Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Utilization of boron compounds as synergists with ammonium polyphosphate for flame retardant wood-polymer composites

: Th e investigation consisted of utilizing boron compounds (BCs) as a synergist with ammonium polyphosphate (APP) in manufacturing fl ame retardant wood-polymer composites (WPCs). Flame retardants (FRs) at various ratios (APP, boric acid (BA), borax (BX), zinc borate and BA/BX mixtures) were used to determine the physical, mechanical, and burning rate properties of WPCs manufactured from wood fl our, polypropylene, and maleic anhydride polypropylene. Th e results showed that the addition of FRs reduced all mechanical properties of WPCs except for impact strength. However, this reduction was lower for samples having BCs in FRs formulation. Similar burning rate results were achieved in WPCs having FRs. Th e combination of BA/BX with APP is thought to have overcome the negative eff ect of APP on strength properties through the formation of boron phosphate between APP and BA. BCs, used as the synergist, improved the mechanical and FRs performance of WPCs. Th is study showed that using BCs as synergists with APP has potential as a relatively inexpensive halogen-free FR alternative for the industry.
Men and Women’s Use of Influence Tactics Differences and Consequences

Despite the large amount of research on influence tactics, the potential gender differences regarding usage of tactics has been somewhat disregarded. An influence behavior questionnaire study with 20 managers, and an influence incident interview study with 5 people was conducted to investigate if some gendered patterns could be identified. The use of tactics was measured with the agent version of the IBQ-G, and the influence interview reports were conducted as interviews from a target perspective. Results indicated that women and men favor different influence tactics, even if gender is only one part of the puzzle. The men in Study 1 rated themselves as more effective but worse at eliciting complete commitment in their targets compared to the women. Study 2 indicated that men and women are believed to use different influence tactics, but that individual preferences will tend to be stronger. Rational persuasion was found to be the most frequent and effective tactic according to both studies. This study suggests that women and men might favor using different tactics, even if differences are likely to also be affected by other contextual factors. Some tactics are shown to be more successful in eliciting commitment in targets, regardless of the gender of the agent. The results suggest that gender should be offered a stronger place in future influence tactic research to create a more complete analysis. Knowing what tactics both men and women could be in favor of using is also a contribution of this study.
Evolution of the ring current energy during May 2-4, 1998 magnetic storm

We study the evolution of the ring current energy density during May 2-4, 1998 storm event as measured by Polar CAMMICE/MICS instrument and modelled by proton tracing in the guiding center approximation. Particle data from Polar shows that during the storm main phase protons with medium energies (20-80 keV) contribute more to the total ring current energy than the high energy protons (80-200 keV) whereas during the recovery phase high energies dominate. We trace protons with arbitrary pitch angles numerically in the guiding center approximation taking into account charge-exchange losses. Tracing is performed in the large-scale and smaller-scale time-dependent magnetic and electric field models. We model the substorm activity by several electric field pulses at times of the substorm onsets. It is shown that impulsive electric fields associated with sub- storms are effective in the proton transport and energization to higher energies more than 100 keV in the storm time ring current.
Fighting Technical Debt: Enabling Sustainable Productivity

The modern information society is entirely dependable on software. The majority of every day solutions that we use, such as mobile devices, home appliances or vehicles, require software to function. In addition, every business relies on various software systems and services. The reason for software usage is its versatility, which allows business to rapidly adapt to continuous changes, and flexibly revise their objectives and approach new opportunities. The adaptation, competitiveness and survival of organizations are dependable on software that they are using [Boehm, 2006]. Software is purely an intellectual product and considered as one of most laborintensive, complex, error-prone and economically challenging technology in history. Software is often taken for granted and its existence is not acknowledged until it is malfunctioning [Krasner, 1998]. Without successful software projects there are no working software to serve our needs. To pursue successful software project trajectory, the ability to develop high quality solutions in a profitable velocity is essential. Hence, the factors that enable high and sustainable development productivity require adequate management.
Brussels Bound: Candidate Selection in European Elections

Party leaders decide the quality and order of candidates on their electoral lists. We argue that party ideology, electoral salience, and access to other electoral arenas condition list construction. To test this theory, we gather data on the demographic characteristics, career backgrounds, and political experiences of candidates in the 2009 European Parliamentary Elections. We develop a statistical ranking model that simulates how party leaders construct lists based on the availability of candidates and the electoral context. Political parties’ attitudes and emphases, their sizes, and the amount of attention that the national press pays to European elections predict the types of candidates that parties prioritize.
Appendix 9-Growth path, transport and genetic effects on beef eating quality and ability to cost-effectively meet beef market specifications

