Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Numerical Modeling of Spilled Oil Transport in Marine Environment.

The environmental concern over marine oil spills has lead to the development of mathematical models that simulate the transport and fate of oil slicks. These models are used for spill response during accidents, environmental impact assessment, contingency planning, and response training. Spilled oil is transported, and its composition and character altered by a variety of physical, chemical, and biological processes. This paper presents a mass balanced oil spill transport model that uses hydrodynamic results obtained with a one-dimensional Crank-Nicolson numerical scheme to predict the mass concentration of spilled oil in time and space.
Simulation of Electrical Characteristics of Gate All around Silicon Nanowire Field Effect Transistor using Extended Hückel Theory Based Semi Empirical Approach

Gate All Around (GAA) FET stands out as one of the most promising FET designs to replace the currently planar MOSFETs due to its ability to provide better gate control and better immunity to short channel effects. This paper reports the electrical characteristics of GAA Silicon Nanowire Field Effect Transistor obtained using Extended Huckel Theory based Semi Empirical Method. The physics behind the Semi Empirical method has been presented in brief. The nanowire transistor has been simulated with two different gate dielectrics (SiO2 & ZrO2) and the electrical characteristics resulting from the two structures have been compared for power efficiency. A comparison of off-state current and off-state channel conductance between the two nanowire transistor structures has been presented towards the end of the paper that demonstrates that ZrO2 gate dielectric based silicon nanowire transistor is power efficient than its counterpart with SiO2 gate dielectric.
Influence of Varying Free-Stream Turbulence on S-Duct Aerodynamics

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations are often used in the design process of s-shaped engine inlet ducts. The results of such simulations need to be compared with experimental data for validation purposes. In contrast to turbulence models, the numerical boundary conditions for turbulence (i.e. intensity and length scale) are rarely considered when CFD for s-duct simulations are validated. However, during earlier work at the Institute of Jet Propulsion it was found that numerical turbulence settings can have a significant influence on the aerodynamics in an engine inlet system. Hence, an experimental setup was established to evaluate these findings. The experimental results show that increasing free-stream turbulence significantly influences the internal duct flow and thus the distortion at the inlet plane of the compressor system. For the presented test case the mean total pressure loss at the compressor intake plane increases, which may have has a negative effect on compressor performance. On the other hand the distortion described by common descriptors is reduced, which is generally advantageous in terms of compressor stability. The results from the numerical simulations qualitatively agree with the experimentally obtained data.
Determination of seismic design forces by equivalent static load method

In the proposed 2005 edition of the National Building Code of Canada (NBCC), the seismic hazard will be represented by uniform hazard spectra corresponding to a 2% probability of being exceeded in 50 years. The seismic design base shear for use in an equivalent static load method of design will be obtained from the uniform hazard spectrum for the site corresponding to the first mode period of the building. Because this procedure ignores the effect of higher modes, the base shear so derived must be suitably adjusted. A procedure for deriving the base shear adjustment factors for different types of structural systems is described and the adjustment factor values proposed for the 2005 NBCC are presented. The adjusted base shear will be distributed across the height of the building in accordance with the provisions in the current version of the code. Since the code-specified distribution is primarily based on the first mode vibration shape, it leads to an overestimation of the overturning moments, which shoul.
Clinical Features of the Intrahepatic and Extrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma

Cholangiocarcinoma (CCA) is a very heterogeneous cancer in many aspects including epidemiology, risk factors, clinical presentation and genetics. Medical literature reflects this feature especially in terms of differences of clinical presentation among the intrahepatic/extrahepatic subtypes and according to related risk factors and geographic areas. Consequently these tumors are often challenging to diagnose and treat and the prognosis is poor. This manuscript deals with the clinical presentation and epidemiology of cholangiocarcinoma.
Magnetic Attitude Control of a Flexible Satellite

1 M.A.Sc. Candidate, University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies, 4925 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3H 5T6, and Student Member AIAA. 2 Assistant Professor, Ryerson University, Department of Aerospace Engineering, 350 Victoria Street, Toronto, ON, Canada, M5B 2K3, and Senior Member AIAA. 3 Assistant Professor, McGill University, Department of Mechanical Engineering and Centre for Intelligent Machines, 817 Sherbrooke Street West, Montreal, QC, Canada, H3A 0C3, and Member AIAA. 4 Associate Professor, University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies, 4925 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3H 5T6, and Senior Member AIAA. 5 Professor, University of Toronto Institute for Aerospace Studies, 4925 Dufferin Street, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M3H 5T6, and Associate Fellow AIAA. 6 Research Scientist, Canadian Space Agency, Space Science and Technology, 6767 route de l’Aeroport, St.Hubert,QC, J3Y 8Y9, and AIAA member.
Do Police Reduce Crime? Estimates using the Allocation of Police Forces after a Terrorist Attack

