Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effects of Wavy Channel Entrance Design on Streamwise Counter-rotating Vortices: a Visualization Study

Two different channel entrance designs, code named Valley First (VF) and Peak First (PF), were experimentally visualized by means of smoke-wire visualization technique to observe their effects towards the streamwise counter-rotating vortices generated. The spanwise wavelength of the vortices was pre-set by modifying the leading edge. The investigation was carried out on the laminar boundary-layer flow in a rectangular channel with one-sided wavy surface that has amplitude a and wavelength λ of 7.5 mm and 76 mm, respectively. The vortices in the channel with VF design preserve farther downstream than those on the PF design, which might be caused by the large favorable pressure gradient between the entrance flat plate and the first peak location. The counter-rotating vortices could still be observed at non-dimensionalized streamwise distance χ (= x/λ) = 2.47 for Reynolds number Re (= UH/ν) = 9900 in channel with VF design. For lower Re, the vortices could preserve further downstream. In contrast, in channel with PF design, the structures were only visible clearly up to approximately χ = 1.32 for Re = 4700 and χ = 0.39 for Re = 5200.
Market Competition, Station Ownership, and Local News andPublic Affairs Programming on Local Broadcast Television

This study examines the relationship between competitive conditions in television markets, ownership characteristics, and commercial broadcast television station provision of local news and public affairs programming. Policymakers continue to raise questions about the relationship between ownership and market conditions and the provision of informational programming, in connection with a variety of policy areas, including ownership regulation, localism initiatives, and station public interest obligations; however, much of the research in this area is either out of date and/or methodologically flawed. This study presents the results of an analysis of a random sample of 285 full power television stations. Among the studies’ findings are that competitive conditions and station financial resources are much more significant to the provision of local news programming than to public affairs programming, and that ownership characteristics bear little meaningful relationship to either local news or public affairs programming provision.
The Relationship Closeness Inventory: Assessing the closeness of interpersonal relationships.

This article describes the development of the Relationship Closeness Inventory (RCI), which draws on the conceptualization of closeness as high interdependence between two people's activities proposed by Kelley et al. (1983). The current "closest" relationship of individuals (N = 241) drawn from the college student population served as the basis for RCI development, with the closest relationship found to encompass several relationship types, including romantic, friend, and family relationships. The development and psychometric properties of the three RCI subscales (Frequency, Diversity, Strength), their scoring, and their combination to form an overall index of closeness are described. The RCI's test-retest reliability is reported and the association between RCI score and the longevity of the relationship is discussed. RCI scores for individuals' closest relationships are contrasted to those of not-close relationships, to a subjective closeness index, and to several measures of relationship affect, including Rubin's (1973) Liking and Loving scales. Finally, the ability of the RCI to predict relationship break up is contrasted to that of the Subjective Closeness Index, an index of the emotional tone of the relationship, and to relationship longevity. It is concluded that the RCI possesses acceptable internal and test-retest reliability, satisfactory discriminant and construct validity, and encouraging predictive validity, thus suggesting that it constitutes a viable means of assessing relationship closeness.
The Information Advantage of Underwriters in IPOs

Using a unique dataset of dealer-level trading data on recent IPOs, we find strong evidence that lead underwriter trades are significantly related to subsequent IPO abnormal returns among bookbuilding IPOs. This relation is concentrated among issues with the highest information asymmetry and underwriters with the most industry experience. In contrast, we find no similar relation for trades by other syndicate members. We also find no relation among a sample of auction IPOs. Our results are consistent with the joint hypothesis that underwriters of bookbuilding IPOs gain unique insight on the values of these client firms, and that they trade on this information advantage.
Strategies to Enhance Whispered Speech Speaker Verification: A Comparative Analysis

