Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Record Keeping On the Performance of Selected Small and Medium Enterprises in Lagos Metropolis

The importance of Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) in many economies cannot be over emphasized as they play vital roles in the economy of both developed and developing countries such as employment generation and poverty reduction among others. However, majority of SMEs have failed to recognize the importance of well-structured accounting system that would have enabled them keep accurate financial statement. The study set out to analyse the extent to which accounting information is being used to measure the financial performance of SMEs. Questionnaires were administered to 200 SMEs owners out of which 197 questionnaire were valid and analysed using Likert scale. It was observed that while respondents agree that major benefits of keeping proper records is to know the performance of the business and that record keeping is key to the success of the business, majority of the SMEs owners lack basic accounting knowledge and decry the cost involved in preparing financial statement hence they keep the records themselves manually. The study recommends that SMEs operators should endeavour to keep proper records and where necessary seek the services of SME professionals to do so at minimal cost because the cost involved in business failure as a result of lack of proper record keeping far outweigh the cost of good record keeping for a business concern.
Graphene platelets versus phosphorus compounds for elastomeric composites: flame retardancy, mechanical performance and mechanisms

Polymers are widely used but their flammability remains a serious issue causing fatalities and property damage. Herein we present an investigation into the effectiveness of graphene platelets (GnPs) to simultaneously improve the flame retardancy and mechanical properties of ethylene propylene diene monomer rubber (EPDM). EPDM was melt compounded respectively with GnPs and a commercial flame retardant (ammonium polyphosphate, APP) to produce two groups of composites. Although both fillers were well dispersed in EPDM, GnPs significantly improved the mechanical properties of EPDM whilst APP compromised some of the mechanical properties particularly at high fractions. This difference was attributed to the filler particle size and interfacial bonding. Through cone calorimetry testing, 21 wt% char yield was recorded for the EPDM/GnP composite at 12.0 vol%, in comparison with 8 wt% for the EPDM/APP composite. APP was able to lower the peak heat release rate (PHRR) and specific mass loss rate (MLR), but unfortunately it decreased the ignition time and fire performance index (FPI). By contrast, GnPs has been found to increase ignition time by 29% and FPI by 62%, while still achieved the same level of reductions in PHRR and specific MLR, demonstrating clear advantages over APP. During combustion the highly thermally stable GnPs bonded with the viscous, degraded EPDM macromolecules, forming a thick solid char layer which prevented the transport of heat and smoke, contributing to its superior flame retarding performance over APP.
Nutrient uptake, nutrient availability and quality parameters of mechanically transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L.) under split doses of nitrogen

The field investigation was carried out during kharif 2011 and 2012 at Punjab Agricultural University Ludhiana to see the performance of mechanically transplanted rice (Oryza sativa L.) under split dose of nitrogen. The treatments included 100 kg N ha−1), 125 kg N ha−1) and 150 kg N ha−1) in 2 splits before last puddling (BLP) and 15 days after (N100 (N125(N150 transplanting (DAT), 3 splits (BLP, 15 and 30 DAT) and 4 splits (BLP, 15, 30 and 45 DAT) along with recommended N (125 kg ha−1) in 3 equal splits (BLP, 21 and 42 DAT) and control treatment of 0 kg N ha−1. The grain yield, nutrients (N, P, K) uptake and quality parameters of rice were observed higher with N150 in 4 splits i.e. before last puddling, 15, 30 and 45 DAT as compared to other treatments in both the years.This treatment also resulted in maximum availability of nutrients N and K in soil, which were significantly higher than other treatments during both the years. But available P was observed maximum with N150 in 4 splits, which was at par with N150 in 3 splits during 2011 but in 2012, it was at parwith N150 in 3 splits, N125 and in 4 splits. N150 in 4 splits gave significantly higher brown rice recovery, milled rice recovery and head rice recovery than N100 other treatments. These parameters increased with increase in levels of nitrogen and its split application from zero to 150 kg ha−1. However, there was non-significant effect of different levels of nitrogen and split applications on minimum cooking time, elongation ratio and cooking coefficient of grains. Water absorption ratio by grains from N150 in 4 splits was similar to in 2–3 splits and N125 in 3 splits, but was higher than other treatments. The maximum protein content (5.72–5.75%) was N150 also recorded in N150 in 4 splits. The protein content in grains increased with the split application of different nitrogen levels from 100 to 150 kg N ha−1.
Upregulation of lncRNA GAS5 inhibits the growth and metastasis of cervical cancer cells

