Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
NUMERICAL MODEL OF SALTATION IN OPEN CHANNEL WITH ROUGH BED

The present contribution deals with a numerical modelling of a saltation of solid spherical particle in turbulent flow along rough bed in the open channel. The goal of the research is to obtain the dependences of average characteristics of particle saltation motion (as length and height of one particle jump) on flow parameters (which can be characterized e.g. by shear velocity and water depth) and bed roughness. The suggested dependences and calculated results are compared with analogical relationships introduced by other authors in literature.
Limnology and plankton diversity of salt lakes from Transylvanian Basin (Romania): A review

In the present work, we review the current knowledge on genesis, limnology and biodiversity of salt lakes distributed around the inner contour of Eastern Carpathian arc (Transylvanian Basin, Central Romania). Transylvanian salt lakes formed on ancient halite (NaCl) deposits following natural processes or quarrying activities. Most of these lakes are located in eastern (Sovata area), southern (Ocna Sibiului), and western (Turda-Cojocna) parts of the Transylvanian Basin, have small surfaces (0.1-4 ha), variable depths (2-100 m), are hypersaline (>10%, w/v, total salts, mainly NaCl) and permanently stratified. As consequence of steady salinity/density gradient, heat entrapment below surface layer (i.e., heliothermy) develops in several Transylvanian lakes. The physical and chemical water stratification is mirrored in the partition of plankton diversity. Lakes with less saline (2-10% salinity) water layers appear to harbor halotolerant representatives of phyto- ( e.g ., marine native Picochlorum spp. and Synechococcus spp.), zoo- ( e.g ., Moina salina ), and bacterioplankton ( e.g ., Actinobacteria, Verrucomicobia), whereas halophilic plankton communities ( e.g ., green algae Dunaliella sp., brine shrimp Artemia sp., and members of Halobacteria class) dominate in the oxic surface of hypersaline (>10% salinity) lakes. Molecular approaches ( e.g ., PCR-DGGE, 16S rRNA gene-based clone libraries, and DNA metabarcoding) showed that the O 2 -depleted bottom brines of deep meromictic Transylvanian lakes are inhabited by known extremely halophilic anaerobes ( e.g . sulfate-reducing Delta-Proteobacteria, fermenting Clostridia, methanogenic and polymer-degrading archaea) in addition to representatives of uncultured/unclassified prokaryotic lineages. Overall, the plankton communities thriving in saline Transylvanian lakes seem to drive full biogeochemical cycling of main elements. However, the trophic interactions ( i.e., food web structure and energy flow) as well as impact of human activities and predicted climate changes are yet to be assessed in these unique ecosystems with little or no match to analogous salt lakes worldwide.
A Model of Sustainable Trust in B2C E-Markets

Trust has been one of the most important issues in e-commerce. Therefore, there have been many studies of trust in e-commerce context. The purpose of this paper is to add additional contribution to understand what is trust in e-commerce. In this paper, first, the concept of trust is reviewed and analyzed to provide more clear understanding of trust. Second, factors that affect trust are identified. Third, a concept of sustainable trust is proposed. Finally, implications are given for practical application and further theoretical development.
Dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) in marine copepods and its relation with diets and salinity

The main goal of this study was to assess the effects of algal diets and water salinity on the bodily content of dimethylsulfoniopropionate (DMSP) in estuarine copepods. In laboratory experiments, Temora longicornis contained more DMSP when fed DMSP-rich Tetraselmis impellucida (prasinophyte) than when fed DMSP-poor Dunaliella tertiolecta (chlorophyte). The DMSP content of T longicornis after gut clearance was curvilinearly related to the ingestion rate. These observations suggest that the copepods incorporated the dietary source of DMSP into their body tissue. On the same diet, T. longicornis contained more DMSP at higher salinity, indicating an osmoregulatory function of DMSP. However, DMSP appears to be a minor osmolyte compared with free amino acids. The DMSP content of T. longicornis decreased faster in response to a decrease in salinity than it increased with an increase in salinity, implicating separate mechanisms for accumulation and removal of DMSP in the copepod. We also measured the bodily content of DMSP from field-collected animals. Five species of calanoid copepods from Long Island Sound contained DMSP, not associated with gut content, which varied interspecifically from 0.02 to 1.03 nmol ind. 1 . Carbon-specific DMSP content of the copepods was comparable to that reported for some diatoms, chlorophytes and cryptophytes. We argue that copepod biomass may, at times, represents a substantial source of particulate DMSP in the water column.
Silencer With Tunable Resonators for Active Noise Control