An important challenge in the crime literature is to isolate causal effects of police on crime. Following a terrorist attack on the main Jewish center in the city of Buenos Aires, Argentina, in July 1994, all Jewish institutions (including schools, synagogues, and clubs) were given 24-hour police protection. Thus, this hideous event induced a geographical allocation of police forces that can be presumed to be exogenous in a crime regression. Using data on the location of car thefts before and after the terrorist attack, we find a large deterrent effect of observable police presence on crime. The effect is local, with little or no appreciable impact outside the narrow area in which the police are deployed.
Determination of Sulfhydryl Groups in Milk Using Ellman's Procedure and Clarifying Reagent®

Abstract This work reports on a rapid method for determination of total sulfhydryl groups in raw and heated milks using 5,5'-dithio-bis(2-nitrobenzoic acid). The reaction medium is clarified after the chemical reaction by addition of a dissolving agent; thus, the spectrophotometric measurements are performed directly in milk without other sample treatment. This protocol correlated well with amperometric titrations (r=.994). Results on raw milks from individual cows showed seasonal variations in sulfhydryl groups. Sulfhydryl groups decreased in heated commercial milks. This method is simple, rapid, and easily applicable in routine measurements and may allow heated commercial milks to be distinguished.
Does Employee retention affect Organizational Competence

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the factors that affect employee retention and to analyze the relationship between the factors of employee retention and organizational competence. Approach: A model is proposed that illustrates the factors as rewards. Career development opportunities, work environment and supervisor support affects employee retention in organizations and also demonstrates the relationship between factors affecting employee retention and the organizational competence. Findings: Results illustrates that rewards, career development opportunities, supervisor support and work environment have a positive relationship with employee retention as well as the development of organizational competence by retaining employees. Keywords: employee retention, competencies, organizational competencies.
Applying Information Technology to Financial Statement Analysis for Market Capitalization Prediction

Determining which attributes may be employed for predicting the market capitalization of a business firm is a challenging task which may benefit from research intersecting principles of accounting and finance with information technology. In our approach, information technology in the form of decision trees and genetic algorithms is applied to fundamental financial statement data in order to support the decision making process for predicting the direction of the value of a company with value defined as the market capitalization. The decision process differs from year to year; however, the amount of variation is crucial to a successful decision making process. The research question posed is “how much variation occurs between years? ” We hypothesize the amount of variation is smaller than half the number of financial statement attributes that may be employed in the decision making process. We develop a system which tests the amount of variation between years measured as the amount of generations required to reach a target level of fitness. The hypothesis is tested using data filtered from Compustat’s global database. The results support the research hypothesis and advance us toward answering the research question. The implications of this research are the possibility to improve the decision process when employing financial statement analysis as applied to the market capitalization and financial valuation of business firms.
Comprehensive Study of Mysteries in Science Age of The Universe Paradox

Many attempts of estimating the age of the universe are advocated. However, it is hard to believe the estimates have any solid support. We understand there is recycle fundamental of the universe. The questions are: • Will there be any trace left when a star system is completed recycled from the fundamental elements? • Are we capable of detect such trace? • Can we estimate the age of fundamental element? • Is space older than matter and energy? • Does space age differently in different locations? • How to judge the age of space? I expect there are stars too far and too dim for us to detect their trace of visible radiations. I also expect there will be countless nomad planets and small objects out there. They are very likely to outnumber the stars by far. All objects emit radiations, but not necessary within the capability of our best detector. I would not say we have found the oldest and furthest object in the universe. Could we say how old the universe is? It seems that the age of the universe is determined by the size of our telescope. Nevertheless, to joint the club, this article studies the logic of estimate based on the redshift survey of electromagnetic radiations, NASA/IPAC Extragalactic Database (NED).
Radar Measurements of Temporal Variation in a Boreal Forest

