Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Controls on the standing crop of benthic foraminifera at an oceanic scale

Currently there is very little basin-scale information on patterns of standing crop in marine organisms or their structuring forces. Understanding modern patterns and controls on foraminifera is particularly critical because of their abundance and importance in benthic systems as well as their role as palaeoceanographic proxies. Here, we examine for the first time basin-scale patterns and predictors of benthic foraminiferal standing crop from shelf to abyssal deep sea in the Atlantic Ocean and adjacent seas using a large database of 967 quantitative samples. Spatial regression analyses reveal that the flux of particulate organic matter (POC) is a major control on standing crop size across all depths investigated, with increasing food supply increasing foraminiferal standing crops. Other factors also play a role. Dissolved oxygen is significant at slope depths and negatively related to standing crop. Temperature and possibly salinity are significant factors in the abyss. Dissolved silicate was important and positively related to standing crop in shelf seas, potentially indicating the importance of the nature of the organic material available. This study demonstrates that productivity is important in describing foraminiferal standing crop at a basin scale, supporting the use of paleoceanographic proxies, but also demonstrates that other environmental variables are also likely important in controlling the standing crop and should be considered in reconstruction of Earth’s past marine environment.
Atomic force microscopy and Raman spectroscopy study of tantala films

This thesis contains a report of two distinct areas of research into thin films of tantalum pentoxide (Ta2O5), also known as tantala. Firstly, the surfaces of the tantala films have been investigated with atomic force microscopy (AFM) and the results presented and analysed. Secondly, the same films have been investigated with Raman spectroscopy and conclusions have been drawn from the data. Thin films of tantala are used as mirror coatings in gravitational wave detectors. Theoretically predicted gravitational waves should induce a movement of 10-20 m Hz-1/2 in a gravitational wave detector. All sources of noise that could preclude the positive detection of a wave need to be minimised if not removed altogether. A mechanical dissipation within the tantala films is one such source of noise that limits the sensitivity of the detector. This mechanism is not altogether understood yet. In this work thin films of tantala (10-500nm) have been deposited by pulsed laser deposition (PLD), atomic layer deposition (ALD) and ion beam sputtering (IBS) on to silicon substrates. Studies by atomic force microscopy (AFM) have been made and show the influence of deposition conditions on the surface morphology of grown films. Films with low surface roughness will be good candidates for mirror coatings in order to minimise possible scattering of incident radiation. The same films have also been studied with Raman spectroscopy in an effort to characterise the vibrational energy of the films. Raman studies of glasses are relatively rare and this is a first study in the context of mirror coatings and doped tantala. An assessment is offered as to what films offer the best features for mirror coatings.
A numerical investigation for underwater fluid-netting interaction problem

The present work investigates an application-oriented issue in the marine and fisheries researches domain. However much trawl structure codes that simulate dynamic behavior of submerged nets, in continuous interaction with surrounded ocean water, still need more accuracy and precision due to the fact that the sea water is mainly considered as a fluid with a uniform velocity and intensity, and so the effects of small turbulence rates were neglected. When this little inaccuracy occurs in the first step of the net displacement prediction, a large error could manifests in the form of the simulated net, and as consequence, drag forces wrongly estimated. In the purpose to overcome the lack of data information exchange during the fluid structure interaction, a co mputational fluid program was proposed to ensure the desired coupling. The described CFD code is based on explicit finite volume method using the method of characteristics for compressible liquid flow. The objective of this CFD package is to give a quantitative description for the entire flow filed in terms of velocity and pressure value around the knots of a submerged net structure. The discretization was performed with the finite volume method for inviscid part, and a central difference approximation for dissipation terms. A Riemann solver based on Tait equation of state and implemented into Godunov-type scheme with higher order MUSCL has been used to evaluate fluxes on control volumes interfaces. In order to verify the validity of the numerical method many tests have been carried out for multi-dimensional shock tubes, open channel fluid flow and for water flow around obstacles. The goal within this work is to achieve a coupling between the net structure and surrounding fluid through the replacement of the real net obstacle, composed of thin cylinders and spheres, by force bodies, and update the fluid package to a three dimensional model.
Joint assimilation of soil moisture retrieved from multiple passive microwave frequencies increases robustness of soil moisture state estimation

