Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Authors’ response to referee comments on “Oscillations in a simple climate-vegetation model”

We formulate and analyze a simple dynamical systems model for climate–vegetation interaction. The planet we consider consists of a large ocean and a land surface on which vegetation can grow. The temperature affects vegetation growth on land and the amount of sea ice on the ocean. Conversely, vegetation and sea ice change the albedo of the planet, which in turn changes its energy balance and hence the temperature evolution. Our highly idealized, conceptual model is governed 5 by two nonlinear, coupled ordinary differential equations, one for global temperature, the other for vegetation cover. The model exhibits either bistability between a vegetated and a desert state or oscillatory behavior. The oscillations arise through a Hopf bifurcation off the vegetated state, when the death rate of vegetation is low enough. These oscillations are anharmonic and exhibit a sawtooth shape that is characteristic of relaxation oscillations, as well as suggestive of the sharp deglaciations 10 of the Quaternary. Our model’s behavior can be compared, on the one hand, with the bistability of even simpler, Daisyworld-style climate–vegetation models. On the other hand, it can be integrated into the hierarchy of models trying to simulate and explain oscillatory behavior in the climate system. Rigorous mathematical results are obtained that link the nature of the feedbacks with the nature and the sta15 bility of the solutions. The relevance of model results to climate variability on various time scales is discussed.
Modeled climate variability of the Arctic atmosphere, the impact of Greenland, vertical resolution, and different land surface schemes

Recent climate modeling studies have highlighted the Arctic as a region of particular importance and vulnerability to global climate changes. However, the results from different models as well as from different scenarios disagree regarding both the magnitude of the projected climate changes and the regional aspects of these changes. These discrepancies appear in consequence of inadequacies in the parameterization of physical processes and the fairly coarse horizontal resolution of global models. Natural climate variability is likely to affect the future Arctic climate evolution as well, since recently observed climate changes over northern latitudes could partly be attributed to changes in the atmospheric circulation regime, especially to regime changes of the North Atlantic Oscillation (NAO).
Maximizing Yields, Nutrient Uptake and Balance for Mustard-Mungbean-T. Aman Rice Cropping Systems through Nutrient Management Practices in Calcareous Soils

The experiment was conducted to measure crop yields, nutrient concentration, nutrient uptake and balance by using different nutrient management practices for mustard-mungbean-T. aman rice cropping system in calcareous soil of Madaripur, Bangladesh. Different nutrient management practices were absolute nutrient control (T1); farmer’s practice (T2); AEZ based nutrient application (T3) and soil test based nutrient application (T4). The practices were compared in a randomized completely block design with three replications over two consecutive years. The average yield through application of soil test based nutrient (T4) was showed effective to get highest yields of mustard (1530 kg ha-1), mungbean (1632 kg ha-1) and T. aman rice (4729 kg ha-1). The same practices (T4) exhibited the greatest nutrients uptake by the test crops. The apparent balance of N and K was negative; however it was less negative and less deficiency detect in T4 treatment. Positive balance of P observed in all practices except in T1. There was a positive S balance (7.60 kg ha-1) in T4 but negative in T1, T2 and T3. Zinc balance was found positive in T3 and T4 and negative in T1 and T2. Boron balance in the system was neutral or slightly positive in T1 and negative in T2 but positive in T3 and T4. Organic matter, N, P, S, Zn and B status in soil was improved by T4 treatment. The results suggested that the soil test based nutrient application is viable and sustainable for mustard-mungbean-T. aman rice cropping system in calcareous soils of Bangladesh.
On the absorbability of the Guessing Game Theory - A Theoretical and Experimental Analysis

Theory absorption, a notion introduced by Morgenstern and SchwA¶diauer (1972) and further elaborated by GA¼th and Kliemt (2004), discusses the problem whether a theory can survive its own acceptance. Whereas this holds for strategic equilibria according to the assumptions on which they are based, the problem if theories are absorbable by at most boundedly rational decision makers is hardly discussed. Based on guessing game experiments we discuss the requirements of equilibrium theory absorption and test experimentally the effects of informing none, some or all players about how to derive equilibrium predictions.
An optimized model for a thermally comfortable Dutch urban square

