Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SIMULATION OF N 2 O EMISSIONS FROM A SUGARCANE FIELD IN OKINAWA , JAPAN

We measured N2O emissions from a sugarcane field planted in spring 2011 in Okinawa, and examined their variations during the summer growing period (13 July to 4 August). Then we performed simulations with the DeNitrification and DeComposition (DNDC) and Agricultural Production Systems Simulator (APSIM) models to estimate N2O emissions and compared the results with the observed data from the field experiment. The results showed that (i) nitrification was the dominant process affecting N2O emissions and nitrifier denitrification occurred under high soil moisture conditions after rainfall; (ii) there was large spatial dispersion of N2O emissions even in the same field, and it was necessary to consider this dispersion to estimate total N2O emissions from the field; (iii) the emission factor of the N2O emissions might be larger than that used by the National Greenhouse Gas Inventory of Japan; (iv) the DNDC model overestimated, and the APSIM model underestimated, the observed N2O emissions; and (v) simulation of N2O emissions associated with nitrification by the DNDC model might be improved by modifying coefficients in the equation used to calculate N2O production during nitrification.
Monopsony competition and the minimum wage: Evidence from Germany

This paper investigates the degree of monoposony power of German employers in different industries, using a semi-structural approach based on a dynamic model of monopsonistic competition. The empirical analysis is based on a linked employer-employee data set which allows us to control for heterogeneity both on the worker and on the firm side, and to perform separate analyses for East and West Germany. Our results show important differences in monopsonistic power between industries, and between East and West Germany, which gives an indication of the role of monopsonistic power for inter-industry wage differentials. From a policy point of view, this has important implications for the expected effects of the introduction of a statutory minimum in Germany on 1st Januar 2015.
Effect of Liquidity and Capital Structure on Financial Performance: Evidence from banking Sector

This research is titled as the impact of liquidity and capital structure on the financial performance of Cement sector firm. Capital structure and liquidity both play a vital role in growth and profitability of the firm. The data of fifteen cement sector firms were randomly analyzed, for the period of 2008 to 2014. The statistical approaches i.e. correlation, fixed effect, random effect and hausman tests were applied. The results indicated that all capital structure variables, i.e. Debt to equity, debt ratio, funded capital ratio and Funded debt ratio has negative relationship with firm financial performance of these selected cement sector firms. The results also indicated that liquidity proxies, i.e. quick ratio and current ratio have significant positive impact on the financial performance of these cement sector firms. On the bases of the findings of this study it is suggested that these firm’s manager should take care of its capital structure proxies as it negatively impacting its financial performance. On the bases of findings it is also advised that these managers should further improve the mechanism of liquidity. Keywords: Liquidity, Capital Structure, Financial Performance, Correlation, Fixed and Random
Microstructural and Mechanical Properties of Cu-based Alloy Manufactured by Self-propagating High-temperature Synthesis Method

Microstructure and properties of Cu1-xZn1-yAl1-z ranging through (0.29<X<0.30; 0.74<Y<0.75; and 0.83<Z<0.96) alloys obtained by the self- propagating high-temperature synthesis (SHS) were examined. The microstructural and mechanical properties were examined, respectively by X-ray diffraction, tensile tests and Brinell hardness and at last by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The obtained results showed that the modification of composition lead to the formation of new phases. Therefore, this microstructure affects strongly the mechanical properties of the selected samples.
An Assessment of the Solvency Status of Selected Nigerian Banks: A Multi Discriminant Analysis

