Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Quasi-static and high-strain-rate experiments on sand under one-dimensional compression

This paper investigates the effect of strain rate on the behaviour of dry and partially - saturated sand at very high stresses, seekin g to clarify the existence of a strain - rat e dependence and how this is affected by changes in moisture content. Dynamic one - dim ensional compression tests on a fine quartz sand have been carried out to axial stresses of 4 00 MPa using a split Hopkinson pressure bar, alongside quasi - static tests to 8 00 MPa using the mac 2T multi - axial test rig at The University of Sheffiel d . Specimens were prepared at moisture contents of 0.0%, 2.5% and 5.0%, and were laterally confined using a steel ring or steel loading box to ensure one - dimensional test conditions. Lateral stresses were recorded to allow the three-dimensional stress state of the specimens to be analysed. The results show that knowledge of both the axial and radial stresses is important for understanding the response of sand at higher strain rates, where an increase in stiffness is observed axially when compared to the quasi-static results.
Effects of cooked molasses licking block supplementation pre- and post-partum on feed intake, suckling lamb performance, milk yield and milk quality in dairy sheep. Part 1

This study tested the nutritional benefit of a supplement offered freely to dairy sheep over a period from 60 days before lambing to 60 days after lambing, at stall and grazing. Thirty Sarda dairy sheep on Day 90 of gestation, homogeneous for age, parity number, bodyweight (BW) and body condition score (BCS), were allocated to one of two groups: control (Ctr) or treated (Cry). Over 120 days, both groups received ryegrass hay and concentrate indoors. After weaning, the ewes also had access to pasture for 6 h/day. Throughout the experimental period, the Cry group had ad libitum access to a cooked molasses licking block. No significant differences were observed between the groups in forage, concentrate and total DM intake. During the experiment, the reduction in BCS in early lactation tended to be slower in the Cry than in Ctr group (Ptrend < 0.09), whereas no significant effects were seen on BW. Lamb performance tended to be improved by Cry in terms of liveweight of litter size per sheep (9.65 vs 8.22 kg for Cry and Ctr, respectively; P < 0.07), whereas no significant effects were observed on milk yield and composition, except for a trend for increased fat content in the Cry versus Ctr group (6.15% vs 5.95%, respectively; P < 0.08). Cry ewes had higher blood cholesterol concentrations than did Ctr ewes (1.96 vs 1.63 mmol/L; P < 0.01). Because there were no differences between feed intake at stall and the estimated total DM intake at stall and during grazing between the two groups, the better performance of the Cry group could be explained by an increase of feed use efficiency at the digestive and/or metabolic level.
14C Calibration in the Southern Hemisphere and the Date of the Last Taupo Eruption: Evidence from Tree-Ring Sequences

Tree rings from a section of Prumnopitys taxifolia (matai) covering the period ad 1335–1745 have been radiocarbon dated and used to generate a 14C calibration curve for southern hemisphere wood. Comparison of this curve with calibration data for northern hemisphere wood does not show a systematic difference between 14C ages measured in the northern and southern hemispheres. A floating chronology covering 270 yr and terminating at the last Taupo (New Zealand) eruption, derived from a sequence of 10-yr samples of tree rings from Phyllocladus trichomanoides (celery pine, or tanekaha), is also consistent with the absence of a systematic north-south difference, and together with the matai data, fixes the date of the Taupo eruption at ad 232 ± 15.
Costs of Mandatory IFRS: Evidence of Reduced Accrual Reliability

This study investigates the impact of mandatory adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) on accrual reliability (Richardson et al. 2005). Using a large sample of Australian firm years drawn from before and after the mandatory adoption of IFRS, we find that accrual reliability declined significantly after mandatory IFRS implementation. Working capital, non-current operating, and financing accruals all contribute to this decline. We also find that brand name audit firms (i.e., the Big four) are able to significantly attenuate any decrease in accrual reliability during the post-IFRS period. Our results contrast with evidence identifying benefits of mandatory IFRS such as increased value relevance, but are consistent with at least some degree of trade-off between relevance and reliability. Such trade-offs seem to have been largely ignored in prior examinations of the impact of mandatory IFRS.
A Note on Daily Movement Patterns of a Female Asiatic Black Bear (Ursus thibetanus) in a Suburban Area of Iwate Prefecture, Northeastern Japan