The ‘Regional Combinations’ project and its biophysical outcomes, and the subsequent identification of the most profitable beef cattle production systems across different environments in southern Australia, have been described in several other papers in this special edition. In this paper, the economic calculations reported for each of the individual beef enterprises representative of the various state sites are aggregated up to the level of the Australian cattle and beef industry and then projected forward over several years into the future. To do this, an existing model of the world beef market is used. The analyses suggest that both the fast-growth-rate technology and the time-of-calving technology have the potential to generate significant economic benefits for the southern Australia cattle and beef industries. The cumulative present values of each technology are around $70 million over a 15-year time horizon at a 7% real discount rate.
Stopover by reed-associated warblers Acrocephalus spp. in wetlands in the southeast of the Bay of Biscay during autumn and spring passage

Understanding how migratory Acrocephalus warblers use the wetlands along the coast of the southeast of the Bay of Biscay during autumn and spring migrations is vital from both conservation and management perspectives. Our aim was to explore whether Acrocephalus warblers use the region in spring in the same way as in autumn. We used ringing data obtained from three wetlands (Adour, Txingudi and Urdaibai) during the autumn of 2011 and the spring of 2012. Overall, the migration in spring was much weaker than in autumn. The remarkable scarcity of Reed Warblers (A. scirpaceus) in spring may be due in part to the fact that they tend to pass through even later than Sedge (A. schoenobaenus) and Aquatic (A. paludicola) Warblers, although, judging from additional data, the spring passage of the Reed Warbler is still lower than in autumn. Sedge Warblers in spring apparently had shorter staying periods than in autumn, but had similar fuel loads.
An Empirical Study on Multimodal Videotext Learning Strategy to English Audio-visual-oral Ability Improvement

— In today's high-speed development in digital and information, human communication activities appear the phenomenon of the integration of various symbols, the phenomenon of multimodal discourse is one of the important characteristics of the use of various texts in human communication today. While the traditional single-mode teaching of audio-visual course cannot effectively improve students' audio-visual-oral skills, this paper studies on videotext learning strategies based on multimodal theory, discusses how to use task-oriented cooperative learning strategy to improve students' audio-visual-oral ability, solve the problem of language learning by the mechanization separated real context output. Conclusion: multimodal videotext teaching mode plays a considerable role to cultivate students' autonomous learning ability, improve the students' master consciousness, the language comprehensive ability, and cultural literacy. It plays a positive role in guiding the practice in the new reform of English teaching.
Decentralization and Accountability Contexts : District Education Officers' Perspectives on Education in Post-Devolution Pakistan

Through devolution reforms, district-level education managers in the developing world are working within a new accountability environment. This research examined district education officers’ views regarding the role of education as it relates to tradition, gender and religion in post-devolution Pakistan, in order to gain insights into local education managers’ accountability contexts in a conservative and educationally underdeveloped society. The data was collected through semi-structured interviews with twelve district education officers in the NorthWest Frontier Province (presently called Khyber Pakhtunkhwa). It was found that the officers generally viewed the function of public schools as an agent of modernization, while acknowledging that schools should also transmit traditional values. The former perspective comes from their accountability to their employers and their own backgrounds, while the latter suggests they are responding to the needs of local constituents. They were also dealing with their accountability to local politicians and provincial bureaucracies. These multi-accountability contexts may pose a considerable challenge to local education managers, but may be effectively managed by forging a network of key stakeholders.
Navigating the Livestock Sector: The Political Economy of Livestock Policy in Burkina Faso

This paper presents a case study of how livestock policies are made and implemented in a national context, and how they can be improved to better serve the interests of the poor. The government estimates that nearly 85 percent of Burkinabe households rely upon livestock for some portion of their income. Furthermore, livestock accounts for approximately 25 percent of the country's exports. Socially, livestock provides a way for young adults to learn the responsibilities of adulthood, a method for family members to fulfill social obligations, and a means for women to support their families. Considering its social and economic significance, livestock must take center stage in efforts to improve Burkinabe livelihoods. The study used the key informant method supplemented with official documents, newspaper sources and recently published research on the livestock sector. Interviews helped reveal policymakers' concerns, whereas field trips allowed the researcher to talk to farmers and learn their perspectives from the bottom. Newspapers and published research analyzed various political, institutional and technical aspects of policymaking in the sector. The author highlights three potential constraints - weak livestock producer organizations, poor animal health service provision, and commercial weaknesses - on the potential contribution of the livestock sector to improving poor people's livelihoods and recommends strategic actions for overcoming each of them.
A mathematical approach to understanding emergent constraints

