals, we estimate the instantaneous DRESW efficiency at the TOA to be -49.7±7.1 W m−2 AOD−1 and -36.5±4.8 W m−2 AOD−1 based on AOD from MODIS and CALIOP, respectively. We then perform various sensitivity studies based on recent measurements of dust particle size distribution (PSD), refractive index, and particle shape distribution to determine how the dust microphysical and optical properties affect DRE estimates and its agreement with the above-mentioned satellite-derived DREs. Our analysis shows that a good agreement with the observation-based estimates of instantaneous DRESW and DRELW can be achieved through a combination of recently observed PSD with substantial presence of coarse particles, a less absorptive SW refractive index, and spheroid shapes. Based on this optimal combination of dust physical properties we further estimate the diurnal mean dust DRESW in the region of −10 W m−2 at TOA and −26 W m−2 at the surface, respectively, of which ∼ 30 % is canceled out by the positive DRELW. This yields a net DRE of about −6.9 and −18.3 W m−2 at TOA and the surface, respectively. Our study suggests that the LW flux contains useful information on dust particle size, which could be used together with SW observations to achieve a more holistic understanding of the dust radiative effect.
Holocene vegetation change and the mammal faunas of South America and Africa

Aim Although sharing many similarities in their vegetation types, South America and Africa harbour very dissimilar recent mammal faunas, not only taxonomically but also in terms of several faunistic patterns. However late Pleistocene and mid‐Holocene faunas, albeit taxonomically distinct, presented many convergent attributes. Here we propose that the effects of the Holocene climatic change on vegetation physiognomy has played a crucial role in shaping the extant mammalian faunistic patterns.
The Effects of Health Insurance within Families: Experimental Evidence from Nicaragua

This paper measures the causal effects of parent enrollment into voluntary health insurance on healthcare utilization among insured and uninsured children in Nicaragua. The study utilizes a randomized trial and age-eligibility cut-off in which insurance subsidies were randomly allocated to parents that covered their dependent children under 12; children ages 12 and older were not eligible for coverage. Among eligible children, the insurance increased utilization at covered providers by 0.56 visits and increased overall utilization by 1.3 visits. Ineligible children with insured parents experienced 1.7 fewer healthcare visits, driven by parent, not sibling enrollment. The results suggest complementarities across healthcare provider type, and provide evidence that households reallocate resources across all members, in response to changes in healthcare prices for some.