As urban areas sprawl and natural environments are modified, human-bear conflicts are becoming increasingly more common and significant management concerns throughout the United States (Peine 2001; Beckmann and Lackey 2008) and other countries (Mattson 1990; Huygens et al. 2004; Sangay and Vernes 2008). In North America, nuisance activities by American black bears (Ursus americanus) include raiding crops and orchards, feeding on human food and garbage, and attacking livestock and humans (Herrero 2002). However, management policies for black bears vary according to the status of the species, which ranges from pest to threatened (Pelton 2003). American black bears are generally crepuscular but may shift to diurnal or nocturnal activities depending on human activity (Pelton 2003). Several studies have reported such behavioral changes of black bears in British Columbia (Reimchen 1998), Nevada (Beckmann and Berger 2003), and California (Ayres et al. 1986; Lyons 2005; Matthews et al. 2006). Recently, crop damage and human injuries have also been caused by Asiatic black bears (U. thibetanus) in Japan (Hazumi 1994). Most of these disturbances occur in suburban landscapes surrounded by forests and farmlands with obscure boundaries (Ozaki and Kudo 2002). In Japan, only a few behavioral studies have addressed such problems with black bears. In Nagano Prefecture, central Japan, Huygens and Hayashi (1999) constructed an electric fence around corn fields to test its effect on crop depredation by black bears. In the Experimental Farm of Tohoku University, northeastern Japan, Deguchi et al. (2003) placed infrared cameras near a corn field to observe nuisance behavior by black bears. Despite these studies, little is known of the movement patterns of Asiatic black bears in suburban areas of Japan. Detailed monitoring of active Asiatic black bears near suburban areas is required to reduce human-bear interactions. Therefore, to characterize bear movement and resource selection patterns during the crop harvest season, we monitored the movement of a female Asiatic black bear, which was tagged in a forest adjacent to a suburban area, using global positioning system (GPS) technology.
Effect of Light Conditions and Temperature on Fresh Yield of Some Spice Plants Grown in Containers

Effect of Light Conditions and Temperature on Fresh Yield of Some Spice Plants Grown in Containers The aim of this work was to study the effect of quantity of light, length of day and temperature on yield of five species of spice plants. Another purpose of the study was to determine the correlation between the climatic factors mentioned above and to find the optimum coefficient of growth for the individual species. Three levels of temperature during the day were determined: 15, 20 and 25°C (at night the temperature was by 5°C lower). Two daily light integrals (2.9 and 3.8 mol·m-2·d-1) and three levels of photoperiod (12, 14 and 16-h) were chosen. Photon flux and temperature had the greatest influence on yield. A higher yield of fresh mass was obtained for all species in the condition of 3,8 mol·m-2·d-1. Yield depended linearly on amount of photon absorbed by plants in the growth time. Dry weight was directly connected with RRT (the ratio of radiant energy to thermal energy) and increased linearly as RRT increased. Wpływ Warunków Świetlnych i Temperatury na Plon Świeżej Masy Kilku Gatunków Roślin Przyprawowych Uprawianych w Pojemnikach Celem pracy było zbadanie wpływu ilości światła, długości dnia i temperatury na plon ziela pięciu gatunków roślin przyprawowych. Podjęto także próbę określenia współdziałania wymienionych czynników klimatycznych i ustalenie optymalnych warunków wzrostu dla poszczególnych gatunków. Wyznaczono trzy poziomy temperatury dziennej: 15, 20 i 25°C (temperatura w okresie nocy była o 5°C niższa) oraz dwa poziomy dobowej ilości światła (2,9 i 3,8 mol·m-2·dzień-1) i trzy długości oświetlenia dla każdej dawki światła (12, 14 i 16 h). Strumień fotonów i temperatura miały największy wpływ na plon roślin w momencie zbioru. Wszystkie gatunki charakteryzowały się większym plonem świeżego ziela przy strumieniu fotonów 3,8 mol·m-2·dzień-1. Stwierdzono także liniową zależność pomiędzy sumą zaabsorbowanych fotonów w ciągu okresu wzrostu a plonem świeżej masy. Zawartość suchej masy w zielu była skorelowana z wielkością współczynnika korelacji światła i temperatury (RRT). Większa wartość współczynnika RRT wiązała się z wyższą zawartością suchej masy w zielu.
Optimal Size and Intensity of Job Search Assistance Programs

