Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quality of non-compliance explanations related to corporate governance codes. Compliance with Corporate Governance Codes: differences between the Netherlands and Germany

This research takes a closer look at compliance to corporate governance codes in the Netherlands and in Germany. Compliance is measured by the number of deviations from the corporate governance code, and also by how well these deviations are explained. This research finds that explanations are not of the level that the corporate governance code demands. With respect to the number of deviations, this research finds that shareholders seem to care more for comply-or-perform than for comply-or-explain. Furthermore, it is found that the presence of more women on the supervisory board plays a significant role in increasing compliance, whereas bigger supervisory boards are found to decrease a firm’s compliance. A striking finding is that the executive board seems to play no role in determining compliance. Many differences between the Netherlands and Germany can be explained by making a distinction between the market-based funding in the Netherlands, and the bank-based funding in Germany, which has far reaching consequences for the corporate governance and its functioning in the two different countries. Lastly, it is found that the German corporate governance code is less efficient, because it is oriented towards market-oriented governance mechanisms, which only play a minor role in Germany.
SQUAT EXERCISE ABNORMALITY DETECTION BY ANALYZING JOINT ANGLE FOR KNEE OSTEOARTHRITIS REHABILITATION

Normally, osteoarthritic knee patients experienced 1) difficulties controlling their fine motors, 2) lack of muscle strength, and 3) limited range of motion. The limitations can be improved by physiotherapy exercises to 1) enhance flexibility and mobility of joints and 2) increase strength and endurance of the muscles. However, the patients should be individually monitored so that the exercises are performed correctly, effectively and efficiently. This paper focuses on squat exercise monitoring for knee osteoarthritis rehabilitation. The patient’s movement is captured by using a low cost 3D camera, Kinect sensor for skeletal tracking to recognize and track people without using marker. 3D coordinates of each joint is retrieved from the skeleton data, where a joint angle is derived based on two intersecting human body segments. Time series of the joint angles during the squat exercise are recorded, which are then smoothed by Double Exponential Smoothing technique to find the variability between them. The proposed method is validated by using simulated videos of squat exercise performed by 10 healthy volunteers of various physiques and gender to simulate the normal and abnormal conditions. Mean Squared Error (MSE) is calculated between the measured and smoothed angles to classify the movement either normal or abnormal. The parameters for smoothing and trend control used are 0.8928 and 0.7256, respectively, which are derived based on optimal MSE of the 10 volunteers. The simulation results show that the average MSE for each 10 samples of normal and abnormal conditions are 3.1358 and 10.5205, respectively. Hence, a simple threshold method has been developed to detect movement abnormality while doing squat exercise.
Unusual vertical structure of the Saharan Air Layer and giant dust
particles during AER-D

Abstract. The Saharan Air Layer (SAL) in the summertime Eastern Atlantic is typically well-mixed and 3–4 km deep, overlying the marine boundary layer (MBL). In this paper, we show experimental evidence that at times a very different structure can be observed. During the AER-D airborne campaign in August 2015, the typical structure described above was observed most of the times, and was associated with a moderate dust content yielding an Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) of 0.3–0.4 at 355 nm. In an intense event, however, an unprecedented vertical structure was observed close to the Eastern boundary of the basin, displaying an uneven vertical distribution and a very large AOD (1.5–2), with most of the dust in a much lower level than usual (0.3–2 km). Estimated dust concentrations and column loadings spanned 300–5500 μg m−3 and 0.8–7.5 g m−2, respectively. The shortwave direct radiative impact of the intense dust event has been evaluated to be as large as −260 ± 30 and −120 ± 15 W m−2 at the surface and top of atmosphere, respectively. This event was also correlated with anomalous lightning activity in the Canary Islands. In all cases, our measurements detected a broad distribution of aerosol sizes, ranging from ~ 0.1 to ~ 80 μm (diameter), thus highlighting the presence of giant particles. Giant dust particles were also found in the MBL. We note that most aerosol models may miss the giant particles due to the fact that they use size bins up to 10–25 μm. The unusual vertical structure and the giant particles may have implications for dust transport over the Atlantic during intense events, and may affect the estimate of dust deposited to the Ocean. We believe that future campaigns should focus more on events with high aerosol load, and that instrumentation capable of detecting giant particles will be key to dust observations in this part of the world.
Morphometry of Lipid Bodies in Embryo, Kernel and Mesocarp of Oil Palm: Its Relationship to Yield

