Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determination of the single- and multi- phase transport properties of a layered soil by combining laboratory experiments with numerical calculations

A military airport situated in Northern Poland has highly been contaminated by jet- fuel since 2nd world war. Geological characterization revealed that the unsaturated zone is a highly heterogeneous soil consisting of three main layers dominated by massive clay with desiccation fractures, homogeneous sand, and fractured sandy till. In order to proceed in the implementation of an in situ stimulation- remediation program, information concerning the transport properties of the various layers and their interfacial zones is required. Depending on the texture of the (non-fractured) soil matrix, its single- and multi- phase transport properties are either estimated with history matching of displacement experiments or calculated from microscopic properties of the pore structure. For the permeable sandy layers, immiscible and miscible displacement experiments are performed on disturbed and undisturbed soil columns, and the electrical resistance along the columns is monitored. The electrical measurements are employed to calculate the transient response of the water saturation profile along the column, as well as the solute concentration breakthrough curve at various axial positions of the column. The experimental datasets are introduced into numerical codes of inverse modeling of the two-phase flow and advection-dispersion equations to estimate the relative permeability curves, the capillary pressure curve, and the longitudinal dispersion coefficient. For the low permeability massive clay and sandy till layers, the pore- and throat-size distributions along with the network accessibility functions of the matrix are estimated by processing the autocorrelation function of 2-D BSEM images of polished cross-sections of porecasts, and inversing experimental data of Hg intrusion / retraction curves. Then, critical path analysis is used to calculate the absolute permeability, and formation factor, whereas a quasi-static pore network approach is employed to calculate the relative permeability and capillary pressure curves.
Factors Influencing Pervasiveness of Organisational Business Intelligence

Organisations can derive great value from the effective use of business intelligence (BI). The pervasive use of BI can help improve decision making by providing business users with relevant information, which will ultimately lead to better organisational performance and efficiency. However, organisations still struggle to derive the full benefits BI has to offer. The purpose of this study is to gain deeper insight into the factors that influence pervasiveness of BI, specifically in South African organisations. This is an inductive, exploratory study with data collected through semi-structured interviews across various industries. Thematic analysis was used in order to determine the main factors contributing to the pervasiveness of BI in the participating organisations. The major themes that emerged included executive buy-in, strong business focus and ownership, perceived value, education, communication and support. An incremental, phased approach when implementing BI and information quality were also prominent themes. These diffusion factors that promote or impede pervasive BI in the organisation are also discussed through the three contexts of the Technology-Organisation-Environment (TOE) framework. The Organisational context was found to be the strongest influencer of BI pervasiveness in these organisations. Keywords-business intelligence; pervasive; diffusion; TOE
High-Temperature Corrosion Chemistry in Oxy-Fuel Combustion

Drastic cuts in global CO2 emissions are needed to mitigate the global warming if limiting global warming to 2oC. The power generation sector is largely based on fossil fuels and produces a significant share of the global CO2 emissions. Thus, new power generation processes with drastically reduced CO2 emissions need to be employed to mitigate global warming. Two alternatives which may be part of the solution is the replacement of coal with biomass or to apply the concept of carbon capture and storage (CCS). In CCS the CO2 is captured and processed on site and thereafter transported to a storage location. Oxy-fuel combustion, which has been studied in this thesis, has been demonstrated in large-scale pilot plants (30-60 MW). This work investigates the possibilities to co-combust biomass and coal in oxy-fuel combustion for CO2 capture. Biomass combined with CO2 capture has the potential to contribute to negative CO2 emissions. However, the high temperature corrosion (HTC) and the related K-Cl-S chemistry need to be studied in detail in order to determine the potential consequences for corrosion on heat transfer surfaces. This, since the use of biomass in power generation is problematic due to the relative high content of alkali (mainly potassium) and chlorine. Together these compounds form KCl, a salt which causes corrosive deposits and subsequent problems with so called high temperature corrosion (HTC). When sulphur is present, alkali sulphates may form instead of alkali chlorides. Sulphates have a higher melting point and causes less problems with corrosion and sulphates are therefore preferred instead of chlorides. The work in this thesis is based on experiments performed in a 100 kW combustion unit and modelling of chemical kinetics. Both the experimental and modelling results show that a high SOX concentration is preferable to achieve as high degree of sulphation of the alkali chlorides. In oxy-fuel combustion, the SOX concentration is typically high due to flue gas recycling, which enables almost complete potassium sulphation in some of the studied oxy-combustion atmospheres. This makes oxy-fuel combustion an attractive process for co-combustion of coal and biomass, since alkali chloride formation to large extent may be suppressed. In addition, the effect of KCl on the CO oxidation process has been studied in air-fuel and oxy-fuel environments. The results show that KCl can promote CO-oxidation in a CO2 rich environment. However, no change could be observed for the total burnout time even though the CO concentration was decreased.
Cougar Survival and Source-Sink Structure on Greater Yellowstone's Northern Range

