Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic evolution of a fault system through interactions between fault segments

[1] We simulate the dynamic evolution process of fault system geometry considering interactions between fault segments. We calculate rupture propagation using an elastodynamic boundary integral equation method (BIEM) in which the trajectory of a fault tip is dynamically self-chosen. We consider a system of two noncoplanar fault segments: a preexisting main fault segment (fault 1) and a subsidiary one (fault 2) and, allowing the tip of fault 2 to deviate from its original plane, trace its trajectory in the step over region between the two fault segments. Our simulation results show that the final geometry of fault 2 depends on the initial configuration of the two fault segments. If the initial overlap of the two fault segments is smaller than the half length of fault 1, fault 2 coalesces with fault 1 when the step over is narrower than about 1/4–1/2 the length of the latter but is repelled from fault 1 when the step over width is larger than this threshold value. We also show that the inclination angle of fault 2 is sensitive to the rupture velocity; the inclination is larger for faster rupture propagation. Our simulation results imply that as ruptures occur repeatedly, a fault system evolves from an array of relatively small fault segments into a sequence of larger ones. Our results seem consistent with the field observations of natural fault system geometries, which are often characterized by a set of noncoplanar segments interconnected with relatively small jogs at oblique angles.
Atlante dell’infanzia (a rischio): L’Italia SottoSopra

Il live poster presentato e stato realizzato a partire dal Public Gallery template e dalla Thematic Atlas Sample App. L’Italia SottoSopra racconta il presente incandescente del Paese in tante accezioni diverse. L’Italia ribaltata dalla crisi, nel primo capitolo, tra disoccupazione, calo dei consumi, default del welfare e denatalita. L’Italia diseguale, raccontata nel secondo, terzo, quarto e quinto capitolo: un Paese abitato da almeno 1 milione di bambini in poverta assoluta, emergenze e disagi abitativi, diseguaglianze nella salute, poverta educative e immobilita sociale. L’Italia d’oro a testa in giu, magnifica a vedersi per le sue attivita di prevenzione, cura e sostegno dell’infanzia a rischio, ma spesso incapace di agire in maniera integrata ed efficace, promuovere cittadinanza attiva e welfare generativo; e insieme l’Italia sommersa che cerca di promuovere una comunicazione davvero SottoSopra, capace cioe di riportare in alto partecipazione e voce dei bambini. L'Atlante dell'infanzia e uno strumento di studio e allo stesso tempo un’agenda di lavoro, per raccogliere dati specifici sulla condizione dell'infanzia, soprattutto nelle aree a rischio del paese. Una fotografia sul presente per comprendere gli scenari futuri.
DESIGN, IN VITRO AND IN VIVO EVALUATION OF CHRONOMODULATED DELIVERY SYSTEMS OF TERBUTALINE SULPHATE FOR NOCTURNAL ASTHAMA

The present study deals with the design and evaluation of chronomodulated delivery of terbutaline sulphate as a chronotherapeutic approach in the treatment of nocturnal asthma. The basic design is based on the Pulsincap technology and consisted of formaldehyde treated insoluble hard gelatin capsule body filled with glutaraldehyde cross-linked carboxymethyl chitosan microspheres of terbutaline sulphate and sealed with a hydrogel tablet plug. The entire device was enteric coated, so as to prevent the variable gastric emptying time. The glutaraldehyde cross-linked carboxymethyl chitosan microspheres appeared to be roughly spherical with the size range of 4. 63Â±0.48 to 11. 75Â±0. 92Âµm. The prepared microspheres possessed good yield and high encapsulation efficiency. Particle size, encapsulation efficiency and release rate are dependent on the fabrication conditions of the microspheres. Drug release from the microspheres depended on the core: coat ratio, reaction time and the rotational speed used in the preparation of microspheres. Â Formaldehyde treatment efficiently rendered the hard gelatine capsule bodies water insoluble. The ejection of the plug from the chrnomodulated delivery system depended on the nature and concentration of polymer used in the preparation of table plug. A lag time of 3-8hrs was observed for the chronomodulated delivery systems prepared with different hydrogel plugging materials. Among the different polymers studied, HPC showed highest lag time compared to HPMC K4 M and sodium alginate. The Roentgenographic studies revealed the predicted in vivo performance of the developed chronomodulated delivery systems of terbutaline sulphate. Pharmacokinetic analysis revealed the significant increase in tmax, AUC and MRT of optimized chronomodulated system of terbutaline sulphate compared to that of pure drug. The results of the study conclusively proved the suitability of carboxymethyl chitosan microspheres and the adopted Pulsincap technology in the development of chronomodulated delivery systems for terbutaline sulphate in the treatment of nocturnal asthma. Key words: Nocturnal asthma; Terbutaline sulphate; Chronomodulated systems; Lag time; Roentgenography; In vivo pharmacokinetics
Property Rights Orientations and Rangeland Management Objectives: Texas, Utah, and Colorado

