Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chemical Characterization and Biological Study of Azadirachta indica Extracts

The utilization of the plant parts (bark, leaves and roots) of Azadirachta indica from Malaysia for research purpose were limited and most of the previous studies focused only on the leaves. Thus, this study focused on the volatile compounds and the cytotoxic study of crude and fractions obtained from bark, leaves and roots of A. indica. The analysis of the volatiles of the crude and fractions was performed via Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The volatiles present vary according to the plant parts and extraction solvents. The bark aqueous fraction yielded highest amount of volatiles (19 compounds) that corresponds towards various reported activities. The n-hexadecanoic acid was the most frequently occurring compound detected in all extracts, bark (40.14 and 20.1%), leaf (65.18 and 44.79%) and root (20.55 and 9.14%) for crudes and fractions, respectively. Meanwhile, the cytotoxic bioassay against brine shrimp (Artemia salina) resulted that; the fractions were more toxic compared to the crude extracts. Among all the extracts, leaf ethyl acetate fraction provides a lethal concentration value (1.35 ± 0.40 ppm) of the lowest, followed by bark ethyl acetate (1.38 ± 0.33) and leaf chloroform fraction (2.14 ± 0.35 ppm) and thus indicating the highest cytotoxic effect. The bioassay proved that fractions provide a better extraction technique for the extraction of toxic phytochemicals compared to the crude extracts.
Psychological Need Satisfaction, Personal Well-Being, and Ecological Sustainability

This article presents a need-based theory to explore the potential compatibility of ecological sustainability and personal well-being. Relevant theoretical and empirical evidence is reviewed to demonstrate how ecological degradation can interfere with the satisfaction of needs for safety/security, competence, relatedness, and autonomy, thus causing lower well-being, and how ecologically sustainable environments and behavior can promote satisfaction of these four needs and thus higher well-being. Three avenues for interventions and policy change are then described, each of which has empirical evidence suggesting it holds promise for simultaneously promoting higher personal well-being and greater ecological sustainability. These include shifting individuals’ values from extrinsic, materialistic aims to intrinsic aims, helping individuals live voluntarily simple lifestyles, and supporting people’s desires for “time affluence. ”
A joint effort to deliver satellite retrieved atmospheric CO 2 concentrations for surface flux inversions: the ensemble median algorithm EMMA

Abstract. We analyze an ensemble of seven XCO2 retrieval algorithms for SCIAMACHY (scanning imaging absorption spectrometer of atmospheric chartography) and GOSAT (greenhouse gases observing satellite). The ensemble spread can be interpreted as regional uncertainty and can help to identify locations for new TCCON (total carbon column observing network) validation sites. Additionally, we introduce the ensemble median algorithm EMMA combining individual soundings of the seven algorithms into one new data set. The ensemble takes advantage of the algorithms' independent developments. We find ensemble spreads being often
Measures Derived from a 2 x 2 Table for an Accuracy of a Diagnostic Test

Diagnostic test studies are receiving increasing attention, but are rather challenging to identify efficiently and reliably. Health care professionals seek information regarding the best available evidence on test accuracy, and there is also a growing requirement to understand the measures of diagnostic tests. An outcome of epidemiological studies, diagnostic tests, and comparative therapeutic trails are often presented in the form of 2 x 2 tables. The analysis from these tables and its significance must be interpreted correctly, so as to answer the clinical research questions of the studies. This article discusses about the measures which could be derived from a 2x2 table format, for a diagnostic test situation, where the interest is to observe the relationship between two qualitative (nominal) variables.
CONTINUOUS-TRACE GROUPOID C*-ALGEBRAS. III

Suppose that G is a second countable locally compact groupoid with a Haar system and with abelian isotropy. We show that the groupoid C∗-algebra C∗(G, λ) has continuous trace if and only if there is a Haar system for the isotropy groupoid A and the action of the quotient groupoid G/A is proper on the unit space of G.
On-board Impedance Diagnostics Method of Li-ion Traction Batteries Using Pseudo-Random Binary Sequences

This work deals with the on-board impedance measurements of Li-ion batteries on hybrid electric vehi-cles/electric vehicles by using pseudo-random binary sequences (PRBSs). The impedance of the battery can be related to its state of charge (SOC) and state of health (SOH). However the battery impedance is frequency dependent which makes it difficult to perform the measurement on a pack level in the vehicles. By using an excitation signal like PRBS, it is possible to extract the impedance information of the battery packs. Experiments are performed with different set-ups to verify the PRBS method. A non-parametric method is used to process the data and extract the impedance measurement. Experiments in the laboratory at different state of charge levels and temperatures are made to validate the PRBS method. It is shown that the PRBS method can produce a valid electrochemical impedance spectrum in a limited frequency range, similar to the result from a high accuracy laboratory impedance analyzer. The method is stable at different SOC levels and temperatures. A simulation of the excitation signal in the vehicle is performed where the electric motor is used as the load. It shows that it is possible to some extent to use the driveline in a hybrid electric vehicle/electric vehicle to perform an on-board battery impedance measurement.
Implied Liquidity - Towards Stochastic Liquidity Modeling and Liquidity Trading