This study aims to figure out the methylation of long non‐coding RNA GAS5 promoter in cervical cancer and the mechanism of GAS5 on the progression of cervical cancer cells. The expression of GAS5 and methylation state of GAS5 in cervical cancer tissues and cells were determined. With the aim to to explore the ability of GAS5 in the proliferation, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, invasion, migration as well as the tumor growth, and metastasis in nude mice were determined. The expression of GAS5 was decreased and methylation state of GAS5 was elevated in cervical cancer. Overexpression of GAS5 inhibited proliferation, cell cycle progression, invasion, migration while inducing apoptosis of cervical cancer cells as well as suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in nude mice. Our study demonstrates that abnormal methylation of GAS5 contributes to poor expression of GAS5 in cervical cancer. In addition, upregulation of GAS5 inhibits the cervical cancer development.
A comprehensive collapse fragility assessment of moment resisting steel frames considering various sources of uncertainties

Different sources of uncertainties contribute to the collapse and safety assessment of structures. In this paper, impact of construction quality (CQ) is considered in developing analytical collapse fragility curves for moment resisting steel frames. Furthermore, the interaction of this source of uncertainty with epistemic uncertainty inherent in modeling parameters, due to lack of knowledge and inaccuracy of predictor equations, is investigated. Beam strength, column strength, beam ductility, and column ductility meta-variables are defined as modeling parameters which are being suffered by informal uncertainty. Quadratic equations for the mean and the standard deviation of collapse fragility curves are derived by utilizing response surfaces, which are interpolated to analytically-derived values considering realizations for modeling variables and for various levels of construction quality. To the best of the authors’ knowledge, interaction of modeling and CQ uncertainty in analytical collapse fragility cur.
An empirical exploration of relationships between official development assistance (ODA) and advances in water and sanitation subsectors

This paper explores aid effectiveness by studying the effect of aid, aid volatility, and key development indicators, focusing on safe access to water and sanitation (W&S) in both urban and rural areas. Despite the importance of official development assistance (ODA) for these two subsectors, little global attention is given to its importance and its connectivity with different socio economic factors. In this study, we focus on the countries that receive aid for water and sanitation. We find that aid does have a discernible impact on access to W&S, particularly in rural areas, but that this impact is reduced by aid volatility, there is a clear evidence that ODA for water and sanitation lacks the appropriate orientation, and is not targeting most of the areas that are really in need.
College Women's Experiences and Perceptions of Drinking: A Phenomenological Exploration.

College women's drinking rates are increasing, yet there is limited research on what is contributing to this phenomenon. In this study, the authors explored a fuller picture of how college women experience and perceive drinking situations. Qualitative data from 2 focus groups of high-risk and low-risk drinkers were analyzed with interpretative phenomenological analysis. Similarities and contrasts are discussed, implications for college counselors are highlighted, and areas for future research are recommended.
Cost-Efficiency Analysis of a Model Wire-Plate Electrostatic Precipitator via DNS Based Eulerian Particle Transport Approach

