Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Sensitivity of CWRF simulations of the China 1998 summer flood to cumulus parameterizations

Better understanding the dynamics of the East Asian monsoon system is essential to address its climate variability and predictability. Regional climate models are useful tools for this endeavor, but require a rigorous evaluation to first establish a suite of physical parameterizations that best simulate observations. To this end, the present study focuses on the CWRF (Climate extension of WRF) simulation of the 1998 summer flood over east China and its sensitivity to cumulus parameterizations on CWRF performance. The CWRF using the Kain-Fritsch and Grell-Devenyi cumulus schemes both capture the observed major characteristics of geographic distributions and daily variations of precipitation, indicating a high credibility in downscaling the monsoon. Important regional differences, however, are simulated by the two schemes. The Kain-Fritsch scheme produces the better precipitation patterns with smaller root-mean-square errors and higher temporal correlation coefficients, while overestimating the magnitude and coverage. In contrast, the Grell-Devenyi ensemble scheme, using equal weights on all closure members, overall underestimates rainfall amount, suggesting for future improvement with varying weights depending on climate regimes.
The Corporate Governance and Performance Relation: A Small Firm Perspective

Compliance with corporate governance best practice is costly for all firms but can be prohibitively expensive for small firms, squeezing margins and depleting funds for reinvestment (Linck, Netter & Yang, 2008). In addition, small firms are not afforded the external governance mechanism of analyst coverage. Since most of the existing analysis of the relation between governance and performance has been conducted on large-cap firms this additional layer of external monitoring may serve as an omitted variable in the governance-performance relation. We therefore analyse a sample of small firms that are more dependent on their internal corporate governance practices and assess the governance performance relation. We apply dynamic panel generalised method of moments (GMM) models to account for the presence of endogeneity and find no evidence of a relation between a firm’s corporate governance and its performance.
Theory of plasma confinement in non-axisymmetric magnetic fields

The theory of plasma confinement by non-axisymmetric magnetic fields is reviewed. Such fields are used to confine fusion plasmas in stellarators, where in contrast to tokamaks and reversed-field pinches the magnetic field generally does not possess any continuous symmetry. The discussion is focussed on magnetohydrodynamic equilibrium conditions, collisionless particle orbits, and the kinetic theory of equilbrium and transport. Each of these topics is fundamentally affected by the absence of symmetry in the magnetic field: the field lines need not trace out nested flux surfaces, the particle orbits may not be confined, and the cross-field transport can be very large. Nevertheless, by tailoring the magnetic field appropriately, well-behaved equilibria with good confinement can be constructed, potentially offering an attractive route to magnetic fusion. In this article, the mathematical apparatus to describe stellarator plasmas is developed from first principles and basic elements underlying confinement optimization are introduced.
To Scratch or not to Scratch?: A controlled experiment comparing plugged first and unplugged first programming lessons

Programming education is in fashion: there are many methods, tools, books and apps to teach children programming. This gives rise to the question of how to teach programming. Do we teach the concepts with or without the use of a computer, also called plugged and unplugged respectively? This paper aims to measure what method is more effective to start with: plugged or unplugged first. Specifically, we are interested in examining which method is better in terms of (1) facilitating understanding of programming concepts, (2) motivating and supporting the students' sense of self-efficacy in programming tasks and (3) motivating the students to explore and use programming constructs in their assignments. To this end we conduct a controlled study with 35 elementary school children, in which half of the children receive four plugged lessons and the other half receives four unplugged lessons After this, both groups receive four weeks of Scratch lessons. The results show that after eight weeks there was no difference between the two groups in their mastering of programming concepts. However, the group that started with unplugged lessons was more confident of their ability to understand the concepts, i.e. demonstrated better self-efficacy beliefs. Furthermore, the children in the unplugged first group used a wider selection of Scratch blocks.
The Cluster Hair Model

Modeling and rendering human hair is a very challenging problem in computer graphics. The difficulty comes mainly from the amount of hair to be modeled and the fine shapes of the individual hairs. In this paper, a new cluster hair model is introduced. The new model allows the design and styling of hair to be efficiently performed at the abstract cluster level. The key idea of this work is to embed a volume density model into a generalized cylinder, which is used to specify the envelope shape of a hair cluster, so that the design and manipulation of hair can be globally and efficiently performed. The detail of the hair is then modeled by a volume density model in which a randomly generated density map on the hair base is projected into and deformed along the generalized cylinder. The main advantages of the new model are: (1) it provides a very compact and efficient representation for complex hair styles; (2) it improves significantly the feasibility of and capability for interactive hair modeling and styling; (3) it produces high quality hair images; and (4) it provides a multiresolution model for adaptive rendering. It also has the potential to support efficient dynamic simulation at the cluster level.
Input organization of distal and proximal forelimb areas in the monkey primary motor cortex: A retrograde double labeling study