Is there a model for a thermally comfortable mid-sized urban square in the Dutch climate context which offers sufficient wind protection and a good distribution of sun- and shade places? To answer this question, a ‘research by design’ process was followed. This process included the design of different alternatives of spatial configurations that were expected to generate thermal comfort in different seasons. These configurations were then tested with Envi-met® simulations on their effects for different seasons and different squares. The ‘research by design’ process showed that for the Dutch context of mid- sized urban squares the most optimal model that could be developed and tested, were sequences of ‘urban shelterbelts’. These consist of 25 m high deciduous trees and have transparent wind screens in the trunk space. The ‘urban shelterbelts’, when placed perpendicular to the dominant Southwesterly winds both protect the squares from these winds and also offer sufficient shaded situations. This optimized model can be used to address thermal comfort in urban square design, but it needs to be adjusted to each place and embedded in the integral design of a square.
The determinant of capital structure in cane production companies (case study: Holding Company of Cane Development and Sidelong Industrial)

The capital structure and its determinants is an important issue in the field of corporate finance . By presenting ideas in a v ariety of research , looking for a way to determine the optimal capital structure The company's c ost of capital and inc rease firm value are minimize. The results show that the ratio of instantaneous and there is a significant negative relationship between profitability and c apital structure. The c apital structure has positive relationship with government aid. After collec ting and proc essing information from the financial statements of the subsidiaries of the holding, using Ev iews and Stata software and data c ombined hypothesis test is performed. The results show that the ratio of profitability and c apital structure immediate and signific ant negative relationship. With the help of panel regression, we have found that size, LIQ and profitability have the negative relationship and aid of government (B) ha s the positiv e relationship with the leverage.
PII: S0263-2373(02)00110-X

Our research has shown that the most valuable activities in knowledge management focus on creating knowledge networks that extend beyond the traditional concept of communities of practice. ‘Business Opportunity’ and ‘Best Practice Transfer’ networks have been shown to directly contribute to the creation of value within firms. In order to foster these value creating networks, we propose a four stage process illustrated by examples of the companies that we have investigated in detail.  2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Recasting the International Financial Agenda

This paper argues that the agenda for international financial reform must be broadened in at least two senses. First of all, it should go beyond the issues of financial prevention and resolution to those associated with development finance for poor and small countries, and to the “ownership” of economic and development policies by countries. Secondly, it should consider, in a systematic fashion, not only the role of world institutions but also of regional arrangements and the explicit definition of areas where national autonomy should be maintained. These issues should be tabled in a representative, balanced negotiation process. In the area of financial crisis prevention and resolution, a balance must be struck between the need to improve the institutional framework in which financial markets operate and the still insufficient attention to the design of appropriate schemes to guarantee the coherence of macroeconomic policies worldwide, the enhanced provision of emergency financing during crises, and the creation of adequate debt standstill and orderly debt workout procedures. In the area of development finance, emphasis should be given to the need to increase funding to low-income countries. The role of multilateral development banks in counter-cyclical financing – including support to social safety nets during crises – must also be emphasized. The enhanced provision of emergency and development financing should be accompanied by a renewed international agreement on the limits of conditionality and a recognition of the central role of the “ownership” of development and macroeconomic policies by developing countries. Regional and subregional institutions should play an essential role in the supply of “global public goods” and other services in international finance. The required financial architecture should in some cases have the nature of a network of institutions that provide the services required in a complementary fashion (in the areas of emergency financing surveillance of macroeconomic policies, prudential regulation and supervision of domestic financial systems, etc.), and in others (particularly in development finance) should exhibit the characteristics of a system of competitive organizations. The fact that any new order would continue to have the characteristics of an incomplete “financial safety net” implies both that national policies would continue to play a disproportionate role in crisis prevention and that certain areas should continue to be realms of national autonomy, particularly capital account regulations and the choice of exchange rate regimes.
Generalized ESO and Predictive Control Based Robust Autopilot Design

A novel continuous time predictive control and generalized extended state observer (GESO) based acceleration tracking pitch autopilot design is proposed for a tail controlled, skid-to-turn tactical missile. As the dynamics of missile are significantly uncertain with mismatched uncertainty, GESO is employed to estimate the state and uncertainty in an integrated manner. The estimates are used to meet the requirement of state and to robustify the output tracking predictive controller designed for nominal system. Closed loop stability for the controller-observer structure is established. An important feature of the proposed design is that it does not require any specific information about the uncertainty. Also the predictive control design yields the feedback control gain and disturbance compensation gain simultaneously. Effectiveness of GESO in estimation of the states and uncertainties and in robustifying the predictive controller in the presence of parametric uncertainties, external disturbances, unmodeled dynamics, and measurement noise is illustrated by simulation.
Lagging Strand Synthesis and Genomic Stability