The object of this work is to outline a methodology that can improve the current procedures used to size cost-optimized, efficient electrostatic precipitators (ESP). Focusing on a model wire-plate ESP initially, we develop a two-dimensional Eulerian, advection-diffusion type model for particle transport with distributed parameters. The Eulerian model is assessed against the accurate Lagrangian particle tracking database obtained for a model ESP using the parameter-free, highly accurate direct numerical simulation database obtained in previous work (Soldati 2000; Soldati and Banerjee 1998). Results show that the simplified Eulerian model can have good performances, provided that the functional form of the required transport parameters (i.e., turbulent dispersion coefficient, electromigration velocity, and convection velocity) are properly defined. Next, the cost function for a model ESP is defined and the influence of several design parameters on cost and collection efficiency is examined to identify guidelines to increase the collection efficiency at the lowest cost. Considering the cost associated with variation of precipitator length and width, wire-to-plate distance, and voltage applied to the wires, results show that the most cost-effective way to increase the collection efficiency of a wire-plate ESP is to decrease the wire-to-wire distance. Furthermore, the reasons for cost effectiveness of wider-spacing ESPs are demonstrated from a theoretical viewpoint, thus confirming the experimental observations of Navarrete et al. (1997).
A Lexicographic Approach to Postdisaster Relief Logistics Planning Considering Fill Rates and Costs under Uncertainty

Predicting the occurrences of earthquakes is difficult, but because they often bring huge catastrophes, it is necessary to launch relief logistics campaigns soon after they occur. This paper proposes a stochastic optimization model for post-disaster relief logistics to guide the strategic planning with respect to the locations of temporary facilities, the mobilization levels of relief supplies, and the deployment of transportation assets with uncertainty on demands. In addition, delivery plans for relief supplies and evacuation plans for critical population have been developed for each scenario. Two objectives are featured in the proposed model: maximizing the expected minimal fill rate of affected areas, where the mismatching distribution among correlated relief demands is penalized, and minimizing the expected total cost. An approximate lexicographic approach is here used to transform the bi-objective stochastic programming model into a sequence of single objective stochastic programming models, and scenario-decomposition-based heuristic algorithms are furthermore developed to solve these transformed models. The feasibility of the proposed bi-objective stochastic model has been demonstrated empirically, and the effectiveness of the developed solution algorithms has also been evaluated and compared to that of commercial mixed-integer optimization software.
Occurrence of parasites and pathogens in honey bee colonies used in a European genotype-environment interactions experiment

Summary Diseases are known to be one of the major contributors to colony losses. Within a Europe-wide experiment on genotype—environment interactions, an initial 621 colonies were set up and maintained from 2009 to 2012. The colonies were monitored to investigate the occurrence and levels of key pathogens. These included the mite Varroa destructor (mites per 10 g bees), Nosema spp. (spore loads and species determination), and viruses (presence/absence of acute bee paralysis virus (ABPV) and deformed wing virus (DWV)). Data from 2010 to the spring of 2011 are analysed in relation to the parameters: genotype, environment, and origin (local vs. non-local) of the colonies in the experiment. The relative importance of different pathogens as indicators of colony death within the experiment is compared. In addition, pathogen occurrence rates across the geographic locations are described.
Methods for Modeling Ecosystem Services: A Review

Abstract Modeling ecosystem services (ES) is an essential tool for the development of strategies that will ensure their future supply, provision and quantification. Given the rapid development in this area of research, a review of the different approaches used to model ES was performed, using an analytical framework based on five criteria for comparing the existing methodological approaches: the types of ES, availability of data sources, spatial scale, types of models used and the possible outcomes of the models. Regulating services were the most commonly modeled, followed by provisioning, cultural, and supporting services. The most frequently used data for modeling were secondary data (already available from scientific literature or data banks). Most studies were performed at the regional or at a global scale. Mechinicist models, based on state and flow equations, were the most commonly used method, but the survey showed a relatively homogeneous distribution of all the identified types of modeling. The synthesis reveals that the majority of studies are based on secondary data, applied at broad scales, without validation techniques, similar to the existing information regarding the mapping of ESs.
Resilience to oxidative and nitrosative stress is mediated by the stressosome, RsbP and SigB in Bacillus subtilis.

