Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Tocopherols and phytosterols in sunflower seeds for the human food market

Sunflower seeds for the human food market are derived from both oilseed-type cultivars, with black achenes and low hull proportion, and confectionery-type cultivars, with striped achenes and high hull proportion. The objective of this research was to evaluate tocopherol and phytosterol contents in the seeds of both types of cultivars. Five oilseed-type and seven confectionery-type cultivars were evaluated in replicated field trials in two locations of Morocco and Spain. Large variations were found in hundred-kernel weight (2.6 to 5.5 g), kernel oil content (42.7 to 67.5%), tocopherol content (203 to 397 mg kg –1 kernel), and phytosterol content (2179 to 3555 mg kg –1 kernel). Both types of cultivars did not differ for kernel weight, kernel oil content, or tocopherol and phytosterol profiles. However, oilseed-type cultivars had significantly greater average tocopherol and phytosterol contents, though confectionery-type cultivars with levels of tocopherols and phytosterols similar to the best oilseed-type cultivars were identified. The large variations in kernel tocopherol and phytosterol contents found in this research suggest that there is room for breeding for increased levels of these compounds in order to develop healthier sunflower cultivars for the human food market.
Saccaharum Cilliare Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composites

Renewable resources such as natural fibers in the field of fiber reinforced materials with their new range of applications represent an important basis in order to fulfill the ecological objective of creating eco-friendly materials. In views of enormous advantages a study on green composites using Saccaharum cilliare fiber as a reinforcing material and urea-formaldehyde (UF) as a novel matrix has been made. First of all urea-formaldehyde resin synthesized was reinforced withSaccaharum cilliare fiber. Reinforcement of the fiber was accomplished in three different forms particle (200 micron) reinforcement, short fiber (3 mm.) reinforcement and long fiber (6 mm) reinforcement. Present work reveals that mechanical properties such as: tensile strength, compressive strength and wear resistance of urea -formaldehyde resin (UF) increases to a significant extent when reinforced with Saccaharum cilliare fiber which is found in outsized amount in the Himalayan Region. These mechanical properties mainly depend upon the dimensions of the fiber used. Analysis of results shows that particle reinforcement is more effective as compared to short and long fiber reinforcement. Morphological and thermal studies of these composites have also been carried out.
Exclusion of small-scale farmers from coordinated supply chains: market failure, policy failure or just economies of scale?

Coordinated supply chains are rapidly increasing in importance in global food markets. They are commercial tools for competitive strategies, assuring quality, food safety, and better logistics. They serve high-end markets, especially in industrial countries, but increasingly also in developing countries in urban areas with relatively high income. However, the share of production in developing countries marketed through coordinated supply chains is still small. There is widespread fear that small-scale farmers will be excluded from coordinated supply chains. Empirical evidence is mixed; there are abundant examples of successful inclusion as well as of painful exclusion. In some cases, economies of scale are such that only large-scale enterprises can compete successfully in global markets. But, in many other cases there is no level playing field. Analysis of factors that contribute to inclusion and exclusion indicates that there are market failures and policy failures that contribute to relatively weak competitiveness of small-scale farmers. Hence, public intervention can be warranted.
Factors Affecting Customer Satisfaction and Customer Loyalty towards Belle Footwear Company in Lanzhou City, Gansu Province of the People's Republic of China

The shoe industry in China now faces grim challenges due to rapidly changing tastes of shoe buyers and fierce competition in the footwear market. Besides, shoes marketers are increasingly concerned about how to keep the good and long term relationship with customers and also increase customer loyalty at shoe stores. This research focuses on customer satisfaction and customer loyalty of footwear products in Lanzhou, China. The purpose of this research is to explore the possible antecedents of customer loyalty among Belle shoes store customers. The researcher theorizes and investigates that there is a positive relationship between image, price, perceived quality (in terms of reliability, tangibles, empathy, responsiveness and assurance) and perceived value with customer satisfaction, which in turn, significantly influences customer loyalty towards Belle Footwear Company. 400 self-administered questionnaires were distributed to respondents. The results of this study indicate that all independent variables (image, price, reliability, tangibles, empathy, responsiveness, assurance and perceived value) have a significant relationship with the intervening variable (customer satisfaction) and dependent variable (customer loyalty). Shoe marketers will have a better understanding about Chinese consumers and also could learn to improve their strategies to improve their product quality and gain more customers to extend their market size.
Robust cloud feedback over tropical land in a warming climate