Oil palm drupe which has thick fleshy mesocarp contains rich oil, where storage of oil in it can make up to 80% of its dry mass [1]. Ongoing research interest in oil palms has been focused on the mechanisms of oil production in oil palm drupes, while investigation on the ultrastructural morphometry of its oil storage entity, namely lipid body, has received limited attention. By employing microscopy techniques, this study investigated the morphometric of lipid bodies in the mesocarp, kernel and embryo of oil palms drupes at 22 week-after-anthesis (WAA). This study also investigated the relationship between the size of lipid bodies and oil yield of oil palms at the same state of maturity (22 WAA). The structural arrangements of lipid bodies were found to be different among embryo, kernel and mesocarp of oil palms. It was also found that the size of lipid bodies of mesocarp of oil palms was larger compared to other crops. Lipid bodies in both embryo and mesocarp were statistically shown to be larger in low oil-yielding palms.
Global evidence on nitrogen saturation of terrestrial ecosystem net primary productivity

The continually increasing nitrogen (N) deposition is expected to increase ecosystem aboveground net primary production (ANPP) until it exceeds plant N demand, causing a nonlinear response and N saturation for ANPP. However, the nonlinear response of ANPP to N addition gradient and the N saturation threshold have not been comprehensively quantified yet for terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, we compiled a global dataset of 44 experimental studies with at least three levels of N treatment. Nitrogen response efficiency (NRE, ANPP response per unit N addition) and the difference in NRE between N levels (ΔNRE) were quantified to test the nonlinearity in ANPP response. We found a universal response pattern of N saturation for ANPP with N addition gradient across all the studies and in different ecosystems. An averaged N saturation threshold for ANPP nonlinearity was found at the N addition rates of 5–6 g m−2 yr−1. The extent to which ANPP approaches N saturation varied with ecosystem type, N addition rate and environmental factors. ANPP in grasslands had lower NRE than those in forests and wetlands. Plant NRE decreased with reduced soil C:N ratio, and was the highest at intermediate levels of rainfall and temperature. These findings suggest that ANPP in grassland or the ecosystems with low soil C:N ratio (or low and high rainfall or temperature) is easier to be saturated with N enrichment. Overall, these results indicate that the beneficial effect of N deposition on plant productivity likely diminishes with continuous N enrichment when N loading surpasses the N saturation threshold for ANPP nonlinearity.
Spectral properties of 441 radio pulsars

We present a study of the spectral properties of 441 pulsars observed with the Parkes radio telescope near the centre frequencies of 728, 1382 and 3100 MHz. The observations at 728 and 3100 MHz were conducted simultaneously using the dual-band 10-50cm receiver. These high-sensitivity, multi-frequency observations provide a systematic and uniform sample of pulsar flux densities. We combine our measurements with spectral data from the literature in order to derive the spectral properties of these pulsars. Using techniques from robust regression and information theory we classify the observed spectra in an objective, robust and unbiased way into five morphological classes: simple or broken power law, power law with either low or high-frequency cut-off and log-parabolic spectrum. While about $79 \%$ of the pulsars that could be classified have simple power law spectra, we find significant deviations in 73 pulsars, 35 of which have curved spectra, 25 with a spectral break and 10 with a low-frequency turn-over. We identify 11 gigahertz-peaked spectrum (GPS) pulsars, with 3 newly identified in this work and 8 confirmations of known GPS pulsars; 3 others show tentative evidence of GPS, but require further low-frequency measurements to support this classification. The weighted mean spectral index of all pulsars with simple power law spectra is $-1.60 \pm 0.03$. The observed spectral indices are well described by a shifted log-normal distribution. The strongest correlations of spectral index are with spin-down luminosity, magnetic field at the light-cylinder and spin-down rate. We also investigate the physical origin of the observed spectral features and determine emission altitudes for three pulsars.
Formation of the terrestrial planets in the solar system around 1 au via radial concentration of planetesimals