On July 6, 2004, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) required all the banks in the country to recapitalize from a minimum capital base of N2 billion to N25 billion. The banks were encouraged to consolidate through mergers and acquisition in order to meet up with the requirement. The primary objective of the recapitalization was to strengthen the financial sector and improve availability of domestic credit to the private sector. The prevailing dearth of long term funds, stunted growth in Gross Domestic Product (GDP), high cost of investible funds, high level of unemployment and inflation within the economy, seem to suggest that the dual event had no significant positive impact on the health status of the sector. It was against this background that this research work was conducted. The basic objective of the study was to investigate the impact of the recapitalization and consolidation on the solvency or health status of banks in the country. The method adopted for the study was Multi Discriminant Analysis (Altman’s Model and Enyi’s Relative Solvency Model). The study found that on the whole, the recapitalization and consolidation in the banking sector has not significantly improved the solvency status of the banking sector. The study recommended that the CBN continues with its regulatory roles but must strive to identify the problems contributing to the poor state of the banks even in the post consolidation period which many have identified as being external to the operations of the banks. Keywords: Bank, Solvency, Recapitalization, Multi Discriminant Analysis, Consolidation
A comparison between MPC and PID controllers for education and steam reformers

This thesis examines the use of Model Predictive Control (MPC) compared to traditional PID control. The purpose of the work is twofold: to enhance the understanding of MPC in the industry and to investigate the possibility to improve the performance of a steam reformer process with MPC. To give the industry a better knowledge of MPC an educational material for operators was developed. This complements an already existing lab tutorial for PIDcontrollers. It exemplifies the controllers with two tank systems –– a single-tank system and a double-tank system. The educational material consists of a simulation of the tanks with Model Predictive Control and a manual for a lab tutorial. This part has also been used to study MPC in preparation for deriving a Model Predictive Controller for the steam reformer A steam reformer is a process, reforming methane-rich natural gas into hydrogen gas and purge gas. The part of the steam reformer addressed here intended to handle is the uneven flow of purge gas into the combustion chamber. The models of the systems, both of the tanks and of the steam reformer, were theoretically developed, and a General Predictive Controller (GPC) was then implemented in Matlab. The controller for the steam reformer system was also verified with a Hysys simulation. The most important lesson from this thesis is how important it is to make a correct model for a Model Predictive Controller. We can also see that a Model Predictive Controller is superior when it comes to handling changes in setpoint and keeping constraints. My conclusion is that it is useful to derive a Model Predictive Controller for the steam reformer, but not in the way presented here. Instead, I suggest a more holistic approach.
High Saturation Induction for Bi-Substituted Yttrium Iron Garnet Prepared Via Sol Gel Technique

Y3.0-xBixFe5O12 samples (x = 0.2 and 0.4) were prepared via novel sol-gel and conventional solid-state techniques. The effect of bismuth in both techniques was investigated in terms of shrinkage, density, hysteresis and initial permeability. Sharp and clear diffraction XRD lines with highest peak appear at about 32Â° of the 2I¸, for all the powders sintered at 900Â°C and 1250Â°C for both techniques. In evaluating the magnetic properties, it was observed that the saturation induction (1.1902kG) of sample prepared via sol-gel technique (Y2.8Bi0.2Fe5O12) is more than 200% higher than sample with the same formula prepared via conventional technique. Fine grained microstructure with average grain size of about 5I¼ m and higher shrinkage, about 11% were observed from the samples prepared via sol gel technique. It is concluded that samples prepared via sol gel technique appear to be an attractive route due to the possible reduction of cost of production and the enhanced magnetic and structural properties of the sample.
Innovation Activities in the Primary Wood Products Sector: A Case Study

The goal of this article is to understand how wood products industries located in Virginia incorporate innovation into their business processes through a case study methodology. Based on innovation theory and previous studies in innovation, a case study that included interviews, on-site visits, and analysis of documents was designed and applied to four industries in the wood primary sector to 1) identify innovation activities into four categories: product, process, marketing, and organizational management; and 2) to understand, describe, and explain the source of innovation in these firms and to develop an innovation research model for further research. All four firms performed innovation activities mostly at the product development level and the source of innovation is primarily from external sources. Using the results, a conceptual model to further study innovation in the primary wood products sector was defined. This model will be tested using a different methodology in subsequent research. The application of the case study was very useful to understand the source of innovation and how primary wood products firms perform innovative activities at various levels.
Harmonics mitigation on industrial loads using series and parallel resonant filters

