Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Thermodynamics of acoustic black holes in two dimensions

It is well-known that the thermal Hawking-like radiation can be emitted from the acoustic horizon, but the thermodynamic-like understanding for acoustic black holes was rarely made. In this paper, we will show that the kinematic connection can lead to the dynamic connection at the horizon between the fluid and gravitational models in two dimension, which implies that there exists the thermodynamic-like description for acoustic black holes. Then, we discuss the first law of thermodynamics for the acoustic black hole via an intriguing connection between the gravitational-like dynamics of the acoustic horizon and thermodynamics. We obtain a universal form for the entropy of acoustic black holes, which has an interpretation similar to the entropic gravity. We also discuss the specific heat, and find that the derivative of the velocity of background fluid can be regarded as a novel acoustic analogue of the two-dimensional dilaton potential, which interprets why the two-dimensional fluid dynamics can be connected to the gravitational dynamics but difficult for four-dimensional case. In particular, when a constraint is added for the fluid, the analogue of a Schwarzschild black hole can be realized.
Phase I / II Study of Treatment with Matured Dendritic Cells With or Without Low Dose IL-2 in Patients with Disseminated Melanoma

From the: Oncology and Immunology Unit, Room 443, David Maddison Clinical Sciences Building, Cnr. King & Watt Streets, Newcastle, NSW 2300, Australia; Department of Dermatology, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia. Melanoma and Skin Cancer Institute, Sydney University, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia; Sydney Melanoma Unit, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Level 3, Gloucester House, Camperdown, NSW 2050, Australia.
Professional development of preschool teachers and changing the culture of the institution of early education

ABSTRACT The culture of institutions of early education is a strong network of customs, rules, norms and behaviours that affect the daily life and work of all its individuals. Consequently, the professional development of preschool teachers is not only an individual process of professional advancement, but also a process that changes the culture of the institution of early education and includes all participants of the educational process. In this paper, we examine the perception of the preschool teacher profession and the connection between the preschool teachers’ attitudes about their profession and their focus on continuous learning and exploring personal practice. The research was conducted on a random sample of N = 238 preschool teachers in Croatia. For data collection, we used the Questionnaire for the assessment of the culture of the educational institution designed for the needs of the scientific research project ‘Culture of the educational institution as a factor of co-constructing knowledge’.
Effect of Size of Inhomogeneity on the Surface Wave Attenuation in Cementitious Media

The present study focuses on surface wave propagation in cementitious material with inhomogeneity. Thin, flakey inclusions were added in contents of up to 10% by volume and different sizes inside the matrix to realistically simulate cracking. The results are focused on the attenuation created by the inhomogeneity. As damage is added up in content, the level of attenuation strongly increases for the whole examined frequency band. However, the size and the population of the inclusions present an equally strong influence on the attenuation. The distortion of the frequency content is also evaluated by spectral density functions, showing that simple waveform analysis can enhance the characterization of damage in addition to the valuable assessment based on wave velocity.
Ecophysiology of the benthic amphipod Monoporeia affinis in an open-sea area of the northern Baltic Sea: seasonal variations in body composition, with bioenergetic considerations

A deep-living, open-sea population of Monoporeia affinis from the northern Baltic Sea was studied for seasonal variations in the gross biochemical, lipid class and elemental composition during 1991 to 1993. The seasonal cycle in the composition of this benthic, deposit-feeding amphipod was largely determined by the brief period of spring phytoplankton bloom sedimentation and the longlasting deficiency of good-quality nutrition during late autumn-early spring. The level (% dry wt) of lipid was lowest in March-April (21 to 30%, range: interannual variation), increased rapidly in early summer (27 to 43%) and peaked in the autumn (38 to 44 %). Reciprocal to lipid, the level of protein was highest in the spring (19 to 29%) and lowest in the autumn (17 to 23%). Carbon and nitrogen levels followed closely the patterns of lipid and protein, respectively. Triacylglycerols were invariably the main lipid class (67 to 95% of total lipids), while phospholipids formed 4 to 23% and other classes <7 % each. Due to high variability in biochemical composition, the energetic value of the body matter of M. affinis showed great seasonal variation. Using body composition and previously determined metabolic rates, calculations showed distinct seasonal and life-cycle variability in the bioenergetic strategy of the amphipods. Interannual variability in the body composition of the amphipods was noted, especially between 1991 and the 2 follo.wing years. Previously recorded long-term oscillations in the abundance and biomass of M. affinis populations and the relation of these oscillations to pelagic events and sedimentation is discussed in the light of the present results.
Centrality of Religiosity and Sense of Coherence: a Cross-sectional Study with Polish Young, Middle and Late Adults

