Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Constraining black holes with light boson hair and boson stars using epicyclic frequencies and quasiperiodic oscillations

Light bosonic fields are ubiquitous in extensions of the Standard Model. Even when minimally coupled to gravity, these fields might evade the assumptions of the black-hole no-hair theorems and give rise to spinning black holes which can be drastically different from the Kerr metric. Furthermore, they allow for self-gravitating compact solitons, known as (scalar or Proca) boson stars. The quasiperiodic oscillations (QPOs) observed in the x-ray flux emitted by accreting compact objects carry information about the strong-field region, thus providing a powerful tool to constrain deviations from Kerr’s geometry and to search for exotic compact objects. By using the relativistic precession model as a proxy to interpret the QPOs in terms of geodesic frequencies, we investigate how the QPO frequencies could be used to test the no-hair theorem and the existence of light bosonic fields near accreting compact objects. We show that a detection of two QPO triplets with current sensitivity can already constrain these models and that the future eXTP mission or a LOFT-like mission can set very stringent constraints on black holes with bosonic hair and on (scalar or Proca) boson stars. The peculiar geodesic structure of compact scalar/Proca boson stars implies that these objects can easily be ruled out as alternative models for x-ray source GRO J1655-40.
Factors influencing intellectual capital disclosure by Portuguese companies

This study analyzes annual reports as media of intellectual capital disclosure (ICD) by Portuguese listed companies using costs/benefits theoretical framework. According to this framework which companies have an incentive to disclose voluntary information when the benefits to be derived from additional disclosure are perceived to outweigh the associated costs, is used. Regression analysis is used to analyze some factors which influence ICD. The findings reported in this study are consistent with those obtained in previous studies. Information on external capital is the type of information on IC that more companies disclose in their annual reports. The kind of intellectual information that more companies disclose in their annual reports pertains to management processes, business collaborations, brands, and the profile of workers. Results also show that size and type of auditor are significant in explaining ICD, whereas leverage, profitability, ownership concentration, and intellectual capital level are not.
Notes on black-hole evaporation

This paper examines various aspects of black-hole evaporation. A two-dimensional model is investigated where it is shown that using fermion-boson cancellation on the stress-energy tensor reduces the energy outflow to zero, while other noncovariant techniques give the Hawking result. A technique for replacing the collapse by boundary conditions on the past horizon is developed which retains the essential features of the collapse while eliminating some of the difficulties. This set of boundary conditions is also suggested as the most natural set for a preexistent black hole. The behavior of particle detectors under acceleration is investigated where it is shown that an accelerated detector even in flat spacetime will detect particles in the vacuum. The similarity of this case with the behavior of a detector near the black hole is brought out, and it is shown that a geodesic detector near the horizon will not see the Hawking flux of particles. Finally, the work of Berger, Chitre, Nutku, and Moncrief on scalar geons is corrected, and the spherically symmetric coupled scalar-gravitation Hamiltonian is presented in the hope that someone can apply it to the problem of black-hole evaporation.
Analysis of effective resistance calculation methods and their effect on modelling evapotranspiration in two different patches of vegetation in semi-arid SE Spain

Abstract. Effective parameters are of major importance in modelling surface fluxes at different scales of spatial heterogeneity. Different ways to obtain these effective parameters for their use in meso-scale and GCM models have been studied. This paper deals with patch-scale heterogeneity, where effective resistances were calculated in two patches with different vegetation (Retama sphaerocarpa (L.) Boiss shrubs, and herbaceous plants) using different methods: aggregating soil and plant resistances in parallel, in series or by an average of both. Effective aerodynamic resistance was also calculated directly from patch fluxes. To assess the validity of the different methods used, the Penman-Monteith equation was used with effective resistances to estimate the total λE for each patch. The λE estimates found for each patch were compared to Eddy Covariance system measurements. Results showed that for effective surface resistances, parallel aggregation of soil and plant resistances led to λE estimates closer to the measured λE in both patches (differences of around 10%). Results for effective aerodynamic resistances differed depending on the patch considered and the method used to calculate them. The use of effective aerodynamic resistances calculated from fluxes provided less accurate estimates of λE compared to the measured values, than the use of effective aerodynamic resistances aggregated from soil and plant resistances. The results reported in this paper show that the best way of aggregating soil and plant resistances depends on the type of resistance, and the type of vegetation in the patch.
Multidimensional simulations of ultrastripped supernovae to shock breakout

