Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Visual Evaluation of Downsampling Filters in Respect of the Topology of Scalar Fields

In general, downsampling filters for structured volumetric grids cannot preserve the topology of a scalar field; thus, the isosurfaces of the downsampled field will not only geometrically but also topologically differ from the isosurfaces of the original field. Since these topological differences are often more important than geometric deviations, the approximate preservation of topological features is an important feature of some downsampling filters in volume visualization. We apply a recently proposed visualization of the topology of scalar fields to visually evaluate three nonlinear downsampling filters, which have been proposed to preserve more topological features than linear downsampling filters. With the help of this evaluation, we can also determine the most suitable filter to compute previews for the mentioned topology visualization.
Testing for Deterministic Components in Vector Seasonal Time Series

Certain locally optimal tests for deterministic components in vector time series have associated sampling distributions determined by a linear combination of Beta variates. Such distributions are nonstandard and must be tabulated by Monte Carlo simulation. In this paper, we provide closed form expressions for the mean and variance of several multivariate test statistics, moments that can be used to approximate unknown distributions. In particular, we find that the two-moment Inverse Gaussian approximation provides a simple and fast method to compute accurate quantiles and p-values in small and asymptotic samples. To illustrate the scope of this approximation we review some standard tests for deterministic trends and/or seasonal patterns in VARIMA and structural time series models.
Study on the Relationship Between Deccan LIPs and Chicxulub Crater Based on "Collisions Aggregation Effect"

Based on the previous studies, the author has proposed that the "Collisions Aggregation Effect" by the impact of a celestial body in the geological academic circles, which can lead to the endogenic process of the "collisions aggregation point", the formation of volcanic eruptions and even the formation of LIPs. According to the principle of physics, this article further theoretically enriched the content of "Collisions Aggregation Effect" on the previous work and put forward the linear "Collisions Aggregation Effect" and nonlinear "Collisions Aggregation Effect". On the basis of the global paleo-plate and paleogeographic data, this paper takes the Deccan LIPs and the Chicxulub crater as the research objects and conducts the research work based on the "Collisions Aggregation Effect". The main conclusions are as follows: 1. The main eruption time of the Deccan LIPs is 66 Ma, while the Chicxulub crater was formed at about 65 Ma in approximate time; 2. At 65 Ma, the Deccan LIPs are located at 35°S, 65°E, while the Chicxulub Crater is located at 20°N, 50°W, both of which have the characteristics of the distribution of nonlinear "Collisions Aggregation Effect" on the Earth; 3. A Severe meteorite impact occurred at the Chicxulub crater in the Gulf of Mexico, causing "Collisions Aggregation Effect", which may be an important reason for the formation of the Deccan LIPs; 4. The velocity vector direction of the Chicxulub meteorite may not be exactly pointing to the Earth's center, but is a little south-easterly direction; 5. Using the "Collisions Aggregation Effect" for the "impact point" or "collisions aggregation point" geographic location constraints, but also should taking into account the celestial body impact velocity vector direction; 6. May be precisely because of the meteorite impact and the Deccan LIPs formed by the "Collisions Aggregation Effect" of the Chicxulub crater impact caused the massive dinosaur-based mass extinctions at the 65 Ma of the K/T boundary and accelerated the Indian Plate drift.
Effects of Centrifugal Buoyancy and Reynolds Number on Turbulent Heat Transfer in a Two-Pass Angled-RIB-Roughened Channel with Sharp 180° Turns Investigated by Using Large Eddy Simulation

The effects of the centrifugal buoyancy and the Reynolds number on heat transfer in a rotating two-pass rib-roughened channel with 180° sharp turns were numerically investigated by using the large eddy simulation. The effect of the Reynolds number was seen in the finer flow structure. The effect of the aiding/opposing buoyancy contributions was seen more vigorously on the pressure surface than that on the suction surface, though the details depended on the Reynolds number, the rotation number, and the existence of the ribs. As the buoyancy increased, the friction factor dominated by the pressure loss of the sharp turn decreased, and the decreasing rate is smaller for the higher rotation speed case. The Colburn's 𝑗 factor stayed almost constant irrespective of the rotation speed. As a result, the heat transfer efficiency index slightly increased by the buoyancy, and it became smaller for the higher rotation speed and higher Reynolds number cases.
Experimental Investigation on CRDI System Assisted Diesel Engine Fulled by Diesel with Nanotubes

