Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Opposed Jet Burner Approach for Characterizing Flameholding Potentials of Hydrocarbon Scramjet Fuels

Opposed Jet Burner (OJB) tools have been used extensively by the authors to measure Flame Strength (FS) extinction limits of laminar H2/N2‐air and (recently) hydrocarbon (HC)‐air Counterflow Diffusion Flames (CFDFs) at one atm. This paper details normalization of FSs of N2diluted H2 and HC systems to account for effects of fuel composition, temperature, pressure, jet diameter, inflow Reynolds number, and inflow velocity profile (plug, contoured nozzle; and parabolic, straight tube). Normalized results exemplify a sensitive accurate means of validating, globally, reduced chemical kinetic models at ~ 1 atm and the relatively low temperatures approximating the loss of non-premixed “idealized” flameholding, e.g., in scramjet combustors. Laminar FS is defined locally as maximum air input velocity, Uair, that sustains combustion of a counter-jet of g-fuel at extinction. It uniquely characterizes a fuel. And global axial strain rate at extinction (Uair normalized by nozzle or tube diameter, Dn or t) can be compared directly with computed extinction limits, determined using either a 1-D Navier Stokes stream-function solution, using detailed transport and finite rate chemistry, or (better yet) a detailed 2-D Navier Stokes numerical simulation. The experimental results define an “idealized flameholding reactivity scale” that shows wide ranging (50 x) normalized FS’s for various vaporized-liquid and gaseous HCs, including, in ascending order: JP-10, methane, JP-7, n-heptane, n-butane, propane, ethane, and ethylene. Results from H2‐air produce a unique and exceptionally strong flame that agree within ~1% of a recent 2-D numerically simulated FS for a 3 mm tube-OJB. Thus we suggest that experimental FS’s and/or FS ratios, for various neat and blended HCs w/ and w/o additives, offer accurate global tests of chemical kinetic models at the Ts and Ps of extinction. In conclusion, we argue the FS approach is more direct and fundamental, for assessing, e.g., idealized scramjet flameholding potentials, than measurements of laminar burning velocity or blowout in a Perfectly Stirred Reactor, because the latter characterize premixed combustion in the absence of aerodynamic strain. And FS directly measures a chemical kinetic characteristic of non-premixed combustion at typical flameholding temperatures. It mimics conditions where gfuels are typically injected into a subsonic flameholding recirculation zone that captures air, where the effects of aerodynamic strain and associated multi-component diffusion become important.
Identifying Deep Sea Gastropods in an Authentic Student-Scientist-Partnership - Learning To Deal With Identification

Contrary to the relevance of the species concept in biology, the identification of species is scarcely done in school biology. Research literature dealing with identification of species by students is available, but not to an extent one could expect. In this explorative study a marine biologist worked together with 10th graders in school and identified deep sea snails (most of them were limpets) collected on a scientific field trip. This study focuses on the first 100 minutes when the students started to identify the snails initially with the scientist. The process was documented by the approach of field research as an explorative study with a participating observation. Research focused on the questions of the challenges for students in identifying the snails and how teachers and scientists deal with those challenges
First Colour-Patterned Strophomenide Brachiopod from the Earliest Devonian of Podolia, Ukraine

Retained colour pattern on the shells of Plectodonta sp. from the earliest Devonian of Podolia (Ukraine) is the first finding for strophomenide brachiopods and the oldest among articulate brachiopods. The colour pattern in Plectodonta sp. is composed of small, round, brownish spots scattered rather irregularly on the ventral valve only. This may suggest that the described pattern probably performed a protective function through disruptive camouflage against visual systems of potential predators. The occurrence of the colour pattern in Plectodonta sp. exclusively on the ventral valve strongly suggests that these brachiopods lived with the patterned (and convex) ventral valve upwards and the patternless concave dorsal valve facing to the underlying substrate. It thus contradicts a general assumption that concavo-convex brachiopods lived with their convex valves resting on the sediment.
Remote Channels as an Opportunity in Redesigning Portuguese Banks’ Business Model – an Empirical Study in Lisbon Metropolitan Area

Facing an unfavorable economic environment since 2007 the Portuguese banking sector has been unable to generate profitability levels capable of ensuring the industry's attractiveness to investors. The solvency adequacy measures required by regulatory authorities forced the paradigm change in the banking business model. The widespread diffusion of technological innovation in Portuguese society enhances the use of remote banking access channels such as internet banking service (IB) and the ATM, while the traditional branch channel usage is decreasing. A study conducted in the Lisbon area, with 191 responses obtained, revealed that the channels with greater usage intensity are the ATM and IB. It further revealed that there are behavior dimensions on the IB use with direct effect on customer retention. Satisfaction with IB service, perceived switching costs and favorable price perception affect customer retention in their IB service. The findings of this research also confirm that satisfaction with IB service and perceived service price have a direct effect on repurchase intention.
Dynamics of Stark Acceleration/Deceleration: Molecules Riding Waves