The article deals with active noise control and presents a silencer made of tunable acoustic resonators to reduce variable tonal noises. The silencer is composed of baffles with acoustic resonators made of two superposed and identically perforated plates associated with cavities. One of the plates is mobile and its displacement is controlled by an electromechanical system, allowing changing the internal shapes of the holes of the perforated layers. Consequently the impedance of the resonators and their resonance frequencies can be controlled. These tunable resonators can be used for noise control of variable tonal noises such as those generated by fans for example. The advantages of the proposed system are the simplicity of the actuation and the compactness of the system.
NET Institute*

How did the diffusion of the Internet affect performance and product quality in the airline industry? We argue that the shift to online distribution channels has changed the way airlines compete for customers from an environment in which airlines compete for space at the top of travel agents’ computer screens by scheduling the shortest flights, to an environment where price plays the dominant role in selling tickets. Using flight-level data between 1997 and 2007 and geographical growth patterns in Internet access, we find a positive relationship between Internet access and scheduled flight times. The magnitude of the effect is larger in competitive markets without low-cost carriers and for flights with shortest scheduled times. We also find that despite longer scheduled flight times, flight delays increased as passengers gained Internet access. More generally, these findings suggest that increased Internet access may adversely affect firms' performance and firms’ incentives to provide high quality products. JEL classification: D83; L15; L93.
Human Gait Characterization using Kinect

2 PROJECT STRUCTURE . 3 INTRODUCTION . 4 THEORETICAL BACKGROUND . 4 CHAPTER 1: ABOUT MICROSOFT KINECT SENSOR . 4 CHAPTER 2: GAIT CYCLE AND ITS ANALYSIS . 6 PROBLEM FORMULATION . 12 STATE OF ART . 13 METHODOLOGY . 15 PART 1FIRST STEPS . 15 PART 2KINEMATIC GAIT ANALYSIS USING KINECT . 19 PART 3GAIT ANALYSIS OF THE GROUND REACTION FORCES . 25 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION . 30 CONCLUSIONS . 38 FUTURE WORK . 39 REFERENCES . 39 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . 43 APPENDIX . 44
Microbial diversity in oiled and un-oiled shoreline sediments in the Norwegian Arctic

Field trails were performed in the summer of 1997 on the island of Spitzbergen (approximately 78°N, 17’E). Approximately 5 L m -2 of an IF-30 intermediate fuel grade oil was applied to 140 meters of shoreline. The oiled shoreline was divided into four plots with one plot left untreated, and two plots tilled to a depth of approximately 20 cm. Four applications of fertilizer were applied over a two-month period to one of the tilled plots, and also to an untilled plot. The effect of bioremediation on the microbial community was evaluated using phospholipid fatty acid analysis, hydrocarbon degradation gene probes, and 16S rDNA gene based phylogenetic analysis. Clear differences were observed between fertilized and un-fertilized beaches indicating that bioremediation stimulated the hydrocarbon degrading community in an Arctic environment.
The RAPD analysis of several cultivars of grapevine (Vitis viniferaL.) and their clones