ABSTRACT We studied survival and causes of mortality of radiocollared cougars (Puma concolor) on the Greater Yellowstone Northern Range (GYNR) prior to (1987–1994) and after wolf (Canis lupus) reintroduction (1998–2005) and evaluated temporal, spatial, and environmental factors that explain variation in adult, subadult, and kitten survival. Using Program MARK and multimodel inference, we modeled cougar survival based on demographic status, season, and landscape attributes. Our best models for adult and independent subadults indicated that females survived better than males and survival increased with age until cougars reached older ages. Lower elevations and increasing density of roads, particularly in areas open to cougar hunting north of Yellowstone National Park (YNP), increased mortality risks for cougars on the GYNR. Indices of ungulate biomass, cougar and wolf population size, winter severity, rainfall, and individual characteristics such as the presence of dependent young, age class, and use of Park or Wilderness were not important predictors of survival. Kitten survival increased with age, was lower during winter, increased with increasing minimum estimates of elk calf biomass, and increased with increasing density of adult male cougars. Using our best model, we mapped adult cougar survival on the GYNR landscape. Results of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis indicated a good model fit for both female (area under the curve [AUC] = 0.81, 95%CI = 0.70–0.92, n = 35 locations) and male cougars (AUC = 0.84, 95%CI = 0.74– 0.94, n = 49 locations) relative to hunter harvest locations in our study area. Using minimum estimates of survival necessary to sustain the study population, we developed a source-sink surface and we identify several measures that resource management agencies can take to enhance cougar population management based on a source-sink strategy.
CORPORATE GOVERNANCE MECHANISMS AND EARNINGS MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIAN GOVERNMENT LINKED COMPANIES: THE IMPACT OF GLCS TRANSFORMATION POLICY

As the major shareholder, Malaysian Government in 2004 has embarked on the Government linked Companies (GLCs) transformation policy program that mainly emphasizes on enhancing the corporate governance mechanisms of the State owned Enterprises (SOEs) in order to enhance effectiveness of the board. The paper aims to examine the impact of corporate governance mechanisms as embedded in the transformation program on the practice of earnings management. In particular, the study uses data for two periods of time (pre and post transformation), and examine whether the period of post transformation policy has experienced any improvement of board monitoring role in curbing earnings management activities. The main findings show that there is an increase of earnings management activities in post transformation period. Further, the findings revealed that all corporate governance mechanisms have little impact to curb earnings management activities except for board meetings and leadership structure in the post transformation period. The board meetings and separate role of two top positions in the companies were shown to have negative impact on earnings management post transformation policy and that relationship do not hold for the period pre transformation policy. Although the study has shown positive preliminary impact of tightening corporate governance in GLCs, scope to expand the research was also discussed.
Determination of phenolic compounds and evaluation of antioxidant capacity of two grapes residues (Vitis vinifera) of varieties dried: Quebranta (red) and Torontel (white)

