Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Preliminary study of an intense rainfall episode in Corsica, 14 September 2006

Abstract. A preliminary study of the 14 September 2006 heavy rainfall episode in Corsica is presented. Two sets of initial and coupling fields were used to run the French non-hydrostatic mesoscale model, MESO-NH. Three interactive 2-way nested domains were used, having 150×120, 150×150 and 125×200 grid points and 50 km, 10 km and 2 km mesh sizes. 50 vertical levels were defined. From ground level to 2000 m, the vertical resolution was 60 m, whereas it was 600 m above. Convection was parameterized for the coarser and intermediate domains and assumed to be explicitly resolved for the 2 km grid. At large scale, the situation is well represented by both simulations but, at the fine scale, they present significant differences. Comparison with the observations did not allow the two simulations to be discriminated. Even though the main high-level dynamical ingredients usually associated with rain storms were present in both simulations, their fine scale evolution was not reproduced well. Near the surface, there were significant differences between the two simulations. Vertical motion fields associated with convective phenomena were different in the innermost domain. A cold pool acting as a warm front off the east coast was associated with the main rainfall area over the sea in one simulation whereas in the second one, it seemed that the Corsican mountains acted as a barrier, leading to inland rainfall. This preliminary study gives perspectives for future sensitivity tests. For example, an investigation is planned of the influence of the high level dynamics, the SST and a better description of the orography.
Contrasting Impacts of ENSO on the Interannual Variations of Summer Runoff between the Upper and Mid-Lower Reaches of the Yangtze River

The Yangtze River Basin is an El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO)-sensitive region, prone to floods and droughts. Hydrological records were collected to examine the temporal and spatial distribution of runoff in this drainage basin. An apparent difference in runoff variations between the upper and mid-lower Yangtze reaches was detected in response to ENSO. The upper basin usually experiences floods or droughts during the summer of ENSO developing years, while the mid-lower runoff variations tend to coincide with ENSO decaying phases. Composite analysis is employed to investigate the underlying mechanism for the teleconnection between the specific phases of the ENSO cycle and Yangtze runoff variation. Results show that the Western Pacific Subtropical High (WPSH) exhibits large variability on its western side in summer with different ENSO phases, thus resulting in a contrasting influence between the upper and mid-lower Yangtze floods and droughts. During the central Pacific-La Niña developing summers, the WPSH is significantly enhanced with its westward extension over the Yangtze upper basin. Anomalous water vapor converges in its northwest edge thus favoring upper-basin flooding. Meanwhile, the mid-lower reaches are controlled by the WPSH, and the local rainfall is not obvious. In addition, when the El Niño decaying phases occur, the WPSH denotes a westward extending trend and the position of its ridge line shifts to the mid-lower Yangtze reaches. The southwest moisture cannot extend to the upper basin but converges in the mid-lower basin. Accompanied by the anomalous 100 hPa South Asia High and lower-tropospheric Philippines anticyclone movements, this upper–middle–lower configuration acts as a key bridge linking ENSO and Yangtze floods and droughts.
Determinants influencing intention to enrol on an online MBA programme

This study aims to investigate the key determinants that influence the students| intention to enrol on an online MBA programme and examine the moderating effect of demographic variables, namely age and gender, to the relationship model. 180 questionnaires were distributed to the adult who has obtained at least a Bachelor|s degree and the response rate of 67% was obtained. The analysis was carried out to look at which group is significantly influencing the intention via the multiple regression analysis and tests if the influence moderated by the demographic variables using the hierarchical regression analysis. The findings revealed that three key groups of determinants: individual, technology and the risks perceived, were affecting the students| intention to enrol an online MBA programme. Further analysis shows that intrinsic motivation, computer self-efficacy, acceptance technology and social risk are the four most essential individual determinants of students| intention. It was also found that the influence of perceived risks towards the intention would be stronger among the higher age group. Accordingly, the study provides the policymakers in the field of higher education insight into what is taking place in the domain of virtual campuses and means to set up a sustainable initiatives and strategies for a successful online education.
Effect of Phosphorus on Nutrient Uptake of Japonica and Indica Rice

