Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
SELF-MANAGING PERFORMANCE IN APPLICATION SERVERS - MODELLING AND DATA ARCHITECTURE

High performance is always a desired objective in computing systems. Managing performance through manual intervention is a well-known and obvious mechanism. The attempts to self-manage performance with minimal human intervention are predominant in the recent advances of research. Control Systems theory is playing a significant role in building such intelligent and autonomic computing systems. We are investigating in building Intelligent Application Servers by enabling control system as a first class feature in component software, at design time and runtime. In this direction, it is important to build efficient data access mechanisms that capture the control system models, performance data, analyze the data efficiently, identify patterns and build a knowledge base. In this paper we propose a data organization and architecture as a building block of developing Intelligent Application Servers.
Beneficial impact of phosphate solubilizing fungi on growth of Saraca asoca (Roxb.) de Willd. under nursery condition

Saraca asoca belonging to family Caesalpinaceae commonly known as ‘Sita Ashok’, and assessed as endangered; and important indigenous plant of India and the state flower of Odisha. S. asoca is a medicinal plant that claims to cure several diseases according to Ayurvedic medicine. A study was conducted to investigate the effects of phosphate solubilizing fungi on the growth & establishment of Saraca asoca under nursery condition. Five phosphate solubilizing fungi were supplemented on Saraca asoca seedlings separately and their effects on morphological and physiological growth parameters were recorded. Inoculation of fungal culture Aspergillus kanagawaensis showed significant improvement in shoot height, root length and leaf number and Aspergillus japonicus developed the highest number of branches, Aspergillus niger showed highest leaf area. Overall, application of fungal culture Aspergillus kanagawaensis and Aspergillus niger resulted in increased biomass production as compared to control experimental sets.
Enabling change: the related roles of business model and technology in start-ups

Technology plays an important role for any start-up – as an opportunity to be exploited, as well as an enabler to structure the start-up’s activities to better generate value. The business model is a useful tool in these settings to keep track of technology and understand its potential value for the start-up. To analyze the interrelation between business model development and technology change a multiple case study approach was conducted. Using a maximum variation strategy, three cases of start-ups depicting the range of technological discontinuity were selected. Analysis of these resulted in three different ways in which technology use in new ventures influenced business model development and vice versa. In addition, this paper introduces the Business Model Dynamics Framework as a tool for pro-active, continuous business modeling and analysis.
The Relationship between Stock Prices, House Prices and Consumption in OECD Countries

Abstract This paper analyzes the relationship between stock prices, house prices and consumption using data for 16 OECD countries. The panel data analysis suggests that the long-run responsiveness of consumption to permanent changes in stock prices is higher for countries with a market-based financial system than for countries with a bank-based financial system. Splitting the sample into the 1980s and 1990s further shows an increased sensitivity in the 1990's of consumption to permanent changes in stock prices for both countries with bank-based financial systems as well as countries with market-based financial systems. The relationship between changes in consumption and changes in house prices is positive for the second sample period across all specifications and financial systems.
A Response to the RATE Team Regarding Helium Diffusion in Zircon

A young-earth creationist research program, called RATE for Radioisotopes and the Age of The Earth, claims to have found scientific evidence for the acceleration of nuclear decay rates by several orders of magnitude. This argument is used to defend their belief in a 6000-year-old earth. I had previously challenged the scientific merits of RATE’s helium diffusion study, to which Dr. Russell Humphreys, a leading member of the RATE team, responded with his own criticisms. This paper responds to Humphreys’ comments. Three topics are discussed: my old-earth helium diffusion model, RATE’s young-earth helium diffusion model, and a test between the two models. Regarding my old-earth model, computational evidence is presented supporting my interpretation of the diffusion kinetics, contrary to Humphreys’ unsubstantiated claims. Regarding RATE’s young-earth model, a case is made that the apparently good agreement between their model and experimental data is the result of adjusting model parameters to fit preliminary data. Finally, regarding a test between the two models, evidence is presented which shows that the initial heating ramp of a diffusion experiment better supports my old-earth model.
El gran teorema de la combinatòria moderna

Si pregunteu a un expert quin es el resultat estrella de la combinatoria de les ultimes decades, es probable que contesti: el teorema dels menors de Robertson i Seymour. Aquest resultat, una de les grans fites de la matematica del segle passat, afirma el seguent: si G es una classe de grafs tancada per menors, llavors hi ha un nombre finit d�obstruccions que determinen si un graf es a G. L�exemple classic es el teorema de Kuratowski: si G es la classe dels grafs planaris, les obstruccions son els grafs K5 i K3,3. La prova ocupa uns vint articles, amb un total de mes de cinc-centes pagines. En aquest treball expliquem el contingut del teorema i donem una idea de les seves implicacions, de les relacions amb l�algorismia i amb la logica, de les eines fonamentals a que ha donat lloc i de la seva demostracio.
Controlled Synthesis of Gold Nanoparticles Using Aspergillus terreus IF0 and Its Antibacterial Potential against Gram Negative Pathogenic Bacteria

