Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Prestack depth migration with the Gabor transform

Waveeld extrapolation with phase shift is currently a migration tool of importance. In this paper, we present a new prestack seismic depth migration algorithm using the Gabor transform with application to the Marmousi acoustic velocity model. The imaging results show a very promising depth imaging algorithm, which should compete with the best depth imaging algorithms. The Gabor depth imaging algorithm approximates generalized phase shift plus interpolation (GPSPI) waveeld extrapolation, in which exact lateral velocities are used in a waveeld extrapolator. Previously, Gaussian windows have been used in the Gabor waveeld extrapolation algorithm. Each of these Gaussian windows is a ‘fulllength’ window, with the same dimension as lateral velocity structures. Programs have been coded with the adaptive windowing algorithm, which will substantially reduce redundancy of calculations in waveeld extrapolation related to repeated Fourier transforms. High computation efcienc y is expected using these more compactly supported windows.
Agronomic divergence of sorghum hybrids for silage yield in the semiarid region of Paraiba

The objective of this study was to evaluate the agronomic divergence of 25 sorghum hybrids (Sorghum bicolor L. Moench) in the semiarid region of Paraiba. A randomized block design with three replications was used for evaluation of plant height (PH), total natural matter production (TNMP) and total dry matter production (TDMP) and the percentage of components of DM (panicle, leaf blade, stem and dead matter) of the following hybrids: 866005, 866019, 866033, 866034, 866035, 866036, 866037, 866040, 866041, 866042, 866043, 866044, 870025, 870031, 870035, 870041, 870051, 870067, 870081, 870085, 870095, 1F305, BRS 610, Volumax, and XBS60329. Hybrid 1F305, followed by hybrid 866034, presented the highest average PH. There was a range from 7.679 to 20.948 kg/ha (average of 13,799 kg/ha) for TDMP. Hybrids 1F305, BRS 610 and Volumax presented less potential, and hybrids 866,041 and 866,042 were the most productive. Based on cluster analysis and subjective cut in 50% of dissimilarity, it was possible to establish four hierarchical groups, from which two stood out concerning productive characteristics. The group formed by hybrids Volumax, BRS 610, and XBS60329 presented lower averages for yield and lower percentage of panicle. Hybrids 866041 and 866042 show a higher total dry matter production, with values around 20,000 kg/ha.
INVESTOR-BASED PLACE BRAND EQUITY: A THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Purpose – Many post‐industrial cities are characterised by the effects of globalisation, de‐regulation, regionalisation and technological developments. The application of supply‐side strategies to meet the challenges arising from these effects has contributed to the homogeneity of places which economic development professionals try to escape by creating place brands. Considerable resources are allocated to such place marketing efforts – so far without being able to measure the impact. The aim of this paper is to present a framework to analyse place brand equity from the foreign direct investor's point of view in an attempt to identify the place brand actuators which contribute to (more) efficient place brands.Design/methodology/approach – Based on literature research, customer‐based FMCG brand equity models are analysed and adapted to the characteristics of places.Findings – It is expected that the behaviour of the place brand customer (i.e. the decision to invest in a certain place) depends on the assess.
Turbulence Kinetic Energy budget during the afternoon transition – Part 2: A simple TKE model