Abstract The determination of phenolic compounds and antioxidant activity of grape pomace (Vitis vinifera) of two varieties: Quebranta (red) and Torontel (white) using two drying methods: freeze drying and cool air-drying was evaluated, using methods to preserve and maintain bioactive compounds like polyphenols and their antioxidant capacity, these are DPPH and FRAP assays. In general, according to solvent extraction for both grape pomace varieties using the two drying methods, there were obtained high contents of extractable, hydrolysable and condensed tannins polyphenols and therefore exhibited high antioxidants capacities. However, Torontel grape pomace variety obtained by cool air-drying was better in extractable polyphenols, DPPH· and FRAP assays, than those obtained by freeze drying, being 6,095.36 ± 0.58 mg GAE/100 g pomace, 4,042.57 ± 27.80 mg pomace/g DPPH·, 390.23 ± 7,14 μM Trolox/g pomace, respectively. For Quebranta grape pomace variety obtained by cool air-drying and freeze drying; the extractable polyphenols, DPPH· and FRAP assays did not showed differences (p < 0.05). On the other hand, there were no differences (p < 0.05) between contents of hydrolyzable and condensed tannins in polyphenols for both drying methods, however the antioxidant capacity by DPPH· and FRAP assays showed differences (p < 0.05). Finally, this study demonstrated that cool air-drying method preserves the components of grape pomace, being a favorable advantage to optimize costs and drying times, in comparison to freeze drying, and the first one also takes advantage to formulate and elaborate new products to be incorporated in several foods as a functional ingredient.
Molecular Identification of Italian Mouse-eared Bats (genus Myotis)

Despite the fact that the genus Myotis (Mouse-Eared bats) is one of the most investigated microchiropteran groups, recent molecular studies highlighted the presence of several cryptic species with substantial implications for ecological and conservation issues. Our dataset includes 55 coxI sequences from 11 morphologically-identified Italian Mouse-Eared bats species. We applied an integrated approach comparing data from a traditional morphological identification and molecular variability in a fragment of the mitochondrial coxI gene (DNA barcoding). Our results clearly show a strong coherence between the two identification approaches for almost all of the examined species, and revealed interesting patterns of intraspecific variability within the species M. nattereri. Finally, we successfully tested the efficacy of our identification method on undetermined individuals sampled in the field. Index Terms — cryptic species, DNA barcoding, integrated taxonomy, Vespertilionidae. —————————— u ——————————
Neurophysiological and behavioral effects of mycotoxin deoxynivalenol and fumonisin

Two experiments were conducted to compare the effects of feeding blends of wheat grains naturally contaminated with deoxynivalenol (DON) and maize products contaminated with Fusarium (FUM) mycotoxins on brain regional concentration of brain dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT) in hippocampus, mid brain, cortex, striatum, pons and medulla and cerebellum of male albino mice. Daily feeding of wheat or maize grains contaminated with deoxynivalenol in a dose level (803 μg/kg) or fumonisin in a dose level (1330 ppb) for six weeks caused highly significant increase in dopamine (DA), norepinephrine (NE) and serotonin (5-HT ) contents, in most of the studied mice brain areas. When all the studied brain areas were compared, it can be concluded that hypothalamusdopamine concentration was more sensitive towards the studied toxicants. On the other hand, except for norepinephrine in pons and medulla oblongata, there was a significant increase in epinipherine and serotonin levels at all the studied brain areas. Maximal concentration, however, was attained in the cortex for both neurotransmitters. Additionally, rearing behavior was found to increase following feed intake of the test feed and deoxynivalenol was found to modulate more behavioral disturbances as compared with fuminisin. The data recorded also showed a highly significant increase in the aggressive and locomotor behavior of the intoxicated albino mice.
Cross-polarized normal mode patterns at a dielectric interface