Biosynthesis of monodispersed nanoparticles, along with determination of potential responsible biomolecules, is the major bottleneck in the area of bionanotechnology research. The present study focuses on an ecofriendly, ambient temperature protocol for size controlled synthesis of gold nanoparticles, using the fungus Aspergillus terreus IF0. Gold nanoparticles were formed immediately, with the addition of chloroauric acid to the aqueous fungal extract. Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized by UV-Vis spectroscopy, TEM-EDX, and XRD analysis. Particle diameter and dispersity of nanoparticles were controlled by varying the pH of the fungal extract. At pH 10, the average size of the synthesized particles was in the range of 10–19 nm. Dialysis to obtain high and low molecular weight fraction followed by FTIR analysis revealed that biomolecules larger than 12 kDa and having –CH, –NH, and –SH functional groups were responsible for bioreduction and stabilization. In addition, the synthesized gold nanoparticles were found to be selectively bactericidal against the pathogenic gram negative bacteria, Escherichia coli.
Aging, Inequality and Social Security

This paper develops an overlapping-generations model including wage inequality within a generation and intra- and intergenerational resource reallocation via social security. Based on the concept of a stationary Markov perfect equilibrium, the paper focuses on the feedback mechanism between current individuals f decisions on saving and future voting on social security. The paper demonstrates the determination of social security via probabilistic voting and its consequence for consumption inequality within a generation. It is shown that when the elderly are politically powerful, (i) the economy attains an oscillatory path of inequality and social security, and (ii) aging may reduce consumption inequality.
Government Expenditure in Enforcing the Law, Financial Intermediation and Development

This paper presents a neoclassical growth model with financial intermediation in which government expenditure is used to enforce the law. Government expenditure increases the probability that the financial contract are enforced and reduces financial intermediation costs. There is a feed back process: low per capita capital involves low government expenditure and low probability of enforcing financial contracts, which reduces the incentives to accumulate capital. As a consequence of this feed back process there are three steady states: one without financial intermediation and low per capita capital, another with low probability of enforcing the financial contract and medium per capita capital and other with high probability of enforcing the contract and high per capita capital. The dynamic around the steady state with low enforcing probability is characterized by multiple equilibria and cyclical behavior, the dynamics around the two others steady states presents the typical saddle point dynamics.
An Automatic Blues Band

The development of a computer musical accompanist is presented, that attempts to model some of the characteristics of human musicianship, particularly concentrating on the human sense of rhythm, and the playing ‘by ear’ skill set. It specifically focuses on blues accompaniment, and works with no previous knowledge of the particular song that is about to be played. The performance of the lead musician is constantly monitored and reacted to throughout the song. The system is written in Csound and runs in real time.
Stadium attendance in German professional football – The ( un ) importance of uncertainty of outcome reconsidered

200 words) Although deeply ingrained in the economics of professional team sports literature, previous research could not confirm the importance of outcome uncertainty in European professional football. Moreover, a negative effect was detected and explained rather controversially: It is argued that the majority of spectators prefer to see the home team play either a much inferior team or a rather successful team. With data of n=306 matches in the German Bundesliga, a generalized Tobit estimator with individual cut-off points and error terms clustered by home teams is employed to follow up with the discussion on the (un)importance of outcome uncertainty. The results highlight a significant positive effect on attendance when either the home and/or the away team still have a theoretical chance to win the championship while the suggested importance of teams still having the possibility to qualify for the UEFA Champions League is not supported (medium-term uncertainty). Furthermore, in line with previous research we could detect a negative effect of short-term uncertainty. However, while there is no evidence that spectators prefer the home team to play an inferior team, the results suggest that it is rather a strong brand of the away team which rises attendance figures in the German Bundesliga. Running title: Stadium attendance in German professional football JEL classification: D12, L83 This is a preprint of an article whose final and definitive form has been published in Applied Economics Letters © 2012 Copyright Taylor & Francis; Applied Economics Letters is available online at http://www.tandfonline. com/doi/abs/10.1080/13504851.2011. 639725.
Modern limnology and varve-formation processes in Lake Żabińskie, northeastern Poland: comprehensive process studies as a key to understand the sediment record