Abstract. A simple model for turbulence kinetic energy (TKE) and the TKE budget is presented for sheared convective atmospheric conditions based on observations from the Boundary Layer Late Afternoon and Sunset Turbulence (BLLAST) field campaign. It is based on an idealized mixed-layer approximation and a simplified near-surface TKE budget. In this model, the TKE is dependent on four budget terms (turbulent dissipation rate, buoyancy production, shear production and vertical transport of TKE) and only requires measurements of three available inputs (near-surface buoyancy flux, boundary layer depth and wind speed at one height in the surface layer) to predict vertical profiles of TKE and TKE budget terms. This simple model is shown to reproduce some of the observed variations between the different studied days in terms of near-surface TKE and its decay during the afternoon transition reasonably well. It is subsequently used to systematically study the effects of buoyancy and shear on TKE evolution using idealized constant and time-varying winds during the afternoon transition. From this, we conclude that many different TKE decay rates are possible under time-varying winds and that generalizing the decay with simple scaling laws for near-surface TKE of the form tα may be questionable. The model's errors result from the exclusion of processes such as elevated shear production and horizontal advection. The model also produces an overly rapid decay of shear production with height. However, the most influential budget terms governing near-surface TKE in the observed sheared convective boundary layers are included, while only second-order factors are neglected. Comparison between modeled and averaged observed estimates of dissipation rate illustrates that the overall behavior of the model is often quite reasonable. Therefore, we use the model to discuss the low-turbulence conditions that form first in the upper parts of the boundary layer during the afternoon transition and are only apparent later near the surface. This occurs as a consequence of the continuous decrease in near-surface buoyancy flux during the afternoon transition. This region of weak afternoon turbulence is hypothesized to be a “pre-residual layer”, which is important in determining the onset conditions for the weak sporadic turbulence that occur in the residual layer once near-surface stratification has become stable.
A Nationwide Study on Breast Cancer Risk in Postmenopausal Women Using Hormone Therapy in Finland

9 INTRODUCTION 10 REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE 11 Menopause 11 Immediate symptoms 11 Long term consequences 11 Genital atrophy 11 Osteoporosis 11 Cardiovascular diseases 12 Cognition and dementia 12 Hormone therapy 13 Estrogen-only therapy 13 Estrogen-progestagen therapy 14 Progestagens 15 Tibolone 16 Selective estrogen receptor modulators, testosterone, phytoestrogens. 16 Effects of hormone therapy 16 Benefits 17 Improvement of vasomotor symptoms and urogenital atrophy. 17 Prevention of osteoporosis 17 Protection against colon cancer 17 Controversial effects 18 Alzheimer’s disease and dementia 18 Coronary artery disease 18 Risks 18 Venous tromboembolism 18 Stroke 19 Endometrial cancer 19
THE EFFECT OF CORPORATE IMAGE ON WOM: THE ROLE OF CUSTOMER SATISFACTION AND TRUST PROPOSING A CONCEPTUAL FRAMEWORK

The use of positive corporate image by companies continues to be a popular method to support the customer satisfaction and to encourage his/her trusts on the company, and lead the customer to own more positive word of mouth about the company and its brand. When the customers have the positive corporate image they focus on aspects of a company, in addition, they usually express it by using the positive words of mouth, and which in turn is considered the goal of any company. The reason that lies behind using corporate image is its direct and indirect strong impact that builds customer satisfaction and makes customers more trust to speak positively about the company. This theoretical paper develops a conceptual framework that explains how independent variable (corporate image) affects on dependent variable which is called word of mouth when trust and customer satisfaction are mediating.
I Can't Get No Satisfaction - Necessity Entrepreneurship and Procedural Utility

We study a unique sample of 1,547 nascent entrepreneurs in Germany and analyze which factors are associated with their self-reported satisfaction regarding their start-up. Our study identifies a new facet of procedural utility and offers new insights about the motivations and goals of nascent entrepreneurs. Most importantly, we identify a group of nascent entrepreneurs that “cannot get satisfaction” with their start-up—not because their start-up fails to deliver financial returns, but because they did not choose to become entrepreneurs in the first place. This group of unsatisfied entrepreneurs includes individuals starting a business after a period of long-term unemployment and those individuals with a lack of better employment alternatives (necessity entrepreneurs). In addition, we provide additional evidence for the importance of both financial and non-financial incentives of entrepreneurs. While financial success is the most important determinant of start-up satisfaction, achievement of independence and creativity is also highly important. Our results emphasize the relevance of procedural utility for understanding economic behavior.
Effects of organizational ethical culture on the ethical decisions of tax practitioners in mainland China

