Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Laboratory exploration of heat transfer regimes in rapidly rotating turbulent convection

We report heat transfer and temperature profile measurements in laboratory experiments of rapidly rotating convection in water under intense thermal forcing (Rayleigh number $Ra$ as high as $\sim 10^{13}$) and unprecedentedly strong rotational influence (Ekman numbers $E$ as low as $10^{-8}$). Measurements of the mid-height vertical temperature gradient connect quantitatively to predictions from numerical models of asymptotically rapidly rotating convection, separating various flow phenomenologies. Past the limit of validity of the asymptotically-reduced models, we find novel behaviors in a regime we refer to as rotationally-influenced turbulence, where rotation is important but not as dominant as in the known geostrophic turbulence regime. The temperature gradients collapse to a Rayleigh-number scaling as $Ra^{-0.2}$ in this new regime. It is bounded from above by a critical convective Rossby number $Ro^*=0.06$ independent of domain aspect ratio $\Gamma$, clearly distinguishing it from well-studied rotation-affected convection.
Nonuniform stability of damped contraction semigroups

We investigate the stability properties of strongly continuous semigroups generated by operators of the form $A-BB^\ast$, where $A$ is a generator of a contraction semigroup and $B$ is a possibly unbounded operator. Such systems arise naturally in the study of hyperbolic partial differential equations with damping on the boundary or inside the spatial domain. As our main results we present general sufficient conditions for non-uniform stability of the semigroup generated by $A-BB^\ast$ in terms of selected observability-type conditions of the pair $(B^\ast,A)$. We apply the abstract results to obtain rates of energy decay in one-dimensional and two-dimensional wave equations, a damped fractional Klein--Gordon equation and a weakly damped beam equation.
Analysis of micronutrients variations among sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam) genotypes in Malawi

Sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas [L.] Lam) is an important root crop in Malawi and Sub-Saharan Africa where micronutrient deficiency is an eminent health problem. Using 15 sweet potato genotypes grown in a randomized complete block design at Bvumbwe Research Station, a study was undertaken to determine the extent of variability of selected micronutrients in the genotypes as influenced by storage root age and peeling. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant (p≤ 0.01) variability among genotypes for dry mater, β-carotene, ascorbic acid levels and reduction of β-carotene due to peeling across all ages. Significant (p ≤ 0.05) variations in zinc, iron and copper were also observed among all genotypes. Peeling reduced β-carotene, ascorbic acid levels, iron, zinc and copper content while late harvesting resulted in low iron, zinc and copper. Therefore, 5 months after planting (MAP) and 4 MAP are recommended for high levels of β-carotene and ascorbic acid and iron, zinc and copper, respectively. Ten genotypes exhibited acceptable levels of dry mater of ≥30%. Zondeni (10.9 mg/100 g, WW) and Babache (23.84 mg/100 g, WW) had highest levels of β-carotene and ascorbic acid, respectively. Mzungu displayed the highest levels of Iron (0.67 mg/100 g, DW) and zinc (0.63 mg/100 g, DW) while Yoyera (0.61 mg/100 g, DW) had the highest levels of copper. Variations of various traits entail potential to breed for higher levels of micronutrients. Key words: Sweet potato, genotypes, β-carotene, ascorbic acid, iron, zinc, copper, peeling, storage root age.
Factors affecting the post-release survival of cultured juvenile Pseudopleuronectes americanus

Laboratory experiments were performed with cultured and wild juvenile winter flounder Pseudopleuronectes americanus to evaluate differences in behaviour and adaptation affecting post-release vulnerability to predation. Studies revealed that the cryptic abilities of cultured winter flounder increased over time. Sediment-naive, cultured fish required a minimum of 2 days to improve their burying skills and at least 90 days for colour adaptation to match the sediment. Cultured winter flounder selected sediments consisting of small grains and colours matching their own pigment. Cultured winter flounder, regardless of their colour, were significantly more vulner- able to predation by birds. Additionally, cultured fish reacted differently than wild winter flounder when exposed to cues from a potential predator. # 2004 The Fisheries Society of the British Isles
Accuracy assessment of perturbative master equations: Embracing nonpositivity

