Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Chemical composition and mass closure for PM2.5 and PM10 aerosols at K-puszta, Hungary, in summer 2006

A comprehensive chemical aerosol characterisation was carried out at K-puszta, Hungary, from 24 May until 29 June 2006. Up to 11 June it was unusually cold at the site, but from 12 June onwards it was warm. PM 2 5 and PM 10 samplers with Nuclepore polycarbonate filters and quartz fibre filters were deployed in parallel for mostly day and night collections. All samples were analysed for the particulate mass (PM) by weighing. The Nuclepore polycarbonate filters were analysed for up to 29 elements by particle-induced x-ray emission spectrometry (PIXE) and for major anions and cations by ion chromatography. The quartz fibre filters were analysed for organic and elemental carbon by a thermal-optical transmission technique. The atmospheric concentrations of the PM and most species and elements were higher during the warm period than during the cold one. Aerosol chemical mass closure calculations were done for the PM 2.5 and PM 10 aerosols. As gravimetric PM data we used the data from the Nuclepore polycarbonate filters. For reconstituting this PM, eight aerosol components were considered. Organic matter contributed by far the most to the PM 2.5 and PM 10 PM; it was responsible for 40-50% of the average PM. Noteworthy were the much larger percentages of crustal matter during the warm period than during the cold one. In the PM 2.5 aerosol, crustal matter accounted for 17% of the average PM during the warm period, but only for 3.1% during the cold period. For the PM 10 aerosol, the percentages were 28% in the warm period and 10% in the cold one.
Unemployment Rate in ECCAS Countries: Structural Changes and Stochastic Convergence

This paper aims, on the one hand, to specify the dates of potential breaks (or shocks) in the unemployment rate times series of ECCAS countries while verifying whether these shocks, notably accession to CEMAC, could have generated permanent effects and, on the other hand, to assess the hypothesis of stochastic divergence of the unemployment rate. To this end, an econometric analysis is carried out based on unemployment rate time series at quarterly frequency (1991-2018). The results suggest that overall, there is no presence of the hysteresis effect and that CEMAC accession had a significant transitory effect only in Equatorial Guinea. Overall, effective unemployment rates converge towards the average level in the subregion during the sample period.
Review of MTBE Biodegradation and Bioremediation

Conclusive evidence of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) biotransformation and complete mineralization under aerobic conditions in environmental samples and enrichment cultures is reviewed, in addition to increasing evidence of MTBE biotransformation under anaerobic conditions. The metabolic pathway of MTBE appears to have two key intermediates, tert-butyl alcohol (TBA) and 2-hydroxy isobutyric acid (HIBA). The first enzyme in MTBE biodegradation has been identified as either a cytochrome P450 or a nonhemic monooxygenase in different isolates. Mixed and pure cultures of microorganisms have utilized MTBE as a sole carbon and energy source. Cometabolism of MTBE with n-alkanes at rates of 3.9 to 52 nmol/min/mg protein has been documented. The presence of co-contaminants such as BTEX has either not affected or seemed to limit MTBE biodegradation. Some studies of MTBE natural attenuation have attributed mass loss to biodegradation, while others have attributed mass loss to dilution and dispersion. Recent advances in the assessment of MTBE biodegradation have indicated the potential for natural anaerobic transformation of MTBE. In situ bioremediation of MTBE has been enhanced by adding air or oxygen, or by adding microorganisms and air or oxygen. Bioreactors have attained significant removal of MTBE from MTBE-contaminated influent. Despite historical concerns about the biodegradability of MTBE, several biological methods can now be used for MTBE remediation.
App recommendation based on both quality and security

With the rapid prevalence of smartphones and the dramatic proliferation of mobile applications, people tend to do everything at their fingertips, including some sensitive activities, such as bank transfers. This makes security become one important factor when recommending apps to users. However, most existing methods recommend apps only on the basis of the apps' functionalities. Even when some methods take security into account, they usually roughly group apps with functionalities and identify the products using extra permissions as risky, but this ignores a common phenomenon that these permissions may be used only to achieve the corresponding functionalities. In this paper, we propose an app recommendation method considering both functionalities and security. For functionalities, we summarized them from app descriptions and further evaluated their completion quality in different products by analyzing their related reviews. For security, we cluster apps with similar functionalities and quality and analyze the permissions of apps in a more comparable range. In this way, our method recommends apps with higher completion quality of functionalities and security degree to users according to their demands. We conducted experiments on apps collected from six categories of Google Play, and the results show that our method has a good recommendation effect.
Absorptive Capacity, Business Venturing and Performance: Corporate Governance Mediating Roles