Abstract In response to substantial economic and social dislocations in the United States, many rangeland owners are changing land use and management practices. Changes in land use can significantly affect the services rangeland ecosystems provide. Decisions associated with such changes are likely mediated by landowner views regarding individual rights, social responsibilities, and the future security of property rights. In this paper, we examine the extent to which landowners are likely to adopt, without public compensation, socially desirable land management objectives that enhance ecosystem services from rangelands. The study consisted of a mail survey of landowners with at least 40 ha: 500 in Texas, 500 in Utah, and 694 in Colorado. Adjusted response rates were 62% in Texas, 46% in Utah, and 51% in Colorado. Regression analyses showed that willingness to adopt socially desirable rangeland management objectives was positively correlated with the social responsibility dimension of respondents' property rights orientations but negatively correlated with the rights erosion dimension. Our results also suggested that landowners in private land states, such as Texas, might be less willing than landowners in states with more public land to manage their land for the maintenance of ecosystem services without being compensated. Although the scope of our study was limited, the results suggest that agencies tasked with maintaining ecosystem services on private rangelands might more successfully achieve their mission by promoting social responsibility among landowners. Including community leaders with a highly developed sense of social responsibility in programs aimed at improving land stewardship and including peer-pressure incentives in such programs might enhance social responsibility perspectives among landowners. Such programs should also be adaptable at the state-level to account for differences in property-rights orientations relative to landowner dependence on private and public land.
The Mediating Effect of Firm Growth on the Relationship between Capital Structures and Value of Nonfinancial Firms listed at the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE

This study examines the mediating effect of firm growth on the relationship between capital structure and firm value among non-financial listed firms at the Nairobi Securities Exchange. Using hypotheses formulated from existing literature as per the gaps identified and tested. A target population of 36 non-financial firms at the NSE was selected. With a positivistic research philosophy complemented with descriptive research design such as mean, standard deviation, coefficient of variation, kurtosis and skewness and correlation analysis employed. The study used stepwise multiple regression analysis and in testing of hypothesized variables. Capital structure research being one of the most sensitive areas of corporate finance and decisionmaking because of the interrelationships with other components of financial decision. Findings pointed that firm growth has a significant mediating effect and is thus a critical tool that can be used by management when doing capital structures adjustments to ensure efficiency and optimality as firms grow. Policy makers are expected to adopt the results in monitoring listed firms’ investment and funds are raised in the capital markets to reduce the delisting of companies from the NSE owing to non-performance. Capital structure, financial performance, Firm growth, firm value, macroeconomic factors
Status of Alcyonacean corals along Tuticorin coast of Gulf of Mannar, Southeastern India