A bacterium’s ability to thrive in the presence of multiple environmental stressors simultaneously determines its resilience. We showed that activation of the SigB-controlled general stress response by mild environmental or nutritional stress provided significant cross-protection to subsequent lethal oxidative, disulfide and nitrosative stress exposure. SigB activation is mediated via the stressosome and RsbP, the main conduits of environmental and nutritional stress, respectively. Cells exposed to mild environmental stress while lacking the major stressosome components RsbT or RsbRA were highly sensitive to subsequent oxidative stress, whereas rsbRB, rsbRC, rsbRD and ytvA null mutants showed a spectrum of sensitivity, confirming their redundant roles and suggesting they could modulate the signal generated by environmental stress or oxidative stress. Furthermore, from mutant analysis we infer that RsbRA phosphorylation by RsbT was important for this cross-resistance to oxidative stress. By contrast, cells encountering stationary phase stress required RsbP but not RsbT to survive subsequent oxidative stress caused by hydrogen peroxide and diamide. Interestingly, optimum cross-protection against nitrosative stress caused by SNP required SigB but not the known regulators, RsbT and RsbP, suggesting an additional and as yet uncharacterized route of SigB activation independent of the known environmental and energy-stress pathways. Together, these results provide a mechanism for how Bacillus subtilis promotes enhanced resistance against lethal oxidative stress during likely physiologically relevant conditions such as mild environmental or nutrient stress.
Evaluating the progeny of European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) in the early years of growth

Abstract This research was carried out on two experimental plots located in the Rymanów and Nawojowa forest districts. In the second and fifth year after planting, at three and six years of age respectively, survival and height of 25 beech progenies of selected seed stands were measured. Furthermore, we show the effect of beech origin and growth environment (significant ‘provenance × block’ and ‘provenance × test plot’ interactions). Beeches from both experimental plots differed significantly in growth and survival and this difference increased with tree age. The highest provenance heritability was obtained for the tree height after two years of growth in Rymanów. In Nawojowa, the heritability of beech survival reached zero after five years of growth. An evaluation of the stability of beech provenances (genotypes) in terms of survival and height under the habitat conditions of our experimental plots was done using the Finlay and Wilkinson method. The beech provenances of 469- Nawojowa and 452-Lesko (regional standard) were included as a stable basis for reference. A high degree of stability and high average values for the characteristics investigated indicate high progeny quality within these stands.
Spectral Hardening in Black Hole Accretion: Giving Spectral Modelers an f

By fitting synthetic spectral models computed via the TLUSTY code, we examine how the spectra from thin accretion disks are expected to vary in accreting black hole systems. We fit color-corrected blackbody models to our synthetic spectra to estimate the spectral hardening factor f, which parameterizes the departure from blackbody and is commonly used to help interpret multitemperature blackbody fitting results. We find we can define a reasonably robust f value to spectra when the effects of Compton scattering dominate radiation transfer. We examine the evolution of f with black hole mass and accretion rate, typically finding a moderate variation (f ∼ 1.4–2) for accretion rates between 1% and 100% of the Eddington rate. Consistent with most previous work, we find that f tends to increase with accretion rate, but we also infer a weaker correlation of f with black hole mass. We find that f is rarely much larger than 2 unless the disk becomes photon starved, in contention with some previous calculations. Significant spectral hardening (f > 2) is only found when the disk mass surface density is lower than expected for α-disk models unless α is near unity or larger.
Deposited in DRO : 22 May 2020 Version of attached le : Published Version Peer-review status of attached

A new release of the Monte Carlo event generator Herwig (version 7.2) is now available. This version introduces a number of improvements over the major version 7.0, notably: multi-jet merging with the dipole shower at LO and NLO QCD; spin correlations in both the dipole and angular-ordered parton showers; an improved choice of evolution variable in the angular-ordered parton shower; improvements to mass effects and top decays in the dipole shower, improvements to the simulation of multiple-parton interactions, including diffractive processes; a new model for baryonic colour reconnection; improvements to strangeness production; as well as a new tune of the hadronisation parameters and support for generic Lorentz structures in BSM models. This article illustrates new features of versions 7.1 and 7.2.
Higgs mass predicted from the standard model with asymptotically safe gravity