No planets exist inside the orbit of Mercury and the terrestrial planets of the solar system exhibit a localized configuration. According to thermal structure calculation of protoplanetary disks, a silicate condensation line (~ 1300 K) is located around 0.1 au from the Sun except for the early phase of disk evolution, and planetesimals could have formed inside the orbit of Mercury. A recent study of disk evolution that includes magnetically driven disk winds showed that the gas disk obtains a positive surface density slope inside ~ 1 au from the central star. In a region with positive midplane pressure gradient, planetesimals undergo outward radial drift. We investigate the radial drift of planetesimals and type I migration of planetary embryos in a disk that viscously evolves with magnetically driven disk winds. We show a case in which no planets remain in the close-in region. Radial drifts of planetesimals are simulated using a recent disk evolution model that includes effects of disk winds. The late stage of planet formation is also examined by performing N-body simulations of planetary embryos. We demonstrate that in the middle stage of disk evolution, planetesimals can undergo convergent radial drift in a magnetorotational instability (MRI)-inactive disk, in which the pressure maximum is created, and accumulate in a narrow ring-like region with an inner edge at ~ 0.7 au from the Sun. We also show that planetary embryos that may grow from the narrow planetesimal ring do not exhibit significant type I migration in the late stage of disk evolution. The origin of the localized configuration of the terrestrial planets of the solar system, in particular the deficit of close-in planets, can be explained by the convergent radial drift of planetesimals in disks with a positive pressure gradient in the close-in region.
VOLATILE TRANSPORT INSIDE SUPER-EARTHS BY ENTRAPMENT IN THE WATER-ICE MATRIX

Whether volatiles can be entrapped in a background matrix composing planetary envelopes and be dragged via convection to the surface is a key question in understanding atmospheric fluxes, cycles, and composition. In this paper, we consider super-Earths with an extensive water mantle (i.e., water planets), and the possibility of entrapment of methane in their extensive water-ice envelopes. We adopt the theory developed by van der Waals & Platteeuw for modeling solid solutions, often used for modeling clathrate hydrates, and modify it in order to estimate the thermodynamic stability field of a new phase called methane filled ice Ih. We find that in comparison to water ice VII the filled ice Ih structure may be stable not only at the high pressures but also at the high temperatures expected at the core–water mantle transition boundary of water planets.
STOCHASTIC NONLINEAR DYNAMICS OF A BEAM SYSTEM WITH IMPACT

In this paper, a strongly nonlinear beam-impact system under both broad-banded and small-banded, Gaussian noise excitations is investigated. The response of this system is investigated both numerically, through a multi-degree-of-freedom (MDOF) model, and experimentally focusing on frequency-domain characteristics such as stochastic equivalents of harmonic and subharmonic solutions. Improved understanding of these stochastic response characteristics is obtained by comparing them to nonlinear periodic response features of the system. It will be shown that in modeling such a continuous linear system with a local nonlinearity, the linear part can be effectively reduced to a description based on several modes. Combining this reduced linear part with the local nonlinearity in a reduced nonlinear model is shown to result in an analysis model, which can be used to accurately predict the stochastic response characteristics of the original, continuous, nonlinear system. It is shown that the inclusion of more modes in the model will result in a response, which differs significantly from that of a SDOF (singledegree-of-freedom) model, giving a better correspondence with experimental results, also in the frequency range of the first mode.
The Effect of a New Brand Entrant on a Market