In this study, the assessment of alcyonaceans was conducted in Tuticorin coast of the GoM during the period between 2010 and 2012 in 5 locations; Vaan, Koswari, Kariyachalli and Vilanguchalli islands and mainland Punnakayal patch reef. Average alcyonacean coral cover in Tuticorin coast was 6.76% during 2011-12 which was 5.61% during 2010-2011. Percentage cover of alcyonacean corals increased in all the study locations; Kariyachalli 12.04 to 13.96%; Vilanguchalli 8.94 to 10.23%; Koswari 1.6 to 3.69; Vaan 0.53 to 0.72; mainland Punnakayal patch reef 4.95 to 5.21% was documented. In total, 15 species from 7 genera were recorded during the study period. Though anthropogenic threats in Tuticorin coast are comparatively high, the abundance of alcyonacean corals has increased considerably showing their resilience and adaptability. [
FlowOS: A Programmable Platform for Commodity Hardware Middleboxes

Middleboxes are heavily used in the Internet to process the network traffic for a specific purpose. As there is no open standards, these proprietary boxes are expensive and difficult to upgrade. In this paper, we present a programmable platform for middleboxes called FlowOS to run on commodity hardware. It provides an elegant programming model for writing flow processing software, which hides the complexities of low-level packet processing, process synchronisation, and inter-process communication. We show that FlowOS itself does not add any significant overhead to flows by presenting some preliminary test results.
Monthly values of the standardized precipitation index in the State of São Paulo, Brazil: trends and spectral features under the normality assumption

The aim of this study was to describe monthly series of the Standardized Precipitation Index obtained from four weather stations of the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. The analyses were carried out by evaluating the normality assumption of the SPI distributions, the spectral features of these series and, the presence of climatic trends in these datasets. It was observed that the Pearson type III distribution was better than the gamma 2-parameter distribution in providing monthly SPI series closer to the normality assumption inherent to the use of this standardized index. The spectral analyses carried out in the timefrequency domain did not allow us to establish a dominant mode in the analyzed series. In general, the Mann-Kendall and the Pettitt tests indicated the presence of no significant trend in the SPI series. However, both trend tests have indicated that the temporal variability of this index, observed at the months of October over the last 60 years, cannot be seen as the result of a purely random process. This last inference is due to the concentration of decreasing trends, with a common beginning (1983/84) in the four locations of the study.
A Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Model with Core Loss

This paper presents an improved model of permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) considering core losses. The core losses of a surface mounted PMSM were measured at no-load and load, and the analysis on experimental results shows that the core losses in a PMSM can be attributed to the components produced by the rotor permanent magnets and the stator currents. The conventional equivalent circuit model of PMSM with core loss can account for the former but not the latter, and therefore, an additional core loss resistor is required to account for the additional core loss component due to the armature reaction. The nonlinear resistance for the no-load core loss is explained from the core loss model of magnetic materials. The method to determine these core loss resistances from the no-load and load tests is also presented. The relation between the core loss components and the corresponding resistors is clearly demonstrated by the analysis of experimental results. The permanent magnet synchronous motor (PMSM) can be a serious competitor to the conventional DC and induction motors in servo applications due to its high power density, torque to current ratio, and efficiency. The model of PMSM is concerned by many researchers because it is important in motor performance analysis and drive system design. In addition, the performance of a PMSM drive system is considerably influenced by the accuracy ofthe model. The core loss or iron loss, caused by the permanent magnet (PM) flux and armature reaction flux, is a significant component in the total loss of a PMSM, and thus, it can have a considerable effect on the PMSM modeling and performance prediction. This paper proposes a model of PMSM taking into account the stator core losses. No-load and load tests were carried out to determine the total core and mechanical loss of a PMSM, which was then separated by fitting the experimental results to their physical models. The relationship between the core loss resistor Rcl and the internal voltage Vi is estimated by the curve fitting of the no-load results. With the load test results, the conventional PMSM model is modified by adding an extra resistor, R c2, to account for the effect of armature reaction on the core loss. The values of Rc2 are determined by the
ASSESSMENT OF SMARTING IMPACT IN URBAN SERVICES IN THE INFORMATION AGE FOR DEVELOPING A SUSTAINABLE CITY