Nine identification RAPD markers (MORAVCOVÁ et al. 2003) were used to distinguish 24 clones and grapevine cultivars. No polymorphism was detected among all the tested clones of Chardonnay, Pinot gris and Zweigeltrebe from Polešovice. Pinot noir, Pinot gris, Pinot blanc and Pinot Meunier were indistinguishable within clones, they also showed the identical RAPD profile within cultivars (except discussed sample No. 26). On the other hand, Auxerrois as a relative to cultivars of Pinot group showed unique patterns and may be classified as a different cultivar. Some irregularities within the cultivars of Pinot family from Oblekovice were also found, several of them gave different results from those expected: Pinot blanc sample 26 has the RAPD profile typical of Chardonnay. A new abnormal RAPD pattern as a marker of typical Chardonnay and Pinot profiles was observed in two cases. While RAPD banding patterns could not distinguish between the known clones, they were useful for distinguishing between phenotypically similar cultivars and for assessing the origins of cultivars thought to have originated as sports.
GENERALIZATION OF AN ANALYTICAL TWO-PHASE STEAM FLOW CALCULATOR TO HIGH-PRESSURE CASES

Extension of a recently developed analytical two-phase steam flow calculator to high pressure cases is performed in this paper. The initial solution, obtained in earlier study was developed for low pressure cases. In low pressure cases, the vapor portion of the two-phase mixture reliably obeys the ideal gas Equation of State (EOS). In the present high pressure study, real gas effects are included using the more suitable EOS of “Lee-Kesler”. The model similar to the low pressure model assumes local equilibrium between the phases, in which condensation onsets as soon as the saturation line is closed. Before the condensation onset, the stagnation properties echo those at the inflow. However, beyond the condensation onset, the transfer of latent heat toward the vapor portion of the two-phase mixture rises its stagnation temperature. To evaluate this rise in the vapor portion stagnation temperature, a non dimensional parameter ζ is defined. Comparison for low- and high-pressure cases between the present analyt.
Online Advertising Revenue and the Operations of Newspapers in Nigeria: A Qualitative Analysis

Online advertising revenue is arguably a great innovation with ambivalent impact on the operations and management of newspaper industry all over the world. The yields from this innovation is seen as a huge source of survival to newspaper outfits and at the same time pose a lot of challenges for newspapers to establish and maintain online versions. The foregoing has nonetheless led some newspaper outfits to have a fair share of advertising revenue as well as expand their readership base while others have derailed and gone moribund. This study therefore seeks to evaluate the interface between online advertising revenue and operations of newspapers in Nigeria. The study adopts the qualitative analytical approach in highlighting relevant concepts to the topic of inquiry and concludes that Nigeria newspaper industry have joined their counterparts all over the world to have online presence and then enjoy a fair share of online advertising revenue. It recommends among others that newspaper establishments in Nigeria should strive to balance their quest for advertising revenue and professional ethics of journalism. Key words: Online advertising revenue, Operations of newspapers, Qualitative analysis, Nigeria.
Microlensing towards the Large Magellanic Cloud

The nature and the location of the lenses discovered in the microlensing surveys done so far towards the LMC remain unclear. Motivated by these questions we compute the optical depth and particularly the number of expected events for self-lensing for both the MACHO and EROS2 observations. We calculate these quantities also for other possible lens populations such as thin and thick disk and galactic spheroid. Moreover, we estimate for each of these components the corresponding average event duration and mean mass using the mass moment method. By comparing the theoretical quantities with the values of the observed events it is possible to put some constraints on the location and the nature of the MACHOs. Clearly, given the large uncertainties and the few events at disposal it is not possible to draw sharp conclusions, nevertheless we find that certainly at least 3-4 MACHO events are due to lenses in LMC, which are most probably low mass stars, but that hardly all events can be due to self-lensing. This conclusions is even stronger when considering the EROS2 events, due to their spatial distribution. The most plausible solution is that the events observed so far are due to lenses belonging to different intervening populations: low mass stars in the LMC, in the thick disk, in the spheroid and possibly some true MACHOs in the halo.
An Enhanced ILD Diagnosis Method using DWT

Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD) is a group of lung diseases affecting lung parenchyma. Since the lesions can be clearly identified in the CT scan of the lung, CT analysis is best among the ways for the identification of ILD by the pathologists. The automated detection of any disease from images uses the same fact that they are diagnosed by the medical professionals by exploiting the appearance features of the image of organ under consideration. Here we are applying the same to detect Lung Diseases from CT images. Segmenting the arteries and veins from the image is one of the major steps in analyzing the medical image. We need an edge enhanced lung image to do the same, so that the vascular tree can be clearly identified. In this implementation, discrete wavelet transform is applied for edge enhancement followed by the dynamic range compression. Wavelet edge enhancement and vessel enhancement filtering comprises the first stage of the algorithm. Vessel enhancement filtering uses the Eigen values of the Hessian of the image. The second stage of the algorithm corresponds to the feature extraction and classification. Feature extraction is done from the cooccurrence matrix of the resulting vessel segmented image. The co-occurrence features of the image forms the input feature vector for fuzzy SVM classifier. The performance of the proposed scheme is evaluated for accuracy.
Visfatin Levels in Iraqi Controlled Diabetic Patients and Uncontrolled Diabetic with Cardiomyopathy

The aim of the present study is to evaluate vifatin levels in uncontrolled diabetic patients and uncontrolled diabetic with cardiomyopathy and compare the results with healthy control. The study included ninety subjects with aged ranged (25-40)years and BMI(< 25)Kg/m 2 . These were which divided into three groups as follows : group 1(G1):consist of 30 individuals as healthy control group, group 2(G2),consist of 30 patients with uncontrolled diabetes mellitus (DM). Group3(G3) consist of 30 patients with uncontrolled DM, and cardiomyopathy as complication. Plasma was used in determination of fasting blood glucose(FBG) ,lipid profile[total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein(HDL), low density lipoprotein(LDL), very low density lipoprotein(VLDL)],C-reactive protein(CRP),insulin and visfatin.The results showed highly significant elevation in FBG, TC, TG, LDL, VLDL, while there are significant reduction in HDL levels when G2 compared with G1. The results, also showed significant elevation in these parameters when G3 compared with G2. The results revealed highly significant elevation in hs-CRP, insulin and visfatin levels when comparing G2 with G1. Also significant elevation in these parameters were noticed when G3 compared withG2.In conclusion, study found that the concentration of visfatin increase in uncontrolled diabetic patients with cardiomyopathy more than uncontrolled diabetic which indicate positive relation between visfatin and heart diseases. This study is the first of which has investigated these relationships. Keyword s : Visfatin , uncontrolled diabetic patients, uncontrolled diabetic with cardiomyopathy
High-school algebra of the theory of dicritical divisors: Atypical fibers for special pencils and polynomials

In this work we deal with dicritical divisors, curvettes and polynomials. These objects have been one of the main research interests of Abhyankar during his last years. In this work we provide some elementary proofs of some Abhyankar and Luengo results for dicriticals in the framework of formal power series. Based on these ideas we give a constructive way to find the atypical fibers of a special pencil and give bounds for its number, which are sharper than the existing ones. Finally, we answer a question of Gwoździewicz finding polynomials that reach his bound.
Methods for Analyzing Survival and Binary Data in Complex Surveys

