Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Modelling and application to emission control from biomass boilers

The recent development of efficient electrostatic ReCyclone r © systems allows their application to biomass boilers for strict legal limit compliance. The purpose of this paper is to present a model to predict in a more realistic way the collection efficiency of a gas cyclone with an electrostatic enhanced recirculation system. These systems consist in an optimized reverse-flow cyclone (collector) combined with partial recirculation of un-captured particles via a straight-through cyclone (concentrator). A DC electric field is applied to the concentrator to enhance particle recirculation to the cyclone collector, leading to very high collection efficiencies. To model the system, a computer program (PACyc) was recently developed. The model, starts by estimating the collection efficiency of a system without agglomeration, building what is referred as the baseline grade-efficiency curve. To build this baseline curve, the PACyc model relies on previously published models to predict collection efficiency either for isolated cyclones, or for cyclones with mechanical/electrostatic recirculation. After solving the particle trajectory in a turbulent flow field inside the cyclone, and by employing a fixed set of parameters, PACyc determines if a collision/agglomeration occurs. The result of this procedure is an altered grade-efficiency curve after agglomeration (a composite curve), since the initial particles will have a dynamic behavior inside the cyclone as a newly formed agglomerate. The calculated efficiency will significantly increase above theoretical predictions without agglomeration, and this can be observed in various experimental results, usually referred as “hook-like” gradeefficiency curves. Some experimental results obtained in biomass boilers burning wood and coke are presented, together with the corresponding PACyc predictions on grade and global collection efficiencies.
Interplay Between MicroRNAs and Oxidative Stress in Ovarian Conditions with a Focus on Ovarian Cancer and Endometriosis

Ovarian cancer and endometriosis are two distinct gynaecological conditions that share many biological aspects incuding proliferation, invasion of surrounding tissue, inflammation, inhibition of apoptosis, deregulation of angiogenesis and the ability to spread at a distance. miRNAs are small non-coding RNAs (19–22 nt) that act as post-transcriptional modulators of gene expression and are involved in several of the aforementioned processes. In addition, a growing body of evidence supports the contribution of oxidative stress (OS) to these gynaecological diseases: increased peritoneal OS due to the decomposition of retrograde menstruation blood facilitates both endometriotic lesion development and fallopian tube malignant transformation leading to high-grade serous ovarian cancer (HGSOC). Furthermore, as HGSOC develops, increased OS levels are associated with chemoresistance. Finally, continued bleeding within ovarian endometrioma raises OS levels and contributes to the development of endometriosis-associated ovarian cancer (EAOC). Therefore, this review aims to address the need for a better understanding of the dialogue between miRNAs and oxidative stress in the pathophysiology of ovarian conditions: endometriosis, EAOC and HGSOC.
Study on the relationship between physical activity and the development of professional competence: Findings from a study in Ukraine

The search for motivation for physical activity is always relevant, competitive advantages in the labour market are one of type of such motivation. This article presents the application of the developed method for identifying professionally important qualities as components of a student’s competency levels and their physical activity levels. 314 Ukrainian students, 442 of their parents and 104 professionals who have subordinates in the fields of education and technology were reviewed. We have detailed well-known studies in the field of professionally important qualities. In spite of this, it has been identified that professionals in general are mildly interested in the qualities obtained through a student’s physical activity. Wherein the lower r value between the weight of qualities mentioned by the athletes and their parents in comparison with the r value between the weight of qualities mentioned by non-athletes and their parents reveals an increased social mobility rate of athletes.
Super Wide Band Tunable Microstrip BPF Using Stub Loaded MMR