Cities are at the highest level as the manifestation of a new form of life in the age of communication and the fourth wave, which is interpreted as a virtual movement, and the maximum concentration of social and economic services Therefore, it is necessary to find new serving methods and technologies. IT is one of the most important strategic tools in the management and administration of human beings. Cities are the major contexts, for the use of IT applications. With growing urbanization and its complications and considering the consequences of modernization and industry on urban life, attending the innovative and intelligent components, which is one of the most important priorities for planners and policy- makers, is essential. In Citizen Relationship Management, the main objective is to understand the needs and demands of citizens and to make efforts to improve services and increase their satisfaction level. This paper presents an Assessment of smarting impact of Urban Services in the Information Age for the development of a sustainable city in zone 2 of Tehran municipality, and seeks to consider the impact of smart urban services on quality of life in cities and what positive and negative consequences this process will have. In this regard, the reduction in environmental pollution, the use of fossil fuels, costs, waste of time, and the trips within cities are considered as positive results and difficulty of using electronic means, lack of access to information technology tools, less security and pressure on networking infrastructure can be considered as negative results. The population of this research includes residents of Zone 2, in Tehran. In this study descriptive, inferential method, Chi-Square test and Pearson correlation coefficient were used. The results showed that the hypotheses of this study were approved and smart urban services in Iran have been improving the quality of life for the residents of Zone 2. The results indicated the benefits and advantages of electronic processes in the field of civil services to promote the advancement of human welfare in a city like Tehran and will be considered protection of resources and the environment. These activities reflect the principles of sustainable development for the purpose of reducing the environmental and ecological issues in cities, which strengthen and enhance a sense of active citizenship participation in urban management.
Cassava Leaf Nanoparticles (CLNPs) as a Potential Additive to Anti-Corrosion Coatings for Oil and Gas Pipeline

Characterization of synthesized cassava leaf nanoparticles (CLNPs) was carried out using SEM/EDX and Gwyddion software, XRD and TEM for cassava leaves (CL) ball milled at 36, 48, 60 and 72 hours. The morphological study was done using SEM and the Gwyddion software was used to determine the particle sizes from the SEM images. The particle size range for the un-milled cassava leaves (CL) was between 1.88 + 0.09 to 19.53 + 0.98 μm. After milling for 36, 48, 60 and 72 hours the average particle sizes were 4.96 + 0.25, 3.51 + 0.18 μm, 86.90 + 4.35, 74.50 + 3.73 nm respectively. Crystallite size of 23.94 + 1.20 nm was obtained by XRD using Scherrer equation after milling for 72 hours and the XRD results revealed the presence of compounds such as SiO2, CaCO3, Ca2(SO4)2H2O and CaC2O4(H2O). Furthermore, TEM was used to determine nanoparticles after milling for 72 hours and the particle size ranged from 9.16 + 0.46 to 58.20 + 2.91 nm for cassava leaf nanoparticles (CLNPs) and EDX results showed trace element of O, Si, Ca, K, Fe and S in the CL milled for 72 hours . FTIR was also carried out to determine the nature of bond that exist in the organic compounds in CLNPs and GCMS analysis was used to reveal the organic compounds that were present in CLNPs. Anti-Corrosion coatings reduces corrosion activities to the bearest minimum. © 2017 Published by Faculty of Engineering Corresponding author: F.O. Kolawole Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Federal University, Oye-Ekiti, Nigeria E-mail: funsho.kolawole@fuoye.edu. ng
Legume versus fertilizer sources of nitrogen: ecological tradeoffs and human needs

During the 20th century, farmers around the world replaced legume rotations and other traditional sources of nitrogen (N) fertility with synthetic N fertilizers. A sizable percentage of the human population now depends on synthetic N fertilizers for survival. In recent decades, N fertilizers have been linked to numerous environmental hazards including marine eutrophication, global warming, groundwater contamination, and stratospheric ozone destruction. Some researchers suggest that legumes, which can support biological N 2 fixation, offer a more environmentally sound and sustainable source of N to cropping systems. This perspective is countered by researchers who argue that, (1) legume-derived N has equally negative environmental impacts as the N derived from synthetic fertilizers, and (2) the human population now exceeds the carrying capacity of agricultural systems that depend on legumes for N inputs. In this review, we compare the sustainability of obtaining N from legume versus industrial sources in terms of ecological integrity, energetics and food security. We conclude that obtaining N from legumes is potentially more sustainable than from industrial sources. We further suggest that while some countries are fundamentally dependent on synthetic N for food production, many countries have the capacity to greatly reduce or eliminate dependence on synthetic N through adoption of less meat-intensive diets, and reduction of food waste. © 2003 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Soil organic carbon dynamics along a climatic gradient in a southern Appalachian spruce–fir forest