This paper derives the welfare optimal size and intensity of job search assistance programs in a general equilibrium model where the labor market is affected by search frictions. Both instruments have a priori ambiguous fiscal implications: their direct employment stimulating effects broaden the base of the labor income tax and increase revenues, while also incurring direct costs. At optimal levels, the policy instruments trade off the positive effects on the participants against a marginal increase in taxes, which distorts employment decisions and potentially labor market tightness. We find that the higher unemployment insurance benefits, the lower is the optimal program intensity. Further, the introduction of a job search assistance program is more likely to raise welfare if it is highly effective at improving participants' job search skills, direct program costs are low and if the general level of taxation in the economy and thus the labor market participation tax are high.
Potential of the ESA23B maize population for protein and oil content improvement

Among the traits that may add commercial value to maize (Zea mays L.), those related to nutritional quality, specially protein and oil content, are of great interest to the feed industry. The objective of this work was studying the variability of protein and oil content, as well as yield, in a group of maize testcrosses. One hundred and twenty S1 families of the ESA23B maize population were crossed with two testers, an open-pollinated population (BR108) and an exotic line (CML269). Testcrosses were evaluated at two locations under a completely randomized block design with three replications. Ear and grain yield, protein and oil content were evaluated. The three-way interaction location x tester x progeny was significant for all traits, except for oil content. Differences among progenies were detected for all traits. Testcross means varied from 8.40% to 11.82% for protein content and from 3.77% to 5.10% for oil content. Hybrids with similar or superior means to the best check were identified for protein content, ear yield, and grain yield. Estimates of the interpopulation additive variance ranged from 0.553 to 1.124 for protein content; 0.034 to 0.057 for oil content (percent data); 132.13 to 521.74 for ear yield and 116.33 to 381.73 for grain yield (data in grams per plant). The population ESA23B can potentially be improved for all the traits studied. Associations among traits were weak, thus concomitant selection of quality and yield can be feasible.
Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe in der Helmholtz-Gemeinschaftt Wissenschaftliche Berichte FZKA 7245 Experimental Investigations of MHD Flows in a Sudden Expansion

Reliable theories and models concerning MHD flows in manifolds for fusion applications are important, since most of the pressure drop occurs in those parts of the blanket. Abrupt changes of flow direction in feeding and draining lines as well as expansions and contractions cause flow redistribution and additional pressure drop. Numerical and asymptotic models have been developed during the last years, which require validation on the basis of precise experimental data. Since experimental results available in literature cover only the range of moderate magnetic fields, i.e. Ha < 300, and experiments in electrically conducting sudden expansions do not exist, the experimental data base has to be considerably extended in order to cover the fusion relevant range of parameters. For that reason a forced convective MHD experiment in a sudden expansion of rectangular ducts has been designed, manufactured and inserted into the liquid metal NaK-loop of the MEKKA laboratory at the Forschungszentrum Karlsruhe in the frame of the EFDA Technology Work Program TW2-TTBA-006a D1. Experiments have been performed in which the induced electric potential is measured on the surface of the expanding test section by more than 300 surface potential probes. The pressure variation along the duct has been measured at 16 different axial positions. For high interaction parameters the pressure measurements confirm the theoretical results obtained by an asymptotic theory valid for inertialess flows. Local quantities of the flow, e.g. potential gradients, are inferred with traversable probes at different locations in the ducts. A comparison of experimental and available theoretical results shows quite good agreement and confirms both the validity of the used theoretical tools and the good quality of the measurements. Moreover, due to its valuable contribution to the data base of fundamental MHD flows these experimental results may serve as benchmark basis for future developments of computational MHD tools. Experimentelle Untersuchungen von MHD Strömungen in plötzlichen Kanalerweiterungen
Evoked responses to transcranial and electrical stimulation during isometric and lengthening contractions of the soleus muscle