Abstract. Soil moisture affects the partitioning of water and energy and is recognized as an essential climate variable. Soil moisture estimates derived from passive microwave remote sensing can improve model estimates through data assimilation, but the relative effectiveness of microwave retrievals in different frequencies is unclear. Land Parameter Retrieval Model (LPRM) satellite soil moisture derived from L-, C-, and X-band frequency remote sensing were assimilated in the Australian Water Resources Assessment landscape hydrology model (AWRA-L) using an ensemble Kalman filter approach. Two sets of experiments were performed. First, each retrieval was assimilated individually for comparison. Second, each possible combination of two retrievals was assimilated jointly. Results were evaluated against field-measured top-layer and root-zone soil moisture at 24 sites across Australia. Assimilation generally improved the coefficient of correlation (r) between modeled and field-measured soil moisture. L- and X-band retrievals were more informative than C-band retrievals, improving r by an average of 0.11 and 0.08 compared to 0.04, respectively. Although L-band retrievals were more informative for top-layer soil moisture in most cases, there were exceptions, and L- and X-band were equally informative for root-zone soil moisture. The consistency between L- and X-band retrievals suggests that they can substitute for each other, for example when transitioning between sensors and missions. Furthermore, joint assimilation of retrievals resulted in a model performance that was similar to or better than assimilating either retrieval individually. Comparison of model estimates obtained with global precipitation data and with higher-quality, higher-resolution regional data, respectively, demonstrated that precipitation data quality does determine the overall benefit that can be expected from assimilation. Further work is needed to assess the potentially complementary spatial information that can be derived from retrievals from different frequencies.
Police interrogations through the prism of science

Several approaches can be employed for information gathering from human sources, differing in their theoretical basis, goals, realisation, and ethical acceptability. The paper critically presents and compares two prevalent approaches to suspect interrogation used by the police. The older, prevalent interrogation approach focuses on obtaining suspects' incriminating statements and admissions, which severely elevates the risk of false confessions. Consequently, this interrogation approach is termed accusatorial or coercive since suspects are forced to admit to a crime. The newer interrogation approach is the information-gathering approach, also known as the investigative interview. It focuses on gathering accurate information in order to exclude or accuse a suspect in a criminal investigation. In comparison with coercive interrogation models, the information-gathering approach has a lower probability of false confessions since suspects are exposed to significantly lower levels of psychological pressure. Moreover, it is ethically more acceptable, has scientific grounds, enables the gathering of more accurate information, and has been found to be at least as ef fective as the coercive approach in criminal investigations. The investigative interview relies mainly on findings from social psychology. An analysis of coercive interrogation models reveals that they have no scientific basis and as such rely mainly on uncorroborat ed common-sense assumptions from authorities. In developed countries, coercive interrogation models are increasingly being replaced by the information-gathering approach, a trend connected with the enforcement of high human rights standards and a higher aware ness of risks associated with coercive interrogation methods by the general public, academia, and professionals alike.
The Mediating Role of Anticipated Guilt in Consumers' Textbook Piracy Intention

The intellectual property issue of textbook piracy in Taiwan affects Taiwan’s reputation and possibly its industrial development. Many college students in Taiwan make a photocopy of the textbooks they need rather then purchase them. Based primarily on the framework of Theory of Planned Behavior, this article investigated the mediating effect of anticipated guilt on the relationship between attitude, social influence, perceived behavior control and textbook piracy intention. A total of 361 Taiwanese college students from two major Taiwanese universities were recruited for this study. The results showed that the textbook piracy intention of these students was determined by cost, benefit, peer influence, societal influence and opportunity. It is worth noting that the effects of cost, benefit and societal influence on a student’s intention of textbook piracy were found to be partially mediated by the anticipated guilt. However, the effect of peer influence on textbook piracy intention was not mediated by the anticipated guilt.
Tree-based intercropping does not compromise canola (Brassica napus L.) seed oil yield and reduces soil nitrous oxide emissions

Recent concerns over rising oil prices and greenhouse gas emissions have sparked an interest for the production of first generation biofuels on marginal agricultural land in Eastern Canada. Field trials were established to compare canola seed oil yield and soil nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions in tree-based intercropping (TBI) and conventional monocropping (CM) systems. The 4–5 year-old TBI system comprised alternating rows of hybrid poplar and high-value hardwood species, with 8 m wide alleys. Each cropping system was planted with six canola cultivars, grown at four fertilizer N rates. Seed oil concentrations decreased linearly with fertilizer N, while seed oil yields increased either linearly or following a quadratic trend. An optimal fertilization rate was estimated at 80 kg N ha−1. Seed oil concentrations were higher in the CM than in the TBI system, but the two systems did not differ significantly in terms of seed oil yield.
Examining the Relationship between Psychological Capital and Entrepreneurial Intention: An Exploratory Study

The aim of this study is determine if Entrepreneurial Intention is related to Psychological Capital in business students. Self-efficacy, Hope, Optimism and Resiliency, which are all dimensions of psychological capital, were assessed with the General Self-Efficacy Scale (GSE), the Hope Scale (HS), the Life Orientation Test Revised (LOT-R) and the Resilience Scale (RS), respectively. The Entrepreneurial Intention was assessed through five statements. According to the results, Entrepreneurial Intention is related to all dimensions of Psychological Capital, mainly with Self-efficacy and Resilience. Psychological Capital as an integrated construct was related to Entrepreneurial Intention as a whole. These findings provide additional evidence about the importance to study Psychological capital as an integrated construct instead of studying its dimensions separately, even more so when studied in relation to Entrepreneurial Intention. In spite of the advances in the knowledge about the individual differences related to entrepreneurial intentions, it is necessary to continue studying this phenomenon, considering that the results are still scarce and inconclusive.
Big Data Measures of Well-Being: Evidence From a Google Well-Being Index in the United States