Synthetic aperture radar (SAR) on a satellite platform is a suitable technique for all-weather global monitoring of forest parameters such as biomass. This is important for increasing the accuracy of the global terrestrial carbon flux, the largest uncertainty in our current understanding of the Earth’s carbon cycle. In recent decades there has been increasing interest in relating SAR observables from current and future spaceborne SAR missions to forest parameters. Ideally, these SAR observables are only dependent on the forest parameters of interest, but they are also affected by temporal variations in the forest due to weather, diurnal and seasonal changes. These effects are not properly accounted for in current forest parameter estimation models using SAR data due to shortcomings in our understanding of these effects. To fill this knowledge gap, a tower-based radar has been developed for measuring temporal variation of radar signatures in a boreal forest site in southern Sweden. The instrument allows monitoring of radar signatures from the forest site over timescales ranging from less than a second to years. The experiment consists of a 50-m high tower equipped with 30 antennas, allowing fully-polarimetric tomographic imaging at microwave frequencies of P-band (420 - 450 MHz), L-band (1240 - 1375 MHz) and C-band (5250 - 5570 MHz). Results from an on-site weather station assists in interpretation of the radar results. The work in this thesis involves the design and implementation of the experimental setup and analysis of the first results. The results have provided new information about variations in forest radar backscatter during freeze-thaw cycles at P- and L-band, causing drops in backscatter of 4 to 10 dB. An effect where strong winds cause a drop in co-polarised backscatter at P-band has been directly observed for the first time. Finally, the tomographic capabilities of the instrument were demonstrated. Tomographic imaging quality was shown to be better than for measurement protocols used by previous tower-based radars when acquired while the trees were moving due to wind. The results of this experiment are important for understanding and modelling temporal variations in radar measurements over boreal forests such that these unwanted variations can be compensated for in forest parameter estimation algorithms using SAR data.
The February 2001 Eruption of Mount Cleveland, Alaska: Case Study of an Aviation Hazard

Mount Cleveland, Alaska (528499N, 1698579W), located on Chuginadak Island, erupted on 19 February 2001. The atmosphere‐volcanic plume interactions that occurred as part of this event led to several serious encounters of commercial aircraft with the ash. A number of continental and oceanic air traffic control areas were affected. Here, a detailed case study of the eruption, subsequent movement of the airborne plume, and operational response is presented. The likelihood of such encounters in the future may be reduced as a result of lessons learned from this event. Some potential new assets for improving the detection of and response to the airborne volcanic ash hazard to aviation also are discussed.
Growth linkages and policy effects in a village economy in Ethiopia: An analysis of interactions using a social accounting matrix (SAM) framework

Accelerating economic growth and poverty reduction are and continue to be the critical policy challenges in Ethiopia. The sluggish growth in agriculture coupled with lack of broad-based economic growth raises debates over the relevant direction and emphasis of development interventions in the country. In this study, we develop a social accounting matrix (SAM) for a cereal dependent village economy in rural Ethiopia and examine relevant growth options in terms of their impact on output, household income, investments in human and environmental capital in the study village. Apart from providing a quantitative analysis of a village economy, the study considers a sectoral disaggregation that takes into account the diversity of not only economic activities in terms of supply response but also heterogeneity of rural households. This study also incorporates investment in human and environmental capital in the analysis of growth linkages using a village social accounting matrix-based framework. Using constrained and unconstrained SAM multipliers, growth linkages of different sectors are explored and activities that best promote growth and household income are identified. Since the growth linkage model is based on the detailed SAM estimated for the village economy, this helps to gauge the effects of policy reforms and strategies on growth, household livelihoods, and investment in human and environmental capital. Accordingly, some simulations are performed to investigate the trade-offs and complementarities of economic and environmental policies on the village economy. Key development pathways and sectoral investment priorities are also identified that help to move the village economy in the direction of sustainable development.
Design and Analysis of Trading Processes New Economic School: AY 2008–2009

In brief, the suggested directions for research in auction theory fall into four broad categories: efficient auctions in the interdependent values settings; auctions with active seller’s participation; dynamic ads auctions (such as Google’s and Yahoo’s); auction design for privatization and procurement in Russia. There are plenty of other hot topics in this area, among them analysis of collusive behavior in auctions and static and dynamic auctions with anonymous bidders (such as eBay). Also, some data is available for empirical research.
Managing the Professional Service Firm