The relationship between religiosity and mental health is a relatively common topic in psychology of religion. Many studies have been performed examining this topic and the results have reported both positive and neutral and even negative relationships between religious commitment and mental health. The ambiguous findings may be due to the fact that religion has a multifaceted nature and different aspects of religiosity are differentially related to mental health. Depending on which definitions of religiosity researchers used, evidence could be supporting a positive or negative relationship between religiosity and mental health and supporting the position that there is no relationship. The present study aims to examine interactions of five dimensions of religiosity (Intellect, Ideology, Private Practice, Religious Experience, Public Practice) with sense of coherence in Polish adults' sample, separately in women and men in early, middle and late adulthood. Six hundred thirty-six Polish Catholics, 332 women and 304 men, aged between 18 and 79 participated in the research. We applied the Centrality of Religiosity Scale (CRS) by S. Huber and the Sense of Coherence Scale (SOC-29) by A. Antonovsky. The results suggest that the salutogenic function of religiosity is related to age and gender. We noted positive relationships between religiosity and SOC in middle-aged men and in female young and late groups. Implications for intervention are discussed.
A Note on Calculating Flows Through Vertical Vents in Zone Fire Models Under Conditions of Arbitrary Cross-Vent Pressure Difference

Abstract In typical compartment fire scenarios, ratios of cross-vent absolute pressures are very close to 1. When such is the case, algorithms are available to predict the resulting cross-vent room-lo-room flows, There are, however, important situations where this pressure condition does not prevail. For example, in fire scenarios involving relatively small penetrations in otherwise hermetically-sealed compartments of fire origin, cross-penetration pressure differences can be of the order of an atmosphere and pressure ratios, outside-to-inside, can be several tenths less than one. It is important for a versatile compartment fire model to have a capability of predicting vent flows for the entire range of possible cross-vent pressure conditions. This paper presents a unified analytic description of flows through uniform-width vertical vents connecting pairs of two-layer room fire environments under conditions of arbitrary cross-vent pressure difference. The algorithm presented is not significantly more comp.
Preface "Modeling soil system: complexity under your feet"

A clear statement in these lines textually cited (Byers et al., 1938) deﬁnes the framework of this special issue: “True soil is the product of the action of climate and living organism upon the parent material, as conditioned by the local relief. The length of time during which these forces are operative is of great importance in determining the character of the ultimate product. Drainage conditions are also important and are controlled by local relief, by the nature of the parent material or underlying rock strata, or by the amount of precipitation in relation to rate of percolation and runoff water. There are, therefore, ﬁve principal factors of soil formation: Parent material, climate, biological activity, relief and time. These soil forming factors are interdependent, each modifying the effectiveness of the others. ” Due to these various processes associated to its formation and genesis soil dynamics reveals high complexity that creates several levels of structure using this term in a broad sense
Effect of integrated nutrient management on yield, soil fertility and economics in Abelmoschus esculentus – Allium cepa cropping system in semi arid zone of Haryana

A field experiment was conducted during Kharif 2014 to Rabi 2015 at the Regional Research Station, CCS HAU, Bawal, Haryana to study the effect of integrated nutrient management on yield, soil fertility and economics in Abelmoschus esculentus – Allium cepa cropping system in semi arid zone of Haryana. Results revealed that highest yield and B: C ratio of okra (37.65 qha-1and 1.19) and onion (173.95 qha-1 and 6.19) were recorded with application of 75% RDF + 6t vermi-compost ha-1+ bio-fertilizer. Application of 75% RDF alone significantly reduced the fruit yield of okra by 12.3 and bulb yield of onion by 4.1% over 100% RDF. Application of 75% RDF +15 t FYM ha-1 increased the fruit yields okra by 25.6% and onion bulb yield by 8.0%, whereas the application of 75% RDF + 6t vermi-compost ha-1 significantly increased the okra fruit yield by 29.6% and onion bulb yield by 11.9% over 75% RDF. Biofertilizers application increased the yield of both crops significantly over control and but increase in yield were non-significant over 75% RDF in both the crops. The integrated use of inorganic and organic fertilizer increased the crops yield by 25.9 and 8.4% with 75% RDF+15t FYM ha-1+ bio-fertilizer and by 27.8 and 11.9% with 75% RDF + 6t vermi-compost ha-1+ bio-fertilizer over 75% RDF + bio-fertilizer. The treatment comprising of 75% RDF+ 6t vermi-compost ha-1 +bio-fertilizers also maintained the highest available NPK (124.85, 15.85 & 176.05 kg ha-1) after the harvest of okra-onion cropping system. The maximum B:C ratio of 1.19 & 6.19 was recorded under the treatment receiving 75% RDF+6t vermicompost ha-1 + bio-fertilizers in okra and onion crops, respectively.
Matrix cracking and delamination evolution in composite cross-ply laminates

