Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Diffusion Analysis of the Emerging Market for Low Emission Vehicles

A large degree of public and private funding is being allocated to accelerating the introduction of Low Emission powertrains for passenger cars, especially plug-in Hybrid and Pure Battery Electric Vehicles (EVs). If these new vehicles are to make a significant contribution towards moving the UK to a more sustainable personal transportation system, a detailed understanding of the likely consumer demand for them is a fundamental requirement. The success of these new vehicles will be as much dependent on their desirability to customers as to their technical ability. This paper draws upon Roger"s Diffusion of Innovation Theory to understand the potential importance of consumer "innovativeness" as a pre-cursor to at least the early adoption of new vehicle technology. It presents preliminary results from an extended household pilot self completion survey conducted in Aberdeen City which respondents were asked questions relating to both conventional vehicles and Low Emission Vehicles (e.g. electric powertrains). These questions included aspects of Consumer Culture Theory in addition to an innovation scale that covers the three main variations of innovativeness that have been identified in the literature: (1) personality and communication traits (also referred to as innate innovativeness), (2) adoptive innovativeness that has further been segmented into (a) general adoption of consumer technology and (b) specific preferences towards Low Emission Vehicles. The results will be presented using Factor and Correlation analysis and will aim to understand the relative importance of the constructs with respect to consumer preference towards Low Emission Vehicles. Our findings suggest that innovativeness can be measured both through adoptive behaviour, psychological inclination and communication activity with these 3 constructs showing a degree of interaction. It proved more challenging to identify interactions between these 3 constructs and the local measure of innovativeness in the LEV market suggesting that innovative behaviour has yet to be "switched on" in this setting.
Characterization of Submicron Exhaust Particles from Engines Operating Without Load on Diesel and JP-8 Fuels

Diluted exhaust from a selection of Air Force ground support vehicles was subjected to gravimetric, carbon, and size distribution analyses in September 1999. The vehicles operated on diesel and JP-8 fuels. In most cases, the engines involved were similar to civilian counterparts. The tests involved "low" and "high" idle settings but no external loads were imposed. Particle size distribution data, obtained over the 10 to 352 nanometer diameter range using an SMPS instrument, showed that the relative number count of accumulation mode particles increased with respect to nucleation mode particles as the engine rpm increased. The SMPS distributions often explained the main variations in the integrated PM 2.5 gravimetric mass data. Particulate mass derived from the SMPS data and from cascade impactor measurements were well correlated (regression slope 1.02). Empirically determined "elemental" carbon (EC) and "organic" carbon (OC) were the main constituents of the PM 2.5 gravimetric mass (regression slope 0.89). EC contributed less, and OC contributed more to the PM 2.5 mass than was found in some recent studies of exhaust from vehicles operated under external loads. The observed particle nucleation modes were attenuated by coagulation with accumulation mode particles, but it does not appear that artifact particle formation was operative in these experiments. The estimated - 1 σ measurement precisions range from about - 4% for the largest impactor mass concentration determinations to - 24% for some of the SMPS mass concentration estimates.
Water quality modelling of an impacted semi-arid catchment using flow data from the WEAP model

Abstract. The continuous decline in water quality in many regions is forcing a shift from quantity-based water resources management to a greater emphasis on water quality management. Water quality models can act as invaluable tools as they facilitate a conceptual understanding of processes affecting water quality and can be used to investigate the water quality consequences of management scenarios. In South Africa, the Water Quality Systems Assessment Model (WQSAM) was developed as a management-focussed water quality model that is relatively simple to be able to utilise the small amount of available observed data. Importantly, WQSAM explicitly links to systems (yield) models routinely used in water resources management in South Africa by using their flow output to drive water quality simulations. Although WQSAM has been shown to be able to represent the variability of water quality in South African rivers, its focus on management from a South African perspective limits its use to within southern African regions for which specific systems model setups exist. Facilitating the use of WQSAM within catchments outside of southern Africa and within catchments for which these systems model setups to not exist would require WQSAM to be able to link to a simple-to-use and internationally-applied systems model. One such systems model is the Water Evaluation and Planning (WEAP) model, which incorporates a rainfall-runoff component (natural hydrology), and reservoir storage, return flows and abstractions (systems modelling), but within which water quality modelling facilities are rudimentary. The aims of the current study were therefore to: (1) adapt the WQSAM model to be able to use as input the flow outputs of the WEAP model and; (2) provide an initial assessment of how successful this linkage was by application of the WEAP and WQSAM models to the Buffalo River for historical conditions; a small, semi-arid and impacted catchment in the Eastern Cape of South Africa. The simulations of the two models were compared to the available observed data, with the initial focus within WQSAM on a simulation of instream total dissolved solids (TDS) and nutrient concentrations. The WEAP model was able to adequately simulate flow in the Buffalo River catchment, with consideration of human inputs and outputs. WQSAM was adapted to successfully take as input the flow output of the WEAP model, and the simulations of nutrients by WQSAM provided a good representation of the variability of observed nutrient concentrations in the catchment. This study showed that the WQSAM model is able to accept flow inputs from the WEAP model, and that this approach is able to provide satisfactory estimates of both flow and water quality for a small, semi-arid and impacted catchment. It is hoped that this research will encourage the application of WQSAM to an increased number of catchments within southern Africa and beyond.
Phylogenetically mediated anti-predator responses in bivalve molluscs