Reconstructions of paleoclimatic and paleoenvironmental data from sediment records require a thorough knowledge of the physical, chemical and biological factors that influence sediment-formation processes and signal preservation in lake sediments. Lake Żabinskie, an eutrophic hardwater lake located in northeastern Poland (Masurian Lake District), provides an unique environment for the investigation of processes that lead to the varve formation. During a two-year long observation period we investigated limnological and hydrochemical conditions within the water column, recent sediment fluxes and laminations preserved in the sediments of this lake to understand the relationship between the lake water properties and the sediment formation processes. We demonstrate that different mixing patterns may occur in Lake Żabinskie, from dimictic to meromictic depending on the meteorological conditions. Regardless of the water mixing pattern, the lake was stratified during much of the year which led to significant differences between surface and near-bottom water environments. The hypolimnion was characterized by higher conductivity and anoxic conditions with only short periods of better oxygenation, which created conditions ideal for the formation and preservation of biogenic varves. The material collected from the sediment trap revealed notable changes in sediment fluxes with characteristic spring maxima and, optionally, a second late fall maxima. Considerable variability was also observed for the fluxes of total organic carbon, biogenic silica and calcite. Microscopic investigation of the topmost sediments revealed a complex structure of the varves showing a distinct spring calcite lamina followed by several fine calcite laminae interbedded with diatom-rich laminae and, finally, by an organic-rich lamina with minerogenic admixtures deposited during winter. This seasonal variability was also reflected in the chemical composition inferred from high-resolution XRF measurements which allowed for the recognition of individual seasons within one varve. A characteristic annual succession of elemental composition followed a distinct pattern: spring was marked with a silica peak followed by a major calcium peak; during summer and fall minor calcium peaks occurred as well as maxima in iron and sulphur; winter was characterized by a peak in potassium. This study shows a remarkable potential of the sediment record from Lake Żabinskie as a high-resolution paleoenvironmental archive.
Extent and Mechanism of Footwall Shear Adjacent to the Ruby's Inn Thrust Fault, Southern Utah

The Ruby’s Inn Thrust, located in the Bryce Canyon region, is an uncharacteristic demonstration of a south-directed shortening episode located near the predominately eastdirected contractional structures of the Sevier Orogeny. The Paleocene to Eocene Claron Formation in the footwall of the Ruby’s Inn Thrust contains conjugate shear structures and vertical fault planes with slickensides and slickenlines, indicating complex multidirect ional shearing. We determined the north-south extent of a broad shear zone along a traverse immediately west of Bryce Canyon National Park, and shearing intensifies slowly from the main thrust at the northern end of our traverse to a maximum intensity at 13 kilometers south of the thrust, where it then gradually diminishes until an abrupt end approximately 29 kilometers south of the thrust. No evidence of conjugate shear structures in the hanging wall of the thrust was observed. The footwall outcrops adjacent to the thrust and at the southern portion of the traverse contained the structures, but they were more difficult to visually recognize, whereas the structures within the outcrops of the central region were obvious. The conjugate shear structures crosscut bedding and vary from small scale (a few centimeters) to large scale (tens of meters) throughout each outcrop, and are best observed parallel to their east-west strike. The conjugate shear structures contain distinct structural planar surfaces that include very well developed slickensides and slickenlines. This research supports the idea that the deformation structures were a significant contributor in the formation of hoodoos found in the Claron Formation.
An Interpretation of the "Greatest Hits" -like Behavior(Mathematical Economics)

We try to explain the strange behavior for suppliers of books or softwares which release the cheap(paperback) edition of their products only when this product has a good sale, though its cost is nearly zero. We construct a differential equation like the replicator dynamics of a strategic form game, and show that if supplier’s decision is biased, then his payoff may be better than not biased.
Use of CAMEL Rating Framework: A Comparative Performance Evaluation of Selected Bangladeshi Private Commercial Banks

The Banking sector in Bangladesh is one of the fast growing sectors and considered as an integral part of the economy. Hence, monitoring, supervision and continuous performance evaluation of the banking sector is compulsory to ensure the financial stability of the economy since the banking sector is becoming more complex than before. The present study is an attempt to evaluate and compare the performance of the banking sector in Bangladesh. One of the most effective supervisory techniques, CAMELS rating system (basically a quantitative technique) has been used to rank the banks based on their performances. In this study, seventeen conventional private commercial banks have been chosen as samples to meet the purpose of the study. Data for analysis has been collected from the banksi¯ annual reports for the period (2010-2016). The result from this comparative analysis shows that Eastern Bank has stood at the top position among all the selected banks based on CAMEL rating system. However, the findings from this paper will definitely help the researchers and analysts to understand financial statement analysis in a depth manner and also provide a uniform basis for identifying those institutions requiring special supervisory attention.
A stochastic index flow model of flow duration curves