Most industrial loads are inductive in nature and therefore absorb Volts Ampere Reactance (VARs) leading to lagging power factor. Some inductive loads also produce current and voltage signals with frequencies in integer multiples of the 50 or 60 Hz fundamental frequencies called harmonics. Harmonics in power system causes several problems ranging from overheating, premature equipment failure, false tripping of protective relays resulting in unnecessary down time in industrial production. This work compared the use of series and parallel resonant harmonic filters in suppressing harmonics using Simulink model of the power system of NICHEMTEX, a Textile industry in Nigeria as a case study. Mathematical analysis representing current harmonics distributions on industrials loads with and without capacitor banks were presented. From the analysis, series resonant filter mitigated the total harmonic distortion from 30.080% to 3.460%. The installation of capacitor bank along with the series resonant filter in the industrial facility, further reduced the total harmonic distortion to 0.001% and power factor compensated from 0.860 to 0.894. However, the use of parallel resonant filter mitigated the harmonic distortion to 8.107% and a reduction in the power factor from 0.860 to 0.840. With the parallel resonant filter connection with the capacitor bank, harmonic distortion was mitigated to 0.140%, and the power factor reduced to 0.553, the value which is very low. Hence, it is observed that for this sample case, the use of series resonant filter mitigated the harmonics distortion and maintained power factors within the acceptable IEEE standard values. Keywords : Industrial inductive loads, Harmonics, Harmonic distortions, Power factor correction, Series resonant filter, Parallel resonant filter
What causes Large Price Changes? Financial Engineering Perspective

As if characterless, the stock market prices behave atypically. They cause loss and profits and because all regulatory measures. In-spite of more than a century of mental-storming large price changes is noted having idiopathic genesis. And, large price changes normally mean profit. The cause (large price changes) have been studies and ‘gaps’ have been identified in the case of the London Stock Exchange (LSE). In large exchanges ‘market order’ and ‘limit orders’ are ever present resulting in ‘gaps’. Gaps=robust trading=more employment=better economy. This transaction provides a nascent (numerical) and 1st time original attempt as to how to engineer ‘gaps’.
Statistical Mechanics of Unsupervised Learning

We study two different unsupervised learning strategies for a single-layer perceptron. The environment provides a set of unclassified training examples, which belong to two different classes, depending on their overlap with an N-dimensional concept vector. By means of a statistical-mechanics analysis, using the replica method, we investigate how well the perceptron infers the unknown structure from the input data.
Crystal diffraction lens telescope for focusing nuclear gamma rays

A crystal diffraction lens was constructed at Argonne National Laboratory for use as a telescope to focus nuclear gamma rays. It consists of 600 single crystals of germanium arranged in 8 concentric rings. The mounted angle of each crystal was adjusted to intercept and diffract the incoming gamma rays with an accuracy of a few arcsec. The performance of the lens was tested in two ways. In one case, the gamma rays were focused on a single medium size germanium detector. In the second case, the gamma rays were focused on the central germanium detector of a 3 multiplied by 3 matrix of small germanium detectors. The efficiency, image concentration and image quality, and shape were measured. The tests performed with the 3 by 3 matrix detector system were particularly interesting. The wanted radiation was concentrated in the central detector. The 8 other detectors were used to detect the Compton scattered radiation, and their energy was summed with coincident events in the central detector. This resulted in a detector with the efficiency of a large detector (all 9 elements) and the background of a small detector (only the central element). The use of the 3 multiplied by 3 detector matrix makes it possible to tell if the source is off axis and, if so, to tell in which direction. The crystal lens acts very much like a simple convex lens for visible light. Thus if the source is off to the left then the image will focus off to the right illuminating the detector on the right side: telling one in which direction to point the telescope. Possible applications of this type of crystal lens to balloon and satellite experiments are discussed.
A Level Set Approach to Optimal Homogenized Coefficients