This paper reports on the use of carbon multiwalled nanotubes as additive to the diesel fuel and the effects of their operational characteristics and performance, emission and combustion characteristics of the CRDI system assisted diesel engine. In this study, the tested fuels were prepared by dispersing carbon multiwalled nanotubes into the diesel fuel at the mass fraction of 25 and 50 ppm with the help of a mechanical homogenizer and an ultrasonicator. Experimental results showed that the flash points and cetane number of the fuels dispersed with carbon multiwalled nanotubes have increased with higher concentration of carbon multiwalled nanotubes. Based on the experimental results, NOx emissions and smoke noticeably decrease, while CO emissions dramatically increase with increasing the dosing level of carbon multiwalled nanotubes. At the full load, the magnitude of NOx and smoke emission for the neat diesel was 1282 ppm and 69HSU, whereas it was 910 ppm and 49HSU for the CMNT50 fuel, respectively. The results also showed a significant enhancement in brake thermal efficiency and heat release rate due to the influence of the carbon multiwalled nanotubes addition in diesel blend.
Trade Liberalization-Trade Revenue Nexus: An Empirical Enquiry of Trade Laffer Curve of Pakistan

This study tries to explore the trade revenue implication of trade liberalization for Pakistan. Laffer curve approach is used to see the non-linear relationship between trade openness and trade tax revenue. Empirical evidence shows that trade openness has constructive impact on trade tax revenue in linear term. The non-linear relationship has also been explored in the presence of other macroeconomic variables. The marginal impact of non-liner squire trade liberalization has adverse effect on trade tax revenue. In the long run, the empirical investigation proves the existence of inverted U-shaped behavior between trade liberalization and trade tax revenue in Pakistan but this behavior does not exist in short run.
Effect of certain plant growth regulators on the seedling survival, biomass production and proline content of Bambusa arundinacea

A study was carried out to investigate the effect of plant growth regulators (PGR) on certain morphological and biochemical parameters of Bambusa arundinacea. The hormones (IAA, IBA and 2-4-D) were applied individually in 10µM and 100µM concentrations. All the hormones in both the concentrations enhanced the seedling survival percentage, seedling biomass production but the proline content decreased markedly. 100µM concentrations were proved beneficial for the biomass production while as 10µM concentration were proved more beneficial for seedling survival. Results of this study may serve as useful information in the production and improvement of this species.
Design Model Advertising Spending Impact on Business Performance (B2C)

Today, intense competition in production and services increased around the world in the past and increase customers loyalty and retain and problem and provide, wants to remain a loyal customer. Increasing competition, the use of advertising agencies in order to increase customer loyalty and attract competitors' customers to improve performance and increase company profitability is encouraged. The purpose of this paper is to investigate the effect of advertising costs on business performance. The cost of advertising in this paper examines the simultaneous relationships and the mediating roles of store image, perceived quality and satisfaction in the impact of perceptions of advertising intensity on brand loyalty. The brand loyalty in two categories of users and attitudinal loyalty and behavioral loyalty will be studied effect of these two on the brands performance and presented research model, finally. The proposed model has been applied to a model used to provide corporate executives to improve their performance.
Application of Stability Indicating HPLC Method for Quantitative Determination of Etoricoxib and Paracetamol in Pharmaceutical Dosage Form