Alexandrou, Anna Maria, 2011. Evoked responses to transcranial and electrical stimulation during isometric and lengthening contractions of the soleus. Department of Biology of PhysicalActivity, University of Jyväskylä. Master’s Thesis in Biomechanics. 68 pages. The aim of this study was to assess differences in motor control between isometric and lengthening contractions of the soleus muscle. Evoked responses to TMS (MEPs) and electrical stimulation of the peripheral nerve (H-reflexes) where recorded at rest and during isometric and lengthening contractions of the soleus muscle at 20%, 40%, 60% and 80% MVC. Torque and background EMG were averaged over a time window of 100ms prior to stimulation. MEPs were found to be significantly lower (P < 0.05) during lengthening contractions compared to isometric contractions at 40%, 60% and 80% MVC (10.95 ± 0.05 mV vs 9.93 ±0.06 mV ; 1.47 ± 0.07 mV vs 9.7 ± 0.08 mV; 11.48 ± 0.08 mV ± vs 10.14 ± 0.07 mV). The H-reflex-to-Mmax ratio was significantly lower (P < 0.05) during passive lengthening compared to the passive isometric condition (2.5 ± 1.11 mV vs 1.4 ±0.88 mV). In an active muscle, the H-reflex-to-Mmax ratio was similar between isometric and lengthening modes of contraction. Torque production during passive lengthening (1.8 ± 2.8 Nm vs 4.6 ± 3.2 Nm) and at 20% MVC lengthening (215.25 ± 68.3 Nm vs 300.8 ± 155 Nm) was higher (P < 0.05) compared to the corresponding torque produced in isometric conditions. MEPs represent the excitability of both supraspinal and spinal neurons; H-reflex, on the other hand, reflects only the excitability of the spinal MN pool. Therefore, it was concluded that the motor cortex generates a descending command of lower amplitude in the case of lengthening contractions. This, however, could not be considered as neural inhibition, since recorded torque during muscle lengthening was similar or higher compared to the torque recorded during isometric muscle actions.
Effect of invasive species on the structure and function of the Sylt-Rømø Bight ecosystem,northern Wadden Sea, over three time periods

Three quantitative energy flow models have been constructed for the Sylt-Romo Bight representing the stocks and flows in the ecosystem during 1995, 2007 and 2010. The 1995 model consists of 59 compartments, while the 2007 and 2010 models have 63 compartments each. The 4 additional compartments in the 2007 and 2010 models are 2 native barnacle species Semi- balanus balanoides and Balanus crenatus and 2 invasive species namely the Pacific oyster Crasso strea gigas and the Australasian barnacle Austrominius modestus. Oyster and A. modestus biomass increased from virtually zero in 1995 to 15 and 1.3 gC m �2 , respectively, in 2007, and then subsequently decreased to 0.6 and 0.12 gC m �2 , respectively, in 2010. Reasons for the increases in oysters and A. modestus are related to climate change which favored strong recruitment of the invasive species during unseasonably warm summers, and the subsequent decline to weak recruitment of the invasive species and an unseasonably cold 2009/2010 winter. We used eco - logical network analysis (ENA) to quantify ecosystem structure and function through analyses of energy (or carbon) transfer between living and non-living compartments in each of the 3 network models. Results from ENA show an increase in most of the system attributes, but a decline in number of cycles, the trophic efficiency, the ascendency ratios, and relative redundancy from 1995 to 2007; these are ascribed to the impact of the invasive species on system organization and function. Following the dramatic decline of the invasive species from 2007 to 2010 most of the system attributes decreased. The variance in the biomass and associated flows of other compart- ments in addition to that of the invasive species has also played a role in the changes in system attributes and function.
CRITICAL HEIGHT FOR THE DESTABILIZATION OF SOLAR PROMINENCES: STATISTICAL RESULTS FROM STEREO OBSERVATIONS