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of organizational ethical culture on the ethical decisions of tax practitioners in mainland China. Design/methodology/approach - The study is based on a field survey of practicing public accountants. Findings - As hypothesized, certain dimensions of ethical culture had highly significant effects on intentions to engage in aggressive tax minimization strategies. Cultures characterized by strong ethical norms and incentives for ethical behavior significantly reduced the reported likelihood of engaging in unethical behavior in a high moral intensity case. In a low moral intensity case, intentions to engage in questionable behavior were significantly higher when participants felt that top managers in their firm were unethical and rewarded unethical behavior. Relativism judgments (judgments of what is traditionally or culturally acceptable or acceptable to one's family) emerged as the strongest determinant of behavioral intentions across both cases. Participants also appeared highly sensitive to questions regarding what is traditionally or culturally acceptable in Chinese tax practice. Originality/value - This is the first study of ethical decision making among tax practitioners in mainland China, and the findings add to a growing body of literature documenting the significant effects of organizational ethical context on public accountants' decision making processes. This has important implications for CPA firms, suggesting that proactive steps should be taken to promote supportive ethical contexts. The findings for the effects of relativism judgments raise concerns regarding the ethical decisions of Chinese tax practitioners, implying they are likely to engage in unethical behavior if they feel such behavior is common in their cultural environment.
The environmental dependence of H I in galaxies in the EAGLE simulations

We use the EAGLE suite of cosmological hydrodynamical simulations to study how the HI content of present-day galaxies depends on their environment. We show that EAGLE reproduces observed HI mass–environment trends very well, while semi-analytic models typically overpredict the average HI masses in dense environments. The environmental processes act primarily as an on/off switch for the HI content of satellites withM∗ > 109M_. At a fixedM∗, the fraction of HI-depleted satellites increase with increasing host halo mass M200 in response to stronger environmental effects, while at a fixedM200 it decreases with increasing satelliteM∗ as the gas is confined by deeper gravitational potentials. HI-depleted satellites reside mostly, but not exclusively, within the virial radius r200 of their host halo. We investigate the origin of these trends by focusing on three environmental mechanisms: ram pressure stripping by the intragroup medium, tidal stripping by the host halo and satellite–satellite encounters. By tracking back in time the evolution of the HI-depleted satellites, we find that the most common cause of HI removal is satellite encounters. The time-scale for HI removal is typically less than 0.5 Gyr. Tidal stripping occurs in haloes of M200 < 1014M_ within 0.5 × r200, while the other processes act also in more massive haloes, generally within r200. Conversely, we find that ram pressure stripping is the most common mechanism that disturbs the HI morphology of galaxies at redshift z = 0. This implies that HI removal due to satellite–satellite interactions occurs on shorter time-scales than the other processes.
Citizens’ evaluations of the fulfillment of election pledges: evidence from Ireland

The linkage between what parties promise during election campaigns and what governments deliver afterward is central to democratic theory. Research on this linkage concludes that there is a higher level of congruence between campaign promises and government actions than suggested by the conventional wisdom. This study is the first to describe and explain citizens’ evaluations of the fulfillment of election pledges in a way that is comparable with political scientists’ evaluations. The explanation of variation in citizens’ evaluations combines an objective factor, namely actual policy performance, and subjective factors, namely party identification, information resources, trust in political parties, and personal experience. The explanation is tested with panel data containing a unique set of questions on public opinion in Ireland. Actual policy performance is the most important factor affecting citizens’ evaluations. However, subjective factors often cause citizens’ evaluations to be more negative than act.
Relationship Between Toxocara canis Infection and Schizophrenia

