Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Three-dimensionality effects in flow around two tandem cylinders

The flow around two stationary cylinders in tandem arrangement at the laminar and early turbulent regime, ($\hbox{\it Re}\,{=}\,10^2$–$10^3$), is studied using two- and three-dimensional direct numerical simulations. A range of spacings between the cylinders from 1.1 to 5.0 diameters is considered with emphasis on identifying the effects of three-dimensionality and cylinder spacing as well as their coupling. To achieve this, we compare the two-dimensional with corresponding three-dimensional results as well as the tandem cylinder system results with those of a single cylinder. The critical spacing for vortex formation and shedding in the gap region depends on the Reynolds number. This dependence is associated with the formation length and base pressure suction variations of a single cylinder with Reynolds number. This association is useful in explaining some of the discrepancies between the two-dimensional and three-dimensional results. A major effect of three-dimensionality is in the exact value of the critical spacing, resulting in deviations from the two-dimensional predictions for the vorticity fields, the forces on the downstream cylinder, and the shedding frequency of the tandem system. Two-dimensional simulations under-predict the critical spacing, leading to erroneous results for the forces and shedding frequencies over a range of spacings where the flow is qualitatively different. To quantify the three-dimensional effects we first employ enstrophy, decomposed into a primary and a secondary component. The primary component involves the vorticity parallel to the cylinder axis, while the secondary component incorporates the streamwise and transverse components of the vorticity vector. Comparison with the single cylinder case reveals that the presence of the downstream cylinder at spacings lower than the critical value has a stabilizing effect on both the primary and secondary enstrophy. Systematic quantification of three-dimensionalities involves finding measures for the intensity of the spanwise fluctuations of the forces. This also verifies the stabilization scenario, suggesting that when the second cylinder is placed at a distance smaller than the critical one, three-dimensional effects are suppressed compared to the single-cylinder case. However, when the spacing exceeds the critical value, the upstream cylinder tends to behave like a single cylinder, but three-dimensionality in the flow generally increases.
Selenium enriched edible plants

Selenium is an important element from environmental and biological point of view In the world, deficiency of Se in a diet is more common and nutritional supplements have been recommended. The ability of several plants to accumulate and transform inorganic selenium forms into bioactive its organic compounds has important implications for human nutrition and health. This work gives a brief overview of the studies carried out to characterize selenium species produced by different enriched edible plants which were grown in the presence of different Se species.
The Horizontal Branch of the Sculptor Dwarf galaxy

We have performed the first detailed simulation of the horizontal branch (HB) of the Sculptor dwarf spheroidal galaxy by means of synthetic modelling techniques, taking consistently into account the star formation history and metallicity evolution as determined from the main sequence and red giant branch spectroscopic observations. The only free parameter in the whole analysis is the integrated mass loss of red giant branch stars. This is the first time that synthetic HB models, consistent with the complex star formation history of a galaxy, are calculated and matched to the observed HB. We find that the metallicity range covered by the star formation history, as constrained by the red giant branch spectroscopy, plus a simple mass loss law, enable us to cover both the full magnitude and colour range of HB stars. In addition, the number count distribution along the observed HB can be also reproduced provided that the red giant branch mass loss is mildly metallicity dependent, with a very small dispersion at fixed metallicity. The magnitude, metallicity and period distribution of the RR Lyrae stars are also well reproduced. There is no excess of bright objects that require enhanced-He models. The lack of signatures of enhanced-He stars along the HB is consistent with the lack of the O-Na anticorrelation observed in Sculptor and other dwarf galaxies, and confirms the intrinsic difference between Local Group dwarf galaxies and globular cluster populations. We also compare the brightness of the observed red giant branch bump with the synthetic counterpart, and find a discrepancy. The theoretical bump is brighter than the observed one, which is similar to what is observed in Galactic globular clusters.
Lifestyle Modification Is the First Line Treatment for Type 2 Diabetes

The prevalence of diabetes, especially type 2 diabetes and hypertension are significantly increased with the prevalence of obesity (Figures 1, 2 and 3) [1, 2]. Type 2 diabetes, hyperten‐ sion frequently associated with type 2 diabetes, and obesity are important risk factors for cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and cardiacand renal complications. Hyperglycemia as well as hyperinsulinemia in type 2 diabetes is a cardiovascular risk by itself [3]. Type 2 diabetes, hypertension and obesity are characterized by stimulation of the renin-angiotensinaldosterone system (RAAS), elevated sympathetic activity and insulin resistance. Importantly, these characteristics, themselves, are one of the cardiovascular risks. Therefore, pharmacolog‐ ical and non-pharmacological treatments for type 2 diabetes should be selected from favour‐ able effects on stimulated RAAS, elevated sympathetic nervous system activity, insulin resistance and leptin resistance.
Turkish EFL learners’ perceptions of native English-speaking teachers and non-native English-speaking teachers in higher education