An experiment was conducted at the screen house of Tsukuba International Centre (TBIC), Japan to clarify the effect of phosphorus on nutrient absorption characteristics of a japonica (Nipponbare) and an indica (IR-28) rice variety. The experiment was conducted under submerged condition in subsoil of an Andisol, which had a high capacity of phosphate fixation. Levels of phosphorus were 100, 200, 500 and 800 kg P 2 O 5 ha -1 . The P content in rice plant at different growth stages increased progressively with an increase of P levels for both the varieties. With respect to P content, varietal differences were minimal. But in the case of N and K content, IR-28 showed higher ability than Nipponbare. At maximum tillering stage, both the varieties showed negative co-relation between P and N uptake but at harvest stage, strong positive co-relation between P and N uptake was found for both the varieties. Both the varieties showed positive co-relation between N and K uptake at all the stages. Key words: Andisol, IR-28, nipponbare, phosphorus, uptake. doi:10.3329/jard.v6i1. 1651 J Agric Rural Dev 6 (1&2), 7-12, June 2008
Narrating Literacy Practices at an Urban Secondary School in Surabaya

This study is aimed at narrating the implementation of literacy programme at an urban secondary school in Surabaya, focusing of how the school integrates and accommodates the concept of multilingualism (Java, Indonesian Language, English, French, and Japan) on its creative application and how the integration and accommodation of multilingual literacy is carried out on the day-to-day literacy practices. Drawing on qualitative data analysis gathered mainly through semi structured interviews with four teachers and two students and observations, the research findings suggest that school literacy programme is not only aimed at socializing and habituating the literacy culture within the school, but literacy programme facilitates spaces to accommodate the students’ creativity in the literacy practices through their participation, involvement and engagement in designing, managing and disseminating the school programme. It can be argued, therefore, that the literacy programme at the school transcends the expectations of the school in which the initial thought and expectation are only within the boundary of socializing and habituating the literacy culture within the school, but it transforms into more advance creative spaces for the students to learn languages and gain 21 century skills.
S Climate Variability Controls on Unsaturated Water and Chemical Movement, High Plains Aquifer, Usa

ubsurface hydrologic response to natural climate variability is of particular interest in semiarid and arid regions, such as the western USA, where groundwater resource availability and sustainability are important (Hanson et al., 2004). The response of soil ecosystems in these regions to climate and precipitation variability, including carbon and nutrient biogeochemical cycling and timing of annual biological activity, is relatively well understood (Austin et al., 2004). However, knowledge of subsoil (vadose zone at depths >2 m below land surface) hydrodynamic responses to climate variability in these regions is limited because of a general lack of fi eld observations over timescales long enough to document infi ltration and percolation of infrequent recharge events. As such, a strong reliance on modeling approaches driven by stochastic parameterization of climatic forcings (Small, 2005) has prevailed to explore subsurface responses to precipitation variability. Subsurface processes of particular interest in these regions include deep percolation events leading to spatially diffuse or focused groundwater recharge (Small, 2005) and possible mobilization of large subsoil chemical reservoirs of evapoconcentrated pore-water Cl – and NO 3 – (Hartsough et al., 2001; Walvoord et al., 2003, 2004; McMahon et al., 2006) that accumulated throughout the Holocene in response to a shift to a drier climate and an associated shift in vegetation (Phillips, 1994). Although some climatic extremes, such as intense precipitation events, are dominantly episodic, there are low-frequency controls that modulate climate and associated precipitation and drought frequency on a variety of timescales (Dettinger et al., 1998). Recent studies in the western and southwestern USA have identifi ed quasiperiodic variations in hydrologic time series of precipitation, groundwater levels, and streamfl ow that appear to refl ect a wide range of quasiperiodic climate forcings on timescales ranging from days to multiple decades (Hanson et al. Such quasiperiodic hydrologic variations represent teleconnections in response to recurrent and persistent global climatic variability (Hanson and Dettinger, 2005). The magnitude and phase relation of interannual, interdecadal, and multidecadal climate variability can result in extreme climatic forcings on these sensitive hydrologic systems. Understanding these climatic variations and correlations between different hydrologic time series can improve predictions of hydrologic system responses to future climate cycles (Ghil et al., 2002). Yet Responses in the vadose zone and groundwater to interannual, interdecadal, and multidecadal climate variability have important implications for groundwater resource sustainability, yet they are poorly documented and not well understood in most aquifers of the USA. This investigation …
Morphological dynamics in the foraging apparatus of a deposit feeding marine bivalve: phenotypic plasticity and heritable effects