Studies with stratified cluster designs, called complex surveys, have increased in popularity in medical research recently. With the passing of the Affordable Care Act, more information about effectiveness of treatment, cost of treatment, and patient satisfaction may be gleaned from these large complex surveys. We introduce three separate methodological approaches that are useful in complex surveys. In Chapter 1, we propose a method to create a simulated dataset of clustered survival outcomes with general covariance structure based on a set of covariates. These measurements arise in practice if multiple patients are measured for the same doctor (the cluster) across many doctors. The method proposed in this chapter utilizes the fact that Kendall’s Tau is invariant to monotonic transformations in order to create the survival times based on an underlying normal distribution, which the practicing statistician is likely to be more comfortable with. Such a simulated dataset of correlated survival times could be useful to calculate sample size, power, or to measure the characteristics of new proposed methodology. In Chapter 2, we introduce a method to compare censored survival outcomes in two groups for complex surveys based on linear rank tests. Since the risk sets in a complex survey are not well defined, our proposed method instead utilizes the relationship between the score test of a proportional hazard model and the logrank test to develop the approach in these complex surveys. In order to make this method widely useful, we incorporate propensity scores in order to control for possible confounding effects of other covariates across the two groups. In Chapter 3, we develop a method to reduce bias in a logistic regression model for binary outcome data in complex surveys. Even in large complex surveys, if the domain is small, a small number of successes or failures may be observed.
THE USE OF COMPACT HEAT EXCHANGERS IN HEAT-INTEGRATED DISTILLATION COLUMNS

The Heat-Integrated Distillation Column (HIDiC), in which heat is transferred directly from the rectification section to the stripping section of the column, has a much higher energy efficiency than either a normal distillation column or a vapour-recompression column. Although the HIDiC concept has been researched for a number of years, it has not yet been commercialised. Recent literature describes an embodiment of the concept, which resembles a shell-andtube heat exchanger. However an alternative embodiment based on a compact (plate) heat exchanger has several potential advantages over the shell-and-tube design. These advantages include compactness, a closer temperature approach, modular structure, and flexibility in design. In order to investigate the feasibility of a HIDiC design based on a plate-fin heat exchanger, a computer program has been developed. This approach is based on an existing model for conventional distillation, coupled to a spreadsheet program that incorporates correlations for such factors as flooding, wetting, and fin efficiency, and that takes account of geometric constraints in the plate-fin design. The software was applied in a preliminary case study for a propane-propene splitter. This confirmed the scope for energy savings, with energy savings of about 37% compared to a vapour-recompression column. First indications suggest that the economics may also be favourable. It was concluded that the plate-fin design is feasible in principle. However the required hydraulic diameter was larger than currently available in commercial plate-fin heat exchangers.
Monitoring Pheasants (Phasianidae) in the Western Himalayas to Measure the Impact of Hydro-Electric Projects

ABSTRACT Jolli V. , Pandit M.K. 2011. Monitoring pheasants (Phasianidae) in the Western Himalayas tomeasure the impact of hydro-electric projects. Ring 33, 1-2: 37-46. In this study, we monitored pheasants abundance to measure the impact of a hydroelectric development project. The pheasants abundance was monitored using “call count” and line transect methods during breeding seasons in 2009-2011. Three call count stations and 3 transects were laid with varying levels of anthropogenic disturbance. To understand how the hydro power project could effect the pheasant population in the Jiwa Valley, we monitored it under two conditions; in the presence of hydro-electric project (HEP) construction and when human activity significantly declined. The Koklass Pheasant (Pucrasiamacrolopha), Cheer Pheasant (Catreus wallichi) and Western Tragopan (Tragopan melanocephalus) were not recorded in Manjhan Adit in 2009. During 2010 and 2011 springs, the construction activity was temporarily discontinued in Manjhan Adit. The pheasants responded positively to this and their abundance increased near disturbed sites (Manjhan Adit). The strong response of pheasants to anthropogenic disturbance has ecological application and thus can be used by wildlife management in the habitat quality monitoring in the Himalayan Mountains.
M&A in the Construction Industry -Wealth Effects of Diversification into Real Estate Life Cycle Related Services

Since the late 1990s, the construction industry has undergone a change in business model, as contractors vertically expand their operations to other parts of the real estate life cycle. The question arises on whether construction companies have superior abilities as real estate service providers. We have examined the value implications of 106 large merger and acquisition (M&A) transactions in the construction industry worldwide from 1986 to 2006. We inquire if a vertical expansion of the construction value chain in the real estate life cycle through M&A leads to the creation of shareholder value. We find out that this is not the case. M&A success is mainly determined by industry-specific size effects and common agency conflicts.