Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
ENHANCEMENT OF RADIATION PROPERTIES OF A COMPACT PLANAR ANTENNA USING TRANSFORMATION MEDIA AS SUBSTRATES

In this paper we study the behavior of wave radiation of a horizontal electric dipole antenna with grounded metamaterial substrates formed by using coordinate transformation technology. From theoretical analysis and simulation results, we can find that such metamaterial substrates not only improve the directive emission but also enhance the radiation efficiency as the dipole antenna gets closer and closer to the metallic ground plane. We thus demonstrate that the transformation medium can offer a theoretical basis for designing a compact planar antenna with transformation media as substrates. † Also as a visiting scientist with Research Laboratory of Electronics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
On the emergence of strategic management accounting: An institutional perspective

Abstract Strategic management accounting (SMA) has been presented as an efficacious approach to strategy formulation and implementation. It also suggests accountants move away from purely financial concerns to give consideration to wider business issues. Management accounting change has attracted significant research attention in recent years. This case study explores the issues which surround change and which enable the adoption of SMA and the repositioning of management accountants to become more strategic. The empirical enquiry is based in one company through a prolonged series of interviews and meetings which enabled activities over a number of years to be reviewed. This revealed an increasing strategic role for management accountants in informing strategic decision‐making and how this role came into being. The research is informed by institutional theories and neoinstitutionalism in particular, to interpret the external and internal influences on the change in roles of some management accountants and the outputs of their work.
Comparison of surface energy budgets and feedbacks to microclimate among different vegetation landscape on the Mongolian Plateau

The water and heat exchange between the atmosphere and the land surface plays a very important role. The Leaf area index (LAI), land surface albedo (LSA) and evapotranspiration (ET) which play a fundamental role in understanding many causes and consequences of land surface and climate interactions. However, relative contribution from altered albedo and ET to differences in energy budget in contrasting land use types is unclear in temperate climate zones. In this paper, to quantify the land surface water and heat fluxes arising from spatial patterns of land cover in the present climate, as well as enrich the land surface process field observations in the hinterland of Mongolian Plateau (MP) with rapid changes in vegetation growth by warming climate. Here, we focused on the LAI, albedo, ET and their relationships on the different roofing landscapes (the meadow steppe (MDW), the typical steppe (TPL), the desert steppe (DRT), the shrubland (SHB)). Based on the MODIS products 2000-2016, we found that there existed a significant linear negative correlation between LAI and albedo, but not found correlation between LAI and ET. Among the four vegetation communities, the normalized annual mean Z-score of LAI and ET all showed increased trend, especially for the TPL (slope = 0.091, p=0.036 for LAI and slope =0.086, p=0.050 for ET). However, for the normalized annual mean Z-score of albedo, other three landscapes all showed negative change trend, only for TPL, still showed pocitive change trend (slope =0.105, p=0.029). More importantly, the long-term changes in monthly albedo, ET and LAI values had different contributions to the annual values. Keyword: Land surface albedo, evapotranspiration, leaf area index, land surface process
FUNCTIONAL COATING OF HETEROGENEOUS MICROSTRUCTURE SURFACES WITH SELF INTERACTING BIOMOLECULES

This paper presents useful techniques for applying coatings of the extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins fibronectin (FN) and basement membrane extract (BME) to small, defined polymeric microstructures. We found that several cell types, such as fibroblastic and epithelial, have preferential adherence to these ECM component coatings, but that the coatings were ineffective when applied using standard coating protocols. Thus we developed strategies to effectively apply FN and BME, overcoming inherent difficulties with their use in applications such as the micropallet array technology. These results would be of consequence for numerous bioMEMS devices that involve cell interaction with similar microstructured polymer surfaces.
On the spatial distribution and evolution of ultrafine particles in Barcelona