The recent discoveries of many double neutron star systems and their detection as LIGO-Virgo merger events call for a detailed understanding of their origin. Explosions of ultra-stripped stars in binary systems have been shown to play a key role in this context and have also generated interest as a potential explanation for rapidly evolving hydrogen-free transients. Here we present the first attempt to model such explosions based on binary evolution calculations that follow the mass transfer to the companion to obtain a consistent core-envelope structure as needed for reliable predictions of the supernova transient. We simulate the explosion in 2D and 3D, and confirm the modest explosion energies ~10^50erg and small kick velocities reported earlier in 2D models based on bare carbon-oxygen cores. The spin-up of the neutron star by asymmetric accretion is small in 3D with no indication of spin-kick alignment. Simulations up to shock breakout show the mixing of sizeable amounts of iron group material into the helium envelope. In view of recent ideas for a mixing-length treatment (MLT) of Rayleigh-Taylor instabilities in supernovae, we perform a detailed analysis of the mixing, which reveals evidence for buoyancy-drag balance, but otherwise does not support the MLT approximation. The mixing may have implications for the spectroscopic signatures of ultra-stripped supernovae that need to be investigated in the future. Our stellar evolution calculation also predicts presupernova mass loss due to an off-centre silicon deflagration flash, which suggests that supernovae from extremely stripped cores may show signs of interactions with circumstellar material.
H SCHUMACHER, AE GAU, J KLODMANN & HM PAULSEN Impact of methionine nutrition on the leaf proteome of Lupinus angustifolius and Vicia faba

Grain legumes possess a generally favourable seed protein amino acid composition but low contents of sulfur amino acids decrease their nutrient value. To enhance the methionine content of local grain legumes by plant breeding, phenotypical attributes for high methionine contents are required for the selection process. The efforts are of particular importance in organic agriculture as the use of genetically engineered plants, as well as the addition of synthetic feed additives, is prohibited and conventional breeding methods need to be improved. Previous studies revealed a partial correlation between methionine and leaf chlorophyll contents. In the present work the impact of applied methionine (1mM) on the plant protein and gene expression was investigated to gain further knowledge of possible regulatory functions of methionine. A down-regulation of high abundant proteins could be observed for L. angustifolius as well as V. faba due to methionine nutrition. In addition, in V. faba the expression of the methionine related enzyme S-adenosylmethionine:magnesium protoporphyrin IX O-methyltransferase was as well down-regulated due to methionine nutrition. These results contradict the expected beneficial effect of methionine nutrition on the plant proteome. Further experiments are necessary to verify the methionine-specificity of this effect and confirm these preliminary findings.
Explaining Showering: A Discussion of the Material, Conventional, and Temporal Dimensions of Practice

This article considers the increasing popularity of showering in the UK. We use this case as a means of exploring some of the dimensions and dynamics of everyday practice. Drawing upon a range of documentary evidence, we begin by sketching three possible explanations for the current constitution of showering as a private, increasingly resource-intensive routine. We begin by reviewing the changing infrastructural, technological, rhetorical and moral positioning of showering. We then consider how the multiple and contingent constituents of showering are arranged and re-arranged in and through the practice itself. In taking this approach, we address a number of more abstract questions about the relation between practices, technologies and infrastructures and about what these relationships mean for the fixity and fluidity of ordinary routines and for associated patterns of consumption. The result is a method that allows us to analyse the ways in which material cultures and conventions are reproduced and transformed. This has practical implications for those seeking to contain the environmental consequences of resource-intensive practices.
Maternal and individual genetic effects on piglet weight.

Genetic parameters for piglet weight were estimated using DFREML procedure in two strains of Iberian pigs and in records proceeding from a 4 x 4 diallelic design between ancient strains. The model of analysis included four random effects: direct and maternal genetic effects, common environmental effect and residual, and as fixed effects the sex, the farrowing period and the parity of the dam. Inbreeding coefficients of dam and piglet and the parameters of the Eisen et al. (1983) model were also included as covariables in the analysis of strains and of the diallel cross, respectively.
Partial versus Full Species Distribution Models

In this essay I assess the impact of generating species distribution models (SDMs), also known as ecological niche models (ENMs), within artificial geographical or political boundaries by comparing them with SDMs that use the complete distribution of species. I illustrate the differences between the paired SDMs on the plant genus Inga modelled within the political boundaries of Brazil (Partial SDM) compared to SDMs developed for the entire Neotropical humid tropics biome (Full SDM). Partial SDMs portray range contractions, or under-prediction, at the artificial boundaries and have different patterns of predicted presence and absence. It is therefore advisable that SDMs use presence data from the complete distribution ranges of species. Furthermore, it should be kept in mind that any SDM essentially has a partial extent in space and time.
Importance of the Equatorial Undercurrent on the Sea Surface Salinity in the Eastern Equatorial Atlantic in boreal spring