Annual flow duration curves (AFDCs) are used increasingly because unlike traditional period of record flow duration curves (FDCs), they provide confidence intervals for the median AFDC, they enable one to assign return periods to individual AFDCs, and they offer opportunities for developing a generalized stochastic model of daily streamflow. Previous stochastic models of FDCs and AFDCs were unable to reproduce the variance of AFDCs. We introduce an index flow approach to modeling the relationship between an FDC and AFDCs of daily streamflow series, which is able to reproduce the FDC, as well as the mean, median, and variance of the AFDCs without resorting to assumptions regarding the seasonal or persistence structure of daily streamflow series. Our approach offers additional opportunities for the regionalization of flow duration curves and for the generation of time series of daily streamflows at ungauged sites. Our approach is tested on three river basins in eastern central Italy.
Improving Learners' Oral Skills through Two Types of Role-play

Role-play is commonly regarded as a useful activity for developing oral skills (Livingstone 1983; Maley 1987; Magos and Politi 2008). However, there is little research on different types of role-play and on its use in English for Occupational Purposes (EOP) contexts, which is what the present study seeks to redress. This study reports on research investigating the effectiveness of two types of role-play, SSRP (Semi-scripted Roleplay) and SSRP-NSRP (Semi-scripted Role-play followed by Non-scripted Role-play), in the teaching of Tourism English (TE) at a university in Korea. The study used an action research approach (Kemmis and McTaggart 1988) with the aim to improve TE learners’ oral skills. In Study I students practised SSRP, while in Study II they engaged in SSRP-NSRP. The results of a two-way statistical test (ANOVA) show that there is a significant difference between the means of the pretests and post-tests of both Studies I and II.
Deep into the Water Fountains: The case of IRAS 18043-2116

(Abridged) The formation of large-scale (hundreds to few thousands of AU) bipolar structures in the circumstellar envelopes (CSEs) of post-Asymptotic Giant Branch (post-AGB) stars is poorly understood. The shape of these structures, traced by emission from fast molecular outflows, suggests that the dynamics at the innermost regions of these CSEs does not depend only on the energy of the radiation field of the central star. Deep into the Water Fountains is an observational project based on the results of programs carried out with three telescope facilities: The Karl G. Jansky Very Large Array (JVLA), The Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA), and the Very Large Telescope (SINFONI-VLT). Here we report the results of the observations towards the WF nebula IRAS 18043$-$2116: Detection of radio continuum emission in the frequency range 1.5GHz - 8.0GHz; H$_{2}$O maser spectral features and radio continuum emission detected at 22GHz, and H$_{2}$ ro-vibrational emission lines detected at the near infrared. The high-velocity H$_{2}$O maser spectral features, and the shock-excited H$_{2}$ emission detected could be produced in molecular layers which are swept up as a consequence of the propagation of a jet-driven wind. Using the derived H$_{2}$ column density, we estimated a molecular mass-loss rate of the order of $10^{-9}$M$_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$. On the other hand, if the radio continuum flux detected is generated as a consequence of the propagation of a thermal radio jet, the mass-loss rate associated to the outflowing ionized material is of the order of 10$^{-5}$M$_{\odot}$yr$^{-1}$. The presence of a rotating disk could be a plausible explanation for the mass-loss rates estimated.
Open versus closed platforms:a business model perspective on product-service systems at Philips

Disclaimer This document contains a student thesis (bachelor's or master's), as authored by a student at Eindhoven University of Technology. Student theses are made available in the TU/e repository upon obtaining the required degree. The grade received is not published on the document as presented in the repository. The required complexity or quality of research of student theses may vary by program, and the required minimum study period may vary in duration.
Dynamic oligopoly à la Stackelbergwith stochastic capital accumulation

I investigate a dynamic oligopoly game where firms enter simultaneously but compete hierarchically a la Stackelberg at each instant over time. They accumulate capacity through costly investment, with capital acumulation dynamics being affected by an additive shock the mean and variance of which are known. The main findings are the following. First, the Stackelberg game is uncontrollable by the leader; hence, it is time consistent. Second, the leaders invest more than the followers; as a result, in steady state, the leaders’ capacity and profits are larger than the followers’. Therefore, the present analysis does not confirm Gibrat’s Law, since the individual growth rate is determined by the timing of moves.