Sources and evolution of ultrafine particles were investigated both horizontally and vertically in the large urban agglomerate of Barcelona, Spain. Within the SAPUSS project (Solving Aerosol Problems by Using Synergistic Strategies), a large number of instruments was deployed simultaneously at different monitoring sites (road, two urban background, regional background, urban tower 150 m a.s.l., urban background tower site 80 m a.s.l.) during a 4 week period in September–October 2010. Particle number concentrations ( N >5 nm ) are highly correlated with black carbon (BC) at all sites only under strong vehicular traffic influences. By contrast, under cleaner atmospheric conditions (low condensation sink, CS) such correlation diverges towards much higher N /BC ratios at all sites, indicating additional sources of particles including secondary production of freshly nucleated particles. Size-resolved aerosol distributions ( N 10–500 ) as well as particle number concentrations ( N >5 nm ) allow us to identify three types of nucleation and growth events: (1) a regional type event originating in the whole study region and impacting almost simultaneously the urban city of Barcelona and the surrounding urban background area; (2) a regional type event impacting only the regional background area but not the urban agglomerate; (3) an urban type event which originates only within the city centre but whose growth continues while transported away from the city to the regional background. Furthermore, during these clean air days, higher N are found at tower level than at ground level only in the city centre whereas such a difference is not so pronounced at the remote urban background tower. In other words, this study suggests that the column of air above the city ground level possesses the optimal combination between low CS and high vapour source, hence enhancing the concentrations of freshly nucleated particles. By contrast, within stagnant polluted atmospheric conditions, higher N and BC concentrations are always measured at ground level relative to tower level at all sites. Our study suggests that the city centre of Barcelona is a source of non-volatile traffic primary particles (29–39% of N >5 nm ), but other sources, including secondary freshly nucleated particles contribute up to 61–71% of particle number ( N >5 nm ) at all sites. We suggest that organic compounds evaporating from freshly emitted traffic particles are a possible candidate for new particle formation within the city and urban plume.
Participatory Action Research as a Platform for Community Engagement in Higher Education

Institutions of higher education throughout the world have reached consensus in terms of their core business, defined through: (1) teaching and learning, (2) research and (3) community engagement. Of these three areas of focus, community engagement has posed serious challenges in terms of clear cut methodologies and measurability. While the ‘why’ question of community engagement may be understood, the ‘how to do it’ questions need attention. This has also raised anxiety amongst staff, who are expected to perform and get rewards for community engagement. It is against this background that this article argues for Participatory Action Research (PAR) as an enabling platform for community engagement in higher education. The argument and assumption is that PAR provides a two-way engagement process that locks in both the researchers and communities they will be reaching, in seeking to solve community problems. PAR moves higher education from linear-oriented research to web-oriented systematic cycles of inquiry that involve planning, asking questions, taking action, observing, evaluating and critically reflecting, prior to planning the next cycles. Community problems that could be addressed through PAR include those arising from environmental damage (including climate change), HIV and AIDS, lack of service delivery, politics and many more.
Comparative study of the effects of five Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) strains on cabbage moth Plutella xylostella (L.) (Lepidoptera: Plutellidae)

Abstract Food production is adversely affected by numerous biotic and abiotic factors that lead to reduction in yield and poor quality of the food products. Use of commercially synthetic pesticides was the most common method for pest control in many agricultural crops during recent decades. These synthetic chemicals have effects on all living organism when they consume such crops treated with pesticides. This research attempted is a green regulation technology as an alternative method to control cabbage moth Plutella xylostella towards the reduction of release of toxic chemical and residue. Virulence studies on different strains (Bb6, Bb11, Bb115, Bb116 and Bb362) of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) Vuillemin (Ascomycota: Hypocreales) were evaluated. Various doses at 0 (control) 104, 105, 106, 107, 108 and 109 conidies ml−1 of five strains were applied topically on the third stage larvae of P. xylostella. Different parameters of larvae were measured in terms of mortality, sporulation rates, the number of pupae that emerged as adult, number of eggs laid between survived adults and the survival rate of larvae were examined at different doses, statistical analysis was performed using Cox-regression. We found that Bb11 strain of Beauveria bassiana (Balsamo) produced highest virulence compared to other strains at 109 conidia/ml while, Bb6 strains showed lower virulence effect at 109 conidia/ml as compared to control dose. Due to the larvicidal effect of different fungus strains, the percentage weight of female adult decreased significantly as compare to the control.
Kernel Estimation of Multivariate Conditional Distributions

We consider the problem of estimating conditional probability distributions that are multivariate in both the conditioned and conditioning variable sets. This is an extension of Hall, Racine, and Li (forthcoming), who considered the case of a univariate conditioned variable but who also considered the more general case of both irrelevant and relevant conditioning variables. Following Hall et al. (forthcoming), we use the kernel method with the smoothing parameters selected from the cross-validated minimization of a weighted integrated squared error of the kernel estimator. We derive the rate of convergence of the smoothing parameters to some non-stochastic optimal smoothing parameter values, and establish the asymptotic normal distribution of the resulting nonparametric conditional probability (density) estimator. Simulations show that the proposed method performs quite well with a mixture of categorical and continuous variables.
Technological Innovation in New European Union Markets

We analyze the role of innovation in the technological development of four new EU members: the Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland and Slovakia. For that purpose, we use a novel approach by modeling the empirical relationship between intra-industrial bilateral trade flows, which proxy the level of technological progress, and innovation expenditures within the context of a gravity model with a set of appropriate instrumental variables to account for the potential endogeneity of innovation to trade. We show that innovation efforts in high-tech industries exhibit a strong effect on the technological progress of the region and they are closely linked to foreign direct investment and multinationals. As foreign-owned subsidiaries become a part of the innovation systems and industrial structure of the host country they promote overall technological growth in the region.
Egg-laying-site preferences of Pterostichus melanarius in mono- and intercrops