The reduced dynamics of an open quantum system obtained from an underlying microscopic Hamiltonian can in general only approximately be described by a time local master equation. The quality of that approximation depends primarily on the coupling strength and the structure of the environment. Various such master equations have been proposed with different aims. Choosing the most suitable one for a specific system is not straight forward. By focusing on the accuracy of the reduced dynamics we provide a thorough assessment for a selection of methods (Redfield Equation, Quantum Optical Master Equation, Coarse-Grained Master Equation, a related dynamical map approach and a partial-secular approximation). Whether or not an approach guarantees positivity we consider secondary, here. We use two qubits coupled to a Lorentzian environment in a spin-boson like fashion modeling a generic situation with various system and bath time scales. We see that, independent of the initial state, the simple Redfield Equation with time dependent coefficients is significantly more accurate than all other methods under consideration. We emphasize that positivity violation in the Redfield formalism becomes relevant only in a regime where any of the perturbative master equations considered here are rendered invalid anyway. This implies that the loss of positivity should in fact be welcomed as an important feature: it indicates the breakdown of the weak coupling assumption. In addition we present the various approaches in a self-contained way and use the behavior of their errors to provide further insight into the range of validity of each method.
Evaluating the Implementation of GSCM in Industrial Supply Chains: Two Cases in the Automotive Industry

The effectiveness of implementation of Green Supply Chain Management (GSCM) can be evaluated by assessing a set of categorical indicators, structured to capture the complexity observed in selected, representative practices usually present in GSCM. The objective of this article is to test and refine a model for the evaluation of the effectiveness of implementation of GSCM in industrial supply chains (SC). Barriers, drivers, green strategy formulation, green procurement, green distribution, reverse logistics, ecodesign, green market, waste disposal, among other greening practices, are present in the model. The research question is how to evaluate the effectiveness of implementation of GSCM in industrial SC? The research method is the qualitative modeling. Previous research proposed a model consisting of three constructs, supported by three sets of green practices, associated with categorical indicators. The constructs are green strategy, green innovation, and green operations. The effectiveness of implementation of each practice is assessed by a five points Likert scale [1 = very high; 0.75 = high; 0.5 = fair; 0.25 = weak; and 0 = null] answered by managers of the SC. Two real-world applications were made in two supply chains of the automotive industries, including suppliers, distributors and logistic operators. The focal companies are a tractors and engines manufacturer, and an electric auto parts manufacturer. The results were integrated by an importance vector obtained by Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP) method and provided an overall index that can range between 0 % and 100 %. This index informs the global level of implementation of GSCM. The specific results of the cases were 76.25 % and 71.76 %. Improvement actions towards GSCM, conducted by management, should focus on the practices of the constructs with lowest contribution, green strategy and green innovation, respectively.
Entry of Alternative Fuels in a Volatile U.S. Gasoline Market

Dramatic increases in levels and volatility of gasoline prices observed in recent years may create market incentives for adoption of alternative fuels characterized by lower price volatility. This hypothesis is investigated by applying the real-options pricing approach to develop optimal thresholds for switching from conventional gasoline to alternative fuels such as ethanol blends. The main result of the paper is that given the historical price patterns of conventional gasoline and ethanol, switching to ethanol blends is an economically sound decision provided this does not decrease efficiency of the vehicle. Analysis of data subsamples during the periods of higher volatility of gasoline prices (Gulf War and War on Terrorism) provides even stronger support for this result.
Efficacy of a vaccine against Streptococcus parauberis infection in starry flounder Platichthys stellatus Pallas

Starry flounder, which are recently increasingly cultured in Korea, are known to highly vulnerable to Streptococcus parauberis infection. Five groups of starry flounder (n=30 for each group) were vaccinated with S. parauberis formalin-killed whole cells by intraperitoneal injection at a final concentration of 0, 0.01, 0.1, 1 and 10 mg fish -1 . Specific antibody production of 1 and 10 mg fish -1 administered groups significantly increased at four weeks post immunization. All vaccinated groups showed higher survival rates than a control group when five groups of fish were challenged with S. parauberis at a dose of 1.14×10 4 cfu fish -1 and 1.14×10 2 cfu fish -1 , respectively. In particular, 0.1 or higher concentrations of formalin killed bacterial cells are able to confer the fish high protection against S. parauberis infection.
Dll 1 Is Expressed in Mitotically Active Progenitor Cells , While Dll 4 Is Expressed Within Newly Differentiating Neurons

Notch signaling in the retina maintains a pool of progenitor cells throughout retinogenesis. However, two Notch-ligands from the Delta-like gene family, Dll1 and Dll4, are present in the developing retina. To understand their relationship, we characterized Dll1 and Dll4 expression with respect to proliferating progenitor cells and newborn neurons in the chick retina. Dll4 matched the pattern of neural differentiation. By contrast, Dll1 was primarily expressed in progenitor cells. We compared Dll1 and Dll4 kinetic profiles with that of the transiently up-regulated cascade of proneural basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) genes after synchronized progenitor cell differentiation, which suggested a potential role for Ascl1 in the regulation of Delta-like genes. Gain-of-function assays demonstrate that Ascl1 does influence Deltalike gene expression and Notch signaling activity. These data suggest that multiple sources of Notch signaling from newborn neurons and progenitors themselves coordinate retinal histogenesis. Developmental Dynamics 237:1565–1580, 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Soil aggregate stability in a Tunisian semi-arid environment with reference to fractal analysis