At which height is a prominence inclined to be unstable, or where is the most probable critical height for the prominence destabilization? This question was statistically studied based on 362 solar limb prominences well recognized by Solar Limb Prominence Catcher and Tracker from 2007 April to the end of 2009. We found that there are about 71% disrupted prominences (DPs), among which about 42% of them did not erupt successfully and about 89% of them experienced a sudden destabilization process. After a comprehensive analysis of the DPs, we discovered the following: (1) Most DPs become unstable at a height of 0.06–0.14 R☉ from the solar surface, and there are two most probable critical heights at which a prominence is very likely to become unstable, the first one is 0.13 R☉ and the second one is 0.19 R☉. (2) An upper limit for the erupting velocity of eruptive prominences (EPs) exists, which decreases following a power law with increasing height and mass; accordingly, the kinetic energy of EPs has an upper limit too, which decreases as the critical height increases. (3) Stable prominences are generally longer and heavier than DPs, and not higher than 0.4 R☉. (4) About 62% of the EPs were associated with coronal mass ejections (CMEs); but there is no difference in apparent properties between EPs associated with CMEs and those that are not.
Optimal Collective Contract Without Peer Monitoring

If entrepreneurs have private information about factors influencing the outcome of an investment, individual lending is inefficient. The literature emphasizes improvements through non-market organizations that harness local information through peer monitoring. I investigate the complementary question of designing a credit mechanism when local information is limited, disabling peer monitoring. I show that a pooling mechanism that does not rely on peer monitoring can implement a market for rights-to-borrow, restoring efficiency. The mechanism achieves a strict Pareto improvement - providing incentive for each type of agent to join. Further, even though the mechanism involves pooling - and consequent implicit transfers from better types to worse types - it has a “collective” feature that makes it immune to the Rothschild-Stiglitz cream-skimming problem under competing contracts. Finally, the presence of even weak local information implies that the mechanism cannot be successfully used by formal lenders. Thus a local credit institution can emerge as an optimal response to the informational environment even without peer monitoring. I apply the results to contracts offered by rural moneylenders in developing countries.
Measuring poverty persistence with missing data With an application to Peruvian panel data

We consider the estimation of measures of persistent poverty in panel surveys with missing data, focusing on the persistent poverty headcount, its duration-adjusted variant, and a related measure used by the European Union as an indicator of the risk of persistent poverty. We develop a partial identification approach to allow for data missing-not-at-random, and apply it to panel data from Peru for 2007-11. The â€œworst caseâ€ bounds are very wide, but we achieve much more precise identification by adding a set of weak a priori restrictions. Standard non-response weighting adjustments cannot be relied upon to remove missing-data bias.
Research Cooperation and Research Expenditures with Endogenous Absorptive Capacity Theory and Microeconometric Evidence for the German Services

This paper derives a three stage Cournot duopoly game for research collaboration, research expenditures and product market competition. The amount of knowledge firms can absorb from other firms is made dependent on their own research efforts, e.g., firms? absorptive capacity is treated as an endogenous variable. It is shown that cooperating firms invest more in R&D than non? cooperating firms if spillovers are sufficiently large. Further, market demand and R&D productivity have a positive effect on R&D efforts both under research joint venture and under research competition. Firms? propensity to collaborate in R&D is increasing in R&D productivity. The key findings of the theoretical model are tested using German innovation survey data for the service sector. A simultaneous model for cooperation choice and innovation expenditures shows that R&D cooperation has a weakly significant positive effect on innovation expenditures. The empirical results broadly support the theoretical model.
Eigenvector correlations in the complex Ginibre ensemble

The complex Ginibre ensemble is an $N\times N$ non-Hermitian random matrix over $\mathbb{C}$ with i.i. d. complex Gaussian entries normalized to have mean zero and variance $1/N$. Unlike the Gaussian unitary ensemble, for which the eigenvectors are distributed according to Haar measure on the compact group $U(N)$, independently of the eigenvalues, the geometry of the eigenbases of the Ginibre ensemble are not particularly well understood. In this paper we systematically study properties of eigenvector correlations in this matrix ensemble. In particular, we uncover an extended algebraic structure which describes their asymptotic behavior (as $N$ goes to infinity). Our work extends previous results of Chalker and Mehlig [CM98], in which the correlation for pairs of eigenvectors was computed.