Today, automated speech-enabled tools are increasingly being used in everyday environments. This mobility has created new challenges for developers, who are now faced with input speech of varying styles (e.g. whispered) and corrupted by different noise sources. In this paper, special emphasis is placed on whispered speech, an underexplored yet burgeoning area due to the rapid proliferation of smartphones around the world. More specifically, this paper explores the performance boundaries achievable with whispered speech for a speaker verification task, both in matched and mismatched train/test conditions. Several strategies are investigated to improve the performance in the mismatched scenario, as well as in situations involving ambient noise. Our results agree with previously reported studies in adjacent areas, that significant gains could be obtained by training speaker models with both naturally voiced and whispered speech data. Moreover, additional gains could be achieved with speaking style and gender dependent systems. Overall, speaker verification performance inline with that obtained with naturally-voiced speech could be attained for whispered speech once specific strategies were put in place. Particularly, feature fusion showed to be an important strategy for practical applications in both clean and noisy conditions.
Love and Death: Relational Metaphors Following the Death of a Child

Recognised as one of the most painful human experiences, the purpose of this study was to uncover the relational and metaphorical themes embodied in bereaved parent narratives following the death of a child. Using a grounded approach, 420 narratives were analysed. Results of the study found (a) relational trajectory, (b) grief/coping, and (c) communication as prominent relational themes. In the present study, bereaved parents often described their conjugal relationship metaphorically as being in motion, as a living organism, and as on a journey. Grief was primarily described metaphorically as a type of journey. Communication was metaphorically described in terms of being open or closed. Discovering the experiences of bereaved parents adds to our knowledge about how the stress of child death impacts relational resiliency. Implications are discussed.
Is the distribution of the toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella expanding along the NW Mediterranean coast

The toxic dinoflagellate Alexandrium catenella is usually known as a cold waters species; however, during the summer of 1996 a bloom was observed in the Barcelona harbour (water temperatures above 20°C). This was the first time that an A. catenella bloom occurred in Catalan waters. Recurrent blooms have been observed annually from 1996 to 1999 during the warm season in this harbour. Since its first detection A. catenella has been recorded at an increasing number of sta- tions along the coast, suggesting a progressive areal expansion. Two toxic, widespread events of this species occurred in non-confined coastal waters along 100 km of coastline during the summers of 1998 and 1999. We argue that the newly constructed harbours, serving as confined habitats for the development and maintenance of A. catenella, have contributed to the expansion of the dinoflagel- late on the NW Mediterranean coast.
Covariance Structure of Principal Components for Three-Part Compositional Data

Statistical analysis of compositional data, multivariate observations carrying only relative information (proportions, percentages), should be performed only in orthonormal coordinates with respect to the Aitchison geometry on the simplex. In case of three-part compositions it is possible to decompose the covariance structure of the well-known principal components using variances of log-ratios of the original parts. They seem to be helpful for the interpretation of these special orthonormal coordinates. Theoretical results are applied to real-world data containing relative structure of lands cape use in German regions.
The Jacobson–Morozov theorem and complete reducibility of Lie subalgebras

In this paper we determine the precise extent to which the classical sl2 ‐theory of complex semisimple finite‐dimensional Lie algebras due to Jacobson–Morozov and Kostant can be extended to positive characteristic. This builds on work of Pommerening and improves significantly upon previous attempts due to Springer–Steinberg and Carter/Spaltenstein. Our main advance arises by investigating quite fully the extent to which subalgebras of the Lie algebras of semisimple algebraic groups over algebraically closed fields k are G ‐completely reducible, a notion essentially due to Serre. For example, if G is exceptional and char k=p⩾5 , we classify the triples (h,g,p) such that there exists a non‐ G ‐completely reducible subalgebra of g=Lie(G) isomorphic to h . We do this also under the restriction that h be a p ‐subalgebra of g . We find that the notion of subalgebras being G ‐completely reducible effectively characterises when it is possible to find bijections between the conjugacy classes of sl2 ‐subalgebras and nilpotent orbits and it is this which allows us to prove our main theorems.
Sports consumer-team relationship quality: development and psychometric evaluation of a scale

