Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stand development effects on N₂-fixation and seedling performance in northern boreal forests

For large parts of the Swedish boreal forests, stand development starts with clear-cutting. Still, much is unknown about how stand development affects ecosystem processes and how these processes are driven by changes in vegetation and soil properties that occur during stand development. In this thesis, the processes of feather moss associated N₂-fixation and tree seedling regeneration are examined along a post clear-cut chronosequence which consisted of 32 stands; eight in each of four development stages with mean ages of 4, 16, 34, and 123 years. Stand development had statistically significant effects on the total amount of N fixed at the stand level. The N₂-fixation rates initially increased after clear-cutting and peaked in the 16-year old stands at rates of 1.0 kg N ha-1 yr-1, after which the rates declined and remained at levels similar to those found in young clear-cut stands even when stands had reached maturity. This pattern was associated with high moss biomass and positive effects of local conditions on N fixed per kg moss mass in the 16-year old stands. The cumulative contribution of N₂-fixation to the total accrual of N per ha in the aboveground vegetation and humus layer during one stand rotation was about 9%. Stand development had negative effects on the growth of Pinus sylvestris seedlings as a consequence of changes in the canopy. In contrast, the effect of stand development on Picea abies seedling growth was mainly driven by soil properties, and seedlings performed best when grown in soils originating from the 34-year old stands. Seedling mortality decreased with stand age for both P. sylvestris and P. abies seedlings, which was mainly caused by a positive effect of the canopy. The effect of several moss species on P. sylvestris seedling growth was further explored in a greenhouse mesocosm experiment. Seedling growth was most negatively affected by Hylocomium splendens and in pots with high moss biomass, likely driven by differences in moss depth related to moss species and moss biomass. This thesis shows that stand development has strong effects on N₂-fixation rates and the performance of P. sylvestris and P. abies seedlings in production forests. However, these effects and their drivers do not necessarily respond linearly to stand development and can differ between moss and tree species with potential long-term consequences for the functioning of boreal forests.
Reconstruct the Support Vectors to Improve LSSVM Sparseness for Mill Load Prediction

The sparse strategy plays a significant role in the application of the least square support vector machine (LSSVM), to alleviate the condition that the solution of LSSVM is lacking sparseness and robustness. In this paper, a sparse method using reconstructed support vectors is proposed, which has also been successfully applied to mill load prediction. Different from other sparse algorithms, it no longer selects the support vectors from training data set according to the ranked contributions for optimization of LSSVM. Instead, the reconstructed data is obtained first based on the initial model with all training data. Then, select support vectors from reconstructed data set according to the location information of density clustering in training data set, and the process of selecting is terminated after traversing the total training data set. Finally, the training model could be built based on the optimal reconstructed support vectors and the hyperparameter tuned subsequently. What is more, the paper puts forward a supplemental algorithm to subtract the redundancy support vectors of previous model. Lots of experiments on synthetic data sets, benchmark data sets, and mill load data sets are carried out, and the results illustrate the effectiveness of the proposed sparse method for LSSVM.
Does high indebtedness increase natural resource exploitation?

The debt-resource-hypothesis suggests that high indebtedness leads to increased natural resource exploitation as well as more unsustainable patterns of resource use. Countries with high debt burdens supposedly increase their extraction of fossil fuels and mineral resources as well as their production of so-called cash crops in order to service their debt obligations. In spite of its popularity, there have been few attempts to systematically test the hypothesis. Existing analyses refer to deforestation only and come to mixed results. This study fills a gap in testing the hypothesis more comprehensively for 23 natural resources and cash crops. It uses first differencing, period-specific time dummies, and a lagged dependent variable to mitigate omitted variable bias. No evidence is found that would support the debt-resource-hypothesis.
MEASURING THE QUALITY OF E-SERVICES AND ITS IMPACT ON STUDENTS SATISFACTION AT JORDANIAN UNIVERSITIES