Sedentary, group-living taxa, such as bivalves, respond to waterborne predator cues by enhancing tissues that increase anti-predation attributes such as muscle and shell mass. The ability of bivalves to differentiate among cues generated by the consumption of different prey species that vary in phylogenetic relatedness is unknown. We exposed mussels to cues generated by crabs feed- ing on mussels, cockles and periwinkles to test whether there was a relationship between the magni- tude of the induced response and the level of relatedness to the cue source. Mussels exposed to either effluents of unfed crabs or seawater only served as controls. Exposure to cues from conspecifics and cockles caused significantly reduced growth in shell size of mussels compared to control mussels. Shell growth of mussels exposed to cues from crabs feeding on periwinkles did not differ significantly from mussels exposed to effluents from unfed crabs only. Tissue dry weight increased least in mus- sels exposed to cues of crabs fed conspecifics, followed by mussels exposed to crabs fed cockles. Cues of crabs that were fed mussels caused increased byssus thread production, whereas the other treat- ments did not. Exposure to cues from crabs fed mussels and crabs fed cockles resulted in significantly thicker and heavier shells compared to unexposed control mussels. The results of this study indicate that alarm cues of progressively more closely related molluscs cause a higher degree of induced morphological anti-predator responses in mussels. The physiological and behavioural responses of mussels to these cues may therefore have a phylogenetic basis.
Dual Band Gap Coupled Patch Antenna for Wireless Communication

A gap coupled rectangular microstrip antenna with parasitic patches for dual frequency operation is proposed. Theoretical, simulated and measured lower resonant frequencies of 2.35, 2.45 and 2.5 GHz are observed whereas higher resonant frequencies of 4.82, 4.86 and 5.0 GHz respectively are observed. Analysis is made using concepts of circuit theory and the simulated resonant frequencies are obtained with IE3D simulation software. Percentage difference between simulated and experimental lower and higher resonant frequencies are 2% and 2.8% respectively. Theoretical, simulated and experimental frequency ratio is found to be close to 2.0. Designed antenna shows broad radiation pattern and operates in S and C band and the fabrication cost is low.
Telecommunication Infrastructure and Economic Growth in Nigeria: New Evidence From ARDL Bound Testing Approach to Cointegration

This study investigates the relationship between telecommunication infrastructure and economic growth in Nigeria using time series quarterly data for the period of 2002 to 2014. A functional relationship was modeled between macroeconomic variables such as GDP growth rate, teledensity, number of mobile telephone subscribers, number of landline subscribers, degree of openness in the economy, gross domestic investment and foreign direct investment. This study adopted an autoregressive distributed lag model (ARDL) estimation techniques approach to cointegration test using bound test, stability test and others. The results from the analysis revealed the existence of long run relationship between telecommunication infrastructure and economic growth in Nigeria and concluded that, gross domestic investment, foreign direct investment and degree of openness in the country has improved the teledensity, number of mobile telephone subscribers as well as number of landline which facilitates or enhanced economic activities and in turn leads to increased economic growth. We therefore recommends that government should implement policies that will enhance the development of the telecommunications sectors and complementary factors such as electrification particularly in rural areas, pay more attention to measures that would increase mobile telephone penetration such as reduce tariffs on telecommunication components, as well as formulate policies that will enhance domestic savings and attract more foreign direct investment. Keywords: Telecommunication Infrastructure, Teledensity, Gross domestic Investment, ARDL, Economic Growth,
LUMINOGENIC ENZYME SUBSTRATES: THE BASIS FOR A NEW PARADIGM IN ASSAY DESIGN

The advantages of bioluminescence are most commonly harnessed for assay design in two ways. First, gene reporter assays monitor changes in the concentration of the luciferase enzyme for studies of gene regulation. Second, ATP assays correlate changes in ATP concentration with changes in the light output of an ATP-dependent luciferase reaction for measuring biomass and ATPase activities (1). In a recent trend, a third approach brings the exquisite sensitivity and selectivity of bioluminescence into the sphere of traditional enzymology. Here we describe this bioluminescent technology, which offers a new assay choice for a wide variety of enzymes that include proteases, metabolic enzymes and β-galactosidase.
Infection and growth of Heterobasidion spp. in Picea abies