Abstract This study offers insight through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) into the joint impact of corporate absorptive capacity and corporate new business venturing on the performance of manufacturing firms in Nigeria as moderated by the quality governance mechanisms. Using the structured survey design, and respondents’ data from 330 employees of manufacturing firms, we provide evidence that both absorptive capacity and corporate new venturing entrepreneurship dimensions do not directly yield significant positive impact on firms’ performance. Rather, the significant effect depends on the quality of the corporate governance mechanisms. Firms’ absorptive capacity as measured by acquisition, assimilation (potential absorptive capacity), transformation, and knowledge exploitation (realized absorptive capacity) only resulted in value creation when mediated by key governance mechanisms including frequency of board meeting, and the presence of independent directors. Similar effect was detected on the effect of corporate new business entrepreneurship dimensions including innovation, proactivity, new business venturing and strategic renewal on firms’ performance in manufacturing sector. The path analysis showed that optimal board size, frequency of board meeting and the presence of independent directors jointly shape the way corporate new business entrepreneurship dimensions affect firms’ performance. By implication, weak governance occasioned agency problems that reduce the potential of corporate entrepreneurship to influence corporate financial performance positively. Overall, firms that wish to reap the benefit of knowledge management and new business venturing should develop their governance structures. Thus, board size and independent directors are expected to be optimal to enhance and achieve sufficient monitoring while frequency of board meeting should be given a priority to encourage knowledge sharing that will translate into higher financial performance.
Flashback Propensity of Syngas Flames at High Pressure: Diagnostic and Control

Nowadays, the establishment of IGCC (integrated gasification combined cycle) plants, prompts a growing interest in synthetic fuels for gas turbine based power generation. This interest has as direct consequence the need for understanding of flashback phenomena for premixed systems operated with H2-rich gases. This is due to the different properties of H2 (e.g. reactivity and diffusivity) with respect to CH4 which lead to higher flame speeds in the case of syngases (mixtures of H2 -CO). This paper presents the results of experiments at gas turbine like conditions (pressure up to 15 bar, 0.2 < Φ < 0.7, 577K < T0 < 674K) aimed to determine flashback limits and their dependence on the combustion parameters (pressure, inlet temperature and inlet velocity). For the experimental facility used for this work the back propagation of the flame is believed to happen into the boundary layer of the fuel/air duct. Flashback propensity was found to have an appreciable dependence on pressure and inlet temperature while the effects of inlet velocity variations are weak. Explanations for the dependence on these three parameters, based on consideration on laminar and turbulent flame speed data (from modeling and experiments), are proposed. Within the frame of this work, in order to avoid major damages, the experimental facility was equipped with an automatic control system for flashback described in the paper. The control system is able to detect flame propagation into the fuel/air supply, arrest it and restore safe operating conditions by moving the flame out of the fuel/air section without blowing it out. This avoids destruction of components (burner/mixing) and time consuming shut downs of the test rig. © 2010 ASME
Development of an improved carbon electrode chemically modified with cobalt phthalocyanine as a re-usable sensor for glutathione

Cyclic voltammetry, differential-pulse voltammetry (DPV), amperometry and flow injection with electrochemical detection were used to investigate the electrochemical behaviour of reduced glutathione (GSH) at a carbon paste electrode and also at a carbon paste electrode doped with cobalt phthalocyanine (CPC). The modified electrode was found to reduce greatly the overpotential necessary for the oxidation of GSH at the electrode surface; the process was dependent on the ionic strength and pH of the supporting electrolyte. The oxidation of GSH in the presence of CPC was found to occur at two potentials, 0.27 and 0.75 V versus a saturated calomel electrode. Using DPV the first wave was found to give optimum sensitivity for the measurement of GSH concentations in the range 2.5 × 10–6–6.25 × 10–5M; whereas the second was preferential for GSH concentrations of 1.25 × 10–4–2.5 × 10–3M. Electrode deterioration rendered the other techniques unsuitable for routine quantitative analyses. Similar investigations were also carried out on a carbon-epoxy resin composite electrode containing CPC; the various techniques were used to optimise the electrode response for the determination of GSH in biological fluids. This electrode was found to be superior to the graphite paste electrode as GSH could be determined in flowing or stirred solutions. The modified composite electrode was stable and could be used over a period of at least 10 h. The limits of detection were 10 ng ml–1 and 450 pg injected on column for amperometry and high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection (LCEC), respectively. Preliminary studies using LCEC have shown that the method is suitable for the determination of circulating levels of GSH in human plasma.
The impact of COVID-19 on migrant women workers in India