The purpose of this research was to develop the Sports Consumer-Team Relationship Quality Scale (SCTRQS). In Study I, content validity was established through a comprehensive review of literature and tests of content validity, including expert review. Based on the assessment of psychometric properties, theoretical relevance of the items and parsimoniousness of the scale, items were refined for two following studies. Results indicated that the SCTRQS would be a valid tool for marketers and managers to assess relationship quality with their consumers for marketing strategies, effectiveness of advertising campaigns, sponsorship value and value for stakeholders.
In Search of the Best Native Pollinators for Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia L.) Pollination in Multan, Pakistan

In order to assess the pollinator community and the best native pollinators for bitter gourd (Momordica charantia L., Cucurbitaceae), an experiment was performed at the Vegetable Research Station in Multan, Pakistan. We measured the abundance of pollinators, their diurnal and seasonal dynamics along with their floral visitation rates and single-visit efficacy in terms of reproductive success. The pollinator community was composed of 15 insect species in 3 orders and 10 families. Bees were the most dominant (435 individuals) floral visitors followed by butterflies (345 individuals) and flies (248 individuals) while moths and wasps were observed occasionally. Apis florea, Parnara guttata and A. dorsata were the most abundant pollinators. A. florea and A. dorsata also exhibited the highest visitation rates and frequencies. Five major pollinators were tested for their single-visit efficacy, showing that A. dorsata was the most effective pollinator, along with A. florea and Eristalinus laetus. Conserving and enhancing these pollinators may boost M. charantia production in Pakistan.
Adsorption of Oligonucleotides on Quantum Dots Coated with Zwitterionic Ligands and Other Water-Soluble Ligands

A strategy to ameliorate non-specific adsorption of oligonucleotides onto Quantum Dots (QDs) is investigated where QDs are being used as a platform for the development of optical bioprobes for nucleic acid detection. Certain zwitterionic structures as coatings on QDs have recently been shown to reduce non-specific binding of proteins. In this thesis, a lysine side chain is attached to a dihydrolipoic acid (DHLA) derivative to create a zwitterionic bidentate ligand that has primary amine and carboxyl termini. Such coatings on CdSe/ZnS QDs were studied to assess adsorption of oligonucleotides across a range of pH to better understand the relationship between surface charge and adsorption. The change of pKa of charged terminal groups on QD surfaces for a variety of different water soluble ligands were evaluated using pseudo-titration curves, and indicated up to 3 orders of magnitude shift of pKa at a QD surface in comparison to pKa in bulk solution.
Two highly reddened young open clusters located beyond the Sagittarius arm

We present the results of CCD BVI Johnson-Cousins photometry down to $V \sim 19$ mag in the regions of the unstudied stellar groups Pismis 23 and BH 222, both projected close to the direction towards the Galactic centre. We measured V magnitude and $B-V$ and $V-I$ colours for a total of 928 stars in fields of about 4′ $\times$4′. Pismis 23 is conclusively a physical system, since a clear main sequence and other meaningful features can be seen in the colour-magnitude diagrams. The reality of this cluster is also supported by star counts carried out within and outside the cluster field. For Pismis 23 we derive colour excesses $E(B{-}V) = 2.0\, \pm\, 0.1$ and $E(V{-}I) = 2.6 \,\pm\, 0.1$, a distance from the Sun of $2.6\, \pm\, 0.6$ kpc ($Z = {-}19$ pc) and an age of $300 \,\pm\, 100$ Myr (assuming solar metal content). BH 222 appears to be a young open cluster formed by a vertical main sequence and by a conspicuous group of luminous, typically red supergiant stars. We derived for this cluster a colour excess of $E(V{-}I) = 2.4 \pm 0.2$, a distance from the Sun of $6.0 \pm 2.7$ kpc ($Z = {-}46$ pc) and an age of $60 \pm 30$ Myr. The resulting reddening and distance estimates place these two young objects among the most reddened and distant open clusters known in the direction towards the Galactic centre. They are located beyond the Sagittarius arm, close to the direction where this arm probably bifurcates into two arms.
Soil Erosion and Sediment Yield Modelling in the Pra River Basin of Ghana using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE)