In eukaryotic cells, DNA replication starts at many origins in each chromosome during S phase of cell cycle. Each origin is activated at different time points in S phase, which takes place once and only once per cell cycle. In yeast and most likely higher eukaryotes, the origin-recognition complex (ORC) and several other initiation factors play a pivotal role in activation and regulation of replication origins. Briefly, the ORC-bound origins are sequentially activated and deactivated along the progression of cell cycle. The prereplicative complex (pre-RC) is formed by loading the replicative helicase MCM complex onto the ORC-bound origins with the aid of Cdc6 and Cdt1. This complex is activated by S-phase cyclin dependent kinases (Cdks) when cells enter S phase. The elevated levels of Cdk activities lead to removal of some initiation proteins such as Cdc6 by proteolysis, allowing the pre-RC to be further activated for subsequent DNA synthesis. The irreversible removal of initiation factors is a major mechanism to ensure DNA to be replicated once and only once per cell cycle. The assembly of replication initiation complex and its activation are well reviewed in many literatures (Sclafani & Holzen, 2007; Remus & Diffley, 2009; Araki, 2010). Activation of origins leads to the establishment of bidirectional replication forks for the DNA synthesis of leading and lagging strands.
THE REVIEW OF PLANNING PRACTICE IN BROWNFIELD REGENERATION-SOME EUROPEAN EXPERIENCES

The research subject is the analysis of the possible ways to achieve stakeholder compliance in the brownfi eld regeneration process. In a narrow sense, the treatment of brownfi eld sites within different planning systems is considered. Each of the selected planning systems is described through the institutional structure as well as the regulative framework. The aim of the paper is to show urban planning mechanisms that are used for the establishment of collaboration between different stakeholders involved in brownfi eld regeneration. In the very beginning, a brief history of spatial development is given. A special emphasis is on the current trends in the brownfi eld regeneration. The central part of the paper deals with the overview of selected examples in terms of brownfi eld regeneration. It is followed by the overview of the institutional aspect within the planning system in Switzerland and Austria. The determination of the responsible institutions for the brownfi eld regeneration process is of particular importance. Also, it is important to show the basic documents dealing with the above-mentioned topics. However, the focus of research concerns the collaborative procedures to achieve the successful regeneration of brownfi elds. Those results stem from the analysis of the brownfi eld sites examples. Namely, the fi rst example relates to the regeneration of wood-industry complex in the Swiss town of Solothurn, while the second case indicates the regeneration of cable and wire factory in Vienna. The fi nal section of the paper systemizes the experiences from the developed countries which provide a possible formulation of general brownfi eld regeneration model to be applied within different contexts.
A study of chemical structure of soft and hardwood and wood polymers by FTIR spectroscopy

Hard and softwood and wood constituent polymers (cellulose and lignin) were studied using Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. The hollocellulose-to-lignin ratio was estimated for some of the timber species. The structural difference between Klason lignin isolated from softwood (Pinus roxberghii and cupressus lusitanica) and hard wood (Acacia auriculaeformis and Eucalyptus tereticornis) species was studied. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 71: 1969–1975, 1999
Fish herpesvirus diseases: a short review of current knowledge

Fish herpesviruses can cause significant economic losses in aquaculture, and some of these viruses are oncogenic. The virion morphology and genome organization of fish herpesviruses are generally similar to those of higher vertebrates, but the phylogenetic connections between herpesvirus families are tenuous. In accordance with new taxonomy, fish herpesviruses belong to the family Alloherpesviridae in the order Herpesvirales. Fish herpesviruses can induce diseases ranging from mild, inapparent infections to serious ones that cause mass mortality. The aim of this work was to summarize the present knowledge about fish herpesvirus diseases.
Automobile Tire Assessment: A Multi-Criteria Approach

In response to the present dynamic market, automobile manufacturing industries are constantly evaluating and improving their manufacturing strategies to stay competitive. It is also evident that they evaluate those strategies considering multiple criteria. In one such case, an automobile project manager has to ensure that the selected tire (among the available alternatives) complies with the prospective automobile’s performance. This paper presents an approach for the assessment of alternative automobile tires taking into account multiple criteria, such as tire sustainability, tire road performance, environmental issues, tire purchase cost and tire road grip. The presented approach is quite helpful to any decision maker who is interested not only in ranking alternatives but also in establishing the superiority of an alternative over others. The approach also helps to specify the position of each alternative with respect to ideal solution. A case illustration is used to demonstrate an application of the approach.
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN EMPLOYEE REWARDS AND EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE IN PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN MACHAKOS COUNTY, KENYA