The reconstructing optimal microstructures of given homogenized coefficients of steady diffusion equation is studied. In the reconstruction, the governing equation of level set function is approximated by adding viscosity term and the numerical procedure for the evolution of the level set function for the solution is examined. The numerical experiments of reconstruction are obtained by applying a finite element method with locally fitted mesh. keyword: Homogenization, level set, reconstruction, locally fitted mesh
Solar Powered Motor Application with Z-Source Inverter

With the increased usage of renewable energy resources, it is essential to efficiently use the energy produced from them. Such energy can be produced using solar panels as the solar energy is very abundantly available. This paper is to achieve high converter conversion efficiency, reduced switching and conduction losses, reduced transformer winding losses, reduced EMI in low-voltage high-power isolated boost DC-DC converter using Z-Source converter. The Impedance Source (Z-source) Power Converter performs both buck and boost conversion and one of DC/DC, AC/DC, DC/AC or AC/AC conversion. The converter efficiency is increased with less stresses on the motor and increase in the output power while maintaining the desirable traits of prior converters (Voltage Source Converter, Current Source Converter). MATLAB/Simulink is used to simulate the experiment.
Risks after Disasters: A Note on the Effects of Precautionary Saving on Equity Premiums

This paper studies the effects on equity premiums of grisks after disasters h, which are defined as a sharp rise in volatility of real per capita GDP growth rates immediately following disasters. This paper makes three contributions. First, we analytically demonstrate that if and only if the degree of relative prudence is higher than 2, risks after disasters decrease equity premiums. Second, we find that the differences between equity premiums with and without risks after disasters are quantitatively significant. Third, equity premiums are still higher in the case of disaster than without a disaster.
PREPARATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF SOLID DISPERSIONS FOR SOLUBILITY ENHANCEMENT OF BCS CLASS II DRUG

Budesonide is BCS class II drug (solubility 0.0457 mg/ml) with oral bioavailability of 10-20%. Solid dispersions of budesonide was prepared by solvent evaporation technique using Soluplus® in different ratios. These were characterized by infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimeter, scanning electron microscopy and powder x-ray diffraction studies. FTIR studies confirmed the lack of interaction between drug and Soluplus®. Saturation solubility studies in different media such as water, 0.1 N HCl and phosphate buffer pH 7.4 were performed. A 9 fold increase in solubility in phosphate buffer was observed. Invitro dissolution studies revealed 90 % release whereas plain drug showed 38.75% release in 90 min. Polyethylene glycol (PEG) rectal suppositories were prepared using the solid dispersion bymoulding technique and compared with plain drug suppositories. The suppositories were examined for various properties. The dissolution time at 37°C was found to be 12 min and softening time was 10-12 min. The breaking test revealed that the suppositories had sufficient mechanical strength. The suppositories with solid dispersion exhibited 92 % release in 90 min in phosphate buffer pH 7.4 while plain drug suppositories displayed 68 % release. Thus we may conclude that improved saturation solubility and invitro dissolution of budesonide in presence of Soluplus® will result in its improved bioavailability.
Habitat Suitability Model for Black Rhinoceros in Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa

To assist with identifying land for reintroduction, a habitat suitability model (HSM) for black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) was developed in the arid Augrabies Falls National Park, South Africa, from records of sightings, feeding trails and dung middens. Logistic regression and Bayesian Information Criterion were employed to construct and select the best HSM from >35 eco-geographical variables. The modelled and the observed distributions of black rhinos did not differ (P = 0.323) and k-fold cross-validation confirmed the model's ability to predict the distribution of independent data. The HSM consisted of five variables: availability and equitability of three preferred foods, distance to roads, habitat heterogeneity, slope and shade. The variables ‘distance to water’ and ‘rockiness’ were also included in the confidence set of models. Only 50% of the study area had a habitat suitability exceeding 11%, but featured 89% of rhino locations. Of 10 vegetation communities, two with high volumes of favourite foods were preferred. Feeding areas with a high density of preferred food plants were also highly preferred. The riverine vegetation community was not preferred, because its abundant browse was not of the preferred species. The apparent avoidance of roads warrants more research and the attention of park managers.
A GAIA Revised Oort Cloud Encounter with Gliese 710