Abstract This study followed numerous simulations of the stress field distribution in damaged composite cross-ply laminates, which were subjected to uni-axial loading. These results led us to elaborate an energy criterion. The related criterion, a linear fracture-based approach, was used to predict and describe the initiation of the different damage mechanisms. Transverse crack damage was generally the first observed damage. The second type of damage was longitudinal cracking and/or delamination. The stress field distribution in the damaged cross-ply laminates was analysed through an approach that used several hypotheses to simplify the damage state. The initiation of transverse cracking and delamination mechanisms was predicted. The proposed results concern the evolution of the strain energy release rate associated to the evolution of transverse cracking and delamination. As in several studies in the literature, to quantify the evolution of the damage mechanisms in the present approach, the laminate is supposed to be pre-damaged.
Corporate Governance and Firm Value: The Mediating Effect of Financial Performance and Firm Risk

This study aims to analyze and explain the relationship between the corporate governance and the firm value, either direct, or indirect through the financial performance and the firm risk. The research object is the mining sector companies listed in Indonesia Stock Exchange for the period of 2009-2014. The corporate governance is measured from information disclosure index based on OECD principles of corporate governance. The firm value is quantified from the Tobin’s q and Price to Book Value (PBV). Return on Assets (ROA) and Net Profit Margin (NPM) are used to determine the financial performance. The firm risk is computed from the systematic risk and idiosyncratic risk. A Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is utilized to analyze the data. The research result shows that the corporate governance has positive significant effect to the financial performance and negative significant effect to the firm risk, but it has no direct significant effect to the firm value. The corporate governance has significant effect to the firm value through the financial performance. Meanwhile, the corporate governance has no significant effect to the firm value through the firm risk. In addition, the financial performance has positive significant effect to the firm value, while the firm risk has no significant effect to the firm value. Keywords: corporate governance, financial performance, firm risk, firm value
On the influence of submarine ridges on translation and stability of Agulhas rings

A series of experiments with a quasi‐geostrophic model have been carried out to investigate the influence of topographic obstacles on the translatory movement of Agulhas rings. The rings were initialized as Gaussian‐shaped anomalies in the stream function field of a two‐layer ocean at rest. Bottom topography consisted of a meridional ridge of constant height in the middle of the quadratic model domain. The vertical ring structure, the initial ring position, and the height of the ridge were varied. The general northwestward movement of the model eddies has been shown to be modified toward a more equatorward direction by encountering the upslope of the ridge. Sufficient topographic heights and strong slopes can even block the eddies and force them toward a pure meridional movement. During their translation the eddies lose their vertical coherence. After about 150 days the eddy can only be detected by the surface signal, while the lower layer eddy is dispersed by the radiation of Rossby waves. The passage of “young” (regarding the time between their initialization and their contact with the ridge) and energetic eddies is accompanied by the observation of along‐slope currents of significant strength. These may be due to the rectification of radiated Rossby waves at the topographic slope. Only eddies with a significant dynamic signal in the lower layer are influenced by the bottom topography. Strong, shallow eddies over deep lower layers can cross the ridge without strong modification of their translatory movement.
Spatial Analysis of Women Employment Status in Nigeria

This study considered the nature of employment that women engage in as a multi-categorical response. A multinomial logistic model with geo-additive predictors was used to examine the determinants and geographical variations using data from the 2008 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey. Diffuse priors were assumed for modelling fixed effects, Bayesian p-spline for the nonlinear smooth functions and intrinsic conditional autoregressive prior for the spatial effects. Results showed that while a north-south divide existed in the likelihood of women engaging in all-year employment against not working, an east-west divide was found in seasonal/occasional jobs. Other important factors found to be significantly associated with employment status included women's age, educational level, marital status, sex of household head, and type of place of residence. Policymakers need to develop appropriate strategies to address the observed imbalance in the spatial distributions of women employment status in the country.
Evaluation of companion crops for thrips (Thysanoptera: Thripidae) management on French bean Phaseolus vulgaris (Fabaceae)

