Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EFFECTS OF CORPORATE GOVERNANCE ACTIVITIES ON ORGANISATIONAL PERFORMANCE OF SELECTED OCCUPATIONAL RETIREMENT SCHEMES IN KENYA

Corporate governance is a concept that involves practices that entail the organization of management and control of companies. This study sought to establish the effects of corporate governance structures instituted by occupational retirement benefit schemes in Kenya in a bid to surmount the agency challenges inherent in the management of these schemes and their effects on organizational performance. This study used descriptive survey to explore the effects of corporate governance structures prevalent in occupational retirement schemes in Kenya. A sample of the 27occupational retirement schemes were selected on the basis of their asset value as at 31 st December or 30 th June 2012 depending on their financial year end. The primary quantitative data on scheme corporate governance structures and practices was collected using self administered questionnaires with closed and open ended questions. The researcher will select a pilot group of 10schemes from the target sample of the Retirement Benefits Scheme to test the reliability of the research instrument. In the literature review, apart from the empirical review, a number of theories that touches on the governance and organisational performance have been considered which also include; Shareholder theory, Stakeholders theory and Agency theory. The data will be analysed using descriptive statistics. Statistical tools such as the mean, proportions, graphs, tables, percentages and frequency distributions will be computed using SPSS software. The findings will be presented using tables and charts, percentages, means and other central tendencies. Tables will be used to summarize responses for further analysis and facilitate comparison. This will generate quantitative reports through tabulations, percentages, and measure of central tendency. Key Words: Corporate Governance, Retirement Benefit Schemes
Spin-dependent thermoelectric transport coefficients in near perfect quantum wires

Thermoelectric transport coefficients are determined for semiconductor quantum wires with weak thickness fluctuations. Such systems exhibit anomalies in conductance near 1/4 and 3/4 of 2e 2 /h on the rising edge to the first conductance plateau, explained hy singlet and triplet resonances of conducting electrons with a single weakly bound electron in the wire [T. Rejec, A. Ramsak. and J.H. Jefferson, Phys. Rev. B 62, 12 985 (2000)]. We extend this work to study the Seebeck thermopower coefficient and linear thermal conductance within the framework of the Landauer-Buttiker formalism, which also exhibit anomalous structures. These features are generic and robust, surviving to temperatures of a few degrees. It is shown quantitatively how at elevated temperatures thermal conductance progressively deviates from the Wiedemann-Franz law.
The influence of realistic 3D viscous mean flow on shielding of engine-fan noise by a 3-element high-lift wing

The prediction of aeroacoustic shielding often rests on tools using constant mean flow thus neglecting mean flow inhomogeneities such as shear layers. This study analyses the influence of this simplification on shielding. As an example we considered engine-fan noise shielding at a 3-element high-lift wing. A Computational Aeroacoustic (CAA) approach was chosen. The simulations were carried out with the DLR CAA code PIANO. PIANO solves the Linearized Euler Equations (LEE) over steady viscous mean flow. To determine the mean flow influence three sets were computed. One rests on a realistic viscous Reynolds Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) solution, the second makes use of a simple constant mean flow and the third uses constant mean flow in conjunction with a flat plate with the same chord length to replace the wing. An axisymmetric solution of the finite element simulation code ACTRAN predicted the fan sound propagation from the engine intake through the non-uniform flow to a cylindrical interface. Subsequently, the data was coupled to the CAA computational domain via a Thompson boundary condition. It is shown that this condition meets the coupling requirements well. This study shows that the viscous mean flow has a significant influence on the predicted shielding potential of a high-lift wing. That is, the shielding benefit of a simplified prediction based on uniform flow propagation and a simplified geometrical significantly overestimate the potential shielding benefits considerably.
PROBABILISTIC SEISMIC HAZARD MAPPING FOR SUMATRA ISLAND

Probabilistic seismic hazard analysis (PSHA) for Sumatra Island considering 3-dimensional seismic source zones is presented in this paper. In this analysis, seismic source characterization of both subduction sources in the west and shallow crustal faults of Sumatra Fault Zones (SFZ) is investigated. The analysis presents probability level of 10% and 2% probability of exceedance in 50 years. The PSHA was conducted at a grid spacing of 0.5 degree, resulted in each point with corresponding uniform hazard spectra for each hazard level. Seismic hazard maps produced from the PSHA consist of two probability of exceedance level, each with three spectral values, that is for PBA, short period (T=0.2 sec), and long period (T=1.0 sec), respectively. Seismic hazard map for 10% probability of exceedance in 50 years resulted from this study shows some noticeable differences compared to the current Indonesian seismic hazard map, particularly in the area along the SFZ. De-aggregation analysis suggest controlling earthquakes and target spectra for seismic input motion in site-response analyses of various site-class. The methodology of probabilistic seismic hazard mapping and seismic ground motion analysis that has been developed for Sumatra Island could be extended further for other islands for input to the current seismic hazard map of Indonesia.
Bridge trisections in rational surfaces