The encounter between Gliese 710 and the solar system is re-examined in light of the newly published parallax and proper motion measurements within the GAIA data 1 release. The up-dated astrometric parameters are found to be significantly different from those implicated by the earlier Hipparcos Catalog and the revised encounter will see GL 710 pass some 5 times closer to the Sun than previously indicated. The closest encounter distance is now found to be 0.064  0.020 pc at a time 1.36  0.12 million years from the present. There is now a 100% certainty that GL 710 will pass through the outer boundary of the Oort cloud, and it will possibly pass as close as 5200 AU to the Sun, indicating the potential for non-negligible gravitational perturbations of those cometary nuclei located close to the inner boundary of the Oort cloud. The revised encounter conditions indicate that a relatively strong cometary shower is likely within the inner solar system, although how this will modify the terrestrial impact probability remains unclear. We find that GL 710 might be expected to capture and accrete several thousands of cometary nuclei as it moves through the Oort cloud, and such impacts can be expected to drive anomalous flare activity. We additionally find that GL 710 will quite likely trigger sublimation-driven outgassing from cometary nuclei situated within a few astronomical units of its path across the Oort cloud.
Ultimate tensile strength and microhardness of glass ionomer materials

Objective: This study evaluated the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) and microhardness (µKH) of conventional (CO) and hybrid resin-modified glass ionomer (RM). Material and methods: Nine specimens to UTS and twelve for µKHN of glass ionomer materials were obtained using special molds. The materials were manipulated and CO groups were allowed to self-cure for five minutes and RM were subjected to light-activation as indicated by manufactures through a glass slide. All specimens were dark-stored in 100% relative humidity for 24h. For UTS test, specimens were tested in tension in a universal testing machine (crosshead speed of 1 mm/min) until failure. For µKHN test a Knoop diamond indenter was used to make five indentations in the upper/light irradiated surface of the specimens. UTS and µKHN data were submitted to one-way ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s test (α= 5%). Results: The results for UTS were: Ionomaster: 7.0 (±1.6)A; Maxxion R: 8.8 (±3.7)A Vidrion R: 8.8 (±3.9)A; ChemFil Rock: 10.7 (±4.6)AB; Vitremer: 13.1 (±3.3)BC; Vitrofil R: 14.9 (±7.8)CD; Ionoseal: 14.5 (±8.2)CD; Resiglass: 16.3 (±2.3)D. The results for µKH: Ionomaster: 24.3 (±6.6)B; Maxxion R: 17.7 (±4.7)A, Vidrion R: 31.0 (±9.4) B; ChemFil Rock: 31.1 (±8.5)B; Vitremer: 20.3 (±3.3)A; Vitrofil R: 16.5 (±5.1)A; Ionoseal: 13.1 (±8.5)A; Resiglass: 21.6 (±5.2)A. Conclusion: It was observed that the hybrid resin-modified ionomers generally have higher cohesive strength than conventional ones, but lower microhardness.
Series 15E-138 Accounting Information Quality and Government Guaranteed Loans : Evidence from Japanese SMEs

We empirically investigate the effects of accounting information quality, as measured by accruals quality, on the use of government guaranteed loans, which we regard as a form of transaction lending. We find that higher accruals quality is associated with higher use rates of government guaranteed loans, but not associated with use rates of nonguaranteed (i.e., regular) loans, which we consider to constitute relationship lending within the Japanese context. We also find that higher accruals quality is not related to the interest rate for guaranteed loans, but is associated with a lower interest rate for nonguaranteed loans. These results indicate that the relevant accounting information is effectively used in the screening processes for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), but that the effectiveness varies depending on the particular lending technology employed.