The purpose of this study was to establish the relationship between rewards and employee performance in public secondary schools in Machakos County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were to determine to what extent remuneration, working conditions, fringe benefits and career advancement influence employee performance. The study was based on the Equity Theory of motivation, Expectancy Theory and Two Factor Theory. The target population comprised of 175 employees in public secondary schools in Machakos County. They all participated in the study. The study adopted a descriptive survey research design. A questionnaire was used to collect data from the respondents. The collected data was analyzed and presented by use of tables. Regression analysis was used to test the relationship between rewards and employee performance. The findings were that the respondents were not adequately rewarded for the work done. The researcher's recommendation was that there was need for the school management and TSC to be trained and sensitized about the value of having performance based rewards systems and the importance of involving employees in rewards decision making. The education stakeholders should not only reward employees but also reward them based on the rewards they value. This will make them satisfied thus improving their performance. Keywords: Remuneration, Working Conditions, Fringe Benefits, Career Advancement, Employee Performance
Using Financial Market Information to Enhance Canadian Fiscal Policy

In this article we argue that the evaluation and implementation of Canadian fiscal policy could be significantly improved through the systematic use of information provided by global financial markets. in particular, we show how the information contained in internationally traded asset returns can be used to (1) provide a more meaningful cyclical-adjustment of the budget deficit, (2) assess the sustainability of the public debt, and (3) reduce the risk of the debt becoming unsustainable without having to run excessively large surpluses.
It is raining (somewhere). Expanded version

The received view about meteorological predicates like ‘rain' is that they carry an argument slot for a location which can be filled explicitly or implicitly. The view assumes that ‘rain', in the absence of an explicit location, demands that the context provide a specific location. In an earlier article, I have provided a counter-example to that claim, viz. a context in which ‘it is raining' receives a location-indefinite interpretation. On the basis of that example, I have argued that when there is tacit reference to a location, it takes place for pragmatic reasons and casts no light on the semantics of meteorological predicates. But several authors have reanalysed the counter-example, so as to make it compatible with the standard view. I discuss those attempts, and argue that my account is better. Methodological considerations concerning the relations between pragmatics and logical form are offered along the way.
Inverter control using output feedback for power compensating devices

This paper presents an inverter control strategy using output feedback control. The controller is designed in discrete-time using a pole shifting law in the polynomial domain that radially shifts the open-loop system poles towards the origin. This type of inverter control is very useful for custom power applications in which the inverters have to inject unbalanced and/or harmonic voltage or current or both for neutralizing voltage or current imbalance or harmonics. The proposed controller design is tested on three different compensating type custom power devices: the Distribution Static Compensator (DSTATCOM), the Dynamic Voltage Restorer (DVR) and the Unified Power Quality Conditioner (UPQC). The simulations have been carried out using PSCAD/EMTDC.
Review of ultrasound mediated drug delivery for cancer treatment: updates from pre-clinical studies

Therapeutic ultrasound has been used to thermally ablate solid tumors since the 90s, and a variety of cancers are presently being treated clinically, taking advantage of ultrasound- or MR-imaging guidance and monitoring. However, an ever-increasing body of preclinical literature demonstrates how ultrasound can achieve bioeffects beyond thermal ablation, including non-invasive drug delivery to target cancer cells. In this review, we will provide a summary of in vivo ultrasound-based strategies shown to deliver drug payloads to tumor environments, to enhance permeability of vessel walls and cell membranes, and to activate drugs and genes in situ .
E-BANKING ADOPTION IN LIBYA

E-banking technology is gaining widespread adoption in the banking industry across developed countries. The case, however, is different in less developed nations, such as Libya. Libyan banks, for example, despite recently acknowledging the benefits of e-banking technology in improving banking services, have not adopted and integrated this innovation within its banking delivery strategy. Instead, they continue to deliver most of their banking services and products using traditional banking delivery channels, notably paper-based branch networks. This is largely due to bank staff resistance to new banking technologies. A review of literature on ICT adoption shows that there has only been a few studies about ICT adoption in developing countries compared to the developed world, and even less so about the Middle East, including Libya. Thus, this paper aims to bridge this gap by investigating the key factors affecting bank staff’s attitude towards e-banking technology, a step necessary to understand what makes effective the introduction of e-banking projects in Libya. This paper draws on existing literature on technological developments in the banking industry and the findings from semi– structured interviews with key bank staff of a leading commercial bank in Libya. A number of factors of e-banking technology adoption are identified that affect adoption. Finally, we identified lessons that can guide future e-banking implementation projects in Libyan banks. Lessons can be taken for other Arab countries.