A field study was conducted in a high-elevation spruce–fir (Picea rubens Sarg. – Abies fraseri (Pursh.) Poir) forest in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park to assess the effect of temperature on soil C storage and dynamics. In eight plots along an elevation gradient (1500–1900 m), we measured soil temperature, forest floor and mineral soil C, litter decomposition, soil respiration, and forest floor mean residence time. Mean annual soil temperature and annual degree-days above 5 °C were inversely correlated with elevation. Total soil C (166–241 Mg·ha–1) showed no trend with elevation, while forest floor C accumulation (16.3–35.9 Mg·ha–1) decreased significantly with elevation. Carbon dynamics did not follow a consistent elevation pattern; however, the cooler upper elevations showed the lowest C turnover as indicated by the lowest needle decomposition rate (k = 0.0231·year–1) and the longest mean residence time of forest floor C (22 years). Mean annual CO2 efflux from the soil (1020–1830 kg C·ha–1·year–.
History-Adjusted Marginal Structural Models and Statically-Optimal Dynamic Treatment Regimens

Marginal structural models (MSM) provide a powerful tool for estimating the causal effect of a treatment. These models, introduced by Robins, model the marginal distributions of treatment-specific counterfactual outcomes, possibly conditional on a subset of the baseline covariates. Marginal structural models are particularly useful in the context of longitudinal data structures, in which each subject's treatment and covariate history are measured over time, and an outcome is recorded at a final time point. However, the utility of these models for some applications has been limited by their inability to incorporate modification of the causal effect of treatment by time-varying covariates. Particularly in the context of clinical decision making, such time-varying effect modifiers are often of considerable or even primary interest, as they are used in practice to guide treatment decisions for an individual. In this article we propose a generalization of marginal structural models, which we call history-adjusted marginal structural models (HA-MSM). These models allow estimation of adjusted causal effects of treatment, given the observed past, and are therefore more suitable for making treatment decisions at the individual level and for identification of time-dependent effect modifiers. Specifically, a HA-MSM models the conditional distribution of treatment-specific counterfactual outcomes, conditional on the whole or a subset of the observed past up till a time-point, simultaneously for all time-points. Double robust inverse probability of treatment weighted estimators have been developed and studied in detail for standard MSM. We extend these results by proposing a class of double robust inverse probability of treatment weighted estimators for the unknown parameters of the HA-MSM. In addition, we show that HA-MSM provide a natural approach to identifying the dynamic treatment regimen which follows, at each time-point, the history-adjusted (up till the most recent time point) optimal static treatment regimen. We illustrate our results using an example drawn from the treatment of HIV infection.
Minimum Phase Property of Chebyshev-Sharpened Cosine Filters

We prove that the Chebyshev sharpening technique, recently introduced in literature, provides filters with a Minimum Phase (MP) characteristic when it is applied to cosine filters. Additionally, we demonstrate that cascaded expanded Chebyshev-Sharpened Cosine Filters (CSCFs) are also MP filters, and we show that they achieve a lower group delay for similar magnitude characteristics in comparison with traditional cascaded expanded cosine filters. The importance of the characteristics of cascaded expanded CSCFs is also elaborated. The developed examples show improvements in the group delay ranged from 23% to 47% at the cost of a slight increase of usage of hardware resources. For an application of a low-delay decimation filter, the proposed scheme exhibits a 24% lower group delay, with 35% less computational complexity (estimated in Additions per Output Sample) and slightly less usage of hardware elements.