The question of what makes a good teacher of English has aroused researchers’ interest for many years, and the existing studies comparing NESTs (native English-speaking teachers) and NNESTs (non-native English-speaking teachers) have focused mostly on students’ perceptions of these teachers. The current study aims to explore in the first phase if there is a meaningful difference between Turkish EFL learners’ perceptions of NESTs and NNESTs on their first encounter with them. The second phase explores whether any changes have occurred in students’ preconceptions regarding NESTs within the course of time. The participants are 120 Turkish monolinguals from a private university. Quantitative data was collected through questionnaires consisting of Likert-scale items in both phases. An interview session was added to the second phase to obtain more in-depth insights into students’ perceptions. The findings showed that students had neutral perceptions of NESTs and NNESTs. However, in the second phase, the data analysed via qualitative content analysis demonstrated that students’ perceptions were found to have positively changed for NESTs, particularly in terms of personality dimension. In both phases, students perceived NESTs in linguistic and professional dimensions, and NNESTs in pedagogical dimension rather positively.
Certified Adult Educators´ Attitudes towards Continuing Education

It is evident that nowadays continuing education is emerged as a necessity to educators of any kind and especially to those for adults. Educators have recognised the importance of continuing education and they really motivate and teach their students how to be engaged in continuing education programs. But are they really interested themselves to be involved in programs of continuing education? In order to answer this question, we have decided to investigate attitudes of certified adult educators toward continuing education. The purpose of this study is to identify attitudes of the 220 certified educators of Vocational Training Centres (K.E.K.) in the prefecture of Thessaloniki and their approach to different learning styles and their general interest towards continuing education. More specifically, in the present research Confirmatory factor analysis was applied aiming mainly at the construction of a model that estimate educators’ opinions in regard to continuing education and its elements. The structural model that resulted from the analysis of data confirms the existence of five factors relative to value of: continuing education, certification of adult educators, use of different teaching methods, learner’s personal satisfaction and finally, attendance in adult education programs. Key words: continuing education, adult educator, attitudes, professional development
Good Enough! Are Socially Responsible Companies the More Successful Environmental Innovators?

The link between Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities and financial performance of firms has been intensively examined and debated in academics and politics, but the connection to innovation has so far lacked research attention. This paper investigates whether CSR is complementary to environmental innovations, so that a joint introduction of both strategies generates a higher financial performance than the application of one or none of the strategies. We analyse if environmental innovators can generate higher financial performance by signalling their environmental engagement through CSR. For this purpose, we use panel data of environmental R&D activity together with a CSR variable on the Global Reporting Initiative (GRI) and analyse their effect on the financial performance of a firm. The novelty of our work is the complementary approach with which we examine the effect of a joint strategy of environmental R&D and CSR on financial performance. Although our results support the view of strategic complements for environmental R&D and GRI, we cannot conclude that this is also true for other types of CSR signalling environmental engagement.
Effects of pollution on oxidative stress in aquatic species: case of the fish Sarotherodon melanotheron in Bè Lagoon (Lomé)

This study aimed to assess heavy metals accumulation and oxidative stress biomarkers in the fish Sarotherodon melanotheron from a site receiving discharges from industrial and harbor activities (Be Lagoon) and a reference or control site in Lake Togo, Togo. Atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS) targeting four heavy metals (lead, cadmium, copper and nickel) in the waters of Be Lagoon showed levels of about 2.58 ± 0.11 μg/l, 1.03 ± 0.15 μg/l, 1.71 ± 0.17 μg/l and 3.03 ± 0.07 μg/l respectively for Pb, Cd, Ni, Cu. In water of the control site, only Cu and Ni were detected at lower levels: 1.54 ± 0.22 μg/l for Ni and 0.89 ± 0.18 μg/l for Cu. Furthermore, in tissues (liver, muscle and gills) of the fish, the heavy metal contents are found in larger samples of the Be Lagoon. Among the biological parameters (oxidative stress biomarkers), the catalase activity (P < 0.0001 in liver and P < 0.005 in gill) was found to be significantly higher in the fish collected from Be lagoon when compared with control site. These changes in biomarkers response at the subcellular level therefore indicate an impact on the biology of the fishes living in Be lagoon. Keywords: Be lagoon, catalase activity, Lake Togo, MDA, pollution.
Managing relationship gaps : A practitioner perspective 1