Through examining the impact of a new packaged goods brand on key market and brand performance measures, we contribute to the growing body of knowledge concerning new brand behaviour. Using 20 weeks worth of panel data, we evaluated the impact of a new brand launch on a beverages market, looking at how it performed in terms of gaining buyers and the rate at which they purchased. We also examined how the competitor parameters of the market were affected by the new entrant. Our findings suggest that new brands look just like established brands within the short term. They also show that normal patterns of double jeopardy, where bigger brands not only have more customers but these customers also purchase slightly more often, are largely unaffected in a launch for both the new brand and existing brands. Finally, it appears that there are no obvious effects on the normal patterns of competition, as expressed by the parameters of the Dirichlet model of repeat-purchase.
Impacts of flocculation on the distribution and diagenesis of iron in boreal estuarine sediments

Abstract. Iron (Fe) plays a key role in sedimentary diagenetic processes in coastal systems, participating in various redox reactions and influencing the burial of organic carbon. Large amounts of Fe enter the marine environment from boreal river catchments associated with dissolved organic matter (DOM) and as colloidal Fe oxyhydroxides, principally ferrihydrite. However, the fate of this Fe pool in estuarine sediments has not been extensively studied. Here we show that flocculation processes along a salinity gradient in an estuary of the northern Baltic Sea efficiently transfer Fe and OM from the dissolved phase into particulate material that accumulates in the sediments. Flocculation of Fe and OM is partially decoupled. This is likely due to the presence of discrete colloidal ferrihydrite in the freshwater Fe pool, which responds differently from DOM to estuarine mixing. Further decoupling of Fe from OM occurs during sedimentation. While we observe a clear decline with distance offshore in the proportion of terrestrial material in the sedimentary particulate organic matter (POM) pool, the distribution of flocculated Fe in sediments is modulated by focusing effects. Labile Fe phases are most abundant at a deep site in the inner basin of the estuary, consistent with input from flocculation and subsequent focusing. The majority of the labile Fe pool is present as Fe (II), including both acid-volatile sulfur (AVS)-bound Fe and unsulfidized phases. The ubiquitous presence of unsulfidized Fe (II) throughout the sediment column suggests Fe (II)-OM complexes derived from reduction of flocculated Fe (III)-OM, while other Fe (II) phases are likely derived from the reduction of flocculated ferrihydrite. Depth-integrated rates of Fe (II) accumulation (AVS-Fe + unsulfidized Fe (II) + pyrite) for the period 1970–2015 are greater in the inner basin of the estuary with respect to a site further offshore, confirming higher rates of Fe reduction in near-shore areas. Mossbauer 57Fe spectroscopy shows that refractory Fe is composed largely of superparamagnetic Fe (III), high-spin Fe (II) in silicates, and, at one station, also oxide minerals derived from past industrial activities. Our results highlight that the cycling of Fe in boreal estuarine environments is complex, and that the partial decoupling of Fe from OM during flocculation and sedimentation is key to understanding the role of Fe in sedimentary diagenetic processes in coastal areas.
Index Trading and Agricultural Commodity Prices: A Panel Granger Causality Analysis

This paper investigates the causality between prices and index-based trading activity for twelve grain, livestock, and other soft commodity futures markets. We use panel Granger causality estimations based on SUR systems and Wald tests with market-specific bootstrap critical values in order to take into account the possible contemporaneous dependence across markets. Our results confirm that there is no causality between index-based positions and commodity futures prices.
Free and attached cells of Bacillus subtilis as starters for production of a soup flavouring (“ogiri egusi”)