Increased vegetational diversity influences the behaviour of carabid beetles by changing plant-related abiotic factors. These abiotic factors (light, humidity and habitat structure) affect the selection of oviposition sites and egg survival of carabid beetles. In a field experiment, more larvae of Pterostichus melanarius (Illiger) (Coleoptera Carabidae) were caught in Brussels sprout intercropped with barley than in Brussels sprout alone. The influence of the presence of living barley and Brussels sprout plants on oviposition was studied in the laboratory. Also, the effects of wet/dry substrate, light/shadowed and structured/unstructured environment on the number of eggs laid were investigated under laboratory conditions. Results indicate a preference for moist, shadowed, structurally complex environments as egg laying sites. This preference results in significantly higher numbers of eggs laid by beetles in barley compared to Brussels sprout. Vegetation characteristics by themselves may influence egg-laying-site preferences, in addition to the availability of prey for adults and larvae in the different cropping systems. Vegetables intercropped with cereals provide a more favourable microclimate for the reproduction of P. melanarius than vegetables grown alone
Privacy Paradox in Social Network Sites: Effects of Psychological Need, Privacy Concern, and Privacy Setting on Self-disclosure

The purpose of this paper is to address the privacy paradox by attempting to better understand the predictors of users’ disclosure behavior and evaluates their relation to disclosure, and social capital on social network sites. Using a survey questionnaire, empirical data were collected from 473 members of Facebook in Taiwan. Partial least square (PLS) technique was performed to test the validity of the proposed research model. The results suggest that bridging and bonding social capital are determined by self-disclosure, which in turn is jointly determined by psychological need for privacy and privacy setting. The relationship between privacy concern and self-disclosure is mediated by privacy setting. The findings of this study can help social network sites operators design effective and relevant privacy controls to reduce a user's privacy concern and enhance self-disclosure on social network sites. Our contributions center on a comprehensive understanding of the impact of antecedents of self-disclosure on users’ disclosure behavior and social capital on SNSs may provide valuable insights for SNS operators and marketers to offer more effective services to SNS users.
THE IMPACT OF VOCATIONAL TRAINING FOR RURAL DEVELOPMENT : A CASE STUDY OF YOUTH POLYTECHNICS IN NYAMBENE DISTRICT , KENYA

This study was built on three objectives. It sought the youth polytechnic (YP) responsiveness towards meeting the aspirations and needs of the trainees. It determined how graduates of YPs faired in the world of work and evaluated extent to which the community was involved by YP in facing rural development challenges. The study was carried out in the four YPs of Nyambene District by use of questionnaires, interview schedules and check lists as study instruments. The study adopted a case study design involving 144 respondents. The study targeted YP managers, instructors, parents/ Board of Governors, second year trainees and the adult YP leavers serving within the host community. The main study findings included inadequate: training tools, equipment and infrastructures, number of instructors, finances, utilization of information communication technology; community poor attitude towards YP vocational training, unutilized physical resources, poor income generating projects, and low enrollment. Practically, the study enlightened the need for YP programme designers on redesigning the existing curriculum to suit the dynamic work of today’s technology so as to address present and future challenges of vocational training. The parent ministry in charge of YPs would find the study useful in the formulation of future plans aimed at strengthening YP training in imparting relevant skills to trainees in readiness for self-employment in rural areas. The study is important theoretically in that it contributes to the advancement of knowledge about vocational programme development in YPs in Nyambene District in particular and in Kenya at large. The findings are key factors influencing trainees vocational training in various courses at youth polytechnics aimed at developing the local community economically. Finally, the study forms a basis on which other scholars could develop their studies in future in pursuant of unresolved issues in vocational training.
A stabilized finite element method for a fictitious domain problem allowing small inclusions

The purpose of this work is to approximate numerically an elliptic partial differential equation posed on domains with small perforations (or inclusions). The approach is based on the fictitious domain method, and as the method's interest lies in the case in which the geometrical features are not resolved by the mesh, we propose a stabilized finite element method. The stabilization term is a simple, non‐consistent penalization that can be linked to the Barbosa‐Hughes approach. Stability and convergence are proved, and numerical results confirm the theory.
Cutaneous Malignant Melanoma in Calabar , South Nigeria