Cloud‐related radiative perturbations over land in a warming climate are of importance for human health, ecosystem, agriculture, and industry via solar radiation availability and local warming amplification. However, robustness and physical mechanisms responsible for the land cloud feedback were not examined sufficiently because of the limited contribution to uncertainty in global climate sensitivity. Here we show that cloud feedback in general circulation models over tropical land is robust, positive, and is relevant to atmospheric circulation change and thermodynamic constraint associated with water vapor availability. In a warming climate, spatial variations in tropospheric warming associated with climatological circulation pattern result in a general weakening of tropical circulation and a dynamic reduction of land cloud during summer monsoon season. Limited increase in availability of water vapor also reduces the land cloud. The reduction of land cloud depends on global‐scale oceanic warming and is not sensitive to regional warming patterns. The robust positive feedback can contribute to the warming amplification and drying over tropical land in the future.
Food resource use in sympatric juvenile plaice and flounder in estuarine habitats

Environmental conditions in estuarine habitats can vary greatly and influence the composition of fish assemblages and their trophic interrelationships. We investigated feeding habits and patterns of diet overlap in juvenile plaice (Pleuronectes platessa) and flounder (Platichthys flesus) from two estuarine habitats in the Irish Sea. Plaice was found to vary its diet significantly across environments, whereas flounder exhibited a more consistent and homogeneous feeding pattern. Importantly, sympatric fish sampled at the same station were shown to reduce diet overlap. The results support the view that environmental heterogeneity in estuaries maintains a wide range of selective forces, the net outcome of which can produce a diverse array of feeding adaptations among interacting species.
Research management systems: systematic mapping of literature (2007-2017)

Research management in relation to Research and Development (RD in addition, a strategy to define direct decision rules on how to classify an article based on the results of evaluations of multiple researchers was adopted. The findings show that the main research areas are Information Science & Library Science and Computer Science; the largest concentration of publications is found in Europe; research focuses on Evaluation Research; contributions are oriented to create processes and models, and to describe the applications and uses of CRIS. It is concluded that there are areas of opportunity for the development of research in this area, such as the expansion of the research areas in which it is used, the possibilities of collaboration, sharing and exchange at a global level, and the coverage towards integration issues with open access.
Individual Differences in Animal Intelligence: Learning, Reasoning, Selective Attentionand Inter-Species Conservation of a Cognitive Trait

Humans’ performance on most cognitive tasks are commonly regulated by an underlying latent variable (i.e., “general” intelligence), and the expression of this latent modulator of cognitive performance varies across individuals. While “intelligence” in humans is easily recognized, a precise definition of this trait has proven elusive, and has impeded efforts to compare the emergence of thi strait across species. Here we describe our efforts to characterize this cognitive trait in genetically heterogeneous laboratory mice. Using batteries of as many as eight learning tasks and various principal component analysis regimens, we have found a robust general factor that accounts fornearly 40% of the variance of individual animals across all tasks. This “” is not attributable to variations in stress reactivity or exploratory tendencies. However, like human intelligence, this general factor covaries with the efficacy of selective attention and working memory capacity. Importantly, we also find that general learning abilities covary with animals’ performance on novel tests of reasoning. In total, this work indicates that learning abilities, attentional control, andthe capacity for reasoning, features that constitute both colloquial and formal definitions of human intelligence, are commonly regulated in individual genetically heterogeneous mice. These results suggest an evolutionary conservation of the qualitative and quantitative properties of intelligence, and indicate that like humans, sub-human animals express individual differences in this trait. //
The possible benefits of using comic books in foreign language education: A classroom study

Comic books are experiencing a steady rise in popularity. Not only are they being investigated as subjects of literary studies and other fields of research (e.g., McCloud, 1993; Wolk, 2007; Darius, 2012), they are also getting recognised as instructional resources to improve literacy skills and maintain motivation (O’English, Matthews, Lindsay, 2006). They also have several advantageous features that support foreign language learning. The present study aimed at investigating some of these (guessing meaning of new words; lowered anxiety; better recall) by the use of comic books in the classroom. Three groups of students were recruited (n=14; 14; 8) in a secondary grammar school, as part of the author’s 11-week-long formal English teaching practice.
Huesser horizon: A lake and a marine incursion in northwestern South America during the early miocene