─ A simpler structure of super wide band (SWB) tunable microstrip band pass filter (BPF) using stub loaded multimode resonator (MMR) is presented here. The MMR is formed by loading a single openended shunt stub at the center with a simple stepped impedance resonator. By incorporating this MMR with two interdigital parallel coupled feed lines, a novel SWB tunable BPF is formed. The BPF is fabricated using FR-4 substrate of 1.6 mm thickness with dielectric constant of 4.4 and simulated using high frequency structure simulator (HFSS) software. The simulated and measured results are in good agreement with each other, with a wide fractional bandwidth (FBW) of 179%. The measured insertion loss is less than -0.9 dB throughout the pass band of 3.1 GHz-15.4 GHz with the return loss higher than 11.5 dB. The group delay of the filter is relatively constant and less than 0.3 ns over the desired pass band. Index Terms ─ Band Pass Filter (BPF), Multimode Resonator (MMR), Super Wide Band (SWB), Ultra Wide Band (UWB).
The Labor Impact of Corporate Bankruptcy: Evidence from Worker-Firm Matched Data

This paper quantifies the “human costs of bankruptcy” by estimating employee wage losses induced by the bankruptcy filing of employers using worker-firm matched data from the U.S. Census Bureau’s LEHD program. We find that employee wages begin to deteriorate one year prior to bankruptcy. One year after bankruptcy, the magnitude of the decline in annual wages is 30% of pre-bankruptcy wages. The decrease in wages persists (at least) for five years postbankruptcy. The present value of wage losses summed up to five years after bankruptcy amounts to 1.4 times of pre-bankruptcy annual wages for the average employee. Furthermore, we find that the ex-ante wage premium to compensate for the ex-post wage loss due to bankruptcy can be of similar magnitude with that of the tax benefits of debt. JEL Classification: G3, G32, G33, J24, J31, J33;
Relationship Between Self- Report and Observed Parenting Among Parents in Treatment Versus Not in Treatment Populations

Background: Most maltreatment, by definition, is a failure of parenting. However, even without maltreatment, poor parenting can lead to a variety of negative outcomes including social, emotional and behavioral problems. Given that parenting plays a key role in child outcomes, one of the foci of interventions are parenting programs. Interventions for parents must be evaluated using standardized assessment tools, which leads to an important question; how can we best assess parenting? Observational methods (observing a parent and child interact) are often regarded as the gold standard in the assessment of parental behaviors but are cumbersome to administer. Self-reports of parenting behaviors are the most commonly used measure due to ease of administration, but their validity may be questioned. The goal of this study is to examine the relationship between three observational measures of parenting and two self-report measures. Methods: Participants (n=133) were either parents who were receiving treatment at Metro-Atlanta drug courts or other caregivers. All participants completed self-report measures of parenting, and videotaped interaction task with a child. Videos were coded for a variety of behaviors, and two of those behaviors (affection and involvement) matched constructs that parents reported on in a self-report battery. Results: Correlations between selfreport and observational measures for the constructs affection and involvement for the whole sample ranged from r = -. 03 to.06 for affection, and r = -. 05 to . 08 for involvement, but none were statistically significant. The relationship between self-report and observed parenting by adult type and child age was also examined. However, none of the correlations were statistically significant. Conclusions: Although there were no significant correlations found between self-report and observational measures, existing research suggests that self-reports are not interchangeable with observational methods. In future studies, constructs used to compare self-reports and observational methods should examine how each relates to the outcomes. Furthermore, CAIC (observational tool) should also be examined in further detail.
The Influence of Corporate Social Responsibility on Customer Loyalty : Evidence from the Travel Agencies and Hotels

Despite the increasing interest in corporate social responsibility (CSR) marketing practices, the role of CSR has little been explored in the area of tourism and hospitality marketing, especially in regard to the potential effects of CSR initiatives on customer responses. Also, there are few scholars, if any, who overviewed this concept in the developing countries. By understanding the effectiveness of CSR practices in the market place and its impact on customers’ responses towards the company, travel agencies and hotel operation will be able to attract new customers as well as keep strong relationships with current customers. CSR marketing will provide the firm a competitive edge over its competitors. This paper explores how customers’ perceptions of firms’ corporate social responsibility (CSR) determine customers’ behaviour and influence customer loyalty through satisfaction and commitment. To investigate such influence, data were collected through a questionnaire distributed to a sample of 350 customers of Egyptian hotels and 300 customers of Egyptian travel agencies. A total of 335 responses from hotels’ customers and 260 responses of travel agencies’ customers were collected and analyzed using structural equation modelling method. Results showed that CSR contribute to achieving customer loyalty in both sectors and confirmed the roles of satisfaction and commitment as mediating variables. These results imply that CSR can be used as a main tool for marketing strategy. Certain CSR marketing actions could work better than others to create positive identification and image of the company.
EFFECTS OF INTEREST RATES ON FINANCIAL PERFORMANCE OF DEPOSIT TAKING SACCOS IN KISII COUNTY, KENYA