In economical terms, species of Heterobasidion are among the most severe fungal pests in coniferous forests of the northern hemisphere. The fungi cause interior decay in the stem of trees and trees may also die as a cause of infection. Two species of Heterobasidion have been identified in Sweden, Heterobasidion annosum s.s. (Fr.) Bref. and Heterobasidion parviporum Niemela & Korhonen. The former has been identified from southern to central Sweden whereas the latter is present throughout the whole country. Stump treatment, using chemical or biological treatment agents, is the most widely used silvicultural method to prevent infection by Heterobasidion. This thesis mainly focuses on different aspects of biological stump treatment using Phlebiopsis gigantea (Fr.) Jul. The effectiveness of stump treatment against air-borne Heterobasidion spores with P. gigantea, when applied at different rates of stump coverage was investigated in southern Sweden. The results showed that, in order to achieve the best control, the aim should be to cover the complete stump surface with the treatment agent. In another field experiment in southern Sweden the effectiveness of Finish and Swedish strains of P. gigantea was compared. Two formulations containing two species of Trichoderma were also included in the study. Two of the Swedish P. gigantea strains showed the best control against air-borne Heterobasidion spores. None of the Trichoderma formulations significantly reduced Heterobasidion infection. The effect of stump treatment using P. gigantea on stumps from trees that were already infected by H. parviporum at the time of felling was studied in south-western Sweden. It was hypothesized that P. gigantea may restrict the growth of Heterobasidion in the root system of treated stumps. However, no such effect was observed and treatment of stumps from already infected trees can, based on this study, not be recommended as a means of restricting the spread of the pathogen. In the last study, the ability of inoculated H. annosum s.s. to establish and grow in trees and stumps in northern Sweden (outside its natural range of distribution) was compared with the ability to establish and grow in southern Sweden. In the trees, H. annosum s.s. established in almost as many trees in the north as in the south of Sweden. However, spores of H. annosum s.s. showed an inability to establish on stumps, in both parts of the country. This indicates that routes of infection, other than through fresh stump surfaces may be involved in the disease cycle of H. annosum s.s. in Norway spruce.
COMPARATIVE EVALUATION BETWEEN URBOCENOSIS AND AGROCENOSIS ON BASIS CHEMICAL AND MICROBIOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF SOILS

There are presented chemical and microbiological analyses of soils from urbocenosis and agrocenosis from the region of city of Varna. There are determined macroand microelements and their influence over the qualitative and quantitative content of the soil microorganisms. The soils from the investigated ecosystems are poorly supplied with total nitrogen. The urbogenic soil is well supplied with absorbable forms of phosphorus and potassium, in contrast to the agrogenic soil, which is slightly supplied with phosphorus and averagely supplied with potassium. As per contetn of organic substance the urban soil is classified as slightly humus, and the one from the agrocenosis as averagely humus. The investigated soils are classified from not contaminated up to slightly contaminated with lead, cadmium, copper, zinc, nickel, manganese and iron. The highest percentage share from the total microflora occupy the bacteria, which are not forming spores, which participate most actively in the processes of self-cleaning of the soils from the investigated pollutants. The specified chemical and microbiological indexes may serve as indicators for passing processes in anthropological soils with low content of heavy metals.
Humpy LNRF-velocity profiles in accretion discs orbiting almost extreme Kerr black holes. A possible