Abstract. One of the approaches to constrain uncertainty in climate models is the identification of emergent constraints. These are physically explainable empirical relationships between a particular simulated characteristic of the current climate and future climate change from an ensemble of climate models, which can be exploited using current observations. In this paper, we develop a theory to understand the appearance of such emergent constraints. Based on this theory, we also propose a classification for emergent constraints, and applications are shown for several idealized climate models.
Laboratory studies of biocorrosion control using traditional and environmentally friendly biocides: an overview

Metal surfaces immersed in natural or industrial waters undergo a sequence of biological and inorganic changes that may result in biocorrosion due to the formation of a biofilm. Microbial adherence to metallic surfaces affects different industrial systems, such us cooling water systems, off shore oil industry, thermal power stations, hydroelectric, chemical and process industry, etc. The chemical agents generally used to prevent or protect metallic structures from biocorrosion are highly toxic and, after use, can have a negative impact on the environment. Environmental concerns have led to legislation which encourages the replacement of toxic biocides, widely used in the past (e.g. chlorine) with more readily degradable antimicrobial chemicals that are compatible with system operation and less toxic to the environment. One innovative attempt to accomplish this goal is the use of naturally-produced compounds, such as plant extract that are environmentally acceptable. The aim of this paper is to give an overview of different laboratory studies which used both traditional and environmentally friendly biocides against planktonic bacteria and sessile bacteria on different metal surfaces.
DEVELOPMENT OF EFFERVESCENT GRANULE OF CORN MILK, SUPPLEMENTED WITH PROBIOTICS LACTOBACILLUS STRAIN SHIROTA

Objective: One of the materials which can be formulated into probiotics drink is corn milk. It has nutrient contents such as vitamin A, B, C, minerals, and fibres. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate the probiotic drink of corn milk which was formulated into an effervescent granule.Methods: The first step was carried out to make corn extract with the addition of Lactobacillus strain Shirota and incubated 24 h at 40 °C to gain corn milk. After that, corn milk was centrifuged to get filtrate and dried by oven 40 °C for 2 d to gain dry powder. Then corn milk powder was formulated into effervescent granule (3 formulas) using different ratio of acids. The method which used in making effervescent granule of corn milk was wet granulation. All formulas were done evaluations including physical and chemical properties of granule and hedonic test.Results: The results showed that formula 1 (only citric acid 23.84%) gave unsatisfactory results particularly on the evaluation tests such as LOD 9.64%, dissolution time 3.25 min, moisture content 10.67% and hedonic test which did not meet the requirements. Otherwise, formula 2 (only tartaric acid 23.84%) and formula 3 (citric acid 7.94% and tartaric acid 15.9% combination) showed satisfactory results for all evaluation tests of granules. Particularly formula 3 gave pH 5 on pH test which was the same as pH lactic acid for fermentation and LOD 4.34%, MC 4.53%, ρb 0.53 g/ml, ρt 0.62 g/ml and hedonic test around 80%. Conclusion: Formula 3 was the best formulation based on the evaluation and the stability of corn milk effervescent granule.
On the impact of the temporal variability of the collisional quenching process on the mesospheric OH emission layer: a study based on SD-WACCM4 and SABER

Abstract. The mesospheric OH Meinel emissions are subject of many theoretical and observational studies devoted to this part of the atmosphere. Depending on the initial vibrational level of excitation the altitude of the considered OH Meinel emission is systematically shifted, which has important implications for the intercomparison of different studies considering different transition bands. Previous model studies suggest that these vertical shifts are essentially caused by the process of collisional quenching with atomic oxygen. Following this hypothesis, a recent study found experimental evidence of a coherent seasonality at tropical latitudes between vertical shifts of different OH Meinel bands and changes in atomic oxygen concentrations. Despite the consistent finding of the above mentioned hypothesis, it cannot be excluded that the actual temporal variability of the vertical shifts between different OH Meinel bands may in addition be controlled or even dominated by other processes. It remains an open question whether the observed temporal evolution is indeed mainly controlled by the modulation of the collisional quenching process with atomic oxygen. By means of a sensitivity study which employs a quenching model to simulations made with the SD-WACCM4 chemistry climate model, we aim at assessing this question. From this study we find that the observed seasonality of vertical OH Meinel shifts is only partially controlled by temporal changes in atomic oxygen concentrations, while molecular oxygen has another noticeable impact on the vertical OH Meinel shifts. This in particular becomes evident for the diurnal variability of vertical OH Meinel shifts, which reveal only a poor correlation with the atomic oxygen species. Furthermore, changes in the H + O3 source gases provide another mechanism that can potentially affect the diurnal variability in addition. By comparison with limb radiance observations from the SABER/TIMED satellite this provides an explanation for the less evident diurnal response between changes in O concentrations and vertical OH Meinel shifts. On the other hand, at seasonal timescales the coherency between both quantities is again evident in SABER/TIMED but less pronounced compared to our model simulations.
Network Survivability Performance Evaluation in Underwater Surveillance System Using Markov Model