Stark acceleration/deceleration relies on time-dependent inhomogeneous electric elds which repetitively exert an accelerating/decelerating force on polar molecules. Fourier analysis reveals that such elds, generated by an array of eld stages, consist of a superposition of partial waves with well-de ned phase velocities. Molecules whose velocities come close to the phase velocity of a given wave get a ride from that wave. For a square-wave temporal dependence of the Stark eld, the phase velocities of the waves are found to be odd-fraction multiples of a fundamental phase velocity , with and the spatial and temporal periods of the eld. Here we study explicitly the dynamics due to any of the waves as well as due to their mutual perturbations. We rst solve the equations of motion for the case of single-wave interactions and exploit their isomorphism with those for the biased pendulum. Next we analyze the perturbations of the single-wave dynamics by other waves and nd that these have no net effect on the phase stability of the acceleration/deceleration process. Finally, we nd that a packet of molecules can also ride a wave which results from an interference of adjacent waves. In this case, small phase stability areas form around phase velocities that are even-fraction multiples of the fundamental velocity. A detailed comparison with classical trajectory simulations and with experiment demonstrates that the analytic wave model encompasses all the longitudinal physics encountered in a Stark accelerator/decelerator.
A correlation between chemistry, polarization and dust properties in the Pipe Nebula starless core FeSt 1-457

Pre-stellar cores within molecular clouds provide the very initial conditions in which stars are formed. We use the IRAM 30m telescope and the PdBI to study the chemical and physical properties of the starless core FeSt 1-457 (Core 109), in the Pipe nebula. We fit the hyperfine structure of the N2H+(1-0) IRAM 30m data. This allow us to measure with high precision the velocity field, line widths and opacity and derive the excitation temperature and column density in the core. We use a modified Bonnor-Ebert sphere model adding a temperature gradient towards the center to fit the 1.2 mm continuum emission and visual extinction maps. Using this model, we estimate the abundances of the N2H+ and the rest of molecular lines detected in the 30 GHz wide line survey performed at 3 mm with IRAM 30m using ARTIST software. The core presents a rich chemistry with emission from early (C3H2, HCN, CS) and late-time molecules (e.g., N2H+), with a clear chemical spatial differentiation for nitrogen, oxygen and sulphurated molecules. For most of the molecules detected (HCN, HCO+, CH3OH, CS, SO, 13CO and C18O), abundances are best fitted with three values, presenting a clear decrease of abundance of at least 1 or 2 orders of magnitude towards the center of the core. The Bonnor-Ebert analysis indicates the core is gravitationally unstable and the magnetic field is not strong enough to avoid the collapse. Depletion of molecules onto the dust grains occurs at the interior of the core, where dust grain growth and dust depolarization also occurs. This suggests that these properties may be related. On the other hand, some molecules exhibit asymmetries in their integrated emission maps, which appear to be correlated with a previously reported submillimetre polarization asymmetry. These asymmetries could be due to a stronger interstellar radiation field in the western side of the core.
Boron application in clay-loam soil for improved growth, yield and protein contents of mungbean in water-stresses

Boron is considered important to improve the drought resistance, yield and protein contents of pulses. Two years of field experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of boron application and water stress given at vegetative and flowering stages on growth, yield and protein contents of mungbean during spring 2014 and 2015. The experiment was laid out in randomized complete block design with split-plot arrangement giving more emphasis to boron. The experiment comprised three water stress levels (normal irrigation, water stress at vegetative stage and water stress at reproductive phase) and four boron levels (0, 2, 4 and 6 kg ha-1). Final seed yield was significantly increased by different levels of boron application both under normal and water stressed conditions. The increase in yield was mainly due to greater plant height, number of pods bearing branches, number of pods per plant, number of seeds per pod and 1000-grain weight. Boron application at 4 kg ha-1 caused 17%, 10% and 4% increase in grain yield under normal irrigation, stress at vegetative stage and water stress at reproductive phase, respectively. Protein contents were also increased (9-16%) at same boron treatment. Most parameters showed a marked decrease at higher dose (6 kg ha-1) of boron. In conclusion, the boron application at rate of 4 kg ha-1 in clay-loam soil performed the best to enhance mungbean growth, yield and seed protein both under normal and water stressed conditions.
PROBABILITY FRIENDS-OF-FRIENDS (PFOF) GROUP FINDER: PERFORMANCE STUDY AND OBSERVATIONAL DATA APPLICATIONS ON PHOTOMETRIC SURVEYS