Volume 1 • Issue 6 • 2012 peak age was recorded in the 6th decade, and no lesion was observed in the first 3 decades, Table 1. Fifteen patients (94%) were darkly pigmented and the anatomical location of the lesions was on the foot while one albino (6%) with numerous actinic keratoses and a lesion located on the upper limb was observed. Four patients presented with groin lesions (lymphadenopathy), Figures 1 and 2. Twelve (75%) patients presented with nodular lesions while the superficial spreading melanoma (SSM) afflicted 4 (25%) patients. Late presentation with locally advanced lesions was a striking feature of this study with the largest foot lesion measuring 16 x 14cm. Majority of the patients volunteered a history of trauma, which was believed to be responsible for this lesion. All the patients presented first to tradomedical healers/ chemist and this accounted for late presentation. The average period of
Effect of trans-10, cis-12 isomer of conjugated linoleic acid on boar semen quality after cryopreservation

The use of frozen semen in pig industry is limited by problems with viability and fertility compared to cooled semen. Part of the decrease in motility and fertility, associated to cryopreservation, may be due to oxidative damage from excessive formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS). Frozen thawed boar spermatozoa are still considered suboptimal due to the low conception rates and smaller litters after artificial insemination. The relatively low fertility of frozen thawed boar semen is associated with many factors including cytotoxicity of the cryoprotectant, osmotic stress, injuries due to ice formation during freezing and thawing, cold shock damages and even inter and intra variations present among boars. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the impact of conjugated linoleic acid (trans- 10, cis-12; CLA) supplementation in the cryopreservation extender frozen-thawed boar on semen quality parameters. Semen was collected from three boars (three ejaculates per boar) which were subjected to cryopreservation, without any supplementation (control) or supplemented with 50 µm CLA, and then the semen was frozen using a controlled rate freezer. Before freezing, and after thawing, the sperm motility was assessed, microscopically and viability and acrosome integrity were assessed using the flow cytometry technique. Regarding live spermatozoa, no significant differences (P > 0.05) were observed among treatments. However, statistical differences (P 0.05) were observed among treatments. In conclusion, the addition of trans-10, cis-12 isomer of conjugated linoleic acid, in the concentration used in the cryopreservation media, showed no advantages on the post-thaw boar sperm viability and integrity.
Agricultural Trade Face to Non-Tariff Barriers: A Gravity Model for the Euro-Med Area

At first, Non-Tariff Barriers (NTBs) and environmental standards have been aimed at protecting human health, animal and plant safety as well as the environment, wildlife and human security. However, overbearing usage of NTBs can significantly restrict trade. In this regard, many experts hold the view that agricultural exports from developing countries are adversely affected by NTBs. With respect to the present study, the objective is to quantify the actual impact of non-tariff barriers on agricultural trade in the Euro-Med area for the two years 1996 and 2008. For this purpose, a Gravity model use multilateral resistance variables (BNT TTRI) has been applied. Moreover, we have opted for a cross-sectional estimate of bilateral flows between the set of countries making up our sample. Two "dummy" variables are then introduced to specify the non-tariff barriers effects on imports of each block apart. The achieved results show that the coefficients of the standard gravity equation turn out to be significant and bear the expected signs. These indices of trade restrictiveness appear to be significant and negative, reflecting the restrictive effect of tariff and nontariff barriers on these countries ‘agricultural trade. Yet, these two variables evolution has shown a degradation of their effects on such a trade. It is also worth noting that the EU imports from the SEMC have proven to be affected by the first block imposed NTBs exclusively for the year 2008. As for the SEMC imposed on EU exports, they have had a negative and significant impact for the two years: 1996 and 2008.
Optical spectroscopy of the Be/X-ray binary V850 Centauri/GX 304-1 during faint X-ray periodical activity

Context. Be/X-ray binaries (BeXRBs) are the most populous class of high-mass X-ray binaries. Their X-ray duty cycle is tightly related to the optical companion wind activity, which in turn can be studied through dedicated optical spectroscopic observations. Aims. We study optical spectral features of the Be circumstellar disk to test their long-term variability and their relation with the X-ray activity. Special attention has been given to the Hα emission line, one of the best tracers of the disk conditions. Methods. We obtained optical broadband medium resolution spectra from a dedicated campaign with the Anglo-Australian Telescope and the Southern African Large Telescope in 2014−2015. Data span over one entire binary orbit, and cover both X-ray quiescent and moderately active periods. We used Balmer emission lines to follow the evolution of the circumstellar disk. Results. We observe prominent spectral features, like double-peaked Hα and Hβ emission lines. The HαV/R ratio significantly changes over a timescale of about one year. Our observations are consistent with a system observed at a large inclination angle (i ≳ 60°). The derived circumstellar disk size shows that the disk evolves from a configuration that prevents accretion onto the neutron star, to one that allows only moderate accretion. This is in agreement with the contemporary observed X-ray activity. Our results are interpreted within the context of inefficient tidal truncation of the circumstellar disk, as expected for this source’s binary configuration. We derived the Hβ-emitting region size, which is equal to about half of the corresponding Hα-emitting disk, and constrain the luminosity class of V850 Cen as III–V, consistent with the previously proposed class.