This research aims at measuring the quality of E-Services and its impact on student satisfaction at Jordanian universities. Toward this aim, a research model was developed and tested within the context of Jordanian universities. A questionnaire consisting of 40 (Likert) type items were distributed to a convenience sample of 755 respondents. Primary data were collected from 703 students with a response rate of 90.7%. SPSS package was used to determine if the quality of E-services dimensions (Website design, reliability, efficiency, responsiveness, ease of use, availability and privacy) has an impact on students’ satisfaction. The results show that all of the E-services dimensions have an impact on students satisfaction expect for the dimension of ease of use. In addition, the researchers present some recommendations for universities to apply e-services quality dimensions through websites, and some suggestions for future research.
Off Bragg blazing for TM polarization with rectangular gratings

Perfect blazing to the m=-l spectral order was once assumed to be possible for only Bragg angle incidence, i.e. for an angled = sin 1 (^) from the normal to the grating surface, where d/A is the grating period in wavelengths. The diffracted beam is then back in the direction of incidence, an inconvenience in most applications such as multiplexers, de-multiplexers and frequency scanned antennas. Off Bragg blazing is preferable and now can be done with high efficiency. Here off Bragg blazing for T M polarized incidence on rectangular groove gratings is investigated numerically and design curves are presented. It is a consequence of reciprocity that off Bragg blaze angles must occur in pairs #1 and 62 and these are related by a generalization of the Bragg equation sin 9\ + sin 92 — 2 • F ° r groove width to period ratios a/d=0.5 perfect off Bragg blazing occurs most frequently for periods 0.9<d/A<1.0 and groove depth 0.1<h/A<0.24. It is for periods d/A in this range that the larger deviations 6\ — 82 are possible. Off Bragg blazing is found to occur for 0.4<a/d<0.9999, but the larger deviations and hence the more potentially useful designs appear to occur foxa/d K, 0.5. The numerical results correlate well with earlier numerical and experimental data.
Detection of the etiologic agent of necrotizing hepatopancreatitis in cultured Penaeus vannamei from Texas and Peru by polymerase chain reaction

Necrotizing hepatopancreatitis (NHP) is a severe bacterial disease that was previously identified solely in cultured Penaeus vannamei, the Pacific white shrimp, from Texas (USA). In January 1993, a disease with similar clinical and histopathologic features to NHP was diagnosed in P vannamei cultured in Peru. Oligonucleotide primers derived from variable regions V5, V8 and V9 of the 16s ribosomal RNA gene sequence enabled polymerase chain reaction (PCR) confirmation of the diagnosis of NHP in both Texan and Peruvian shrimp. The PCR amplification products from the clinical specimens were compared to the PCR amplification product obtained from a sucrose-gradient purified sample of bacteria that was previously used to reproduce NHP. In this study, fingerprinting by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) analysis of the PCR products was used to compare the isolates. Results indicate that hepatopancreatic lesions are caused by the same bacterium in both Texas and Peru. Negative results were obtained from uninfected shrimp and shrimp infected with Vibr~o spp. , as well as DNA extracted from Brucella abortus, Ehrlichia risticji, SalmoneUa enteritidis, Agrobacterium tumefaciens and Streptococcus crlae.
Option Pricing Performance under Stochastic Volatility in Japanese Security Market

A clasp of the unfolding buckle type comprises a branch and an arm hinged at one of its ends to a first end of the branch. The branch has a lateral side face arranged opposite a lateral side face of the arm in a closed position of the clasp, and the clasp includes an elastically deformable element for jamming the clasp in the closed position. The elastically deformable element in the closed position of the clasp extends into a housing formed by a longitudinal hollow provided in the lateral side face of the branch and by a longitudinal hollow provided in the lateral side face of the arm.
ÚSTAV CHEMIE MATERIÁLŮ RESEARCH OF COATINGS OF HYDRODYNAMICALLY LUBRICATED SLIDING BEARINGS FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES RESEARCH OF COATINGS OF HYDRODYNAMICALLY LUBRICATED SLIDING BEARINGS FOR COMBUSTION ENGINES