Prior research has failed to explain how practitioners manage relationship gaps, i.e., situations where the interests of the parties in the relationship no longer match. By adopting a practice-based research approach to explain empirical findings drawn from industrial (B2B) service contexts, this study contributes an explanatory framework of how practitioners handle relationship gaps in practice and what factors guide and shape their behaviors. This analysis is based on work life stories from practitioners at six different industrial companies and shows that relationship gaps are managed through four alternative gap management practices, each characterized by a specific set of activities. The practitioner’s perception of the validity and feasibility of the available options guide the scope of action within which different sets of activities are enacted.
Development of Human Chondrocyte–Based Medicinal Products for Autologous Cell Therapy

A cell therapy is a clinical treatment including an ex vivo cell manipulation step. Such a therapeutical option began more than forty years ago and is now a worldwide reality. Many human cell-based clinical trials have been developed in every medicine’s field mostly to cure diseases where conventional treatments are inadequate. Even though there have been few completed trials and some conflicting results on their effectiveness have been reported, the full potential of cell-based treatments remains to be explored and investigated (Park et al., 2008). Moreover, public expectation for such novel therapies, especially for treating incurable and/or rare diseases, remains high. Nowadays each tissue of the human body, including foetal and embryonic ones, can become a reliable source for cell therapy (Mason & Dunnill, 2009). Cells isolated from a specific source can be used also to cure every other tissue of the body and may be administered alone, in combination with biomaterials, scaffolds, cytokines and growth factors or can be genetically manipulated (gene therapy). Cell administrations can be local or systemic, singles or multiples. Treatments may be autologous or allogeneic (from living or cadaver donors). A cell preparation can be crucial for a treatment such as in bone marrow transplantation or otherwise it may be used as an adjuvant to improve clinical results like in regenerative medicine or to slow down the development of several chronic conditions. Cell effect after treatment can be via the ability to differentiate along several lineages or, as recently highlighted for stem cells, also via the capacity to release anti-inflammatory cytokines, growth factors and proteins, collectively known as paracrine factors, which may modulate the host microenvironment by stimulating endogenous stem cells recruitment, differentiation and angiogenesis, thus acting as real drugs (Yagi et al., 2010). Ex vivo cell manipulation protocols are different, depending on cell source, type, target, disease and Country regulations. Current European cell therapy laws classify manipulation types according to potentially associated risks. Cutting, grinding, shaping, centrifugation, soaking in antibiotic or antimicrobial solutions, sterilization, irradiation, cell separation, concentration or purification, filtering, lyophilization, freezing, cryopreservation and vitrification are considered “minimal manipulations”. On the other
Understanding how HR systems work: the role of HR philosophy and HR processes

Despite the proliferation of studies of HR systems, there are still substantial gaps in our understanding of how such systems actually work. This article, by focusing on the neglected areas of HR philosophy and HR processes in the composition of HR systems, and by using a qualitative, employee-centred approach in the collection and analysis of data, provides new insights into the working of HR systems. Using data from interviews with 56 knowledge workers employed in the information and communications technology sector in Ireland and the UK, we explore employee-level reactions to two different types of HR systems. We highlight the various ways in which HR processes interact with HR practices and the different outcomes that may result, and we identify the key role of HR philosophy in HR system operation.
Binaural Sound Localization on Neuromorphic Hardware

In this thesis binaural sound localization is performed on neuromorphic hardware. The neural network described in the JeUress model locates the azimuthal position of a sound by analysing the interaural time diUerence, so called ITD, of the sound arriving at both ears. Due to the periodicity of pure tones, the response of the network is ambiguous. By combining multiple networks for diUerent spectral components of the sound, the JeUress model is extended to a network that yields an unambiguous answer. In preceding studies by the author the functionality of this combination of networks has been shown in software simulations. Here this network is implemented on the neuromorphic microchip Spikey. Methods to overcome the obstacles imposed by the limited signal bandwidth of the chip as well as inhomogeneities in the hardware components are developed. In this context a formerly unknown eUect of interaction between input signals, which impairs ITD-detection, was measured and investigated in detail. The knowledge obtained by these measurements allows a modiVcation of the network to decrease the impact of the signals’ interaction. With the modiVed network a successful ITD-detection is performed.
The 4–5 December 2001 IMPROVE-2 Event: Observed Microphysics and Comparisons with the Weather Research and Forecasting Model