We build an indicator of individual subjective well-being in the United States based on Google Trends. The indicator is a combination of keyword groups that are endogenously identified to fit with the weekly time-series of subjective well-being measures disseminated by Gallup Analytics. We find that keywords associated with job search, financial security, family life and leisure are the strongest predictors of the variations in subjective well-being. The model successfully predicts the out-of-sample evolution of most subjective well-being measures at a one-year horizon. Un indicateur de bien-etre subjectif est construit pour les Etats-Unis sur la base des donnees de Google Trends. L’indicateur est une combinaison de mots-cles qui sont identifies pour reproduire les series hebdomadaires de bien-etre subjectif de Gallup Analytics. Nous trouvons que les mots-cles associes a la recherche d’emploi, a la securite financiere, a la vie de famille et aux loisirs sont les plus forts predicteurs des variations du bien-etre subjectif. Le modele prevoit l’evolution hors echantillon de la plupart des mesures de bien-etre a l’horizon d’un an.
Effect of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungus, plant growth promoting rhizobacterium, and soil drying on different forms of potassium and clay mineral changes in a calcareous soil under maize planting

ABSTRACT- Greenhouse experiment was conducted in factorial experiment arranged as a completely randomized design (CRD) to evaluate the effect of Glomus intraradices, Pseudomonas fluorescence and soil drying on different forms of potassium (K) and the changes of clay minerals in a calcareous soil after maize planting. Treatments consisted of arbuscular mycorrhizal (AM) fungus at two levels: G0 (not inoculated with fungus) and G1 (inoculated with Glomus intraradices), bacteria at two levels B0 (not inoculated with bacterium) and B1 (inoculated with Pseudomonas fluorescence) and soil drying levels or four irrigation intervals of 2 (S0), 4(S1), 6(S2) and 8(S3) days. As soil drying increased, all forms of K increased and root colonization decreased. Inoculation of plants with microbial inoculants increased root colonization percentage and all forms of K in soil as compared to non microbial treatments. However, the effect of single inoculation with bacterium was less pronounced. Co-inoculation treatments of plants with fungus and bacterium resulted in the maximum amounts of root colonization and K forms as compared to single inoculation of plants with each inoculum. The amount of illite-chlorite minerals increased as soil dryinglevels increased. In non mycorrhizal treatments, there were no smectite minerals, while in mycorrhizal treatments, the quantity of smectite minerals increased as the levels of soil dryingincreased. It might be concluded that biofertilizers and soil drying are effective in minerals weathering and dissolution and K releasing.
The value of enzyme-linked immunospot assay test in the diagnosis and evaluation of curative effect of tuberculous pleurisy

Objective: To investigate the value of enzyme-linked immunospot assay test (ELISPOT) (T-SPOT.TB) in the diagnosis and therapeutic effect of tuberculous pleurisy.Methods: Collected 93 cases ofAffiliated Hospital of InnerMongoliaMedical University patients with pleural effusion. The peripheral blood and pleural effusion of the patientswith non hemorrhagic exudative pleural effusion were tested by T-SPOT.TB before treatment. The peripheral blood of the patients of clinically diagnosed as tuberculous pleurisy were tested by T-SPOT.TB again after 3 months regular anti tuberculosis. Result: There are 63 cases in 93 patientswith pleural effusion were diagnosed as tuberculous pleurisy.Among them, the positive rate of T-SPOT.TB test in peripheral blood and pleural effusion was 90.48%(57/ 63) and 100%(63/63) respectively. There are 30 cases were diagnosed as non tuberculous pleurisy. Among them, the negative rate of T-SPOT.TB test in peripheral blood and pleural effusion was 83.33%(25/30) and 70%(21/30). In our study, the negative predictive value(Specificity) and the positive predictive value of T-SPOT.TB test in peripheral blood was 80.65%(25/31) and 91.94%(57/62). The negative predictive value and the positive predictive value of T-SPOT.TB test in pleural effusion was 100%(21/21) and 87.5%(63/72). The average numbers of spot forming cells(SFCs) in Pleural effusion were 4.69 times that in peripheral blood.The numbers of SFCs in peripheral blood were obviously decreased or loss after 3 months anti tuberculosis therapy. Conclusion: T-SPOT TB is a sensitive and specific test in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy, especialy in pleural effusion. T-SPOT TB can be used as evaluation index of tuberculosis treatment.
Assessment of fecal bacteria contamination in sewage and non-sewage impacted mangrove ecosystems along the coast of Dar es salaam