The aim of this thesis is the research and characterisation of new sliding bearing overlay with advanced tribological properties based on the polyamide-imide matrix and solid lubricants. The background for the material composition came from the joint initial expertise of commercial coating layer, respectively its surface observation under boundary operational conditions which provided input for improved wear and friction characteristics. Oil characterisation before and after tribotesting and detailed surface chemistry analysis was performed to investigate polymer coating behaviour in stressed lubricated condistions. Further development of coating technique with preparation of newly formulated paint is introduced. Finally, the developed PAI coating with MoS2 and graphite as lubricants for frictional improvement and calcium hydroxide as potential wear improvement additive were studied and evaluated for bearing application. KLÍČOVÁ SLOVA Kluzná ložiska, povlak, mazání, tribologické vlastnosti, opotřebení, tření.
Catalytic Natural Gas Utilization on Unconventional Oil Upgrading

The upgrading of unconventional oil using methane, the principal component of natural gas, is a promising alternative method to the conventional hydrotreating process, which consumes naturally unavailable H 2 at high pressures. Methanotreating is an economi- cally attractive process with abundant and readily available raw materials to accomplish the upgrading of bio-oil and to attain improved oil quality. The application of methane as the H donor avoids the energy consumption and CO 2 rejection during the reform- ing of methane to produce H 2 . More product oil is also obtained through the incorpo- ration of methane into the product oil. Ag/ZSM-5, Zn/ZSM-5 and Ag-Zn/ZSM-5 have been employed to upgrade bio-oil under methane environment to achieve increased oil yield and H/C molar ratio, suppressed total acid number and unsaturation degree of the product oil. Ag-Zn/ZSM-5 is used to catalyze the methanotreating of heavy oil to attain lower viscosity accompanied with good stability and compatibility, which are critical for the pipeline transportation of heavy oil to downstream refineries. Higher gasoline and diesel fractions, increased H/C molar ratio, lower total acid number are witnessed upon the upgrading in the presence of Ag-Zn/ZSM-5 under methane environment. The mechanism studies practiced in the literature using methods including solid-state NMR and FTIR have revealed at least two reaction pathways, i.e., carbenium pathway and alkyl pathway, to accomplish the activation of methane, which is crucial for the involve- ment of methane in the following upgrading reaction steps. The reaction thermodynamics and reaction intermediates have also been explored by computational approaches by researchers. These observations and achievements will encourage more researchers to develop more catalyst systems and attain improved catalytic performance in the unconventional oil upgrading using natural gas.
Variational Principles for Problems with Linear Constraints: Prescribed Jumps and Continuation Type Restrictions

Abstract : A general theory of the problems subjected to linear constraints is developed. As applications, a problem for which the solutions are required to satisfy prescribed jumps and another one whose solutions are restricted to be such that they can be continued smoothly into solutions of given equations in neighboring regions, are formulated abstractly. General variational principles for these types of problem are reported. In addition it is shown that sets of functions that can be extended in the manner explained above constitute, generally, completely regular subspaces, here defined. These results have a bearing on boundary methods which are being developed for treating numerically partial differential equations associated with many problems of Science and Engineering. (Author)
Credit Default Swaps Drawup Networks: Too Tied to Be Stable?

We analyse time series of CDS spreads for a set of major US and European institutions on a pe- riod overlapping the recent financial crisis. We extend the existing methodology of {\epsilon}-drawdowns to the one of joint {\epsilon}-drawups, in order to estimate the conditional probabilities of abrupt co-movements among spreads. We correct for randomness and for finite size effects and we find significant prob- ability of joint drawups for certain pairs of CDS. We also find significant probability of trend rein- forcement, i.e. drawups in a given CDS followed by drawups in the same CDS. Finally, we take the matrix of probability of joint drawups as an estimate of the network of financial dependencies among institutions. We then carry out a network analysis that provides insights into the role of systemically important financial institutions.
Intangible Capital and China’s Economic Growth: Evidence from Input–Output Tables