The present double‐labeling study was designed to demonstrate the morphological framework for motor control in coordinated distal and proximal forelimb movements, which may partly, at least, depend on corticocortical and thalamocortical inputs to the forelimb area in the primary motor cortex. After intracortical microstimulation mapping of the forelimb area in the primary motor cortex of four macaque monkeys, a retrograde tracing study with fluorescent dyes was attempted to label simultaneously neurons in cortical and subcortical sites projecting to the distal forelimb representation area and those projecting to the proximal representation area of the primary motor cortex. Neurons projecting to distal and proximal forelimb parts of the primary motor cortex were largely separate in the following areas: the premotor area, primary somatosensory area, secondary somatosensory area, area 5, and thalamus. In contrast, there was no precise topographic organization of labeled projection neurons in the following areas: the supplementary motor area, cingulate motor area, primary motor cortex adjacent to the injection sites, claustrum, and basal nucleus of Meynert. The present study revealed that the forelimb area of the primary motor cortex receives both segregated and intermixed inputs from cortical and subcortical sources. In particular, the fact that the forelimb area of the primary motor cortex receives topographically organized inputs from the premotor area and nontopographically organized inputs from the supplementary motor area and cingulate motor area indicates possible different functional roles of frontal premotor areas in control of coordinated distal and proximal forelimb movements. © 1993 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
Innovation, Export Performance and Profitability of Lao Garment Exporters

This study examines the relationship between innovation and export performance and firm profitability of Lao garment factory using resource-based view theory to posit the conceptual model. Structure equation (path analysis) is used to analyze the data from the current field survey of industrial cluster of the Lao garment industry, 2007. The findings suggest that innovations (product and production process innovations) are important factors in determining export performance and hence, firm profitability. This study gives policy implications on how owners/managers of Lao garment firms decide to be innovator and how public authorities promote and stimulate the investment in innovation.
Applicants’ Perceptions on Online Recruitment Procedures

This study focuses on the applicants’ perception of various modes of e-recruitment, namely employment websites (like monster.com or naukri.com ) and career sections of corporate websites. The perception is measured based on five constructs, namely perceived efficiency, user-friendliness, information provision, fairness perception and internet selection image of the company. The perception is measured using a 26 item questionnaire among postgraduate students enrolled for three different management programmes of one of the leading management institutes in India. It was found out that there was a significant difference in perception between career section of a corporate website and employment websites except for the constructs, user friendliness and fairness perception. It was also established that the programme that the student was pursuing and the previous work experience had a significant impact on the perception of online application systems of the candidates.
Payout Policy Changes around a Tax Reform: Do Owners or Payout Policy Adjust?

Tax reforms which affect the taxation of corporate dividends offer excellent opportunities to study dividend clientele effects. We study payout policy changes (dividends and share repurchases) around a major tax reform in Finland in 2004. Contrary to e.g. survey results by Brav et al (2005), who report that executives believe that dividend policies have little impact on their investor clientele, and that tax considerations play a secondary role, we find that firms adjust their dividend policies in line with the preferences of their main shareholders. We also find that dividend preferences play a significant role in explaining ownership structures in Finnish firms.
Examining the Effects of Intellectual Capital on Dynamic Capabilities in Emerging Economy Context: Knowledge Management Processes as a Mediator

Abstract This study aims to examine the effects of intellectual capital on dynamic capabilities and the mediating role of knowledge management processes. Based on the review of literature, a research model was proposed to examine this quantitative relationship. The model was empirically tested using 679 responses from the banking industry in India and applying Structural equation modeling analysis. It was found that intellectual capital with its three dimensions has significant effect on dynamic capabilities. Concerning to mediating role of knowledge management process, two patterns of association was found: Knowledge management process partially mediates the effect of organizational capital on dynamic capabilities and fully mediates the effect of human capital and social capital on dynamic capabilities. Based on these empirical insights, inferences and future avenues are further discussed in detail.
The effect of space charge accumulation in high voltage insulation systems