In tandem with observational data sets, we utilize realistic mock catalogs, based on a semi-analytic galaxy formation model, constructed specifically for Pan-STARRS1 Medium Deep Surveys to assess the performance of the Probability Friends-of-Friends (PFOF) group finder, and aim to develop a grouping optimization method applicable to surveys like Pan-STARRS1. Producing mock PFOF group catalogs under a variety of photometric redshift accuracies (), we find that catalog purities and completenesses from “good” ( 0.01) to “poor” ( 0.07) photo-zs gradually degrade from 77% and 70% to 52% and 47%, respectively. A “subset optimization” approach is developed by using spectroscopic-redshift group data from the target field to train the group finder for application to that field and demonstrated using zCOSMOS groups for PFOF searches within PS1 Medium Deep Field04 (PS1MD04) and DEEP2 EGS groups in PS1MD07. With four data sets spanning the photo-z accuracy range from 0.01 to 0.06, we find purities and completenesses agree with their mock analogs. Further tests are performed via matches to X-ray clusters. We find PFOF groups match ∼85% of X-ray clusters identified in COSMOS and PS1MD04, lending additional support to the reliability of the detection algorithm. In the end, we demonstrate, by separating red and blue group galaxies in the EGS and PS1MD07 group catalogs, that the algorithm is not biased with respect to specifically recovering galaxies by color. The analyses suggest the PFOF algorithm shows great promise as a reliable group finder for photometric galaxy surveys of varying depth and coverage.
Differences of the Daily Flight Activity Rhythm in Two Neotropical Stingless Bees (Hymenoptera, Apidae)

Stingless bees are mainly tropical and subtropical, eusocial bees and perform activities that are both internal and external to the nest. This study aims to investigate and compare the daily flight activities of Melipona scutellaris Latreille and Frieseomelitta doederleini (Friese). The daily flight activities of the two Meliponini species was regular for both initial and final activities and for preferential time of activity throughout the months, which may indicate the presence of a biological rhythm synchronized by the daily light-dark cycle. Temperature, light intensity and relative humidity probably influenced the rhythms of activity during the day, in a way that may act as a modulator of bee rhythms. M. scutellaris was the larger and darker bees and showed earlier activities and in lower temperatures when compared to F. doederleini , which were smaller bees.
The Spirits of Corporate Social Responsibility: Senior Executive Perceptions of the Role of the Firm in Society in Germany, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea, and the United States

We report our findings on cross-societal variations in values about CSR in senior executives from five economies. We find that executives in all five are concerned with the roles of their firms in society, with those in Japan most so and those in Hong Kong least so. However, executives in each context have different conceptualizations of how firms contribute to society. The data suggest variation along three dimensions: implicit vs. explicit CSR, stakeholder-oriented vs. production-oriented CSR within implicit CSR, and different main stakeholders within stakeholder-oriented CSR. We discuss the implications for future research on CSR and comparative business systems.
Development of a Web Contents for Information Service System for Mental Health Management in Korean Immigrants

Summary The purpose of this study is to describe the development of a web contents for information service system for mental health management in Korean immigrants using a user-centered. Research process includes the need assessment, analysis, and development. Our program is to diagnose and manage mental of Korean immigrants, especially depression, somatization, anxiety, obsessive-compulsive, interpersonal sensitivity, hostility and paranoid ideation. Mental health promotion class includes the method to get rid of stress, stretching & exercise, music therapy, relaxing therapy, mediation, massages, meditation, drinking herb tea, rational thought replacement, increasing self-confidence, laughter therapy, anger management, assertiveness training, bibliotherapy, and self–help group. The second phase of this project includes a development of a web-based information service system for mental health management in Korean immigrants.
Homoleptic Lanthanide Complexes Containing a Redox-Active Ligand and the Investigation of Their Electronic and Photophysical Properties

Herein, we describe the preparation, characterization and photophysical properties of neutral lanthanide complexes containing a redox-active ligand 1-(2-pyridylazo)-2-phenanthrol (papl). The complexes likely share similar structural features and bear the formulation Ln(papl)3 (Ln(III) = Gd, Dy, Tb), which is supported by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry, CHN analysis, FT-IR and UV–Vis spectroscopy. The synthesis and structural properties of a related complex, Ho(qapl)3 (where qapl = 10-(8-quinolylazo)-9-phenanthrol), is also reported. The complexes feature ligand-centered redox activity, similar to other reported transition metal complexes with papl. Variable temperature magnetic susceptibility measurements (DC and AC) suggest typical free-ion magnetism without any slow-relaxation dynamics. The photophysical properties of the ligand and complexes were investigated and the results of emission spectroscopy indicate ligand-centered processes.
The role of food from natural resources in reducing vulnerability to poverty: a case study from Zimbabwe