Seropositivity for T. canis was detected in 21 (23.3%) of 90 patients and one subject (2.2%) of 45 healthy controls with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.0017). When the seropositive and seronegative schizophrenic patients were compared with respect to sex, residence, owning dogs /cats, history of geophagia, there were no differences between the two groups (all, p >0.05). In contrast, when the two groups were compared with respect to raw food intake, and personal hygiene, the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). Eosinophilia in peripheral blood was detected in 61.9% of seropositive schizophrenic patients and in 24.6% of seronegative schizophrenic patients with a statistically significant difference (p = 0.0015). Of 21 schizophrenic patients with positive serology, 47.6% had at least one intestinal parasite comparing to 20.3% in patients with negative serology (p = 0.0131).
Levofloxacin-based sequential therapy versus classic triple therapy in Helicobacter pylori eradication: A randomized clinical trial

Introduction: During the past two decades, eradication rates with triple therapy for Helicobacter (H.) pylori eradication have decreased. The decline of effectiveness of the triple therapy have led to investigations to achieve more effective and safe therapeutic strategies. Sequential, concomitant and hybrid therapeutic regimens are new therapies that have been introduced over the past two decades. The purpose of this study was to compare levofloxacin-based sequential therapy versus classic triple therapy in H. pylori eradication in a randomized clinical trial. Methods: All eligible cases were divided into two groups using a randomized block method. The first group (classic group) was treated with triple therapy; patients received omeprazole, amoxicillin and clarithromycin for 14 days. The second group received the levofloxacin-based sequential (lev-seq) regimen; the patients were treated with omeprazole and amoxicillin for the first 7 days and then with omeprazole, levofloxacin and metronidazole for the latter 7 days. In this clinical trial, 200 patients with H. pylori infection were enrolled. Ultimately, 192 patients completed the study. Of these, 95 patients (46 males and 49 females) were treated with triple therapy (classic group) and 97 patients (46 males and 51 females) were treated with the lev-seq regimen. The average age in the classic group and lev-seq groups were 41.4±12.4 years and 40.2±11.8 years, respectively. Results: The levofloxacin based sequential regimen was more effective than triple therapy regimen. It is recommended that the lev-seq regimen be used as the first-line therapy, especially in areas with high levels of resistance to clarithromycin (over 20%). Conclusion: Further studies with large numbers of samples are required to be conducted in different parts of the country for further evaluation of efficacy of this regimen.
Students’ and Teachers’ Perceptions of Psychosocial Classroom Environment of Secondary School Biology

The purpose of this paper was to determine if there would be any difference in perceptions of psychosocial classroom environment between biology students (grade 12) and their teachers. Individualized Classroom Environment Questionnaire (Actual) was administered on the students (n = 400) and their teachers (n = 50). Analysis of data through t-test for independent samples indicated that the teachers and their students did not differ in their perceptions. Similarly, neither the male nor the female students differed with their teachers in their perceptions. Implications of the result were discussed. Keywords: Psychosocial Environment, Biology, Classrooms, Perceptions.
IS DIRECT DEMOCRACY A PROBLEM OR A PROMISE FOR FISCAL OUTCOMES? THE CASE OF THE UNITED STATES

In time of worry for large deficits, the question on whether direct democracy can be a problem or a promise to better rule modern societies may arise. Both theoretical and empirical studies provide mixed answers. This paper investigates both the indirect (i.e. the existence) and the direct effects (i.e. the usage) of direct democracy institutions on major fiscal outcomes across the American States during 1992-2009. Being based on a more recent time span than previous contributions, our study includes more detailed information such as the type of institution, the voting result, and the topics of concern. The main results suggest that States permitting initiatives spend less than those without, confirming some previous findings. However, when initiatives are effectively used, their practice contributes to increase spending among those States allowing them. The intensity of different initiatives also matters for fiscal outcomes as well as the nature of topics involved.
Optimal glucose and inoculum concentrations for production of bioactive molecules by Paenibacillus polymyxa RNC-D