Underwater Wireless Sensor Network (UWSN) is a useful technology that can be used in Underwater Surveillance System (USS). USSs are mostly used in military purposes for detecting underwater military activities. One of the most important issues in USS is mission reliability or survivability. Due to harsh underwater environment and mission critical nature of military applications, it is important to measure survivability of USS. Underwater sensor node failures can be detrimental for USS. To improve survivability in USS, we propose a fault-tolerant underwater sensor node model. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first fault-tolerant underwater sensor node model in USS that evaluates survivability of an USS. We develop Markov models for characterizing USS survivability and MTTF (Mean Time to Failure) to facilitate USS. Performance evaluation results show the effectiveness of proposed model.
Structural Engineering by way of BIM

BIM idea is increasing the productivity of work. Multidimensional solutions implemented in BIM systems not only allow many structural calculations, but also access the better scheduling, cost estimating, visualizations. In some cases both software and hardware can be a bottleneck. To create an interaction between BIM philosophy and practice of the structural design the experimental research has tested eight structural systems of the high-rise building by way of Building Information Modelling. Multiple variants of the two main bracing system types: (i) a spatial truss and (ii) a spatial shell bracing system. In every model there was checked influence of slab model: with slabs meeting the conditions of a rigid plate (flexible diaphragm slab) and with slabs with no additional stiffening (shell slab). The ULS and SLS requirements were analysed for elements and superstructure. In addition, selected issues concerning scheduling of works (4D BIM) and cost estimating (5D BIM) were discussed with the extensive 3D model developed in line with the BIM standards. Rapid prototyping has enabled to realize the behaviour of structural systems. The outputs of this study are presented in the paper.
Prolactin and Schizophrenia, an Evolving Relationship

Prolactin is a polypeptide hormone originally discovered from the crop glands of pigeons in 1933 (Riddle et al, 1933; Bushe and Pendlebury, 2010), however there was some scepticism that prolactin even existed in humans until the 1970s as human prolactin was considered identical to growth hormone (GH). During the 1970s, the development of radioimmunoassay techniques allowed the isolation of prolactin and its subsequent measurement (Kohen and Wildgust, 2008). Since that time, awareness of the consequences of hyperprolactinaemia in psychiatry has been less than rapid despite clear evidence that many psychotropic agents, in particular antipsychotics, elevate prolactin levels to some degree in many patients. As a result, prolactin monitoring is not commonplace and many clinicians remain unsure of its utility. In part, this may relate to lack of knowledge regarding pathological endpoints caused by hyperprolactinaemia. In the last decade, however, awareness has begun to emerge of the potential consequences of untreated hyperprolactinaemia including short-term adverse events of sexual dysfunction, amenorrhoea and infertility and longer term consequences that may include bone fractures and breast cancer. This has been due in part to a number of reviews focussing on the potential consequences of hyperprolactinaemia and the relatively high prevalence of this adverse event (Haddad and Wieck, 2004; Bostwick et al, 2009; Bushe and Pendlebury, 2010), ). In 2008 the first set of prolactin monitoring guidelines was published and more recent data have begun to evaluate the use of specific polypharmacy to reduce prolactin levels (Peveler et al, 2008). There remain, however, many unanswered questions; most relate to the need to establish the true incidence of longer term sequelae of hyperprolactinaemia and to the simple questionwhat level of prolactin actually carries consequences and when? When one considers that prolactin has at least 300 biological actions it may be that this diversity of function will lead to research that further defines the precise role of and subsequent pathology induced by hyperprolactinaemia (Fitzgerald and Dinan, 2008).