ABSTRACT COVID-19 has emerged as a crisis that has impacted all spheres of human life. The pandemic has disproportionately impacted the world’s poor population in terms of livelihood and survival. India witnessed a massive crisis among migrant workers. In this context, this paper explores the impact of COVID-19 on women migrant workers and their families, analyzing qualitative interviews in two localities in Delhi and in Gurugram in Haryana State. Six themes were developed from the interview data about the impacts on, and experiences of, women migrant workers: loss of livelihood and resulting debt; compromises; captivity and the burden of responsibility; disrupted access; emotional geographies of COVID-19; and insufficient support. The study underlines the dismal state of women migrant workers and their families and argues that urgent policy interventions are required to address the impoverishment they are experiencing. The strengthening of social security measures is of the utmost importance.
Remote Sensing of Sea Surface Salinity Variability in the South China Sea

Newly available satellite observations of Sea Surface Salinity (SSS) from Aquarius and SMAP satellites are used to characterize SSS variability in the South China Sea (SCS, Figure 1). The results depict the SCS as a very dynamic region exhibiting variability over a broad range of time scales, from intra-seasonal to inter-annual, with the seasonal cycle dominating. The latter is closely related to the SCS monsoon system. The most active inter-annual SSS variability is observed in the northeastern and eastern parts of the SCS and is dominated by the recent El Niño event. A significant basin-wide salinification began in summer of 2015, peaked in spring of 2016 with the averaged amplitude of up to 0.5 psu, and continued until the fall of 2016 (Figure 2). After 2016, the trend is reversed and the SSS becomes fresher. While basin-wide salinification during 2015-2016 can largely be attributed to the El Niño-induced deficit in the surface freshwater flux (evaporation minus precipitation (E-P)), locally, it is often a competition between the surface flux and oceanic processes, including horizontal advection and vertical entrainment.
Insights on the Dental Evolution of Walruses Based on New Fossil Specimens from California

ABSTRACT Twelve new specimens of fossil walruses are described from four Miocene units in California. The new material represents five taxa: (1) a specimen from the Santa Margarita Formation referred to Imagotaria downsi; (2) a specimen from the Valmonte Diatomite Member of the Monterey Formation referred to cf. Pontolis magnus; (3) six specimens from the Monterey Formation referred to a new species of Pontolis (Pontolis barroni, sp. nov.); (4) one specimen from the Oso Member of the Capistrano Formation referred to a new species of Pontolis (Pontolis kohnoi, sp. nov.); (5) three specimens from the Oso Member referred to a new genus and species (Osodobenus eodon, gen. et sp. nov.). A phylogenetic analysis suggests that both the Dusignathinae and an expanded concept of the genus Pontolis represent monophyletic groups. We provide phylogenetic definitions for clade names of odobenids. Two of the new species are represented by specimens of males, females, and juveniles. Analysis of these specimens shows that the dental anatomy of later diverging basal odobenids is more variable than previously considered. The specific pattern of variation is lineage specific and likely corresponds to the intermediate dental morphology of late Miocene odobenids. Osodobenus eodon, gen. et sp. nov., is the first basal odobenid with tusk-like canines, a longitudinally arched palate, and an enlarged infraorbital foramen. These features are plausibly correlated with benthic suction feeding in the odobenins (Pliocene to Recent) and so Os. eodon may represent a case of convergent evolution of benthic feeding in the late Miocene.
A Longitudinal Study of the Skills and Attitudes Conveyed by Two Business Simulation Games in Pécs, Hungary

Background. Business simulation games have been used since 1979 at the University of Pécs. Since 2000, two games have been taught: a green business simulation developed on site and known as BUSINESS SIMULATION CHALLENGE and the MULTINATIONAL MANAGEMENT GAME. In this research we report on a longitudinal study of the results of the two business simulations; and investigate the effects of the Green Business simulation. Method. This survey-based research included 329 students that completed a questionnaire on business simulations since 2000. Surveys were carried out to measure the effect of the two simulations. There are data from three periods up to recent years. Frequency tables, univariate ANCOVA, T-tests and cross-tabulation were used to analyse the data. Results. - Generations’ attitudes and skills do not change with the passage of time, and the skills and knowledge, conveyed by the simulations can be considered as constant throughout the period. - This study confirms that main managerial skills are developed with simulation games but there is no need for enhanced mathematical and financial knowledge. - The green simulation successfully developed the green attitude of students, but only in cases where the green option was rational. - More educated students enjoy greater challenges, namely the need for deeper analysis. - Simulation courses in universities provide a higher level of motivation than do commercial simulations. Conclusion. It can be stated that almost the same results can be achieved by general purpose simulations which have a different focus (analytical or strategy-oriented game). Results also indicate that more simulation courses in universities would stimulate higher student motivation.
Evaluation of whitefly population and weather effect of cassava mosaic incidence on commonly grown cassava in Benue State, Nigeria