Context. Change of sign of the LNRF-velocity gradient has been found for accretion discs orbiting rapidly rotating Kerr black hol es with spin a> 0.9953 for Keplerian discs and a> 0.99979 for marginally stable thick discs. Such a “humpy” LNRF-velocity profiles occur just above the marginally stable circular geodesic of the black hole spacetimes. Aims. Aschenbach (2004) has identified the maximal rate of change o f the orbital velocity within the “humpy” profile with a local ly defined critical frequency of disc oscillations, but it has b een done in a coordinate-dependent form that should be corrected. Methods. We define the critical “humpy” frequency νh in general relativistic, coordinate independent form, and relate the frequency defined in the LNRF to the distant observers. At radius of its d efinition, the resulting “humpy” frequency νh is compared to the radial νr and verticalνv epicyclic frequencies and the orbital frequency of the disc s. We focus our attention to Keplerian thin discs and perfect-fluid slender tori where the approximation of oscil lations with epicyclic frequencies is acceptable. Results. In the case of Keplerian discs, we show that the epicyclic resonance radii r3:1 and r4:1 (withνv :νr = 3 : 1, 4 : 1) are located in vicinity of the “humpy” radius rh where effi cient triggering of oscillations with frequencies∼νh could be expected. Asymptotically (for 1− a< 10 −4 ) the ratio of the epicyclic and Keplerian frequencies and the humpy frequency is nearly constant, i.e., almost independent of a, being for the radial epicyclic frequencyνr :νh∼ 3 : 2. In the case of thick discs, the situation is more complex due to dependence on distribution of the specific angular momentum l determining the disc properties. Forl = const tori and 1− a< 10 −6 the frequency ratios of the humpy frequency and the orbital and epicyclic frequencies are again nearly constant and independent of both a andl being for the radial epicyclic frequencyνr :νh close to 4. In the limiting case of very slender tori (l∼lms) the epicyclic resonance radius r4:1∼ rh for all the relevant interval of 1− a< 2× 10 −4 . Conclusions. The hypothetical “humpy” oscillations could be related to the QPO resonant phenomena between the epicyclic oscillations in both the thin discs and marginally stable tori givin g interesting predictions that have to be compared with QPO observations in nearly extreme Kerr black hole candidate systems. Generally, more than two observable oscillations are predicted.
Modeling the Emergency Care Delivery System Using a Queueing Approach

This thesis considers a regional emergency care delivery system that has a common emergency medical service (EMS) provider and two hospitals, each with a single emergency department (ED) and an inpatient department (ID). Patients arrive at one of the hospital EDs either by ambulance or self-transportation, and we assume that an ambulance patient has preemptive priority over a walk-in patient. Both types of patients can potentially be admitted into the ID or discharged directly from the ED. An admitted patient who cannot access the ID due to the lack of available inpatient beds becomes a boarding patient and blocks an ED server. An ED goes on diversion, e.g., requests the EMS provider to divert incoming ambulances to the neighboring facility, if the total number of its ambulance patients and boarding patients exceeds its capacity (the total number of its servers). The EMS provider will accept the diversion request if the neighboring ED is not on diversion. Both EDs choose its capacity as its diversion threshold and never change the threshold value strategically, and hence they never game. Although the network could be an idealized model of an actual operation, it can be thought of as the simplest network model that is rich enough to reproduce the variety of interactions among different system components. In particular, we aim to highlight the bottleneck effect of inpatient units on ED overcrowding and the network effects resulting from ED diversions. A continuous time Markov chain is introduced for the network model. We show that the chain is irreversible and hence its stationary distribution is difficult to characterize analytically. We identify an alternative solution that builds on queueing decomposition and matrix-analytic methods. We demonstrate through discrete-event simulations the effectiveness of this solution on deriving various performance measures of the original network model. Moreover, by conducting extensive numerical experiments, we provide potential explanations for the overcrowding and delays in a network of hospitals. We suggest remedies from a queueing perspective for the operational challenges facing emergency care delivery systems.
Evaluation of IoT Device Management Tools

Industry 4.0 with IoT (Internet of Things) is the next wave in technology revolution which is expected to change our everyday life. This digitalization is having great impact on all the domains (energy, healthcare, transportation, manufacturing etc.) in addition to the ICT (Information and Communication Technologies) sector. In IoT scenarios, numerous sensors measure and report several phenomena and diversified IoT solutions are deployed to collect huge amount of data. IoT platforms, such as Amazon AWS, IBM Watson or Microsoft IoT Suite, have been available to aid the development of such services/applications. However, one of the major challenges faced by IoT solutions providers is the supervision and management of the large number of deployed sensors/devices. Presumably, the magnitude and heterogeneity of the IoT systems makes it difficult to manage them with conventional IT management tools and techniques. New techniques and tools have to be explored and developed or the traditional management solutions have to be adapted to the new challenges. In this paper, we identify and formulate the essential challenges of IoT device management and supervision, review the actual state-of-the-art IoT device management and supervision techniques and tools available on the market, and briefly evaluate their features and typical use cases.
Magnetic reconnection exhausts at the boundaries of small interplanetary magnetic flux ropes

Context. Small interplanetary magnetic flux ropes (SIMFRs) are commonly observed by spacecraft at 1 AU. Aims. We provide a mechanism to decrease the dimensions of some SIMFRs as they propagate away from the Sun. Methods. We carefully examined the high-resolution magnetic field and plasma data from the Wind spacecraft during the period 1995-2005 to identify X-line magnetic reconnection exhausts at the boundaries of SIMFRs. Results. We identified nine X-line magnetic reconnection exhausts at the boundaries of SIMFRs, which were destroying the flux within the related SIMFRs. Conclusions. These observational facts indicate that the boundaries of some SIMFRs were still evolving through interaction with the background solar wind, and their spatial scales would diminish gradually.