The physical processes implied in the sea surface salinity (SSS) increase in the equatorial Atlantic Cold Tongue (ACT) region during boreal spring and the lag observed between boreal spring SSS maximum and sea surface temperature (SST) summer minimum are examined using mixed-layer salinity budgets computed from observations and model during the period 2010–2012. The boreal spring SSS maximum is mainly explained by an upward flux of high salinity originating from the core of the Equatorial Undercurrent (EUC) through vertical mixing and advection. The vertical mixing contribution to the mixed-layer salt budget peaks in April–May. It is controlled primarily by (i) an increased zonal shear between the surface South Equatorial Current and the subsurface EUC and (ii) the presence of a strong salinity stratification at the mixed-layer base from December to May. This haline stratification that is due to both high precipitations below the Inter Tropical Convergence Zone and zonal advection of low-salinity water from the Gulf of Guinea explains largely the seasonal cycle of the vertical advection contribution to the mixed-layer salt budget. In the ACT region, the SST reaches its maximum in March/April and minimum in July/August. This SST minimum appears 1 month after the maximum of SSS. The 1 month lag observed between the maximum of SSS in June and the minimum of SST in July is explained by the shallowing of the EUC salinity core in June, then the weakening/erosion of the EUC in June–July which dramatically reduces the lateral subsurface supply of high-saline waters.
Removal of cyanobacteria toxins from drinking water by adsorption on activated carbon fibers

Natural fibers from macadamia nut shell, dried coconut shell endocarp, unripe coconut mesocarp, sugarcane bagasse and pine wood residue were used to prepare activated carbon fibers (ACF) with potential application for removing microcystins. The ACF from pine wood and sugar cane bagasse were used to remove [D-Leucine1]MCYST-LR from water. After 10 minutes of contact time, more than 98% of toxin was removed by the ACF. The microcystin adsorption monolayer, qm, in the ACF recovered 200 and 161 µg. mg-1, with the Langmuir adsorption constant, KL, of 2.33 and 1.23 L.mg-1. Adsorption of [D-Leucine1]MCYST-LR in continuous process was studied for a fixed-bed ACF prepared from coconut shell and sugar cane bagasse and for two commercial activated carbon samples from treatment water plants of two Brazilian hemodialysis centers. Saturation of the beds occurred after 80 to 320 minutes, and the adsorption capacity for that toxin varied from 4.11 to 12.82 µg. mg-1.
Serious games as experiments for emergency management research: A review

Serious games and virtual environments are increasingly used for emergency management training and research. The development of these technologies seems to contribute to a solution to some problems in the existing literature on emergency management which is mainly based on case study research. However, using virtual technology for research also introduces new difficulties. This paper describes the advantages and drawbacks of using serious games for research and reviews eight recently published studies that make use of virtual environments. The review focuses on the external validity of serious games as this is a challenging issues for research that involves virtual environments. The paper concludes with some recommendations to increase the external validity of future research with serious games.
limate variability and crop production in Tanzania

Improved understanding of the influence of climate on agricultural production is needed to cope with expected changes in temperature and precipitation, and an increasing number of undernourished people in food insecure regions. Many studies have shown the importance of seasonal climatic means in explaining crop yields. However, climate variability is expected to increase in some regions and have significant consequences on food production beyond the impacts of changes in climatic means. Here, we examined the relationship between seasonal climate and crop yields in Tanzania, focusing on maize, sorghum and rice. The impacts of both seasonal means and variability on yields were measured at the subnational scale using various statistical methods and climate data. The results indicate that both intraand interseasonal changes in temperature and precipitation influence cereal yields in Tanzania. Seasonal temperature increases have the most important impact on yields. This study shows that in Tanzania, by 2050, projected seasonal temperature increases by 2 ◦C reduce average maize, sorghum, and rice yields by 13%, 8.8%, and 7.6% respectively. Potential changes in seasonal total precipitation as well as intra-seasonal temperature and precipitation variability may also impact crop yields by 2050, albeit to a lesser extent. A 20% increase in intra-seasonal precipitation variability reduces agricultural yields by 4.2%, 7.2%, and 7.6% respectively for maize, sorghum, and rice. Using our preferred model, we show that we underestimate the climatic impacts by 2050 on crop yields in Tanzania by 3.6%, 8.9%, and 28.6% for maize, sorghum and rice respectively if we focus only on climatic means and ignore climate variability. This study highlights that, in addition to shifts in growing season means, changes in intra-seasonal variability of weather may be important for future yields in Tanzania. Additionally, we argue for a need to invest in improving the egion climate records in these r
Relationships Between Background Factors and Female Marital Satisfaction