Deposit Taking SACCOs play a significant role in the growth of the economy by allowing clients to deposit money. They also allow customers to take loans that they can use to invest in various ventures. DTSs adopt various strategies to ensure the loans issued to customers are well serviced and generate income to support effective and efficient operations of the DTSs. Among the strategies adopted is the use of interest rates where customer deposits act as collateral. However, there is a dearth of literature on the effects of interest rates as a loan management strategy on the financial performance of Deposit Taking SACCOs in Kisii County. Therefore, this study sought to determine the effect of interest rates on financial performance of Deposit Taking SACCOs in Kisii County. To realize the objective of the study, a descriptive survey research design that comprised of the seven DTSs operating in Kisii County was adopted. The DTSs are: Gusii Mwalimu SACCO, Kenya Achievers SACCO, Wakenya Pamoja SACCO, Egerton SACCO, Mwalimu National SACCO, Afya SACCO and vision point SACCO. Census sampling technique was adopted. Seventy respondents were sampled and they included staff in the following cadres; Chief Executive Officers, Credit Managers, Finance Managers, Internal auditors and Loan field Officers. Questionnaires were utilised to gather primary data. Data was analyzed using descriptive and multiple regression. The study revealed that interest rate had a positive effect on financial performance of DTSs in Kisii County. It was also revealed that all DTSs adopted interest rate technique as a strategy to generate income from the loans issued. The study however recommends that DTSs should review their interest rates regularly based on the cap set by the central bank, this will assist in controlling the borrowing rate, enhance the repayment of the loans hence improving the financial performance of the DTSs and also allow the DTSs to effectively compete with commercial banks.
Glycation End products (RAGE) during Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteremia

Streptococcus pneumoniae is one of the most common causes of sepsis. Sepsis is associated with the release of “damage associated molecular patterns” (DAMPs). The receptor for advanced glycation end-products (RAGE) is a multiligand receptor, abundantly expressed in the lungs, that recognizes several of these DAMPs. Triggering of RAGE leads to activation of the NF-κB pathway and perpetuation of inflammation. Earlier investigations have shown that the absence of RAGE reduces inflammation and bacterial dissemination and increases survival in sepsis caused by S. pneumoniae pneumonia. We hypothesized that the detrimental role of RAGE depends on the level of RAGE expression in the primary organ of infection. By directly injecting S. pneumoniae intravenously, thereby circumventing the extensive RAGE-expressing lung, we here determined whether RAGE contributes to an adverse outcome of bacteremia or whether its role is restricted to primary lung infection. During late stage infection (48 hours), rage mice had an attenuated systemic inflammatory response, as reflected by lower plasma levels of proinflammatory cytokines, reduced endothelial cell activation (as measured by E-selectin levels) and less neutrophil accumulation in lung tissue. However, RAGE deficiency did not influence bacterial loads or survival in this model. In accordance, plasma markers for cell injury were similar in both mouse strains. These results demonstrate that while RAGE plays a harmful part in S. pneumoniae sepsis originating from the respiratory tract, this receptor has a limited role in the outcome of primary bloodstream infection by this pathogen. 69 RAGE during Streptococcus pneumoniae bacteremia
INCREASED SERUM HEME OXYGENASE-1 IN SILICOSIS-SUSPECTED SUBJECTS FROM LIMESTONE CRUSHER FACTORIES