We study smooth isotopy classes of complex curves in complex surfaces from the perspective of the theory of bridge trisections, with a special focus on curves in [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text]. We are especially interested in bridge trisections and trisections that are as simple as possible, which we call efficient. We show that any curve in [Formula: see text] or [Formula: see text] admits an efficient bridge trisection. Because bridge trisections and trisections are nicely related via branched covering operations, we are able to give many examples of complex surfaces that admit efficient trisections. Among these are hypersurfaces in [Formula: see text], the elliptic surfaces [Formula: see text], the Horikawa surfaces [Formula: see text], and complete intersections of hypersurfaces in [Formula: see text]. As a corollary, we observe that, in many cases, manifolds that are homeomorphic but not diffeomorphic have the same trisection genus, which is consistent with the conjecture that trisection genus is additive under connected sum. We give many trisection diagrams to illustrate our examples.
Managing 3 D Multi User Learning Environments

3D Multi User Virtual Environments (3D MUVE), or commonly known as 3D virtual worlds, have shown proven success in enhancing the present teaching and learner support methodologies. Integrated educational environments that are formed using 3D MUVE can be referred as 3D Multi User Learning Environments (3D MULE). The intrinsic rich and dynamic features of 3D virtual worlds can sufficiently increase the student engagement with the learning tasks in 3D MULE. However, with the facilitation for diverse learning activities, 3D MULE can introduce a new set of challenges for the teachers and students; therefore, suitable management strategies for 3D MULE can be essential for success. In this research, we have proposed a framework for managing 3D MULE using policy considerations and a guidance tool to facilitate policy implementations. This paper presents the evaluation of the proposed strategies for making policy considerations to manage 3D MULE and the developed user guidance tool. To increase the accuracy while evaluating for real educational uses, we selected a teaching and training environment in use as the case study. This case study, a 3D MULE supported learning aid for humanitarian disaster management, provided valuable and supportive feedback to validate the completed work while shaping the orientation of the future research on facilitating 3D MULE management.
The Puzzle of Representation: Specifying Components of Responsiveness

This study examines the conceptualization of representation, particularly the problems resulting from conceiving of it simply in terms of congruence between the attitudes of constituents and of representatives on policy questions. It examines critically some of the work that followed the innovative study of Miller and Stokes. Regarding representation as responsiveness, it identifies four components of this concept: policy, service, allocation, and symbolic responsiveness.
Microphytobenthos seasonality determines growth and reproduction in intertidal bivalves

The annual cycles of phytoplanktonic and microphytobenthic biomasses as food sources for intertidal bivalves were investigated in a temperate estuarine muddy sandflat of Kwangyang Bay (Korea) from January to December 2002. Seasonal patterns in growth and reproductive activity of a suspension-feeder Laternula marilina and a deposit-feeder Moerella rutila were examined in order to assess their relationship with the annual cycles of pelagic and benthic microalgae, and were com- bined with analyses of δ 13 C and δ 15 N of bivalve tissues and their potential food resources. Biomasses of phytoplankton and microphytobenthos peaked in late spring-summer, and demonstrated a uni- modal pattern of seasonal variation. Photosynthetic pigment composition showed a predominance of diatom marker pigment, fucoxanthin, in the water and the sediments throughout the year. Similar patterns of annual cycles in pelagic and benthic microalgal biomasses and similarities in taxonomic composition indicated that resuspended microphytobenthos is an important contributor to the bay's phytoplankton component. This was supported by the δ 13 C values of suspended particulate organic matter (POM) and physical characteristics of the bay. Synchrony in growth and reproductive activity was observed for both bivalves: their shell and tissue growth and gonadal development were achieved together during late spring and summer when chlorophyll a (chl a) concentrations were highest. This temporal coupling of macrofaunal and microalgal processes indicated that the activities of intertidal bivalves might depend largely on microphytobenthos seasonality. The isotopic signa- tures of the bivalve tissues demonstrated their dependence on organic matter of microphytobenthic source irrespective of season, despite a comparable contribution of phytoplankton to the diet of the suspension-feeding bivalve. These results highlight the importance of seasonal development of microphytobenthos as an available food source during the critical period of gamete production and growth for both suspension- and deposit-feeding bivalves.
An open and extensible framework for spatially explicit land use change modelling: the lulcc R package