The aim of this thesis is to predict the Higgs boson mass from the Standard model of particle physics with gravity as an asymptotically safe theory. To reach this goal, the running of four standard model couplings in addition to the Higgs self-coupling is derived at one-loop level in the MS-scheme. Standard model β-functions are supplemented by asymptotically safe gravity corrections at very large energies, and differential equation group of β-functions is solved numerically. At low energies a partial finite renormalisation of the Standard Model is performed to derive the connection between the self-coupling in the MS-scheme and the physical, measurable parameters. Relating the value for the Higgs self-coupling given by the running of couplings to the physical one leads to a prediction λ ≈ 0.131 for the Higgs self-coupling which corresponds to a mass mh ≈ 126GeV. In 2012 at CERN the Higgs mass was measured to be mh ≈ 125GeV corresponding to the value of λ ≈ 0.13 for the self-coupling. The prediction got in this thesis is very close to the measured one when one takes into account that calculations were done only at one-loop level.
Central Corneal Thickness and Its Association with Birth Parameters in Chinese Adolescents

ABSTRACT Purpose: To examine the distribution and determinants of central corneal thickness (CCT) including birth weight and gestational age in a school-based samples of Grade 7 students in rural China. Methods: 2346 (93.5%) grade 7 students with a mean age of 13.8 years participated in the study. CCT was measured for both eyes using the LenStar LS900. Information regarding birth weight and gestational age was retrieved from the participants’ delivery records. A linear regression model was established to examine the relationship of birth weight, gestational age and other factors with CCT. Results: The mean CCT in this population was 534.7 µm and boys had a greater CCT compared with girls (P = .06). CCT was positively related to axial length (r = 0.056) while negatively related to anterior chamber depth (r = −0.076) and corneal power (r = −0.105) . In multivariate analyses, the cornea was 19. 35µm thinner in individuals with low birth weight compared with those with normal. In addition, the cornea was 25. 25µm thinner in prematurely born adolescents compared with full-term ones. The combined effect of birth weight and gestational age on CCT was not statistically significant (P for interaction = 0.12) Conclusions: Low birth weight and small gestational age are associated with thinner corneas in adolescence. This disparity across groups with different levels of birth parameters should be taken into account by future studies investigating CCT as risk factors or diagnostic tests for glaucoma.
Habitat selection of American marten in a logged landscape at the southern fringe of the boreal forest

Abstract American marten (Martes americana), a species sensitive to intensive logging, is often associated with old-growth coniferous forest. Recent results, however, question the specificity of this association. We studied habitat selection of marten at the southern fringe of the boreal forest, in mixed forest types. The presence of a white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) wintering area protected part of the study area from large-scale intensive logging [clear-cuts with protection of regeneration and soils (CPRS) and precommercial thinning (PCT)] but not from partial logging of mature coniferous stands. We radio-tracked 15 marten over 2 y and analyzed habitat selection at 2 scales: landscape and home range. Marten selected mature (> 60 y) coniferous forests at both scales, while they neither selected nor avoided Mature mixed forests. PCT forests (0–15 y old) were strongly avoided at the landscape scale (P < 0.001), as were Young forests (21–60 y old; P = 0.005). At the home range scale, marten avoided CPRS (0–20 y old; P < 0.001). Partial logging had no effect on selection at either scale. Female home ranges were smaller in the partially logged sector of the study area (2.6 ± 0.6 versus 7.4 ± 0.2 km2), while male home range averaged 5.5 ± 1.0 km2, resulting in a significant interaction between location of home ranges in the white-tailed deer wintering area and sex of individuals (F1,11 = 5.618, P = 0.037). Also, home ranges tended to be larger as the road density and proportion of light outbreak cover type increased. Our results showed that partial logging, CPRS, and PCT have different impacts on marten habitat selection and use of space. We conclude that partial logging rather than clear-cuts and precommercial thinning should be favored for conservation of American marten.