Heme Oxygenase-1 (HO-1) is a lung inflammation and oxidative stress biomarker. In this study, it was proposed as a sensitive biomarker to indicate silicosis. The objective of the study was to determine a relationship between serum HO-1 and occupational exposure to silica in limestone crusher workers. Total crystalline silica was quantified by ultraviolet visible spectrometry. A chest radiograph was performed in a General Hospital by a trained radiologist. The serum HO-1 level was determined by sandwich enzyme immunoassay. In the results, the total crystalline silica in the studied factories, ranged from 0.94-27.03 mg/m3. The level of serum HO-1 in silica high exposure group was significantly elevated compared with low exposure group. In chest radiography, there were 4 silicosissuspected subjects and their serum HO-1 levels were significantly higher than non-silicosis subjects after adjustment by mean age and smoking status. A positive relationship between serum HO-1 level and increased employment duration was also observed. The increased serum HO-1 level was specifically related to silica exposure and chest radiograph finding independently from age and smoking status. The serum HO-1 level has a potential to be used as an indicator of silicosis and it could also reflect the oxidative stress caused by silica exposure.
Making economic sense of adaptation in upland cereal production systems in the Gambia DTU Orbit (31/10/2017)

This paper addresses the issue of economic efficiency of selected adaptation options within the context of national food security. Using SRES A2 forcing and outputs from the HadCM and ECHAM4 Global Circulation Models, crop production is simulated for different adaptation strategies using SWAP-WOFOST. In combination with CEREBAL, the economic efficiency of these strategies is assessed under different scenarios using economic indicators related to standard benefit-cost analysis. Crop yields under all adaptation strategies investigated show some improvement relative to the situation without any management changes. Irrigation, in particular, gives the highest and most stable yields. Economic efficiency of adaptation strategies and management practices however is not only dependent on productivity increases, but is also related to unit costs of implementation of strategies, food security policy, and individual food preferences. The results provide useful guidance and motivation to public authorities and development agencies interested in food security issues in the Gambia. Overall, shortand long-term adaptation strategies analysed are economically compelling, technologically simple, and strategically necessary to food security in the Gambia.
Heterogeneous catalytic ozonation of 2-chlorophenol aqueous solution with alumina as a catalyst

Heterogenous catalytic ozonation of 2-chlorophenol (2-CP) in the presence of γ-alumina as a solid catalyst has been investigated in this research. It showed that the rate for degradation of TOC could increase from 21% to 43%. The pseudo-first reaction constants of 2-CP could increase from 0.8688 min–1 to 0.1270, increasing by approximately 40%. At the same time, the consumption of ozone was only half that of ozone alone. This research also explored the effects of the catalyst dosage, pH values and removal kinetics of 2-CP. In addition, three consecutive running with the same catalyst revealed insignificant reduction of the activity. Furthermore, the elimination of toxicity was evaluated by Microtox® analysis. The detoxification was more stable and with good results.
Face Detection by Using OpenCV’s Viola-Jones Algorithm based on coding eyes

Facial identification is one of the biometrical approaches implemented for identifying any facial image with the use of the basic properties of that face. In this paper we proposes a new improved approach for face detection based on coding eyes by using Open CV's Viola-Jones algorithm which removes the falsely detected faces depending on coding eyes. The Haar training module in Open CV is an implementation of the Viola-Jones framework, the training algorithm takes as input a training group of positive and negative images, and generates strong features in the format of an XML file which is capable of subsequently being utilized for detecting the wanted face and eyes in images, the integral image is used to speed up Haar-like features calculation for each image in (MIT, FERET) dataset and the adaboost algorithm is implemented to collect the weak classifiers and produce strong classifier. By using classifier cascade process, the speed and accuracy of face detection system is increased . The proposed method has accuracy is about 98.97% for detection faces.
An Evaluation of Crappie Supplemental Stocking in Arkansas Impoundments