Summary 1. Design considerations dictate that systems work most efficiently when the separate components have processing capacities adjusted to each other, a principle known as symmorphosis. Adjustments in response to a variable environment are most likely to occur at the interface between the environment and integrated systems. In depositfeeding bivalves, the interface of the alimentary canal with the foraging environment consists of a siphon (intake), gills (flow generation) and palps (particle sorting). 2. Among European populations of the Baltic Tellin, Macoma balthica , the gill-topalp mass-ratio was positively correlated with the foraging environment, characterized by median grain size of the ambient sediment ( R = 0·71). 3. In laboratory-reared M. balthica gill-to-palp mass-ratio responded plastically to changes in ambient sediment characteristics, resulting in large ratios in coarse sediment and small ratios in fine sediment. 4. In a common garden experiment, relative differences in gill-to-palp mass-ratios of laboratory-reared M. balthica from four populations appeared similar to those in the field, indicating a heritable component to the variation in integrated organ systems. 5. Phenotypically plastic adjustments ensure a close match between the integrated system of the alimentary canal to the local foraging environment. Heritable variation among populations may reflect different selective optima related to consistent differences in the environment between the populations.
Do audit tenure and firm size contribute to audit quality?: Empirical evidence from Jordan

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to analyze the effect of the length of the audit firm-client relationship and the size of the audit firm on audit quality in Jordan. Design/methodology/approach - To test their hypotheses, the authors use the quadratic form approach, similar to Chi and Huang, with some modifications. The population of this study encompasses all firms in which stock is publicly traded on the Amman Stock Exchange throughout the years (2002-2006). Findings - Statistical analysis of data shows that, audit firm tenure affects the audit quality adversely (negatively). Audit quality deteriorates, when audit firm tenure is extended as a result of the growth in the magnitude of discretionary accruals. Meanwhile, data analysis did not reveal that the audit firm size has any significant impact on the correlation between audit firm tenure and audit quality. Practical implications - If auditor independence and audit quality are to be enhanced, the audit firm should be rotated in order to open the door for new auditors to investigate the client with greater scrutiny and due care. Moreover, the activities of big audit firms should be monitored in order to distinguish their role from small firms. Originality/value - The paper provides evidence from a developing country about audit quality. It is expected to support and sustain improvement of audit quality, and therefore, financial reporting quality. The evidence provided by this paper adds to the literature internationally and this is important because auditing is a socially constructed phenomenon.
Riots, Battles and Cycles ⁄

This paper proposes a theoretical framework to investigate the impact of military conflicts on business cycles, as well as defense policies through enrolment mechanisms. Our framework is a variation of a Real Business Cycle model first proposed by Hercowitz and Sampson (1991) that admits explicit solutions. We extend the initial model to account for specific (potentially large) shocks that destroy the stock of capital. We consider two types of dynamics on the depreciation rate of capital: short–term shocks, that may be interpreted as riots and captured by a Moving Average specification, and mid–term shocks, that may be interpreted as wars and captured by a Markov Switching process. Using a panel data with 11 countries starting in the 19-th century we show that our model is able to reproduce the large variations of consumption to product ratios observed during major crises. Moreover the different regimes of the Markov Process are shown to be consistent with observed episodes of conflicts. Post-war US data are then used to provide estimates of the deep parameters. Our model reproduces usual business cycle facts. We also characterize the macroeconomic dynamics after shocks on the depreciation rate of capital. Theses estimates are then used to investigate enrolment policies. We also question the goals defense policies should aim at. Finally, it provides a simple framework to quantify the welfare effects of alternative (simple) defense technologies.
Short communication Pelleting increases the metabolizable energy of de-hulled sunflower seed meal for broilers