Abstract. We present the lulcc software package, an object-oriented framework for land use change modelling written in the R programming language. The contribution of the work is to resolve the following limitations associated with the current land use change modelling paradigm: (1) the source code for model implementations is frequently unavailable, severely compromising the reproducibility of scientific results and making it impossible for members of the community to improve or adapt models for their own purposes; (2) ensemble experiments to capture model structural uncertainty are difficult because of fundamental differences between implementations of alternative models; and (3) additional software is required because existing applications frequently perform only the spatial allocation of change. The package includes a stochastic ordered allocation procedure as well as an implementation of the CLUE-S algorithm. We demonstrate its functionality by simulating land use change at the Plum Island Ecosystems site, using a data set included with the package. It is envisaged that lulcc will enable future model development and comparison within an open environment.
A Gravity Model of Workers' Remittances

This paper creates the first dataset of bilateral remittance flows for a limited set of developing countries and estimates a gravity model for workers' remittances. We find that most of the variation in bilateral remittance flows can be explained by a few gravity variables. The evidence on the motives to remit is mixed, but altruism may be less of a factor than commonly believed. Most strikingly, remittances do not seem to increase in the wake of a natural disaster and appear aligned with the business cycle in the home country, suggesting that remittances may not play a major role in limiting vulnerability to shocks. To encourage remittances and maximize their economic impact, policies should be directed at reducing transaction costs, promoting financial sector development, and improving the business climate.
JACoW : A framework for online analysis based on Tensorics Expressions and Streaming Pool

Among other functionalities, the Tensorics library provides a framework to declaratively describe expressions of arbitrary values and resolve these expressions in different contexts. The Streamingpool framework provides a comfortable way to transform arbitrary signals from devices into long-living reactive streams. The combination of these two concepts provides a powerful tool to describe modules for online analysis. In this paper we describe this approach, elaborate on the general concepts and give an overview of actual and potential use cases as well as ideas and plans for future evolution.
Spatial distribution of air‐sea heat fluxes over the sub‐polar North Atlantic Ocean

On a variety of spatial and temporal scales, the energy transferred by air‐sea heat and moisture fluxes plays an important role in both atmospheric and oceanic circulations. This is particularly true in the sub‐polar North Atlantic Ocean, where these fluxes drive water‐mass transformations that are an integral component of the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC). Here we use the ECMWF Interim Reanalysis to provide a high‐resolution view of the spatial structure of the air‐sea turbulent heat fluxes over the sub‐polar North Atlantic Ocean. As has been previously recognized, the Labrador and Greenland Seas are areas where these fluxes are large during the winter months. Our particular focus is on the Iceland Sea region where, despite the fact that water‐mass transformation occurs, the winter‐time air‐sea heat fluxes are smaller than anywhere else in the sub‐polar domain. We attribute this minimum to a saddle point in the sea‐level pressure field, that results in a reduction in mean surface wind speed, as well as colder sea surface temperatures associated with the regional ocean circulation. The magnitude of the heat fluxes in this region are modulated by the relative strength of the Icelandic and Lofoten Lows, and this leads to periods of ocean cooling and even ocean warming when, intriguingly, the sensible and latent heat fluxes are of opposite sign. This suggests that the air‐sea forcing in this area has large‐scale impacts for climate, and that even modest shifts in the atmospheric circulation could potentially impact the AMOC.
An Automatic Evaluation System for the Photometric Performance of Vehicle Headlamps Using Image Processing Algorithms

Global report reveals that about 1.24 million road traffic deaths occur annually on the world’s roads. The beam pattern is an important characteristic of the headlamp for road safety. Measurement by traditional testing methods using a CIE A-α type goniophotometer cost enormous amount of time and money. In this study, an automatic evaluation method based on image processing is proposed for saving testing time and space. The novel concept of I-matrix is applied in the evaluation algorithm. Comparison of six different algorithms for edge detection of the cut-off line is shown in this study and the Canny algorithm stands out with an expected result. Experiment results show that the proposed method can export a reliable report with a tolerant error. The automatic alignment procedure based on edge detection algorithms can not only serve this evaluation system, but also be used to replace the visual task for cut-off line aiming in traditional methods. Keywordsilluminance distribution measurement; passing beam assessment; image processing; cut-off line aiming; edge detection
Surfing, spinning, or diving from reef to reef: effects on population connectivity