There has been an upsurge of uncontrolled land use activities in the Pra River Basin in Ghana which are likely to promote surface soil erosion into the fluvial sediment transport system of the basin. The revised universal soil loss equation (RUSLE) was integrated with Geographic Information System (GIS) to model the spatial patterns in soil erosion and sediment yield in 2008 within the catchment. Parameters of the model were formatted as raster layers and multiplied using the raster calculator module in ArcGIS to produce a soil erosion map. The concept of sediment delivery ratio (SDR) was used to determine the annual sediment yield of the catchment by integrating a raster SDR layer with that of the soil erosion map. Predicted soil loss and sediment yield were found to be low due to good soil protective cover by vegetation and tree crops as well as a low relief of the physical landscape. Though, the elements and processes prevailing in the basin in 2008 result in low surface soil erosion and sediment yield, this condition could degenerate into very severe surface soil erosion if the current state of land degradation, particularly small scale mining (galamsey) activities are allowed to continue. Keywords: Geographic information system; Pra River; revised universal soil loss equation; sediment delivery ratio; soil erosion modelling; sediment yield modelling
Misocyclone Characteristics along Florida Gust Fronts during CaPE

Multiple-Doppler radar and rawinsonde data are used to examine misocyclone characteristics along gust fronts observed during the Convection and Precipitation/Electrification (CaPE) project in Florida. The objective of this study is to investigate the observational representativeness of previous numerical simulations of misocyclones by employing a consistent analysis strategy to 11 gust fronts observed in the same region. The investigation focuses on the intensity range of misocyclones and their organization along gust fronts; the relationship between misocyclone intensity and horizontal wind shear, vertical wind shear, and static stability; and the relationship between misocyclones and convection initiation. The intensity of misocyclones, as indicated by the maximum values of vertical vorticity, varied from 2.8 10 3 to 13.9 10 3 s 1 , although all but one case exhibited values less than 6.4 10 3 s 1 . Organized misocyclone patterns were only found along small segments of gust fronts. Within those segments misocyclones were spaced between 3 and 7 km. Results show that the intensity of misocyclones was most closely related to the strength of horizontal wind shear across the gust front. The relationship between misocyclone intensity and vertical wind shear and static stability was not as clear. Although convection was initiated along the gust front in 7 of the 11 cases, those regions were not collocated with or in close proximity to misocyclones.
Discovery of variable X-ray absorption in the cTTS AA Tauri

We present XMM-Newton X-ray and UV observations of the classical T Tauri star AA Tau covering almost two rotational periods where $P_{\rm rot} \sim$ 8.5 days. Clear, but uncorrelated variability is found at both wavebands. The variability observed at ~2100 A follows the previously known optical period. Spectral analysis of the X-ray data results in significant variability in the X-ray absorption such that the times of maximal X-ray absorption and UV extinction coincide. Placing the coronal emission in regions at low up to moderate magnetic latitudes and attribution of the variable X-ray absorption to accretion curtains and/or the disk warp provides a consistent physical picture. However, the derived X-ray absorption and optical extinction at times of maximal optical/UV brightness, i.e. outside occultation, are difficult to reconcile, requiring additional absorption in a disk wind or a peculiar dust grain distribution.
Combining ability and heterotic grouping of highland transition maize inbred lines.