Abstract The Cenozoic stratigraphic sequence in the foothills of the Eastern Cordillera of Colombia is mostly fluvial in nature and very thick (∼8000 m), but it contains very few mollusk-bearing horizons. Recent fieldwork discovered a well-preserved molluscan assemblage that occurs near the top of the Carbonera Formation (lower Miocene) in the central foothills of the Eastern Cordillera. This level, named the Huesser horizon, is laterally extensive and can be followed for tens of kilometers. The horizon is 10 m thick and was divided into eight levels, five of them highly fossiliferous. Most of the levels are dominated by the freshwater gastropod Sheppardiconcha, with lower abundances of the bivalves Anodondites and Mytilopsis. The top level is dominated by specimens from the bivalve family Arcidae. The taxonomic composition of the assemblage is similar to that of the Magdalena and Amazonas Basins during the early-to-middle Miocene. Paleoecologic, taphonomic, and palynological analyses indicate that the Huesser accumulated in a freshwater lake system, capped by a marine incursion. The development of a large lake and the subsequent marine event could be related to increasing subsidence coincident with eustatic sea-level rise that has been identified for the basin during the early Miocene.
Pressure Injuries: Predisposing Conditions and Risk Factors in Adult ICU

Introduction: pressure lesions are localized damage in skin and/or underlying soft tissue, usually over a bony prominence or related to a medical device or other device. In Intensive Care Units patients are critically susceptible to the development of lesions by pressure, for various reasons.Objective: to identify predisposing conditions and risk factors of pressure ulcers in patients admitted to an Intensive Care Unit of a mid-sized general hospital in the Western region of the State of Rio Grande do Norte (RN), Brazil.Method: nonparticipating observational study with documentary stage, of prospective longitudinal type, performed in ICU of adult kind of a General Hospital in the city of Mossoro-RN, Brazil. Data collection took place on alternate days during 43 days between May and June 2012. The research protocol was approved by the CEP/UERN under opinion No. 67606/12.Results: the intrinsic risk factors for the emergence of the most evident pressure injuries were decreased pain sensitivity, reduced turgor and elasticity, evidenced bony prominences and impaired physical mobility. Extrinsic risk factors were the pressure force on the body and forces of friction and shear. The chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, impaired motor skills and evidenced bony prominences, specifically in the sacral region, were statistically significant factors in association with the development of pressure injuries.Conclusions: to provide a comprehensive and qualified assistance, it is necessary to invest in improvement of the assistance provided through the adoption of appropriate measures for customer care, education and multidisciplinary team training, as well as the participation of the institution with the promotion of appropriate work conditions for the multidisciplinary team, promoting qualified assistance to the patient.
Assets of longitudinal data in describing the immigrants' assimilation process: Analysing Ethnic Inequalities in the French Labour Market

This work presents the main advantages of the use of longitudinal data for the sociological research on the assimilation process. Two fundamental issues will be developed: the advantages panel data offer in controlling for unobserved individual heterogeneities on one hand, and, on the other hand, their capacity to make some advances in the estimation of causal effects. Two empirical examples related to each of these advantages are provided by analysing inequalities between immigrants and natives in the French labour. These examples put the stress on some methodological issues linked to the use of such data.
Association between Quality Management and Financial Performance

This paper deals with quality management using ISO 9001 certificate and other similar certificates and with Costs of Quality. Numerous studies claim that quality management increases a company’s performance, mainly measured by operational indicators. The paper aims to find out if there is also a relationship between implementing these tools in a company and higher financial results. An analysis was carried out on a sample of 548 medium-sized and large companies based in the Czech Republic, by way of an extensive questionnaire survey. Financial performance was measured by means of the return on assets indicator between the years 2005-2011. The findings proved that ISO 9001 and other certificates are quite widespread. Costs of Quality, however, are of little interest to companies. Better financial performance in companies which aim at quality management has not been confirmed.
Flow Behavior Characteristic for Injection Process Using Nano-Yttria Stabilized Zirconia for Micro Metal Injection Molding (µMIM)