Supplemental stocking of sport fish has been an important management tool used by fisheries management agencies, but published accounts of stocking success are infrequent. Both black crappie (Pomoxis nigromaculatus) and white crappie (P. annularis) have been stocked throughout the southeastern United States with over one million stocked annually in Arkansas alone. Stocking contribution was determined for six impoundments that ranged in size from 58 to 503 ha. In October 2010 and 2011, crappies were marked with oxytetracycline hydrochloride and stocked at rates that ranged from 53 to 246 fish ha–1. Age-0 crappies were collected using trap nets each month for three months following the 2010 stocking but size selective gear bias precluded accurate short-term contribution estimates. Trap net collections in 2011 and 2012 produced no marked age-1 crappies in any impoundment. Low stocking contribution may be related to a combination of the presence of a strong natural year class, high mortality associated with the stocking process, naivety to predators, or a competitive disadvantage of stocked crappie due, in part, to relatively small size at stocking. Additional evaluation of crappie stocking techniques, fate of stocked crappies, and management strategies for improving crappie year-class strength are warranted.
Studying Generalisability across Abusive Language Detection Datasets

Work on Abusive Language Detection has tackled a wide range of subtasks and domains. As a result of this, there exists a great deal of redundancy and non-generalisability between datasets. Through experiments on cross-dataset training and testing, the paper reveals that the preconceived notion of including more non-abusive samples in a dataset (to emulate reality) may have a detrimental effect on the generalisability of a model trained on that data. Hence a hierarchical annotation model is utilised here to reveal redundancies in existing datasets and to help reduce redundancy in future efforts.
Laboratory and full-scale experimental evaluation of the acoustic behaviour of sonic crystal noise barriers

Sonic crystals represent a particular case of acoustic metamaterials, corresponding to periodically arranged structures, with individual scatterers regularly spaced. These structures present a particular acoustic behaviour, revealing high levels of sound attenuation in a range of frequencies known as the band-gap. By properly selecting some definition parameters of the sonic crystals, for example, among others, the type of lattice, the lattice spacing or the diameter of the scatterers, the observed band-gap can be adjusted to match a given frequency of interest. This idea was explored to study the use of timber logs, arranged in periodic ways, to build sustainable noise traffic barriers. In the present work, the different steps of the experimental evaluation, performed to validate this concept, are described and the results of some selected experimental cases are presented, corresponding to reduced-scale laboratorial setups and to a full-scale prototype analysed in outdoor conditions.
Interactive comment on “ Closing the water balance with cosmic-ray soil moisture measurements and assessing their spatial variability within two semiarid watersheds ” by A

B. We better focused the main analyses and results of the manuscript, which can be summarized as follows: 1. Validation of cosmic-ray neutron probe sensing (CRNS) through distributed sensors and a novel method based on the water balance closing. 2. Utility of CRNS for hydrologic studies at the footprint scale, including (i) the quantification of the water balance fluxes over the 19-month period, and (ii) the improvement of the relations between evapotranspiration (ET) and soil moisture. These changes implied significant modifications in the Introduction, Methods and Results sections.
The rising government expenditure in Nigeria: Any influence on growth?

This study attempts to examine whether government expenditure in Nigeria has had any influence on growth in the economy. The study focuses primarily on capital and recurrent types of government expenditure, and these were regressed against the real gross domestic product. Secondary time series data ranging from 1981 to 2016 obtained from the CBN Statistical Bulletin were used. Having established that the series were co-integrated in the long run through the Cointegration technique of Johansen, the study then used the error correction and Granger causality techniques to achieve its objectives. Results indicated that recurrent expenditure exerts a significant positive influence on real GDP, while the influence of capital expenditure on real GDP turned out negative. The Granger causality test revealed that both capital and recurrent expenditures Granger cause real GDP. The study, therefore, advocates for a strong monitoring and evaluation system of the way in which government funds, especially those intended for capital projects, are being used, so as to bring about a meaningful influece on the economy.