Vulnerability to poverty is a major problem in the rural areas of Sub Saharan Africa. Rural Households are confronted with various covariate and idiosyncratic shocks and are often severely constrained in coping with such events. They frequently resort to food from natural resources such as indigenous fruits during times of crisis. The availability of such food sources is increasingly at risk due to deforestation and biodiversity loss. The objective of this paper is to quantify the contribution of indigenous fruit trees towards reducing vulnerability to food insecurity and poverty. The methodology used is a multi-period stochastic household income model. The data were collected in a case study in Zimbabwe using detailed monthly income and expenditure records of a sample of 39 rural households in two areas. The two regions differ in their agricultural system. In one area horticulture, off-farm activities and exotic fruits are a major source of income while in the other area indigenous fruits are a more important source of income. This paper concentrates on the latter area. Model calculations show that rural households in Zimbabwe are highly vulnerable to seasonal fluctuations in income and therefore a critical period where households run high risk of being food insecure can be identified. While indigenous fruits, as a low cost natural resource, can facilitate income smoothing, the role of other sources of income must not be neglected. The paper concludes that diversified season-specific income generating portfolios must be designed of which indigenous fruit trees have a role to play.
Low-Skilled Unemployment, Biased Technological Shocks and Job Competition

The unemployment rise in EU countries has been particularly strong for low-skilled workers. This observation has often been explained in terms of biased technical change and relative wage rigidities. More attention has been paid recently to an alternative mechanism, the crowding-out of low-skilled workers by over-qualified workers. The objective of this paper is both methodological and empirical. We construct a dynamic general equilibrium model with two types of jobs and two types of workers and with search unemployment. The model is calibrated and simulated to examine the interactions between the “skill bias” and “crowdingout” mechanisms. When such interactions are accounted for, the model reproduces quite well the observed unemployment changes.
Seed Size Explains within-Population Variability in Post-Fire Germination of Cistus salviifolius

In fire-prone environments, studying the variability of regeneration traits is important to show the potential of plant species to survive under consecutive post-fire and fire-free conditions. We studied the relationship between seed size and germination patterns in Cistus salviifolius (Cistaceae), which is a fire-follower species distributed throughout the Mediterranean Basin. Since fire plays an important role in the life cycle of the studied species, we made a germination experiment that included a heat-shock treatment (to simulate fire) and a control without a heat-shock (to simulate fire-free conditions) using seeds collected from individual plants to assess within-population germination responses to fire. Seed germination of most of the individuals was stimulated by heat-shock, but the germination characteristics showed substantial variation among individuals within the population. Mean seed mass (i.e. seed size) was positively correlated with germination percentage in the heat treatment, but no correlation was found between seed mass and germination percentage in the control. On the other hand, mean seed mass was negatively correlated with seed mortality both in the heatshock treatment and in the control. The results show that even if the response of the majority of the individuals in the population follows the population-level germination response of the species, a significant variability in germination actually exists within this population (among individuals). Individuals with larger seeds may be favored in post-fire conditions, while seed size is unimportant in fire-free conditions. Together with the positive selective pressure of seed predation over small-seeded individuals, fire shapes the within-population variability of the regeneration traits such as seed size and post-fire germination in C. salviifolius. This variability might have evolved as a bet-hedging strategy against unpredictable conditions in the Mediterranean environment, especially the occurrence of fire and fire-free periods.
Genetic variation and population structure of western Mediterranean and northern Atlantic Stenella coeruleoalba populations inferred from microsatellite data

The patterns of genetic differentiation and levels of genetic diversity among striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) populations from the North Atlantic Ocean (N=45 individuals) and the central and western Mediterranean Sea (N=78) were investigated using five polymorphic microsatellite loci. A North Pacific sample (N=14) was added as an out-group. Two of the markers were tetranucleotide repeats tested for the first time in this species. The Mediterranean, Atlantic and Pacific samples displayed a mean number of alleles per locus of 11.2, 13.4, and 9.6 respectively, suggesting a high but variable polymorphism across loci. The Mediterranean sample displayed particular characteristics: (i) the lowest allelic richness and expected heterozygosity (HeMediterranean=0.76, while HeAtlantic=0.83 and HePacific=0.85); (ii) a significant departure from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium (P<0.001; FIS=0.050); and (iii) a significant linkage disequilibrium between two pairs of loci. These last two features, present neither in the Atlantic sample nor in the Pacific one, suggest that the western Mediterranean population might possibly be further subdivided. Significant genetic differentiation was detected between the Mediterranean and Pacific populations, and between the Mediterranean and Atlantic populations. However, pairwise Wright's FST was not significantly different from zero between the two geographically isolated Atlantic and Pacific populations.