The study examined the effects of two methods of processing de-hulled sunflower seed meal (SFM) from the same batch of sunflower seeds. Sunflower seed meal was fed to broilers as meal (MSFM) or after it had been pelleted (PSFM) at 75 °C and 360 kPa pressure to pass through a 3 mm mesh. Three diets were prepared, namely a balancer feed (BF) and two diets containing 200 g/kg MSFM or 200 g/kg PSFM. They were fed to 30 pens (two birds each) with male Ross 308 broilers, from 8 to 21 days old, following randomization. Data were analysed by ANOVA. Two pre-planned orthogonal contrast tests were performed to compare overall differences between the diets containing SFM and BF and between diets containing the MSFM and PSFM. The BF had a very different nutrient composition from the complete feeds containing SFM so, as expected, there were differences in growth performance and nutrient retention. The diet containing PSFM had greater apparent metabolizable energy corrected for N retention (AMEn) and dry matter retention (DMR) than that containing MSFM. The use of the substitution method showed the PSFM had AMEn that was 18% greater than the MSFM (8.79 vs 7.47 MJ/kg DM). Under the conditions of the current study, incorporating PSFM in a mash broiler feed increased dietary AMEn compared with the same feed containing MSFM. Further studies are needed to identify whether the benefits of pre-pelleting SFM remain after this product has been incorporated in complete pelleted broiler feeds. ______________________________________________________________________________________
Children Family Food Choice Motives among Parents of Healthy Weight and Overweight School- Aged: a Mixed Method Study

Objective: To identify and compare parental Food Choice Motives (FCM) between healthy weight and overweight/obese children. Methods: The study used an explanatory sequential mixed methods design conducting quantitative survey followed by participant interviews. Forty parents of healthy weight children and 42 parents of overweight/obese children (6-17 years) completed FCM surveys in their homes (quantitative phase) followed by in depth interviews (qualitative phase) with a subsample of 25 parents of 11 healthy weight and 14 overweight/obese regarding FCM. Results: Motives of food’s taste and health value scored highest among all the parents. Mood (17.9 ± 4.8 vs. 15.7±4.5, P=0.03) and weight control related motive scores (15.9 ± 3.9 vs. 13.1 ± 3.4, P=0.001) were higher among parents of overweight/obese children compared to parents of healthy weight children. During interviews, parents of both healthy weight and overweight/obese children had similar views regarding price, convenience in food preparation, children’s taste preference and food familiarity as important FCM. Parents of overweight/obese children mentioned that lack of support from other family members influenced their FCM while this was not expressed by parents of healthy weight children. Conclusions: parents considered food’s health value as an important motive, they often traded healthy foods with unhealthy foods due to other factors such as price, convenience, familiarity, and children’s taste preference. The results provide a further understanding of parental FCM.
Methods of blood flow modelling

This review is devoted to recent developments in blood flow modelling. It begins with the discussion of blood rheology and its non-Newtonian properties. After that we will present some modelling methods where blood is considered as a heterogeneous fluid composed of plasma and blood cells. Namely, we will describe the method of Dissipative Particle Dynamics and will present some results of blood flow modelling. The last part of this paper deals with one-dimensional global models of blood circulation. We will explain the main ideas of this approach and will present some examples of its application.
FINE-SCALE SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIABILITY OF PARTICLE NUMBER CONCENTRATIONS WITHIN COMMUNITIES AND IN THE VICINITY OF FREEWAY SOUND WALLS