Vector population and weather are critical in virus disease incidence and could be strategic for its management in agriculture. To investigate the influence of whitefly population and weather on Cassava Mosaic Disease (CMD) in cassava, TMS 419 and TME 30572, commonly grown in the state were planted. The varieties were laid out in Randomized Complete Block Design in four replicates and left to natural infection by CMD viruses. At two weeks after planting and fortnightly, whitefly population counts were taken, CMD incidence was estimated and severity scored on 5- point scale. Daily temperature, humidity, wind speed and wind direction were obtained as secondary data. Data were analysed using ANOVA at p=0.05. Whitefly population (18/plant) was significant (P≤0.05) in the first 30 days at 26.9-27.1oC, 42% humidity, 10 Km/hr wind speed and when the wind direction was in the East or North-East. The vector population then declined until the end of experiment. Cassava mosaic incidence changed with whitefly population, humidity and wind speed. Disease incidence in cassava plots was low (3.6%). TME30572 maintained lower disease incidence (3.0%) and severity (2.0) during the study. R2 indicated that 27, 42 and 57% of whitefly population could be explained by temperature, humidity and wind speed, respectively while 4% of the disease incidence could be explained by the whitefly population. The number of CMD infected plants peaked (4%) when population of whitefly was 18/plant, above which the disease reduced at 0.0017 rate per unit change in the vector population. Mosaic disease incidence in cassava plots was influenced by vector population as conditioned by the weather. Keywords: Bemisia tabaci, Cassava, Cassava Mosaic Disease, Nigeria, Weather, Whitefly vector
Still Images—Moving People? How Media Images of Protest Issues and Movements Influence Participatory Intentions

While media images can ease political information perception and processing, the impact of images on behavioral intentions to engage in protest is relatively unexplored. We ask: Under what conditions can news images of protest “move” people and affect the willingness to participate? Aiming to answer this question from an information-processing perspective, we shed light on the nexus between spontaneous, sensory behavior and cognition in response to news media images of protest. We conducted a multigroup experiment in which 143 recipients were randomly exposed to four news images of protest and their visual attention monitored. Multilevel regressions indicate that viewers fixate on images of protest prior to accompanying texts. When exposed to protest images with a negative valence, an increase in the observation duration for protest images increases the recipient’s willingness to participate. Contrariwise, when viewing protest images with a positive valence, a longer observation duration does not increase participatory intentions. Irrespective of image valence, the greater the salience that viewers subjectively ascribed to the image, the greater their willingness to protest concerning the depicted issue. Our analysis also reveals a cross-level interaction effect indicating that the impact of image observation duration on the willingness to engage is conditional on individual levels of political interest: The positive effect of observing protest images on the willingness to protest is especially increased, if an individual is highly politically interested. These results indicate that, under certain conditions, media images are efficient carriers of political content that can motivate citizens to protest.
Relationship satisfaction in cohabiting university students: evidence from the role of duration of cohabitation, loneliness and sex-life satisfaction

ABSTRACT The increase in cohabitation among university student population raises questions about how satisfied students are within the relationships. However, little information is documented about the contributing factors to relationship satisfaction in cohabiting university student population. In order to fill this gap, we examine the role of duration of cohabitation, loneliness dimensions (family, social and romantic) on relationship satisfaction among cohabiting undergraduates in a Nigerian University. It is a cross-sectional study with a snowball sample of 305 cohabiting students (mean age: 21.50, female: 49%) completing measures of loneliness, sex-life satisfaction, relationship satisfaction together with their demographics. A five-model hierarchical regression analysis determined that duration of cohabitation, family, social and romantic loneliness; and sex-life satisfaction significantly contributed to relationship satisfaction, with social loneliness recording highest contribution. No gender difference was observed in relationship satisfaction. It is concluded that regardless of the gender of cohabiting students, their relationship satisfaction increases as the duration of cohabitation increases; loneliness dimensions decrease; and sex satisfaction increases. Mindfulness, social and sexual skills trainings will be helpful for reducing loneliness and improving social-relationship processes, coupled with students’ ability to handle sexual-related matters.
On the stress potential of an organisational climate of innovation: a survey study in Germany

ABSTRACT Technological innovation has become critical for market survival for many companies in the era of digital transformation. However, the organisational perspective to constantly stay up-to-date with technological innovations can become strenuous on an individual level due to the need to constantly adapt to the demands of a permanently changing technological environment. Based on a large-scale online survey of employees in Germany (N = 1,115), we investigated the positive and negative effects of an organisational climate of innovation from a digital stress perspective. Our results indicate that an organisational climate of innovation creates uncertainty in individuals as it supports technological change but can also help to reduce the perception of technological unreliability as it fosters an environment of mutual support. This research, therefore, adds to the idea of a pronounced innovation climate as a double-edged sword and shows that permanently pushing technological innovation should also be viewed in the light of its potential side effects. It follows that innovation initiatives should balance organisational and individual requirements to stay, or become, more competitive, thereby explicitly considering the side effects that too much and/or too fast innovation may have on users.