This study uses data from input–output tables and a methodology adopted from Corrado et al. (2009) to provide empirical evidence of the role of intangible capital in China according to industrial sector. In so doing, it offers a new methodology for measuring the role of intangible capital in a country where data on intangible capital are inadequate. It finds that growth in intangible capital explains almost 20 per cent of total factor productivity (TFP) growth in China over the period 1997– 2012. Moreover, these effects of intangible capital remain robust under various forms of sensitivity analysis including bootstrap regressions, the Levinsohn and Petrin (LP) (2003) approach and changes in the depreciation rate. At the sectoral level, we find that research and development (R&D), which embodies innovation, plays a more important role in agriculture than do economic competency or computerised information, but the role of economic competency is more important in the services and light-industry sectors than are R&D and computerised information.
Size-resolved mixing state of black carbon in the Canadian high Arctic and implications for simulated direct radiative effect

Abstract. Transport of anthropogenic aerosol into the Arctic in the spring months has the potential to affect regional climate; however, modeling estimates of the aerosol direct radiative effect (DRE) are sensitive to uncertainties in the mixing state of black carbon (BC). A common approach in previous modeling studies is to assume an entirely external mixture (all primarily scattering species are in separate particles from BC) or internal mixture (all primarily scattering species are mixed in the same particles as BC). To provide constraints on the size-resolved mixing state of BC, we use airborne single-particle soot photometer (SP2) and ultrahigh-sensitivity aerosol spectrometer (UHSAS) measurements from the Alfred Wegener Institute (AWI) Polar 6 flights from the NETCARE/PAMARCMIP2015 campaign to estimate coating thickness as a function of refractory BC (rBC) core diameter and the fraction of particles containing rBC in the springtime Canadian high Arctic. For rBC core diameters in the range of 140 to 220 nm, we find average coating thicknesses of approximately 45 to 40 nm, respectively, resulting in ratios of total particle diameter to rBC core diameters ranging from 1.6 to 1.4. For total particle diameters ranging from 175 to 730 nm, rBC-containing particle number fractions range from 16 % to 3 %, respectively. We combine the observed mixing-state constraints with simulated size-resolved aerosol mass and number distributions from GEOS-Chem–TOMAS to estimate the DRE with observed bounds on mixing state as opposed to assuming an entirely external or internal mixture. We find that the pan-Arctic average springtime DRE ranges from −1.65 to −1.34 W m−2 when assuming entirely externally or internally mixed BC. This range in DRE is reduced by over a factor of 2 (−1.59 to −1.45 W m−2) when using the observed mixing-state constraints. The difference in DRE between the two observed mixing-state constraints is due to an underestimation of BC mass fraction in the springtime Arctic in GEOS-Chem–TOMAS compared to Polar 6 observations. Measurements of mixing state provide important constraints for model estimates of DRE.
Computational study on ruthenium anticancer complexes in the presence of Reactive Oxygen Species

Diese Masterarbeit behandelt die Reduktions-Oxidationschemie von Rutheniumkomplexen in der Gegenwart von reaktiven Sauerstoffspezies (ROS). KP1019 und NAMI-A, zwei Rutheniumverbindungen, die sich zur Zeit in klinischen Studien befinden, wurden als Modellssysteme zur Untersuchung chemischer Reaktionen mittels einer Dichtefunktionaltheorie (DFT)- Methode verwendet. Der Zweck dieser Arbeit ist es, Wissen uber die Chemie dieser Verbindungen in der Gegenwart von Wasserstoffperoxid zu erlangen und eventuelle Folgereaktionen zu studieren. Damit wollen wir dazu beitragen, die Reaktionsmechanismen von KP1019 und NAMI-A mit ROS aufzuklaren. Letztenendes ist das Ziel, Schlussfolgerungen uber die moglichen redoxchemischen Wirkmechanismen von Rutheniumantikrebsverbindungen in vivo zu ziehen.
Quantifying Acoustic and Pressure Sensing for In-Pipe Leak Detection