Abstract This paper highlights the observed and simulated microphysical evolution of a moderate orographic rainfall event over the central Oregon Cascade Range during 4–5 December 2001 of the Second Improvement of Microphysical Parameterization through Observational Verification Experiment (IMPROVE-2). Airborne in situ measurements illustrate the spatial variations in ice crystal distributions and amounts over the windward Cascades and within some convective cells. The in situ microphysical observations, ground radars, and surface observations are compared with four bulk microphysical parameterizations (BMPs) within the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model. Those WRF BMP schemes that overpredict surface precipitation along the Cascade windward slopes are shown to have too rapid graupel (rimed snow) fallout. Most BMP schemes overpredict snow in the maximum snow depositional growth region aloft, which results in excessive precipitation spillover into the immediate lee of the Cascades. Meanwhile, the.
Helping Others to Find Long-Term and Short-Term Mates: A Test of Inclusive Fitness, Reciprocal Altruism, and Parental Investment Theories

Individuals prefer helping some people more that others when it comes to finding a mate, and these preferences depend on whether long- or short-term mates are considered. Study 1 (N = 108) examined three theoretical frameworks (inclusive fitness, reciprocal altruism, and parental investment) for understanding why individuals would be more willing to help some individuals find mates instead of others. College participants reported how willing they were to help different types of individuals (e.g., sister, stranger) find a mate. When considering willingness to help others find a long-term mate, people preferred kin over nonkin, supporting an inclusive fitness model. However, when considering willingness to help others find short-term mates, people preferred helping people their own age, supporting a reciprocal altruism model. Study 2 (N = 143) replicated this age-cohort effect. Although rates of willingness to help others find mates were generally low, people were more likely to help others find a long-term mate than a short-term one.
THE DETERMINATION OF CONTAINED COMPOUNDS IN MILK THISTLE [SILYBUM MARIANUM L. (GAERTN.)] BY THE MEANS OF FT-NIR

The aim of our work was to verify the possibility of using Fourier transform near infrared spectroscopy (FT-NIR) for the determination of the content of individual silymarin complex components in the achenes of milk thistle [Silybum marianum L. (Gaernt.)] and to evaluate the possibility of distinguishing between the two milk thistle varieties (Silyb and Mirel) by the means of this spectroscopic analysis. The compounds were extracted for the determination of the silymarin complex components and determined by the high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The results obtained from analytical methods were used to generate the calibration model for the FT-NIR spectrometer using the partial least square method (PLS). According to correlation coefficients of the calibration models obtained for individual ingredients of the silymarin complex (0.725–0.987) these models are suitable for the preliminary determination of silymarin complex constituents. The varieties Silyb and Mirel have different ratio of the main silymarin complex components. The method of discriminant analysis (DA) was used to distinguish the varieties. Calibration model that can classify these varieties was created.
Searching for Galactic hidden gas through interstellar scintillation: Results from a test with the NTT-SOFI detector ?

Aims. Stars twinkle because their light propagates through the atmosphere. The same phenomenon is expected at a longer time scale when the light of remote stars crosses an interstellar molecular cloud, but it has never been observed at optical wavelength. In a favorable case, the light of a background star can be subject to stochastic fluctuations on the order of a few percent at a characteristic time scale of a few minutes. Our ultimate aim is to discover or exclude these scintillation effects to estimate the contribution of molecular hydrogen to the Galactic baryonic hidden mass. This feasibility study is a pathfinder toward an observational strategy to search for scintillation, probing the sensitivity of future surveys and estimating the background level. Methods. We searched for scintillation induced by molecular gas in visible dark nebulae as well as by hypothetical halo clumpuscules of cool molecular hydrogen (H2−He) during two nights. We took long series of 10 s infrared exposures with the ESO-NTT telescope toward stellar populations located behind visible nebulae and toward the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). We therefore searched for stars exhibiting stochastic flux variations similar to what is expected from the scintillation effect. According to our simulations of the scintillation process, this search should allow one to detect (stochastic) transverse gradients of column density in cool Galactic molecular clouds of order of ∼3 × 10 −5 g/cm 2 /10 000 km. Results. We found one light-curve that is compatible with a strong scintillation effect through a turbulent structure characterized by ad iffusion radius Rdiff 10 9 cm −3 ) within the dark nebulae. Because no candidate is found toward the SMC, we are also able to establish upper limits on the contribution of gas clumpuscules to the Galactic halo mass. Conclusions. The limits set by this test do not seriously constrain the known models, but we show that the short time-scale monitoring for a few 10 6 star × hour in the visible band with a >4 m telescope and a fast readout camera should allow one to quantify the contribution of turbulent molecular gas to the Galactic halo. The LSST (Large Synoptic Survey Telescope) is perfectly suited for this search.