In this paper we introduce the concept of implied (il)liquidity of vanilla options. Implied liquidity is based on the fundamental theory of conic finance, in which the one-price model is abandoned and replaced by a two-price model giving bid and ask prices for traded assets. The pricing is done by making use of non-linear distorted expectations. We first recall a two parameter distortion function representing the notions of risk aversion and absence of gain enticement. After reviewing under the Black-Scholes setting the theory and numerics of the calculation of bid-ask prices under conic finance theory, we introduce the concept of implied liquidity. In a fixed market with no movement in the cone of acceptable risks and hence no change in liquidity as the market is then fixed, the bid ask spread moves around nonlinearly with maturity and/or volatility. Because the spread can move in a constant market with no change in liquidity, spread itself is not a perfect measure of liquidity. Implied liquidity can overcome this criticism. We illustrate the theory on SP500 and Dow Jones Index data. We show that for vanilla options we typically have for higher strikes (OTM) more implied illiquidity. We typically see not much term structure. Also, we perform a historical study, in which we clearly see a serious drying up of liquidity in the weeks post the Lehman bankruptcy. Next, we elaborate on stochastic liquidity behavior and potential liquidity contracts and modeling. Seen the evidence of changing liquidity in the recent past with a potentially very disruptive drying up of liquidity, these contracts could provide extra hedges for such circumstances. The above notion of implied liquidity leads toward a mean-reverting modeling of liquidity similar to stochastic volatility. We believe such stochastic liquidity modeling could be very useful in structured product pricing, delta-gamma-vega hedging studies and risk-management in general.
Observation of Quasi-2-Day Convective Disturbances in the Equatorial Indian Ocean during DYNAMO

This study examines the westward-propagating convective disturbances with quasi-2-day intervals of occurrence identified over Gan Island in the central Indian Ocean from mid- to late October 2011 during the Dynamics of the Madden–Julian Oscillation (DYNAMO) field campaign. Atmospheric sounding, satellite, and radar data are used to develop a composite of seven such disturbances. Composites and spectral analyses reveal that 1) the quasi-2-day convective events comprise westward-propagating diurnal convective disturbances with phase speeds of 10–12 m s−1 whose amplitudes are modulated on a quasi-2-day time scale on a zonal scale of ~1000 km near the longitudes of Gan; 2) the cloud life cycle of quasi-2-day convective disturbances shows a distinct pattern of tropical cloud population evolution—from shallow to deep to stratiform convection; 3) the time scales of mesoscale convective system development and boundary layer modulation play essential roles in determining the periodicity of the quasi-2-day convective events; and 4) in some of the quasi-2-day events there is evidence of counterpropagating (westward and eastward) cloud systems along the lines proposed by Yamada et al. Based on these findings, an interpretation is proposed for the mechanisms for the quasi-2-day disturbances observed during DYNAMO that combines concepts from prior studies of this phenomenon over the western Pacific and Indian Oceans.
Unravelling the role of inelastic tunneling into pristine and defected graphene

We present a first principles method for calculating the inelastic electron tunneling spectroscopy (IETS) on gated graphene. We reproduce experiments on pristine graphene and point out the importance of including several phonon modes to correctly estimate the local doping from IETS. We demonstrate how the IETS of typical imperfections in graphene can yield characteristic fingerprints revealing e.g. adsorbate species or local buckling. Our results show how care is needed when interpreting STM images of defects due to suppression of the elastic tunneling on graphene.
Owning Up: Closely Held Firms and Wealth Inequality

This paper studies how frictions in debt and equity markets affect wealth inequality in Eurozone countries. Using micro data on households and firms, I document that in more unequal countries, there are more privately held firms and ownership of publicly traded firms is more concentrated. I develop a dynamic general equilibrium model in which entrepreneurs have the option to run a private firm and issue debt, or go public and also issue outside equity. Both forms of external finance are subject to country-specific frictions. With more access to debt, entrepreneurs can run larger firms and are wealthier. Similar to debt, outside equity allows entrepreneurs to increase investment in their firm, but it also reduces their risk exposure, which lowers savings and wealth holdings. When parameters are chosen to match the facts I document on firm ownership and financing, the model successfully predicts differences in wealth concentration across countries. ∗I would like to thank Monika Piazzesi, Martin Schneider and Melanie Morten for their invaluable guidance throughout my PhD. This paper benefited from insightful discussions with and comments by Adrien Auclert, Jose Barrero, Ricardo De La O, Paul Dolfen, Juliane Begenau, Eran Hoffman, Pete Klenow, Pablo Kurlat, Sean Myers, Michael Peters, Cian Ruane, as well as participants at the Stanford Macro Lunch and the Chicago CITE. Financial support from the Gale and Steve Kohlhagen Fellowship in Economics through a grant to the Stanford Institute for Economic Policy Research, the Dissertation Fellowship by the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation and the Macro Financial Modeling Initiative is gratefully acknowledged.
Carbon Budget of Tidal Wetlands, Estuaries, and Shelf Waters of Eastern North America