Basic features of narrow optical beam interactions with a dielectric interface are analysed. As it was recently shown, two types of paraxial beams – elegant Hermite-Gaussians of linear polarization and elegant Laguerre-Gaussians of circular polarization – can be treated as vector normal modes of the interface [1]. In this contribution the problem of normal modes is discussed with special attention paid for the case of beam oblique incidence. Excitation of higher-order modes by cross-polarization coupling is described and it is shown that this process critically depends on a propagation direction of the incident beam. Besides the expected changes of mode indices induced by generalised transmission and reflection matrices, the new phenomenon of optical vortex spectral splitting at the interface is revealed and off-axis spectral placements of the splitted vortices are determined. Results of numerical simulations given here for beam reflection entirely confirm theoretical predictions even for beams beyond the range of paraxial approximation.
Wind energy harvesting from wind-induced vibration

Wind power is a clean energy source and alternative to the non-renewable type of energy sources. One of the challenges in utilizing wind energy is to efficiently harvest the wind energy into a usable electrical power, especially in the regions with low wind speed. This study aims to assess the possibility of harvesting wind energy by using the concept of flow induced vibration of a bluff body. A thin flat plate is introduced downstream of the cylinder as a simple but effective passive wind control. Three conditions have been tested to evaluate its effects on wind energy harvesting: isolated cylinder, flat plate with vibrating cylinder and cylinder with vibrating flat plate. The wind-body interaction is simulated using mesh motion technique available in OpenFOAM, an open source code for Computational Fluid Dynamics, while the harvested energy is calculated based on the work done by the single degree of freedom (SDOF) vibrating body. The study found that the vibrating cylinder with flat plate harvests more energy than the isolated cylinder and the fixed cylinder with vibrating flat plate for a relatively wider range of wind speeds. This is due to the generated transverse force on the cylinder is higher than the transverse force generated on the flat plate. The highest energy produced by the vibrating cylinder with a flat plate is Pgen = 86.97 mW at reduced velocity, UR = 11, which is 4 times larger than for isolated cylinder with Pgen = 24.50 mW at UR = 20. For the case of a cylinder with vibrating flat plate, the energy produced is very small with Pgen = 0.6972 mW at UR = 10. The energy produced by the vibrating body is closely related not only to the wind velocity and vibration amplitude but also highly dependent on the rate at which the vibration occurs (frequency) and the phase difference between vibration and the generated force on the body. In the present study, the vibrating cylinder with flat plate appears to be the best configuration to harvest wind energy compared to the other configurations at reduced velocity UR = (9-11).
The Ex-Dividend-Day Price Behaviour of Blue-Chip Stocks: International Evidence

To explain the ex-day stock price behaviour, previous research has mostly focused on dividend yield and expected return. Most of these studies concentrated on the US markets and were conducted in a stable economic condition. This paper examines the most liquid common stock (blue-chip) prices behaviour on the ex-day in a period of financial crisis and covers four major capital markets from different geographic locations (the US, the UK, Japan, and China). On the New York and Shanghai Stock Exchanges, we observe that the stock prices drop does not differ from the dividend amount on the ex-dividend day and there is no evidence of abnormal return and short-term trading. On the Tokyo Stock Exchange, the stock prices fall less than the dividend amount, which is in contrast to the London Stock Exchange, where the stock prices fall more than the dividend amount. On the Tokyo and London Stock Exchanges, we observe abnormal return and short-term trading around the ex-day. Possible explanations for these differences can be financial crisis (in the UK) and short-term trading (in the Japan)
A laboratory scale piezoelectric array for underwater measurements of the fluctuating wall pressure beneath turbulent boundary layers