Six companion crops, i.e. Tagetes erecta, Daucus carota L. , Coriandrum sativum L. , Brassica oleraceae L. var. acephala, Capsicum annuum L. and Zea mays L. , were evaluated for their efficacy in suppressing field populations of Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) and Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom on French bean Phaseolus vulgaris L. Each companion crop was interplanted with French beans in a 3 × 10 m plot and replicated three times in a completely randomized block design. Fhe thrips populations on French bean flowers in experimental plots were compared with those on beans treated with two insecticides: l-cyhalothrin (Karate 1.75% EC) and methiocarb (Mesurol 500 SC) or untreated (control). Coriandrum sativum, Z. mays and T. erecta are recommended as companion crops for intercropping with French beans to reduce populations of thrips and hence minimize the use of chemical insecticides on this crop. RésuméSix plantes associées, i.e. Tagetes erecta, Daucus carota L. , Coriandrum sativum L. , Brassica oleraceae L. var. acephala, Capsicum annuum L. et Zea mays L. , ont été évaluées pour leur capacité à contrôler les populations naturelles de Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) et Megalurothrips sjostedti Trybom sur le haricots vert Phaseolus vugaris L. Chaque plante a été plantée en alternance avec des haricots verts dans des parcelles de 3 × 10 m, á raison de trois répétitions par plante dans un bloc complétement aléatoire. Les populations de trips présentes sur les fleurs de haricots verts dans les différentes parcelles expérimentales ont été comparées a celles de haricots verts traités avec deux insecticides L-cyhalothrin (Karate 1,75% EC) et methiocarb (Mesurol 500 SC) et, un témoin. Les résultats montrent que C. Sativum, Z. mays et T. erecta sont les meilleures plantes associées pour réduire l’utilisation des insecticides.
Size, profitability and risk level effects of accounting disclosures : a study on the Greek banking industry

The credit crunch of 2007 and the ensuing Greek economic crisis of 2009 and its aftermath have brought back to surface the issue of risk disclosure and transparency in the Greek banking industry. Concerns over the Greek sovereign risk have spilled over both to regional banks and banks in other European countries. These have developed rapidly into a generalized retreat from risk-taking and credit contraction. This paper examines the under-researched Greek banking market owing to its topical and regional spill-over effects. Inadequate transparency and disclosure about exposures has led to counterparty concerns and renewed strains in bank funding markets. Greek banks, now struggling with the need to increase provisions against bad debts, asset write-offs and with problems of liquidity as a result of being frozen out of the interbank lending market are completely reliant on the European Central Bank. Having as a starting point the debate regarding the way banks choose to publicly disclose risk related information, this study tries to examine the impact that Basel II had on the risk disclosure practices in the Greek banking sector. This paper examines the disclosure practices and their potential relationship with size, risk profile and profitability of the most actively traded Greek banks. The results show that while Basel II managed to raise the risk disclosing amounts in the annual reports of the Greek banks, some inadequacies still exist. The informational value of such disclosures is questioned, due to that little quantitative information is disclosed whereas favouritism towards qualitative and past related disclosures is revealed. Adding to that, no quasi-norms between the size, profitability or risk profile of the institutions and their risk disclosing quantities is revealed. Nonetheless, the disclosing policies and the quantity of disclosures have evolved, throughout the examined period in the Greek banking industry. Yet, transparency issues and quality problems regarding risk disclosure are still present owing to the high degree of secrecy of the internal Greek market.
Predicting the impacts of wind farms on seabirds: An individual‐based model

1.Individual Based Models (IBMs) are a powerful tool in predicting the consequences of environmental change on animal populations and supporting evidence-based decision making for conservation planning. 2.There are increasing proposals for windfarms in UK waters and seabirds are a vulnerable group, which may be at risk from these developments. 3.We developed a spatially-explicit IBM to investigate the potential impacts of the installation of windfarms in the English Channel and North Sea on body mass, productivity and mortality of a breeding population of Northern gannets for which we have tracking data. 4.A baseline model with no windfarms accurately represented the status of a sample of tracked gannets at the end of the 90 day chick-rearing period, and the behaviour-time budget was similar to that of tracked gannets. 5.Model simulations in the presence of windfarms indicated that installations should have little impact on the gannet population, when either avoidance behaviour or collision risk scenarios were simulated. Furthermore, windfarms would need to be ten times larger or in more highly used areas in order to have population-level impacts on Alderney's gannets. 6.Synthesis and applications. Our spatially-explicit Individual Based Models (IBM) highlight that it is vital to know the colony-specific foraging grounds of seabirds that may be impacted, when identifying potential windfarm sites, in order to account for cumulative impacts from multiple sites. Avoiding areas highly used for foraging and commuting, and avoiding large-scale developments should be effective in limiting gannet mortality as a result of collision, competition and energy expenditure. Our IBM provides a robust approach which can be adapted for other seabird populations or to predict the impacts from other types of spatial change in the marine environment. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
Teacher Assessments Versus Standardized Tests: Is Acting 'Girly' an Advantage?

We study if Italian teachers do apply gender discrimination when judging students. To this aim, we use a difference-in-differences approach that exploits the availability of both teachers (non-blind) and standardized test (blind) scores in math and language that Italian students receive during the school year. Using data for all sixth graders, descriptives show that in both scores girls are better than boys in the language scores, while in math boys perform better than girls in the blind test. Moreover, our analysis suggest that boys are always discriminated by teachers in both subjects. This result holds also when we control for class fixed effects, students noncognitive skills, gender specific-attitude towards cheating and possible cultural differences towards gender attitudes in math or language.