Carbon cycling in the coastal zone affects global carbon budgets and is critical for understanding the urgent issues of hypoxia, acidification, and tidal wetland loss. However, there are no regional carbon budgets spanning the three main ecosystems in coastal waters: tidal wetlands, estuaries, and shelf waters. Here we construct such a budget for eastern North America using historical data, empirical models, remote sensing algorithms, and process‐based models. Considering the net fluxes of total carbon at the domain boundaries, 59 ± 12% (± 2 standard errors) of the carbon entering is from rivers and 41 ± 12% is from the atmosphere, while 80 ± 9% of the carbon leaving is exported to the open ocean and 20 ± 9% is buried. Net lateral carbon transfers between the three main ecosystem types are comparable to fluxes at the domain boundaries. Each ecosystem type contributes substantially to exchange with the atmosphere, with CO2 uptake split evenly between tidal wetlands and shelf waters, and estuarine CO2 outgassing offsetting half of the uptake. Similarly, burial is about equal in tidal wetlands and shelf waters, while estuaries play a smaller but still substantial role. The importance of tidal wetlands and estuaries in the overall budget is remarkable given that they, respectively, make up only 2.4 and 8.9% of the study domain area. This study shows that coastal carbon budgets should explicitly include tidal wetlands, estuaries, shelf waters, and the linkages between them; ignoring any of them may produce a biased picture of coastal carbon cycling.
EVOLUTION OF ANTHOCYANINS DURING VINIFICATION OF MERLOT AND PINOT NOIR GRAPES TO WINES

The evolution of individual anthocyanins during vinifi cation of Merlot and Pinot Noir grapes was studied using two different winemaking procedures for each grape variety. Additionally, the effect of the applied vinifi cation on the anthocyanin composition of the obtained wine at the end of maceration and wine aged 6 months was investigated and compared with the anthocyanin patterns of the original grape. The dynamics of the extraction process was monitored daily during maceration by analysing the anthocyanins in the must using HPLC. The results showed that the anthocyanin composition of young wines was different from that of the grapes. The proportions of malvidin-3glucoside and malvidin-acetate were higher in wines than in the grape skins, but this was not the case for malvidin coumarate. Application of different vinifi cation procedures to the same raw material resulted in wines with similar anthocyanin patterns. However, the anthocyanin profi les changed with the ageing of the wines.
Principles of Secure Logging for Safekeeping Digital Evidence

The investigation of log files is an essential part of any form of IT incident management and IT forensics. In situations where logs can be manipulated, logging approaches that offer security guarantees are advisable. Within a formal system model, we describe several well-known existing approaches to secure logging and compare them with each other. Furthermore, we formalize the security requirements of secure logging approaches and systematically investigate which combinations of guarantees are achieved by the published approached under increasingly stronger attacker models.
Vibro-Acoustic Optimization Study for the Volute Casing of a Centrifugal Fan

Concerning fan systems with an air pipe connecting air intake and a closed outlet, aerodynamic noise cannot be directly transmitted from the fan inlet and outlet to the outside. At this moment, the volute vibrational radiation noise induced casing surface vibration is the major noise component. The main factors affecting the fan vibrational noise are analyzed through theoretical derivation, then a vibrational noise optimization control method for the volute casing is proposed that considered the influence of vibro-acoustic coupling, taking the panel thickness of the volute (front-panel thickness [FT], side-panel thickness [ST], and back-panel thickness [BT]) as design variables, and the acoustical power of the volute surface and the total mass of the volute as the optimal target function. The optimization method is mainly divided into three main parts: the first was based on the simulation of unsteady flow of the fan to obtain the vibrational noise source; the second, using the design of experimental (DOE) method and the proposed numerical simulation of fluid-structure-acoustic coupling method to obtain the designing space, then the radical-based function (RBF) method is used to construct the approximate surrogate model instead of the simulation model previously mentioned, which was used to provide the basic mathematical model for the optimization of the next part; the third part, implementing the low vibrational noise optimization for the fan volute, applied the single-target (taking volute radiated acoustical power as the target function) and the multi-target (taking the volute radiated acoustical power and volute total mass as the target function) methods. In addition, the fan aerodynamic performance, volute casing surface fluctuations, and vibration response were validated by experiments, showing good agreement. It is of utmost importance that the dynamic pressure measurements and vibrational tests on the volute casing verify the accuracy of the numerical calculation. The optimization results showed that the vibrational noise optimization method proposed in this study can effectively reduce the vibration noise of the fan, obtaining a maximum value of noise reduction of 7.3 dB. The optimization identified in this paper provides a significant reference for the design of a low-vibrational-noise volute.
Performance management practices within emerging market multinational enterprises: the case of Brazilian multinationals