The objectives of the present study were to examine combining ability of highland transition maize inbred lines for grain yield and other desirable traits, to determine heterotic groups of germplasm of the inbred lines and to identify promising hybrid crosses. Twenty-six inbred lines were factorially mated (Design II) with six testers and the resulting F1s along with two checks and the parents were evaluated in separate trials at five loca- tions namely: Ambo, Awassa, Bako, Holeta and Kulumsa, all in Ethiopia during 2002. General combining ability (GCA) and specific combining ability (SCA) effects were calculated using line x tester analysis. GCA mean squares due to lines and, testers were highly significant (P < 0.01) for all the traits. Similarly SCA mean squares for most traits except for days to physiological maturity and for northern leaf blight (NLB, caused by Exserohilum turci- cum) were found highly significant (P < 0.001). The ratio of GCA/SCA mean square further exhibited the prepon- derance of additive gene effects in the inheritance of all traits. Estimates of GCA effects indicated that three inbred lines showed good combiners for grain yield. For days to silking four, for grey leaf spot (GLS caused by Cercospora zeae-maydis Tehon), three, and for NLB one inbred lines revealed significantly negative GCA effects. These inbred lines can be a good source of variability for the improve- ment of the traits in the breeding program. Significantly different SCA effects were revealed for crosses involving most traits. A number of single crosses out-yielded the hy- brid checks (BH660 and BH 540) and also revealed desir- able plant height performances. Moreover, two best con- trasting heterotic group (Pool 9A-MHM x 142-1-e) com- posed of 13 and 10 inbred lines, respectively, have been determine to initiate heterotic source germplasm. This heterotic group may have wide applicability in the east African highland maize breeding programs, as well.
Seasonality of nutrients in leaves and fruits of apple trees

The nutrient accumulation curves of apple trees are good indicators of plant nutrient demand for each developmental stage. They are also a useful tool to evaluate orchard nutritional status and to estimate the amount of soil nutrient removal. This research aimed at evaluating the seasonality of nutrients in commercial apple orchards during the agricultural years of 1999, 2000, and 2001. Therefore, apple tree leaves and fruits of three cultivars 'Gala', 'Golden Delicious' and 'Fuji' were weekly collected and evaluated for fresh and dry matter, fruit diameter and macronutrient (N, P, K, Ca and Mg) and micronutrient (B, Cu, Fe, Mn, and Zn) concentrations. Leaf and fruit sampling started one or two weeks after full bloom, depending on the cultivar, and ended at fruit harvest or four weeks later (in the case of leaf sampling). In general, leaf concentrations of N, P, K, Cu, and B decreased; Ca increased; and Mg, Fe, Mn, and Zn did vary significantly along the plant vegetative cycle. In fruits, the initial nutrient concentrations decreased quickly, undergoing slow and continuous decreases and then remaining almost constant until the end of fruit maturation, indicating nutrient dilution, once the total nutrient accumulation increased gradually with fruit growth. Potassium was the nutrient present in highest quantities in apple tree fruits and thus, the most removed from the soil.
Independent Director Reputation Incentives and Stock Price Informativeness

We link the reputation incentives of independent directors to the informativeness of stock prices. We show that when more independent directors rank a directorship high, the firm-specific information content in a firm's stock price increases. Further, independent directors with high reputation incentives serve firms that voluntarily disclose more information and display lower crash risk. We find similar results when using plausibly exogenous shocks to the reputation incentives of independent directors. Our results therefore support a causal interpretation of the positive influence that independent directors with reputation incentives exert on corporate transparency.
Dietary Manipulations for Enhancing Cardio-Protective Fatty Acids in the Milk of Dairy Cows

The ruminants milk contains a higher proportions of saturated fatty acid (SFA), which is a risk factor related to cardiovascular disease. The mono and polyunsaturated fatty acid (MUFA, PUFAs), decreasing the risk of heart disease, are low in milk fat. The crossbred cows have been a major source of milk for human consumption. This study was conducted to investigate the effect of protected palm fats feeding on milk fatty acids profiles of crossbred cows. A total of 15 of Crossbred and 15 of Holstein Friesian cows were selected and protected palm fats were supplemented as: PF-0, PF-25, PF-50, PF-100 and; PF-150; the number representing the quantity (g) of fats/day. Milk sample were collected, analyzed and the study continued for 8 weeks. SFA was significantly (P<0.05) decreased from 70.80 to 67.45 g/100g while MUFA and PUFA increased with the increasing supplementation. It appears that hypercholestermic properties of the milk were reduced and cardio-protective properties were enhanced by feeding protected palm fats. It was also associated with increased milk yield and progesterone level reflecting better fertility and productivity. In early lactation 150 g/day palm protected fat may be supplemented for maximum yield, better reproductive performance and healthier milk.