Soils from semi-arid environments have traditionally been considered to have poorly stable aggregates. The use of aggregate stability methods for erosion research seems of particular interest. However, its use to predict crusting and erosion have yielded conflicting results. In this study, we investigate the possible relations between aggregate stability and soil physical properties, and soil water erosion parameters using the mean weight diameter concept, based on dry and wet sieving method. We introduced also a new aggregate stability parameter based on the stability quotient which takes into account the percentage of soil fraction larger than 2 mm. Twenty soil sites were sampled from a Mediterranean semi-arid watershed for aggregate stability test. This study is part of a research work about erosion processes in semi-arid regions of Tunisia conducted during the period 1999 to 2013. Results indicate a correlation between aggregate stability indices and quotients with organic matter content (r = 0.70), a positive correlation with clay content (r = 0.30), but a negative correlation with the amount of soil loss and splash (r = -0.49 and r = -0.40 respectively) as collected in a laboratory rainfall simulation experiment. The stability quotient is the best soil parameter that explains soil erosion. It shows that more than 80% of the soil samples have poor structure stability. The fractal dimension, a characteristic property of the number-size distribution of fragments as a mass of material is broken down, was calculated for all soil samples. After wet sieving all samples follow the law of fractal dimensions. Key words: Aggregate stability, erosion, rainfall simulation, stability quotient, fractal analysis.
Incorporation of lactations with non-conventional drying-off causes in genetic evaluation of Gyr dairy cattle

Test-day records of milk yields from the first three lactations were used to verify consequences of incorporation of lactation with non-conventional drying-off causes in genetic evaluation of Gyr dairy cattle. The first file (File1) was composed of test-day records of lactations with conventional drying-off causes. In the second file (File2), the test-day records of lactations with non-conventional drying-off causes were included, such as drying-off by death or separation of the calf, disease, death or sale of cow, and removal of cow from milking control. Data were analyzed by mixed models, using an autoregressive process to adjust the random effects of long-term and short-term environment. The inclusion of test-day records from lactations with non-conventional drying-off causes increased the number of controls by 12% and the number of cows by 18%, and it generated an increase in the estimates of variance components. These results impacted estimates of heritability, calculated at 0.32, 0.28 and 0.26 for the first, second and third lactations in File1, respectively, while in File2 they were 0.34, 0.30 and 0.28 to the same lactation order. The estimated accuracy of predicted breeding values in File2 were higher in relation to File1, but the Pearson and Spearman correlations between predicted breeding values of animals in the two files were high. Lactations with non-conventional drying-off causes can be incorporated to the routines of genetic evaluation of Gyr dairy cattle, because they provide higher estimates of heritability and accuracy of breeding values, which could raise expectations of genetic gains with selection.
Exploring the Disconnect between Mathematics Ability and Mathematics Efficacy among Preservice Agricultural Education Teachers.

STEM disciplines will continue to impact school-based agricultural education programs; thus, in order to produce secondary students proficient in science and mathematics, developing preservice agricultural education teachers who are competent in mathematics and teaching mathematics is essential. This study utilized data collected through a focus group of 10 preservice agricultural education teachers at the University of Tennessee in order to explore the disconnect between mathematics ability and mathematics efficacy of preservice agricultural education teachers. Five themes emerged, which help explain the disconnect between mathematics ability and mathematics efficacy: (a) review of mathematics, (b) misconceptions, (c) prior success, (d) use of guest lecturers/students, and (e) the importance of pedagogical knowledge. Based on the results of this study, we recommend the agricultural teacher education program at the University of Tennessee provide instruction on cross-referenced mathematics standards, methods of teaching contextualized mathematics, and the types of knowledge required for teaching contextualized mathematics. These efforts should better prepare preservice teachers for teaching contextualized mathematics and aid them in developing an accurate understanding of the mathematics found in the school-based curricula. Additionally, future research is warranted to determine the most effective means of providing instruction in the aforementioned areas.
The 1998 Military Intervention in Lesotho: SADC Peace Mission or Resource War?