This study advances our understanding of HRM within emerging market multinational enterprises (EM-MNEs) by examining the extent to, and mechanisms by, which Brazilian MNEs standardise or localise their performance management (PM) policies and practices, and the factors that influence their design and implementation. We explored these issues through qualitative case studies of three Brazilian MNEs. The analysis of interview data reveals a strong tendency for Brazilian MNEs to centralise and standardise their PM policies and practices. The key finding of this paper is that PM practices within Brazilian MNEs are not based on indigenous Brazilian practices, but, rather, are heavily influenced by global best practices. The findings are at odds with previous research, which suggests that EM-MNEs apply different HR practices in developed country subsidiaries and developing country subsidiaries. Also, contrary to expectations, our results indicate that institutional distance does not have a significant influence on the adaptation of PM practices at subsidiary level.
Job Satisfaction and Quit Intentions of Offshore Workers in the UK North Sea Oil and Gas Industry

The North Sea oil and gas industry currently faces recruitment and retention difficulties due to a shortage of skilled workers. The vital contribution of this sector to the U.K. economy means it is crucial for companies to focus on retaining existing employees. One means of doing this is to improve the job satisfaction of workers. In this paper, we investigate the determinants of job satisfaction and intentions to quit within the U.K. North Sea oil and gas industry. We analyse the effect of personal and workplace characteristics on the job satisfaction and quit intentions of offshore employees. The data used were collected using a self-completed questionnaire. Job satisfaction was analysed using an ordinal probit model and quit intentions were analysed using a binary probit model. 321 respondents completed the questionnaire. We find that respondents in good financial situations, those whose skills are closely related to their job, and those who received training reported higher levels of job satisfaction. Furthermore, we establish the importance of job satisfaction, promotion prospects and training opportunities in determining workers’ intentions to quit the offshore oil and gas sector. To encourage better retention, companies should seek to adopt policies that focus not only on pay but also provide promotion and training opportunities aimed at investing in their employees’ skills development.
Size, Growth and Bank Dynamics

This paper investigates the size distribution of the whole population of Spanish commercial, savings and cooperative banks from a dynamic perspective over the 1970 2006 period. To investigate the evolution of the size distribution, we determine whether the data satisfies the Law of Proportionate Effect (LPE) using panel unit root tests. We find that the size-growth relationship is not stable over time but changes depending on the competitive environment of banks (liberalization, deregulation and integration). When Spanish banking was highly regulated, we find that smaller banks grew faster than their larger counterparts. In recent years, however, we find that larger banks grow at the same rate or faster than smaller banks, a result that lends towards LPE acceptance. Thus, our study corroborates the conditioned nature of the size-growth relationship and the size distribution of banks, as emphasized by recent studies for the US banking system. Results imply that the size distribution of Spanish banks will become more skewed in next years, and concentration will tend to increase.
Comparison of Bolton’s Ratios in a Sample of Iraqi and Egyptian Populations

Background: The objective of this study was to investigate the possibility of standardizing the Bolton ratio analysis as a diagnostic measure for both Iraqi and Egyptian orthodontic populations within three Angle' classification groups. Materials and methods: Two hundred forty pretreatment study casts (one hundred twenty of each population) were included in this study and divided into three Angle' classification groups. The mesiodistal crown diameters of all teeth were measured for computing the anterior and total Bolton ratios. Analysis of variance was performed to compare the mean ratios of Bolton analysis as a function of the Angle classification.HSD test was used to specify the classes of malocclusion that have significant differences. Results: No statistically significant differences were determined in the mean values of the anterior ratio among the angle classification groups in both Iraqi and Egyptian populations. No statistically significant differences were determined in the mean values of the overall ratio among the angle classification groups in Iraqi population. While there were statistically significant differences in the mean values of overall ratio among the angle classification groups in Egyptian population. This difference is specified with in class II malocclusion of Egyptian population. Conclusion: Anterior Bolton ratio can be standardized for both Iraqi and Egyptian orthodontic populations. While the overall ratio can be standardized only in class I and III malocclusions of both populations.