Microbiological quality of the intertidal pool water was evaluated in sewage impacted (Mtoni Kijichi) and non-sewage impacted (Rasi Dege) mangrove forest sites along the coast of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. The Most Probable Number method was used for estimating the total coliform (TC), fecal coliform (FC) and fecal enterococci (ENT) levels. In addition, physicochemical parameters (temperature, pH, salinity and nutrients) were measured. The results for microbial fecal indicators were compared to the World Health Organisation (WHO) and United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) guidelines for marine recreational and shellfish harvesting waters. Fecal bacteria contamination was significantly higher at Mtoni Kijichi than at Rasi Dege mangroves Nutrient levels were also significantly higher at Mtoni Kijichi than Rasi Dege). No significant variation was noted on the values of temperature, pH and salinity. A significant correlation between the levels of fecal bacteria indicators and nutrient concentrations was observed at both sites. Regarding compliance to WHO and USEPA guidelines, only one station at Mtoni Kijichi was found to have levels exceeding the recommended thresholds for marine recreational waters. The high level of fecal bacteria contamination and nutrients was attributed to anthropogenic activities. Further studies and education of the users of these ecosystems is recommended.
A Review on Nanofluids: Fabrication, Stability, and Thermophysical Properties

Nanofluids have been receiving great attention in recent years due to their potential usage, not only as an enhanced thermophysical heat transfer fluid but also because of their great importance in applications such as drug delivery and oil recovery. Nevertheless, there are some challenges that need to be solved before nanofluids can become commercially acceptable. The main challenges of nanofluids are their stability and operational performance. Nanofluids stability is significantly important in order to maintain their thermophysical properties after fabrication for a long period of time. Therefore, enhancing nanofluids stability and understanding nanofluid behaviour are part of the chain needed to commercialise such type of advanced fluids. In this context, the aim of this article is to summarise the current progress on the study of nanofluids, such as the fabrication procedures, stability evaluation mechanism, stability enhancement procedures, nanofluids thermophysical properties, and current commercialisation challenges. Finally, the article identifies some possible opportunities for future research that can bridge the gap between in-lab research and commercialisation of nanofluids.
Diet of Engraulis encrasicolus in the northern Adriatic Sea (Mediterranean): ontogenetic changes and feeding selectivity

Ontogenetic variation in the diet of Engraulis encrasicolus (L.) was examined in the northern Adriatic Sea, off the River Po delta, by stomach contents analysis. Anchovy (10 to 130 mm to- tal length) were collected during a 1 wk cruise in October 2002. Feeding activity was mainly diurnal in all the length classes: stomach fullness, calculated for each 10 mm size class, was always higher during the day than at night, with maximal values measured for the 40 to 49 and 50 to 59 mm size classes. All analysed life stages of E. encrasicolus had a strictly zooplanktivorous diet based on a few species of copepods. The principal prey of E. encrasicolus were small-sized copepods, measuring about 0.2 to 0.3 or 0.5 to 0.6 mm in prosoma length. The copepods Euterpina acutifrons and Oncaea spp. dominated anchovy diet during the day, both in terms of frequency, number and biomass, in all anchovy size classes. During the night, bivalve larvae were also important dietary items, with Oncaea spp. and E. acutifrons making up >69% of total prey number for all anchovy size classes. Within the considered size range, the dimensions of particles does not seem to be a limiting factor in food selection, and no re- lationship was found between anchovy length and the maximal dimension of ingested prey. Ivlev's electivity index confirmed that European anchovy was able to select specific food items and preferred small copepods such as E. acutifrons and Oncaea spp. , and bivalve and decapod larvae.
HOW SATISFIED IS THE TEMPORARY LABOR FORCE?: A STUDY OF JOB SATISFACTION, JOB CHARACTERISTICS, AND TEMPORARY AGENCY WORKERS IN AUSTRALIA by LYDIA ALETRARIS

by LYDIA ALETRARIS (Under the Direction of Jeremy Reynolds) ABSTRACT The temporary help agency industry has experienced substantial growth in the past two decades. Although there is much research on the quality of temporary jobs compared to other jobs, most research has emphasized the economic disparities in the outcomes for workers in temporary employment. Research on non-economic outcomes, such as job satisfaction, has been scant. Using a nationally representative sample of Australian workers, I examine the extent to which temporary workers are satisfied with their jobs and whether there are differences in the job satisfaction of temporary agency workers and other workers. I find that temporary agency workers report lower levels of job satisfaction and find that job security, autonomy, control over timing of work, and job stress are important mediating mechanisms. I also find that women are more satisfied with temporary work than men and explore why. I end with implications for organizations and for future research.