Micro metal injection molding (µMIM) prior to conventional plastic injection molding (PIM) has become widely demanding due to its smaller size, more complex geometric surface and time consuming on its product. Metal and ceramic in powder form of various sizes up to µm is mixed with binder system to produce products that meet the requirements. Nano size yttria stabilized zirconia (YSZ) with average particle size of 25nm, was tested both physically and mechanically for its properties before mixing and injection process using several testing such as Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy Dispersive X-ray (EDX), pycnometer density, critical powder volume percentage (CPVP) and rheology respectively. Grain shape for YSZ particle is near spherical with the diameter range between 21.2 – 33.5nm while the CPVP shows the highest powder loading was 41.4%. Binder system of 70% palm stearin and 30% polypropylene (PP) was then mixed with YSZ at 37%, 38% and 39% by using internal mixer with roller blade type. By using CPVP of 41.4% as the guideline, mixing was done beyond the critical point until it is capable of becoming the dough mixture and was found that 43% powder loading is the highest loading it can achieved. This dough form of every mixture of powder loading was crushed to obtain pellet size as the feedstock. Rheology test was carried out for each powder loading at 180oC, 190oC and 200oC with the load increasing from 10N to 20N to determine the plastic behavior and best relationship between viscosity (Pa.s) and shear rate (1/s). Dilatant flow behavior for all the powder loadings and smooth data distribution during testing at 180oC was observed respectively. Critical parameters involving in injection process such as mold temperature (oC), melt temperature (oC), pressure (bar) and time (s) was manipulated for every powder loading to obtain the best result with no defects such as shot and flashing. Each critical parameter increased gradually as the powder loading (%) increased. Debinding and sintering process will be carried out to determine the strength and toughness by using micro hardness and micro tensile test respectively.
Impact of CEO Duality and Audit Committee on Firm Performance: A Study of Oil & Gas Listed Firms of Pakistan

This paper examines the relationship between corporate governance mechanisms and performance of the firm. In this empirical paper, audit committee and CEO duality are taken as corporate governance mechanisms and profit margin and return on equity are taken as a measure of performance of the firm for a sample of 11 listed firms of Pakistan for year 2010-2011. Results reveal positive significant relationship of return on equity and profit margin with audit committee. However, this study could not provide a significant relationship of CEO duality with return on equity and profit of the firm. The findings of study help policy makers in setting of proper policies. The finding also determines the importance of audit committee and CEO duality in terms of profitability.
Star formation in AGNs at the hundred parsec scale using MIR high-resolution images

It has been well established in the past decades that the central black hole masses of galaxies correlate with dynamical properties of their harbouring bulges. This notion begs the question of whether there are causal connections between the AGN and its immediate vicinity in the host galaxy. In this paper we analyse the presence of circumnuclear star formation in a sample of 15 AGN using mid-infrared observations. The data consist of a set of 11.3{\mm} PAH emission and reference continuum images, taken with ground based telescopes, with sub-arcsecond resolution. By comparing our star formation estimates with AGN accretion rates, derived from X-ray luminosities, we investigate the validity of theoretical predictions for the AGN-starburst connection. Our main results are: i) circumnuclear star formation is found, at distances as low as tens of parsecs from the nucleus, in nearly half of our sample (7/15); ii) star formation luminosities are correlated with the bolometric luminosity of the AGN ($L_{AGN}$) only for objects with $L_{AGN} \ge 10^{42}\,\,{\rm erg\,\,s^{-1}}$; iii) low luminosity AGNs ($L_{AGN} < 10^{42}\,\,{\rm erg\,\,s^{-1}}$) seem to have starburst luminosities far greater than their bolometric luminosities.
Are we ready to go outdoors now? The prospects for outdoor education during a period of curriculum renewal in Scotland

New devolutionary powers for education have been enthusiastically seized on by politicians and policy-makers alike to promote a more integrated and holistic form of education in Scotland. This period of curriculum renewal offers the prospect of increased levels of outdoor education; however, to date there is a lack of a clearly agreed rationale for learning and clarity about how curriculum will be experienced by students. Consequently, we analyse pertinent conceptual questions about these matters through reviewing articles and policy announcements prior to advancing, in a preliminary fashion, a rationale for outdoor education which conceives of outdoor learning primarily as a moral endeavour. In developing the proposed rationale as the organising framework for learning, the article critically considers the multifarious challenges of connecting policy intentions with the authentic learning experiences of students. In so doing it discusses many of the most apparent curriculum and pedagogical barriers to learning, which have led in recent years to fragmented provision and the under-realisation of increased levels of deeply embedded and connected outdoor learning experiences.