A stability indicating reversed-phase HPLC method has been developed and subsequently validated for simultaneous estimation of etoricoxib (ETX) and paracetamol (PCT) from their combination product. The proposed RP-HPLC method utilizes a Phenomenex® C18, 5µm, 250mm X 4.6mm i.d. column, mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile, methanol and water in the proportion of 60:15:25 (v/v/v) and UV detection at 236.0 nm using a UV detector. Separation was completed within 10 minutes. ETX, PCT and their combination drug product were exposed to thermal, humidity, hydrolytic and oxidative stress conditions, the stressed samples were analysed by the proposed method. The described method was linear over a range of 8.3-41.5 µg/ml for PCT and 1-5 µg/ml for ETX with correlation coefficient value was found 0.9999 and 0.9993 respectively. The mean recoveries were 99.69±0.52 and 99.66±1.29 for PCT and ETX, repectively. The proposed method can be useful in the quality control of combination drug products.
Possible effects of the North Atlantic Oscillation on the strengthening relationship between the East Asian Summer monsoon and ENSO

In contrast to the weakened relationship between the Indian summer monsoon and El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) since 1970s, the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM) has exhibited a strengthened relationship with ENSO. In this study, observational and numerical evidences manifest that spring NAO may exert notable impacts on the enhancement of the EASM–ENSO relationship. Anomalous spring NAO induces a tripole sea surface temperature anomaly (SSTA) pattern in North Atlantic which persists into ensuring summer. The tripole SSTA excites downstream tele‐connections of a distinct Rossby wave train prevailing over the northern Eurasia and a simple Gill‐Matsuno‐type quadrupole response over western Pacific. The former modulates the blocking highs over the Ural Mountain and the Okhotsk Sea. The latter enhances the linkage between the western Pacific subtropical high and ENSO. The co‐effects of the two tele‐connection patterns help to strengthen (or weaken) the subtropical Meiyu‐Baiu‐Changma front, the primary rain‐bearing system of the EASM. As such, spring NAO is tied to the strengthened connection between ENSO and the EASM. Copyright © 2011 Royal Meteorological Society
Macroeconomic Switching Regimes and Monetary Policy in Canada

This study examines the behaviour of monetary policy in Canada over the last 40 years using a Markov-switching VAR model of the macroeconomy. The Markov-switching estimates capture three continuous regimes that are interpreted as the i®surprisei¯ regime from 1972Q1 to 1982Q2, the i®recoveryi¯ regime from 1982Q3 to 1991Q3 and the i®targeti¯ regime from 1991Q4 to 2014Q4. Monetary policy multipliers for the output gap are greater than one for all three regimes, suggesting that the central bank does not accommodate any expected changes in inflation over the long-run due to the domestic relationship between the output gap and future inflation. The long-run multipliers for inflation are equal to one in the surprise and recovery regimes, indicating that monetary policy also responds to offset inflation shocks. Overall, the policy multipliers and impulse response functions indicate a proactive central bank that responds systematically to movements in the output gap in order to control expected future inflation and to inflation surprises in the three regimes. The regime-dependent behaviour of monetary policy indicates a central bank pursuing an implicit form of inflation targeting as a means of achieving a nominal anchor for policy. The implicit inflation tar-gets are consistent with historical episodes of inflation in Canada over the past 40 years.
Mustard Cover Crops for Biomass Production and Weed Suppression in the Great Lakes Region

Short-season cover cropping can be an important weed management tool. To optimize the use of mustard [Sinapis alba L. and Brassica juncea (L.) Czern. ] in the Great Lakes region, we assessed planting time effects, mustard biomass production, and weed suppression during mustard growth and after incorporation. The study was conducted in Illinois, Michigan, and New York for spring and fall from 2010 to 2012. Mustard was sown every ~10 d from mid-March to early June for spring plantings and from early August to mid-September for fall plantings. Spring mustard biomass, weed density, community composition, and dry biomass were collected at mustard flowering. Fall mustard biomass, weed density, and dry biomass were collected at season end. Spring mustard biomass ranged from <0.5 to 4 t ha –1 . Early fall biomass ranged from 3 to 5.5 t ha –1 , and was related to growing degree days (GDD) according to a logistic function. Weed biomass during mustard growth was reduced by at least 50% in 9 of 10 site-years (90%) for fall-planted mustard but only 15 of 31 site-years (48%) in spring plantings. Weed suppression was independent of mustard biomass. The total number of weed seedlings emerging after mustard incorporation was not significantly reduced, but there was a species-specific response, with a decrease in common lambsquarters ( Chenopodium album L.) and grass emergence. The results permit a location-specific recommendation to plant mustard cover crops 13 to 23 August in the southern Great Lakes Region, and no later than 1 to 10 September for adequate biomass production.
Assessment of Mineral Deficiencies among Grazing Areas in Uasin Gishu County, Kenya