Because of the financial savings and with respect for the environment, several efforts are made to replace AC voltage long distance transmission lines for DC voltage transmission lines. This may lead to increases of charging of insulation materials. The main aim of this paper is to describe the space charge accumulation in insulation material and its effect on local overloading of insulation material. The space charge measurement principles are mentioned in this paper. The finite element method (FEM) models are used for demonstrations of different space charge behavior and its influence on intensity of electric field. The dependence of space charge level or applied voltage level on deformation of electric field distribution is also determined.
Life satisfaction, depressive symptoms and perceived social support in heart failure patients

espanolEn esta investigacion se analizaron la satisfaccion vital, los sintomas depresivos y el apoyo social percibido en dos grupos de adultos (N =120; rango = 40-89 anos), uno formado por pacientes no hospitalizados con insuficiencia cardiaca (IC) estable y otro control con personas de similar edad. El apoyo social percibido fue el unico predictor significativo de la satisfaccion vital en el grupo control, mientras que en el grupo con IC, se asociaba con mas apoyo social y menos sintomas depresivos. El genero fue tambien un predictor importante de la satisfaccion vital (hombres > mujeres), aunque de forma mas significativa en el grupo con IC. Todas las mujeres informaban mas sintomas depresivos y menos satisfaccion vital que los hombres. En el grupo IC, las mujeres tambien percibian mas apoyo social que los varones. Finalmente, se encontro en este grupo que la asociacion entre apoyo social y satisfaccion vital estaba parcialmente mediada por los sintomas depresivos. EnglishThis research examined life satisfaction, depressive symptoms and perceived social support in two groups of adults (N = 120; age 40-89 years). The first was formed by stable heart failure (HF) outpatients and the second was a control group of similar age. Perceived social support was the only significant predictor of life satisfaction in the control group but, in the HF group, life satisfaction was associated with more social support and less depressive symptoms. Gender (men > women) was also an important predictor of life satisfaction in both groups, but more significantly in the HF one. All women reported more depressive symptoms and less life satisfaction than men. Female HR patients also perceived more social support than male patients did. Finally, a partial mediation of depressive symptoms in the association between social support and life satisfaction was found in the HF group.
On prioritizing the delivery of short videos clips

In interactive video-on-demand (IVOD) applications, service availability and response times are more visible to the user than the underlying data throughput. In this paper, a resource model for incoming requests is proposed. Based on the resource model, the performance of several admission policies for short video requests is evaluated in terms of probability of admission, queuing delay, and throughput. Simulation results show that prioritizing requests can increase the number of admitted requests and reduce the queuing time. The technique proposed in the paper is independent of the underlying disk scheduling technique, hence it can be employed to improve the user-perceived performance of VOD servers under various system loading conditions.
Comparison of Methods for Calculating the Field Excited by a Dipole Near a 2-D Periodic Material

A comparison of methods for calculating the field from a single dipole source in the proximity of an infinite periodic artificial material (PAM) is given. A direct plane-wave expansion method (PWM) is compared with the ldquoarray scanning methodrdquo (ASM). The ASM is shown to be the most efficient method for sources that are close to the PAM, since it only requires integration in the wavenumber plane over the Brillouin zone rather than over the entire wavenumber plane. It is also shown how the ASM may be used to efficiently calculate the Fourier transform of the field at any aperture plane, which is useful for asymptotic analysis. The ASM is shown to be more efficient than the PWM or the reciprocity method for calculating the transform of the aperture field. A discussion of the nature of the singularities in the complex wavenumber plane is given, and numerical issues associated with the implementation of the ASM are discussed.
Introducing a Model for Identifying Operative Enablers of Supply Chain Quality Management

Aims: This study aims at investigating the content of supply chain quality management, uncovering its structure and defining the leading paths to explore development opportunities and to organize resources and organizational operations to push overall performance toward yielding better results. Study Design: As the scope of competition has been driven from the level of the company toward the supply chain and interaction among companies, researchers are in pursuit of identifying measures to improve quality and its management through the supply chain. Place and Duration of Study: 4 Electronic Companies in Zanjan Province in Iran. The duration of study was between June 2013 and August 2013. Methodology: After studying the previous researches and finding a comprehensive view for the paper, 10 factors including: focus on customer, the quality of data and reports, supplier relationships, information technology, human resource management, process management, knowledge management, leadership, quality practices and strategic planning are identified and examined. The significance of the factors have been studied Short Research Article shs British Journal of Economics, Management & Trade, 4(3): 468-486, 2014 469 and revealed by deploying a questionnaire in four companies. At first, the four companies have been studied separately then their results have been discussed in comparison to the others. Results: Findings indicate that Knowledge management had the lowest performance rate. So, it needs considerable attention to improve. On the other hand, Quality Practices rates in very good position and it was the best factor of the 10 factors in 4 Companies. Conclusion: The proposed conceptual framework is expected to help managers in a better understanding the enablers of the supply chain quality management and to implement such enablers to improve its performance.
Relationship between Population Growth of the Red Flour Beetle Tribolium Castaneum and Protein and Carbohydrate Content in Flour and Starch