Coral reef fish have considerable larval behavioral capabilities that can lead to successful completion of the early pelagic life phase. In particular, vertical migration during ontogeny increases retention near natal reefs and decreases losses due to transport by currents. For those larvae that are not returning home, the relative influence of behavior (biology) and currents (physics) on their arrival pattern among adjacent and distant reefs is not known. Moreover, interactions of the naturally small-scale larval movements with those of larger-scale currents need to be evaluated with regard to the spatial patterns of recruitment. We used an offline Lagrangian stochastic modeling approach to explore the relative influence of physical (i.e. eddy perturbation, diffusion) and biological processes (i.e. vertical movement, mortality) on the connectivity of the coral reef fish population in the western Caribbean, a region with complex geomorphology and circulation. This study revealed that the impact of larval behavior extends beyond enhancing the process of self-recruitment by changing population connectivity patterns. Connectivity was significantly influenced by larval vertical movement, survival, and by the eddy field, all controlling arrival patterns near reefs. A sensitivity analysis was done to gauge the robustness of the results by varying the model parameters. We found that particle-tracking models with homogeneous parameterization of the sub-grid motion tended to bias dispersal from and along the reef track, which can be mitigated by using spatially explicit parameters calculated from the Eulerian velocity fields. Finally, larval survival emerged as a key component for connectivity estimates, the study of which poses a great challenge in tropical ecosystems.
Optimising the management of Pinus sylvestris L. stand under risk of fire in Catalonia (north-east of Spain)

Le manuscrit aborde le risque d'incendie comme une composante du probleme de l'optimisation de la gestion des peuplements equiennes de pin sylvestre en Espagne. L'etude utilise un systeme de simulation-optimisation, SPINE, pour examiner l'effet du risque d'incendie sur le planning de la gestion optimale des peuplements quand on maximalise la valeur esperee du sol (SEV). Le sous-systeme de simulation inclue un simulateur deterministe de croissance et de production base sur des modeles de croissance d'arbres individuels et de mortalite, Le simulateur a ete modifie pour inclure l'occurrence stochastique des incendies. Le sous-systeme de simulation etait combine avec un algorithme d'optimisation non-lineaire pour trouver le planning optimal de gestion. Cinq differentes probabilites d'incendie ont ete analysees (0,0,5,1,2 et 5 % 5 ans de probabilites d'incendie). Dans la plupart des calculs, la probabilite d'incendie etait supposee etre constante sur toute la rotation mais il a aussi ete mene une analyse dans laquelle la probabilite dependait de la gestion et du stade de developpement du peuplement. 1; Les resultats ont ete calcules pour des taux degressifs de 1, 2 et 3 %, site index de 17, 24 et 30 m (hauteur dominante a 100 ans) et de 0 a 3 eclaircies. Les effets du cout de regeneration, la possibilite de recuperation et le retard de la regeneration ont aussi ete etudies L'accroissement de la probabilite d'incendie entraine une reduction de 15 a 35 ans dans la longueur de la rotation optimale et diminue aussi SEV. L'effet du risque d'incendie sur le rythme et l'intensite des eclaircies etait moins systematique quand on suppose un risque constant. Lorsque le risque d'incendie depend de la structure du peuplement, l'accroissement du niveau de risque conduit a des eclaircies par le bas precoces et fortes.
From the perspective of loneliness and cognitive absorption internet addiction as predictor and predicted

In this research internet addiction has been dealt with as predictor and predicted variable, this situation has been analyzed from the perspectives of loneliness and cognitive absorption and a tangible model has been put forth. Participant group has been constituted by 338 teacher candidates. Research data were collected using loneliness scale (α=.96), cognitive absorption scale (α=.90) and internet addiction scale (α=.95). On the data that was obtained; structural equation model were used. As a result: Loneliness levels of candidate teachers have significant and positive direction effect on internet addiction. On the other hand internet addiction of teacher candidates affects their loneliness levels in positive direction and significantly.
Development and Evaluation of a Small Punch Testing Device

In the turbine industry today, thermal barrier coatings are a commonly used, these are 0.1-2mm thick. So to be able to do some type of mechanical testing to receive material data so one can build an opinion regarding the health of the material. One needs a procedure that can work with small specimens and achieve clear results that can be transformed and compared with known data and known procedures. One of those methods is Small Punch Testing. This thesis describes one way to develop and test a functioning prototype of a Small Punch Testing device. The thesis includes; the reason it was developed in the beginning and how it has been developed throughout the decades, also in which areas the main research is made. It also shortly describes a working procedure in Ansys to get a Finite Element Method [FEM] model working. This method showed itself as useful, when just a small sample is at hand. The trials in this thesis also show that repetitive test can be done with good results which can be compared with real and FEM analysis data such as σ uts·