A study conducted in the major grazing areas of Uasin Gishu involved twenty-eight (28) soils, twenty-eight (28) forage and forty-two (42) serum samples collected in six divisions at different sites. The purpose of the study was to determine the macro-and trace elements in soils, forages and animal serum, and compare to the recommended standards so as to identify those that could be presenting deficiencies in the area. Soils were extracted for available macro-minerals; Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Calcium (Ca) magnesium (Mg) and trace elements; Iron (Fe), Manganese (Mn), Copper (Cu) and Zinc (Zn; the forage samples were assayed for the same elements plus phosphorus as total concentration on dry matter (DM) basis while blood serum was analyzed for the same forage elements plus molybdenum (Mo). Atomic absorption spectrophotometer (AAS) and UV/visible spectrophotometer were used to analyze the metal elements and molybdenum respectively. Soil and Forage analysis of samples from southern region including Kesses and Ainabkoi revealed lower levels in both macro and trace elements analyzed. Serum samples from grazing areas situated in southern region revealed similar deficiencies in most minerals. The factors responsible for the variations as soil pH, forage species and cattle breed were investigated using correlation analysis.
The Role of External Interaction for Innovation in Irish High-Technology Businesses

There is growing empirical evidence that external interaction is an important source of knowledge for business innovation. This paper contributes to the innovation literature by using new measures of interaction to explore the relative importance of external interaction for innovation in Irish high-technology businesses. Based on survey data, the paper finds that external interaction increases the probability of product and process innovation, but the effect is inconsistent across all external interaction agents. Interaction along the supply chain has a positive effect on innovation, and interaction with competitors has an insignificant effect on innovation output. Notably, the paper finds that interaction with higher education institutions has a negative effect on the probability of product and process innovation.
Causes of 8th Grade Students Low Achievement in TIMSS Study-2015 from Science Teachers and Educational Supervisors

The aim of the study was to examine causes of low achievement among Jordanian 8th grade students in TIMSS study- 2015 from science teachers and educational supervisor. Another objective of the study was to examine the role of position (teacher, supervisor), gender, experience, educational directorate on their perceptions. To achieve this aim, a (51) items questionnaire was administrated to the science male and female teacher whose schools have reported under average level in TIMSS study- 2015; totaling (100) teachers and (114) educational supervisors. The results of the study showed that causes of lower achievement among Jordanian 8th grade students were at high levels from science teachers and educational supervisors perceptions as school administration related causes ranked first. The results found no statistically significant differences due to gender in causes for low achievement in TIMSS, while differences were found in school administration related causes due to educational directorate, in favor of middle region, due to experience, in favor of (6-10) years of experience. In light of results, the study recommended the need for organizing conferences with ministry of education officials and science teachers to discuss the how to overcome the causes behind low achievement level in TIMSS study. Finally, future research is needed to compare the results reported in high achievement countries in TIMSS study with the ones reported in Jordan.
Impact of Race and Ethnicity on Short-term Surgical Outcomes in Women Treated for Cervical Cancer: American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP), 2011-2014