Local traffic patterns and proximity to pollution sources are important in assessing particulate matter (PM) exposure in urban communities. This study investigated the intra-community spatial variation of PM in an urban area impacted by numerous local and regional sources. Weekly size-segregated ( 2.5 μm) PM samples were collected in the winter of 2005. During each 1-week sampling cycle, data were collected concurrently at four sites within four miles of one another in the Long Beach, CA area. Coefficients of divergence analyses for size-fractionated PM mass, organic and elemental carbon, sulfur, and 18 other metals and trace elements suggest a wide range of spatial divergence. High spatial variability was observed in the and 0.25–2.5 μm PM fractions for many elements associated with motor vehicle emissions. Relatively lower spatial divergence was observed in the coarse fraction, although road dust components were spatially diverse but highly correlated with each other. Mass and OC concentrations were homogeneously distributed over the sampling sites. Possible oil combustion sources were identified using previously documented markers such as vanadium and nickel and by distinguishing between primary sulfur and secondary sulfate contributions. This study shows that, although PM mass in different size fractions is spatially homogeneous within a community, the spatial distribution of some elemental components can be heterogeneous. This is evidence for the argument that epidemiological studies using only PM mass concentrations from central sites may not accurately assess exposure to toxicologically relevant PM components.
Discovery of Mammalian Remains in the Old River-gravels of the Derwent near Derby.— Part II.

The deposits in and beneath which the mammalian remains were found occur on the inside edge of a gravel–terrace which covers a large area on the right side of the Derwent Valley below Derby. Its south–western boundary is more or less obscured by a variable thickness of unstratified, yellow, sandy clay containing pebbles. Masses of this pebbly deposit frequently penetrate 6 or 8 feet into the gravel, much as does the ‘trail’ of Southern England. At its inner edge the gravel terminates against rising ground, composed of Keuper Marl capped in places by Boulder Clay. The line of junction between the gravel and the Keuper commences on the south side of the breach made in the Derwent Valley escarpment by the Kedleston Brook. From here it skirts the lower portion of the Royal Infirmary grounds, crosses the railway near Osmaston Road, passes a few yards to the south–west of the section at Allenton, and then skirts the base of Chellaston Hill until the river–escarpment of the Trent, a mile north of Aston–on–Trent, is reached. Its north–eastern boundary is a continuous and steep escarpment about 18 feet above the modern alluvial plain of the Derwent. This escarpment, starting near the Kedleston Brook breach, passes through the Midland Railway–station, and keeping on the north side of the London road, passes through Alvaston, Elvaston, and Aston, when it joins the corresponding escarpment of the Trent Valley. This portion of the ground I have contoured, so as to show the exact relationship between the
Radiocarbon Evidence for Holocene Recharge of Groundwater, Western Desert, Egypt

During Pleistocene pluvial precipitation was sufficient for the maintenance of groundwater supported lakes and for the accumulation of playa lakes in wind-scoured depressions during the early Holocene pluvial. At places where ground water reaches near to the surface, wells (birs) have been dug and maintained in historic times. These birs have been used as sampling sites for water analyses, including carbon-14 levels, carbon and oxygen stable isotope ratios, tritium concentrations, and chemical data. All the waters from birs analyzed to date produced apparent radiocarbon ages ranging from late historic to early Holocene, and tritium analyses on some of these indicate no recharge during the Atomic age. Sources of error for the radiocarbon analyses, including exchange with atmospheric CO2, respiration by plant roots, and contact with carbonates of considerably older age, were evaluated. None of these factors have such an extreme impact on the measurements as to render the result invalid. Two trends revealed by these data are an increase in apparent age from northwest to southwest and with subsequent extractions at the same site where the hand-dug well was bailed out and sampled four times within two days. We conclude that recharge of shallow ground water occurred in early Holocene time, and some recharge of deeper aquifers may have occurred where infiltration paths permitted. Some recharge occurred in late Holocene (post pluvial) time, but the net trend has been toward hyper-aridity that characterizes the area today.