To capture the full spectrum of the fluctuating wall pressure beneath a turbulent boundary layer (TBL) provides a unique challenge in transducer design. This paper discusses the design, construction and testing of an array of surface-mounted piezoelectric ceramic elements with the goal of having both the spatial resolution and the frequency bandwidth to accurately sense the low-frequency, low-wavenumber events beneath a TBL at moderately low Reynolds numbers. The array is constructed from twenty 1.27 cm tall prismatic rods with 0.18 cm × 0.16 cm cross-section made of Navy type II piezoelectric ceramic material. Calibration was performed by comparing the response of a Navy H56 precision-calibrated hydrophone to the outputs of each element on the array for a given input from a Navy J9 projector. The elements show an average sensitivity of −184 dB (re: 1 V μPa−1) and are assembled with a centre-to-centre spacing of 0.2 cm. Measurements of the fluctuating wall pressure below a 2d TBL with Reynolds numbers (based on momentum thickness) ranging from 2100 to 4300 show that the dimensions of the elements are between 64 and 107 viscous length units, respectively. A spatial and temporal footprint of the fluctuating wall pressure reveals convective speeds averaging 75% of the free stream velocity.
The precautionary approach and the management of the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) - critical remarks

Recruitment and commercial catches of European eel have been in decline since the late 1970s. So far, the reasons are not well understood. A range of potential natural and anthropogenic reasons have been discussed, but the relative importance of the factors is unknown. As a consequence of the decline in recruitment an urgent need for protective management measures was concluded. The main approach is to restrict the fishery on eel, in particular with reference to the precautionary approach. However, in view of the lack of knowledge on the factors responsible for the recruitment decline and by considering that many yellow and silver eel stocks in freshwaters depend on restocking by the fishery, such simplified conclusions are critically discussed. A concept for the sustainable management of eel has to include 1) research on the factors determining the population dynamics, in particular during the oceanic stages, 2) a stronger consideration of socio-economic aspects, and 3) intensified research on artificial reproduction and rearing of eel.
THE INFLUENCE OF PERCEIVED ORGANIZATIONAL SUPPORT, JOB SATISFACTION AND ORGANIZATIONAL COMMITMENT TOWARD ORGANIZATIONAL CITIZENSHIP BEHAVIOR (A Study of the Permanent Lecturers at University of Lambung Mangkurat, Banjarmasin)

The population in this research is all of the permanent lecturers employed at University of Lambung Mangkurat (ULM). The respondents are taken from 4 academic ranks, which are represented by Asisten Ahli (Instructor), Lektor (Assistant Professor), Lektor Kepala (Associate Professor), and Guru Besar (Professor). One hundred and thirty samples were collected by using a proportional-stratified random sampling method. A Partial Least Square (PLS) method was used to analyze the data. The results showed that lecturers with a positive perception of the organizational support available to them feel more satisfied with their job, which in turn encourages the creation of a high organizational commitment and results in the emergence of positive organizational citizenship behavior (OCB). These study’s results showed us the application of social exchange theory and organizational support theory in a higher educational institution. The findings of this study are considered to be important, as they provide additional empirical evidence regarding the importance of organizational support as a basis for improving the ULM lecturers' job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and OCB. The implications and further research are also discussed.
Effect of agonists of adenosine receptors on inflammatory markers in human Muller cells

We report the presence of adenosine receptors at molecular level and study their role in the inflammatory pathway under hyperglycemic condition. Human Muller cells were cultured in low (5 mM) and high (25 mM) glucose with 10 FBS and 1 P/S. Cells were starved in 0 FBS for 18 h and then treated with various agonists CCPA, CGS 21680, NECA and IB-MECA for 6, 12 and 24 h. The adenosine receptors were identified by immunocytochemistry. ELISA was used to measure the levels of TNF-alpha, IL-1 beta and ICAM 1. Four types of adenosine receptors (A(1), A(2A), A(2B) and A(3)) were identified in human Muller cells. TNF-alpha content increased after agonist A(1) and A(3) treatment, but decreased after agonist A(2A) and An treatment. There was no significant effect on ICAM-1 and IL-1 beta. Stimulation of human Muller cells with adenosine A(2A) agonist (CGS 21680) and adenosine A(2B) agonist (NECA) reduces the level of TNF-alpha when exposed to high glucose, whereas A(1) adenosine agonist (CCPA) and A(3) adenosine agonist (IB-MECA) both positively and negatively regulate the TNF-alpha in hyperglycemia. However, none of these agonists has any significant role in affecting ICAM-1 and IL-1 beta.