Experiments were carried out to study the effectiveness of using inside-pipe measurements for leak detection in plastic pipes. Acoustic and pressure signals due to simulated leaks, opened to air, are measured and studied for designing a detection system to be deployed inside water networks of 100 mm (4 inch) pipe size. Results showed that leaks as small as 2 l/min can be detected using both hydrophone and dynamic pressure transducer under low pipe flow rates. The ratio between pipe flow rate and leak flow rate seems to be more important than the absolute value of leak flow. Increasing this ratio resulted in diminishing and low frequency leak signals. Sensor location and directionality, with respect to the leak, are important in acquiring clean signal.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Changing from watermelon measures to real decision support: including information about variation in performance measurements

This paper describes a case study using an action research approach studying the change of performance measurement review in two management teams at a large international company. The visualization of performance measurements is changed from only showing if the target is met (red and green figures) into displaying variation over time by using control charts. Several advantages, e.g. predictability and guidance of suitable actions, occurred. Important concepts in the underlying system to consider, being able to make this transformation are: quality of data, to understand the concept of variation and to train a team as a team.
A LTE MIMO OTA Test System Using Vector Signal Transceivers

A 2 × 2 multiple-input-multiple-output over-the-air (MIMO OTA) test system based on four field-programmable Vector-Signal-Transceiver (VST) modules is presented. The system enables 2 x 2 MIMO OTA testing by assembling of a twochannel Evolved Node B (eNodeB) LTE base station emulator, a 2x2 channel emulator, and a two-channel user equipment (UE) simulator. A two-stage MIMO OTA test method has been demonstrated with downlink Long-Term Evolution Time-Division Duplex (LTE-TDD) mode using different modulation and coding schemes (MCSs). Test results and analysis are shown. This system will allow a systematic study of MIMO OTA metrology needs.
Structural Dimensions and Functions of Structure Influencing Agribusiness Enterprises : Mechanistic Vs Organic Systems Approach

The main aim of the study is to evaluate the structural dimensions and functions of structure influencing agribusiness enterprises: mechanistic vs. organic systems approach. Systematic or quasi-random sampling was used. The sample size for this research was made up of twenty (26) small-to-medium scale agribusiness enterprises in Benue State, Nigeria, from a population of fifty two (52). One hundred and two (102) respondents were framed for this study. Preliminary analysis sub-divided agribusiness enterprises into mechanistic and organic enterprises. The mechanistic agribusiness enterprises had higher correlations in terms of written procedures, job descriptions, policy manuals and rules and regulations. Tasks performed by organic agribusiness enterprises are not fractionated and the levels of job qualification were not highly specialized compared to mechanistic enterprises. Respondents in mechanistic and overall agribusiness enterprises had a more dissatisfied feeling when decisions are made exclusively by top management. For organic agribusiness enterprises to be innovative, they must improve on their formalization of job descriptions, policy manuals and rules and regulations. To improve the image of employees and the organization, vertical differentiation and the number of supervisors in organic agribusiness enterprises must be increased and defined properly. Mechanistic agribusiness enterprises should allow decentralization so as to foster intrapreneurship.
Preparation of colloidal silver nanoparticles and structural characterization

In this paper, we prepare silver nanoparticles colloids by using polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP) of four different molecular weights (MW = 10000, 29000, 40000, 55000) as a protective agent, dextrose as reduction agent and by adding urea which produce intermediates AgOCN and Ag2CO3. Results indicated that PVP effects against agglomeration would depend to a great extent on the hydroxide and urea concentrations used in the reaction medium. When NaOH was dominant, the reaction rate was very fast and hence only PVP with large molecular weight produced small silver colloids of sizes around 20 nm. On the other hand, when urea was dominant, the reaction path was significantly changed and slowed down as well; under this circumstance, PVP with MW of 10000 offered the best protection against agglomeration, it produced silver colloids of only 26 nm. A part of our silver nanoparticles was extracted as powder, to be characterized by XRD, and another part was deposited on glass substrates, by spin-coating, in order to be characterized by AFM. X-ray diffraction spectra confirmed the formation of metallic silver nanoparticles with preferred orientation along (111) plane. The AFM images showed that the silver nanoparticles are spherical and relatively uniform. After a proper washing process, much of PVP could be removed, and TGA characterization showed that the residual quantity of PVP on silver is about 5 wt% for most samples.