ABSTRACT The effects of eight diets (atta flour, wheat flour, self-rising flour, rice flour, custard powder, corn flour, tapioca starch, and potato starch) on the development of the red flour beetle, Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), reared at 29–31°C and 66–70% RH were assessed. Five pairs of male and female T. castaneum were reared on the respective diets for 28 d before the experimental setup was dismantled and adult counts were recorded. In another experiment, the insects were allowed to mate and oviposit in each flour or starch type over a period of 7 d before being removed. The counting of pupae and adult emergence began on the day of emergence and was continued on a daily basis until day 140. Proximate analysis was performed for chemical composition of each diet, and the numbers of new adults that developed were found to be positively correlated (r2 = 0.97; P < 0.05) with the protein content and negatively correlated (r2 = 0.93; P < 0.05) with the carbohydrate content. For T. castaneum, the suitable diets were ranked as follows: atta flour > wheat flour > self-rising flour > rice flour > custard powder > corn flour > tapioca starch > potato starch. T. castaneum larval development to the pupal and adult stages developed significantly faster in atta flour (P < 0.05) than in the other diets, and the greatest number of progeny was produced from beetles reared on atta flour. Fewer adults emerged from wheat flour, self-rising flour, and rice flour, and no new emergences were recorded for the remaining diets. Developmental rate was much slower in beetles reared on diets in which a low number in progeny was produced. These data illustrate that different diets can influence the sustainability of these insects and affect their development and growth.
Residual Activity and Population Effects of Noviflumuron for German Cockroach (Dictyoptera: Blattellidae) Control

Abstract A benzoylphenyl urea insect growth regulator with the common name noviflumuron was evaluated for efficacy and residual activity on the German cockroach, Blattella germanica (L.). In laboratory studies evaluating residual activity, 0.05% noviflumuron suspension concentrate produced 100% nymphal mortality 120 d after application to steel and masonite substrates. Residual activity of noviflumuron was more variable on painted plywood substrates compared with stainless steel and masonite. In bioassay arenas, population reductions caused by noviflumuron were significantly greater than Archer and the untreated populations. After 16 wk, populations exposed to 0.05, 0.1, and 0.2% noviflumuron were reduced by 51.9 ± 19.8, 62.2 ± 6.5, and 62.6 ± 18.4%, respectively. Control cockroach populations and populations exposed to 1.3% pyriproxyfen at labeled rate (Archer, 0.61 g/m2) increased by 1,286.3 ± 125.1 and 937.2 ± 137.1%, respectively, at the end of 16 wk. A field study in multifamily housing complexes showed noviflumuron (0.2 and 0.5%) to provide 73.3 ± 8.0 and 90.6 ± 3.6% trap catch reduction at 4 wk posttreatment, respectively. There were no significant differences in the performance of noviflumuron, Maxforce FC Roach Bait Stations (0.05% [AI] fipronil), and Avert dust bait (0.05% [AI] abamectin B1). Noviflumuron shows excellent potential for use in cockroach management programs.
Preparedness of ERP systems to create intangible managerial accounting information: evidence from Brazil

The main objective of this research was to verify the contribution of the ERP systems to the quality of managerial accounting information, through the perception of managers of large sized Brazilian enterprises. Initial premise was that, presently, we live in an enterprise reality, characterised by global and competitive worldwide scenario where information about enterprise performance and the evaluation of the intangible assets are sine qua non for the survival of the companies. This research being exploratory, adopted the qualitative approach for data analysis. Data gathering sampled 37 managers of large-sized Brazilian companies. Our analysis showed that the majority of the companies sampled (86%) had implemented the ERP systems. It also showed that systems were used in combination with other Enterprise Information Systems. The majority is satisfied with the information generated in relation to time and content dimensions. However, with regard to the qualitative nature of information, even though the ERP enhanced some analysis when balanced scorecard was adopted, information relating to estimated investment made in the intangible assets was not available. Results suggest that in these companies, ERP systems were not adequate to support strategic decision-making.
MOBILE MARKETS AND INDUSTY SUCCESS FACTORS IN FINLAND

The success of the Finnish mobile industry has been explained referring to various theories and factors. Due to rapid development of the markets and the mobile industry the factors that have been considered important in the past are not necessarily important for the future success. Especially the role of national factors seem to have changed. E.g. the leading home markets for the mobile services used to be a key success factor for the Finnish mobile cluster but during recent years the leading market position has been lost. This paper presents the Finnish mobile industry success factors and how they have evolved.