The production of antimicrobial metabolites by Paenibacillus polymyxa RNC-D was assessed. Two process variables, glucose and inoculum concentrations, were evaluated at different levels (5–40 g L−1, and at φr = 2.5–5.0 %, respectively), and their effects on biomass formation, minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Escherichia coli, and surface tension reduction (STR) were studied. When the fermentation process was carried out under non-optimised conditions, the biomass, MIC, and STR achieved the following values: 0.6 g L−1, 1 g L−1, and 18.4 mN m−1, respectively. The optimum glucose (16 g L−1) and inoculum volume ratio (φr = 5.0 %) were defined in order to maximise the biomass formation, with a low value of MIC and high STR of extract. The experiments carried out under optimal conditions showed the following values for the dependent variables: biomass concentration 2.05 g L−1, MIC 31.2 μg mL−1, and STR 10.7 mN m−1, which represented improvement of 241.7 %, 96.9 %, and 41.9 % for the responses of biomass, MIC, and STR, respectively. This is the first recorded study on the optimisation of culture conditions for the production of antimicrobial metabolites of P. polymyxa RNC-D, and constitutes an important step in the development of strategies to modulate the production of antimicrobial molecules by this microorganism at elevated levels.
Cinematographic analysis of counter jet formation in a single cavitation bubble collapse flow

This study utilized a U-shape platform device to generate a single cavitation bubble for the detail analysis of the flow field characteristics and the cause of the counter jet during the process of bubble col- lapse induced by pressure wave. A series of bubble collapse flows induced by pressure waves of differ- ent strengths are investigated by positioning the cavitation bubble at different stand-off distances to the solid boundary. It is found that the Kelvin-Helmholtz vortices are formed when the liquid jet induced by the pressure wave penetrates the bubble surface. If the bubble center to the solid boundary is within one to three times the bubble's radius, a stagnation ring will form on the boundary when impacted by the penetrated jet. The liquid inside the stagnation ring is squeezed toward the center of the ring to form a counter jet after the bubble collapses. At the critical position, where the bubble center from the solid boundary is about three times the bubble's radius, the bubble collapse flows will vary. Depending on the strengths of the pressure waves applied, either just the Kelvin-Helmholtz vortices form around the penetrated jet or the penetrated jet impacts the boundary directly to generate the stagnation ring and the counter jet flow. This phenomenon used the particle image velocimetry method can be clearly revealed the flow field variation of the counter jet. If the bubble surface is in contact with the solid boundary, the liquid jet can only splash radially without producing the stagnation ring and the counter jet. The com- plex phenomenon of cavitation bubble collapse flows are clearly manifested in this study.
Improving pineapple micropropagation protocol through explant size and medium composition manipulation

Introduction. Although several pineapple micropropagation protocols have already been published, significant improvement could be achieved if the stages of the in vitro culture were better defined. Our work concerned several experiments aiming at the mass production of high quality plantlets. Materials and methods. Axillary buds were inoculated on an MS liquid culture medium added with NAA (2 μ M) and BAP (4 μ M). Regenerated shoots, divided into three classes of different sizes, were then used in further experiments. First, these shoots were inoculated in flasks containing the same MS culture medium with or without growth regulators. Then, four basic media, containing different salts and free from growth regulators were tested. In a third assay, the MS culture medium was compared with a half-diluted MS culture medium for studying the plantlet elongation and rooting stage. Results. In the MS culture medium supplemented with NAA and BAP, the highest multiplication rate (13.5 shoots) was obtained with the smallest shoots inoculated, while in the MS culture medium free of growth regulators, the highest plantlets (7.7 cm) were the result of the highest shoots inoculated and showed no vitrification. The normal MS culture medium, in comparison with the half-diluted one and the three other salt formulations, revealed a significant increase in the plantlet elongation and best general features. For acclimatization, the highest values of the survival rate (93.8% ) and fresh and dry weights were obtained with the transference of higher than 7.0 cm in vitro plantlets. Conclusion. Using the protocol described in this work, it is possible to obtain 1 million in vitro plantlets after 9 months from a single bud, with a 45 day subculture interval and an average multiplication rate of 10 shoots per bud.