The 1998 military intervention in Lesotho by South Africa and Botswana was shrouded in controversy. While South African officials claimed that the intervention was a Southern African Development Community (SADC) humanitarian peacekeeping mission to rescue Lesotho from a coup, the intervention appears to have been inconsistent with the UN Charter and with the SADC Treaty. Indeed, SADC had no role in legitimating this intervention because proposals relevant to coups had not been ratified by the SADC Summit. It would appear that the motivation for this intervention, at least on the part of South Africa, was to secure strategic resources, mainly water. National interest explains the intervention, rather than the rescue of a captive state as South Africa claimed.
On online repurchase intentions: Antecedents and the moderating role of switching cost

This study investigates the repeat purchase intention of experienced online buyers. In the research model, psychological contract violation is proposed as a formative second-order construct driven by distributive justice, procedural justice, interpersonal justice, and informational justice. Psychological contract violation is hypothesized to negatively affect satisfaction and trust in the online store, which in turn are hypothesized to positively affect repeat purchase intentions. Switching cost is hypothesized to negatively moderate the effects of satisfaction and trust on repeat purchase intention. Data collected from 162 of PChome’s customers provide partial support for the research model. Results indicate that psychological contract violation is negatively associated with satisfaction and trust. Satisfaction is positively associated with buyers’ repeat purchase intentions. A higher level of switching cost diminished satisfaction’s effect on repeat purchase intention. Implications for theory and practice are discussed, and suggestions for future research are offered.
Laterality: Asymmetries of Body, Brain and Cognition

It seems self-evident that smell profoundly shapes emotion, but less clear is the nature of this interaction. Here, we sought to determine whether the ability to identify odours co-varies with self-reported feelings of empathy and emotional expression recognition, as predicted if the two capacities draw on common resource. Thirty-six neurotypical volunteers were administered the Alberta Smell Test, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index and an emotional expression recognition task. Statistical analyses indicated that feelings of emotional empathy positively correlated with odour discrimination in right nostril, while the recognition of happy and fearful facial expressions positively correlated with odour discrimination in left nostril. These results uncover new links between olfactory discrimination and emotion which, given the ipsilateral configuration of the olfactory projections, point towards intrarather than inter-hemispheric interaction. The results also provide novel support for the proposed lateralization of emotional empathy and the recognition of facial expression, and give reason to further explore the diagnostic sensitivity of smell tests because reduced sensitivity to others’ emotions can mark the onset of certain neurological diseases. ARTICLE HISTORY Received 29 January 2015; Revised 9 July 2015; Accepted 18 July 2015
A Mendelian randomization meta Circulating interleukin-6 and rheumatoid arthritis-analysis

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), as a pleiotropic cytokine, has been demonstrated to be closely associated with the pathogenisis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, whether this association is causal or not remains unclear, because of the multifactorial role of IL-6 and related confounding factors. We aimed to evaluate the causal relevance between circulating IL-6 levels and the risk of RA through metaanalytical Mendelian randomization approach. IL-6 gene -174G/C variant was selected as an instrument in this Mendelian randomization meta-analysis. Article identification and data collection were conducted in duplicate and independently by 2 authors. The STATA software was used for data analysis. In total, 15 and 5 articles on the association of the -174G/C variant with RA risk and circulating IL-6 level, respectively, were included. The overall analysis showed that C allelic and GC+CC genotype were significantly with 1.59-fold (95% CI: 1.19–2.14) and 1.63-fold (95% CI: 1.17–2.26) increased risk of developing RA, respectively. Asian populations showed stronger association with 4.55-fold (95% CI: 1.62–12.75), 1.84-fold (95% CI: 1.13–2.99), and 4.69-fold (95% CI: 1.68–13.14) increased RA risk in carriers of -174C allelic, CC, and GC+CC genotype, respectively. Carriers of GC+CC genotype showed significant reduction in the circulating IL-6 level compared with GG carriers (WMD= 0.77; 95% CI: 1.16 to 0.38; P= 0.000) in overall populations. Mendelian randomization presented 6% and 22% increased risk of RA with 0.1pg/mL reduction of circulating IL-6 level in overall and Asian populations, respectively. This Mendelian randomization meta-analysis demonstrated that the long-term genetically reduced circulating IL-6 level might be causally related to a higher risk of RA, especially in Asian populations. Abbreviations: 95% CI=95% confidence interval, BMI=body mass index, HWE=Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, IL-6= interleukin-6, OR=odds ratio, RA= rheumatoid arthritis, TCZ= tocilizumab, WMD=weighted mean difference.
Internal Ballistics Simulation of a Solid Propellant Rocket Motor

In the design and development of solid propellant rocket motors, the use of numerical tools able to simulate, predict and reconstruct the behaviour of a given motor in all its operative conditions is particularly important in order to decrease all the planning and costs. This study is devoted to present an approach to the numerical simulation of a given SPRM internal ballistics, NAWC no. 13, during the quasi steady state by means of a commercial numerical tool, ANSYS FLUENT. The internal ballistics model constructed in this study is a 2-D axisymmetric model, based on several assumptions. Among them is the assumption that there is no contribution of the erosive burning and the dynamic burning in the burning rate model. The results of the internal ballistics simulation are compared with the results found in the bibliographical research, thus validating the model that has been set up. The validation of the results also allows us to conclude that the assumptions made in the construction of the model are reasonable. Suggestions and recommendations for further study are outlined.