Problem statement: In spite of the importance of marital satisfaction in couple relation, there is a little research in the Iranian context t hat examined the relationship between background factors and marital satisfaction. Thus, this study examined the relationship between duration of marriage, number of children, years of education an d family income with female marital satisfaction. Approach: The study was carried out among a sample of 337 wives in Shiraz City, Iran. The Kansas Marital Satisfaction (KMS) was used to measure marital satisfaction. The study employed correlations test to determine the relationships between duratio n of marriage, number of children, years of education and family income with marital satisfacti on. Results: The study found that there were no significant relationships between duration of marri age and family income and marital satisfaction. There was a negative significant relationship betwe en respondents' age and number of children and marital satisfaction. There was a positive signific ant relationship between respondents' years of education and marital satisfaction. The Multivariat e Regression Analysis was used to answer the last objective. The analysis showed that the predictor v ariable, women age, was found to be significant in explaining the observed variation in marital satisf action (DV). Conclusion: Generally, the final model has explained 4% of total observed variance to mari tal satisfaction.
The Symmetry of ECB Monetary Policy Impact Under Scrutiny: An Assessment

Since its inception, EMU adequacy to be an Optimal Currency Area was questioned, and, along with it, the homogeneous transmission of the monetary impulses across the Eurozone. Adopting a Bayesian Time-Varying parameter FAVAR model that fixes the flaws present in the existing literature and exploits a sufficiently extended dataset, we provide an updated assessment of the transmission mechanism’s functioning and of its symmetry along these first years of ECB operations. The empirical analysis shows that the occurrence of the two crises significantly altered the policy transmission, with the interest rate channel being the most affected. Policy-wise, our findings suggest that authorities must push towards a consistent innovation both on fiscal and monetary sides.
Solar Sail Deployment Mechanisms: Bots with Variable Separation Vector and Inter-Boidal Force

The exploration of the vast dimension of the universe has made human race make extensive use of propellants for space expeditions, especially in long duration voyages. The application of solar sails, which derive momentum from solar radiation pressure, thus undergoing continuous acceleration, has apparently solved this problem. Yet, it has been observed that numerous solar sails fail to deploy in space, when needed; and the required area-to-mass ratio remains unachieved, rendering the solar sails useless. The idea of using bots, with behavior similar to boids, in deploying a solar sail is what this paper proposes. This can purportedly solve the aforementioned problem of failed deployments. The paper initially proposes the concept of time dependent boid behavior in an extended model of boids, which wholly works towards the first proposed deployment mechanism of solar sails, in bots. Later, another extended model of the boids system has been proposed, which introduces the idea of inter-boidal forces, to play a role in another deployment mechanism. The paper also describes the solar sail deployment mechanisms right from its stowed configuration to its deployed configuration, mentioning the challenges for each of the two ideas.
Accounting and Forms of Accountability in Ancient Civilizations: Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt

The aim of this paper is to identify the relevance and implications of ancient accounting practices to the contemporary theorizing of accounting. The paper provides a synthesis of the literature on ancient accounting particularly in relation to issues of human accountability, identifies its major achievements and outlines some of the key challenges facing researchers. We argue that far from being an idiosyncratic research field of marginal interest, research in ancient accounting is a rich and promising undertaking that holds the promise of significantly enhancing our understanding of the roles of accounting in organizations and society. The paper concludes by considering a number of implications of ancient accounting practices for the theorizing of accounting and identifies a number of possible avenues for future research.
The Effect of Diagnostic Misclassification on Spatial Statistics for Regional Data

The Effect of Diagnostic Misclassification on Spatial Statistics for Regional Data Christopher Scott Advisors: University of Guelph, 2014 Dr. J. Horrocks Dr. O. Berke Spatial epidemiological studies which assume perfect health status information can be biased if imperfect diagnostic tests have been used to obtain the health status of individuals in a population. This study investigates the effect of diagnostic misclassification on the spatial statistical methods commonly used to analyze regional health status data in spatial epidemiology. The methods considered here are: Moran’s I to assess clustering in the data, a Gaussian random field model to estimate prevalence and the range and sill parameters of the semivariogram, and Kulldorff’s spatial scan test to identify clusters. Various scenarios of diagnostic misclassification were simulated from a West Nile virus dead-bird surveillance program, and the results were evaluated. It was found that non-differential misclassification added random noise to the spatial pattern in observed data which created bias in the statistical results. However, when regional sample sizes were doubled, the effect from misclassification bias on the spatial statistics decreased.