At last here is a comprehensive text on the managerial problems of professional firms. David Maister, whose international consulting practice has gained him the reputation among his peers as "the guru's guru", brings together for the first time his most brilliant and penetrating work on virtually every management issue facing professional firms today. Professional firms, he shows, are different from other business enterprises in two ways. First, they are in the business of providing highly customized services, and hence cannot apply many of the management principles developed for the mass production industrial world. Second, professional services are highly personalized and involve the skills of individuals. Firms must compete not only for clients, but also for talented professionals. Drawing on ten years' research amid consulting to these unique and creative institutions, Maister explores issues ranging from marketing and business development to multinational strategies, from human resource policies to profit improvement strategies, from strategic planning to the effective behavior of practice leaders. His concepts and practical advice have already become gospel to accountants, consultants, lawyers, public relations agencies, executive search, and many other professions. Maister simplifies management issues by observing that "every professional service firm in the world, regardless of size, specific profession, or country of operation, has the same mission statement: outstanding service to clients, satisfying careers for its people, and financial success for its owners. " Professional service firms, he shows, must practice "balance sheet" management by learning to develop their two key assets: client relationships and their stock of skill, talent, knowledge, and ability. "David Maister's name is synonymous with the latest thinking in professional service firm management. This book suggests why. " --James L. Heskett, Professor, Harvard Business School Co-author of "Service Breakthroughs"
A review of marine geomorphometry, the quantitative study of the seafloor

Abstract. Geomorphometry, the science of quantitative terrain characterization, has traditionally focused on the investigation of terrestrial landscapes. However, the dramatic increase in the availability of digital bathymetric data and the increasing ease by which geomorphometry can be investigated using geographic information systems (GISs) and spatial analysis software has prompted interest in employing geomorphometric techniques to investigate the marine environment. Over the last decade or so, a multitude of geomorphometric techniques (e.g. terrain attributes, feature extraction, automated classification) have been applied to characterize seabed terrain from the coastal zone to the deep sea. Geomorphometric techniques are, however, not as varied, nor as extensively applied, in marine as they are in terrestrial environments. This is at least partly due to difficulties associated with capturing, classifying, and validating terrain characteristics underwater. There is, nevertheless, much common ground between terrestrial and marine geomorphometry applications and it is important that, in developing marine geomorphometry, we learn from experiences in terrestrial studies. However, not all terrestrial solutions can be adopted by marine geomorphometric studies since the dynamic, four-dimensional (4-D) nature of the marine environment causes its own issues throughout the geomorphometry workflow. For instance, issues with underwater positioning, variations in sound velocity in the water column affecting acoustic-based mapping, and our inability to directly observe and measure depth and morphological features on the seafloor are all issues specific to the application of geomorphometry in the marine environment. Such issues fuel the need for a dedicated scientific effort in marine geomorphometry. This review aims to highlight the relatively recent growth of marine geomorphometry as a distinct discipline, and offers the first comprehensive overview of marine geomorphometry to date. We address all the five main steps of geomorphometry, from data collection to the application of terrain attributes and features. We focus on how these steps are relevant to marine geomorphometry and also highlight differences and similarities from terrestrial geomorphometry. We conclude with recommendations and reflections on the future of marine geomorphometry. To ensure that geomorphometry is used and developed to its full potential, there is a need to increase awareness of (1) marine geomorphometry amongst scientists already engaged in terrestrial geomorphometry, and of (2) geomorphometry as a science amongst marine scientists with a wide range of backgrounds and experiences.
Organic No-Till with Roller Crimpers: Agro-ecosystem Services and Applications in Organic Mediterranean Vegetable Productions

In sustainable/organic farming systems, Agro-ecological Service Crops (ASC) may provide many beneficial ecosystem services, when they are introduced as buffer zones, living mulches or break crops. This outlook paper focuses on: i) the role of ASC genotype and mixtures as catch crops for soil mineral nitrogen (NO3-) surplus, which is returned to the system after their termination; ii) living mulches and break crops management strategies, particularly comparing ploughing under (green manure) with termination by roller crimper; iii) summary of three recent case studies that have assessed the effectiveness of ASC management by no-till with roller crimper for tomato, zucchini and melon crops, under Mediterranean conditions. Recently, in central Italy yield and quality results on organic tomato indicated that this crop was suitable following termination of leguminous ASC by roller crimping. Similarly, this ASC management increased yield by about 70% compared to green manure in zucchini crop. In southern Italy, no substantial differences were found in the ASC management and organic fertilizer interactions in organic melon, confirming the suitability of matching these strategies to sustain crop production. More studies should be encouraged to further empower the use of ASC in a wide range of agro-climatic conditions. Furthermore, additional studies on the roller crimper should be performed, mainly to understand the dynamic of N mineralisation in the soil-mulch interface and synchronisation of N release with cash crop N requirements. Finally, Decision Supporting Systems (DSS) for ASC introduction into vegetable cropping systems should be developed.