Aims: This Bacillus subtilis has been identified to be the main fermenting bacterium during indigenous production of “ogiri egusi”; a traditional soup flavouring rich in protein. Evaluation of the use of starter and broth cultures of this bacterium in the production of „ogiri egusi‟ was therefore undertaken with the view to improve the fermentation process and quality of product. Methodology and Results: Cowpea granules in association with Bacillus subtilis cells were developed as starter cultures for the fermentation. Results obtained showed that the starter cultures resulted in an increase in the aminonitrogen from 1.67±0.02 to 19.96±0.05 mg N/100 g dry matter in 48 h while the broth cultures increased the aminonitrogen from 1.63±0.03 to 16.54±0.05 mg N/100 g dry matter in 72 h. There was also a corresponding increase in the protease activity of the fermentation conducted with the starter cultures from 2.69±0.03 to 54.98±0.04 mg N/min in 48 h. The broth cultures produced an increase from 2.65±0.02 to 47.61±0.06 mg N/min in 72 h. Changes in these parameters for the natural process were gradual and reached their peaks at 120 h with values of 9.89±0.13 mg N/100g dry matter and 31.92±0.03 mg N/min respectively. Peroxide values for the fermentation processes increased throughout the period; however the starter cultures produced the lowest value (10.20±0.10 meq/kg) showing that rancidity may not occur in the product fermented by the starter culture. Conclusion, significance and impact of study: The starter cultures significantly reduced fermentation time from 96 – 120 h in the natural process to 48 h. Thus use of starter cultures optimized the process of fermentation and will eliminate chances of contamination of product with pathogens and spoilage organisms. This ultimately will improve product quality.
The Impact of Web-Based Disclosure on the Capital Market Risk

This paper evaluates the Web-based voluntary disclosure practices in a sample of 180 French listed firms. The main objective is to investigate the impact of Internet-based disclosure on capital market risk. Three measures are used to present the capital market risk: total risk is measured by the standard deviation of stock returns, and systematic risk and idiosyncratic risk are the beta and standard deviation of the residuals generated from the market model, respectively. Following the method of Gajewski and Li, the Web-based disclosure is measured by an index of 40 items. The empirical results show that total risk and idiosyncratic risk vary inversely with the strength of Internet disclosure. This indicates that improved online disclosure can reduce investors’ uncertainty in the capital market. However, systematic risk is not influenced by the disclosure practice. Furthermore, capital concentration and board size are negatively associated with total and idiosyncratic risk. This study extends the prior research by investigating the influence of online disclosure on capital risk in the French stock market. I am particularly concerned about the technical features of Internet disclosure and its impact on capital risk. Online information is generally considered to be user-friendly, yet it is now necessary to analyze the effect of this convenience provided by Internet technology on the capital market.
Column leaching from biomass combustion ashes

SUMMARY: The utilization of biomass combustion ashes for forest soil liming and fertilizing has been addressed in literature. Though, a deep understanding of the ash chemical composition and leaching behavior is necessary to predict potential benefits and environmental risks related to this practice. In this study, a fly ash sample from an operating Danish power plant based on wood biomass was collected, chemically characterized and investigated for its leaching release of nutrients and heavy metals. A column leaching test was employed. The strongly alkaline pH of all the collected eluates suggested the potential suitability of the ash as a liming material. Although high contents of nutrients were detected, differences in their leaching release were found. Heavy metals were detected within typical literature contents for Nordic countries ashes.
Natural resource prices: will they ever turn up?

Hotelling's theory predicts that natural resource rents should increase over time. However, technical progress in resource extraction, environmental constraints,or great natural abundance could result in stagnant or declining product prices. Thus, there is no theoretical reason to believe that product prices will rise in the near future. The prediction of product prices by time-series methods is shown to depend critically upon whether the series are modeled as differenced or trend stationary. Dickey-Fuller and Lagrange Multiplier tests are used to show that the series are differenced stationary. Long- and short-sample series are tested. Trend-stationary modeling strongly predicts rising resource prices. The result from differenced-stationary modeling is that there is only a weak supposition that natural resource prices will rise.