Author(s): Gutierrez, Paula M. | Advisor(s): Bristow, Robert E | Abstract: ABSTRACT OF THE THESISImpact of Race and Ethnicity on Short-term Surgical Outcomes in Women Treatedfor Cervical Cancer: American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS-NSQIP), 2011-2014ByPaula M. GutierrezMaster of Science in Biomedical and Translational Science University of California, Irvine, 2017Professor Dr. Robert E. Bristow, ChairVariations in access to U.S. healthcare have contributed to racial and ethnic disparities in cervical cancer survival and mortality patterns. Evaluation of postoperative complications after cervical cancer surgery in American College of Surgeons National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (ACS NSQIP) hospitals’ remains limited. In this study, we investigate the association between race/ethnicity and 30-day morbidity in women undergoing cervical cancer surgery. Using ACS-NSQIP database, 1248 patients undergoing surgery in 2011-2014 were identified. In this cohort, 70.6% were non-Hispanic White, 12.8% Black and 16.5% Hispanic. Compared to non-Hispanic White, these minority groups were more likely to have medical comorbidities. In adjusted multivariable models, the odds of any postoperative complication were 50% greater in Black compared to non-Hispanic White (pl0.05), including non-surgical complications (OR=1.55, pl0.05). Hispanic ethnicity was not a predictor of 30-day morbidity (OR=0.76; pg0.05). While Black patients experienced greater non-surgical adverse outcomes, no disparity was observed for Hispanic patients. Findings suggest that to some extent access to ACS NSQIP hospitals can attenuate disparities in postoperative complications after cervical cancer surgery, but much more work is still required to eliminate racial/ethnic disparities.
Multiplier Decomposition, Poverty and Inequality in Income Distribution in a SAM Framework: the Vietnamese Case

The aim of this paper is to show how and why is possible to assess both direct and indirect effects of exogenous income injections on mean income of different household groups using a new approach based on the decomposition of SAM-based multipliers. The approach we propose in this paper allows analyzing the level of inequality in the distribution of income linking the formation of individual/family income to the features of each country’s productive structure and it can be used both for structural analysis and for simulations of redistributive and antipoverty policies. The first step in order to link changes in the level of poverty and inequality to policy measures will be to derive the “accounting price multipliers matrix”, which allows considering the effects of policies affecting the labour market, thus changing the level of wages for different workers ‘categories. Using the traditional Pyatt and Round’s multiplicative decomposition method, we will be then able to disentangle the transfer, the open-loop and the closed-loop effects of a change in the income of exogenous SAM’s accounts. The second step will be to use a new technique introduced by Pyatt and Round (2006) to further decompose each element of the total multiplier matrix in order to enlighten in “microscopic detail” the linkages between each household group’s income of and other accounts whose income has been exogenously injected (i.e. Activities account and Factors account). Moreover, this new approach allows assessing the linkages between each household endowment in terms of factors and the features of the productive system and shading light on the most powerful links among different components of the economic system affecting the distribution of income. The empirical results obtained using the Vietnamese SAM for year 2000 show that the highest direct effects are related to exogenous injections to the agricultural sector and to less skilled labour force and that these effects involved not only on rural male headed but also other household groups. At the same time, the new type of multiplier decomposition shows which are the sectors and factors of production whose increase in income will have the greater indirect effects, increasing also the level of income of all household types. For example, investing in the sector of food processing and on female labour force will benefit the most all household groups, thus representing a policy option good for aggregate growth and for improving the distribution of income.
Short-Period Rupture Process of the 2010 Mw 8.8 Maule Earthquake in Chile

The 2010 Maule earthquake is one of the largest events ever recorded with modern instruments. We used the continuous GPS (cGPS) records to invert for the kinematic rupture process using an elliptical sub-patch approximation. In agreement with previous inversions, the largest slip is found in the northern part of the rupture zone. By cross-correlating signals from cGPS and strong motion records (SM) located in the northern part of the rupture zone, we identified two distinct seismic pulses. Using the arrival time of these pulses, we propose a short-period (<20 s) rupture process, the zone where these pulses are generated is situated near 35.5°S, in agreement with the area with the highest seismic slip and maximum observed intensity. Finally, we compare the strong motion records at the same sites for the 1985 Mw 8 Valparaíso earthquake and the Maule earthquake. We found that spectral contents and duration of the records of these two events were very similar. Thus, at least in the northern part of the rupture, the Maule earthquake radiated high frequency waves like an Mw 8 earthquake.