Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determinants of Agricultural Export Trade: Case ofFresh Pineapple Exports from Ghana

Aims: This study is purposed on informing future trade policy decisions on how the fresh pineapple export industry of Ghana can be revitalized following declines in both volumes and value of exports since the year 2004. To achieve this, effort is made to identify and assess the magnitude and effects of key determinants of fresh pineapple exports from Ghana for the period 1984-2009 Study Design: The study involves separate consideration of value and volume of exports as explained variables, and sourcing of ways by which beneficial implications noted could be maximized for both variables, while minimizing adverse ones in the process. Place and Duration of Study: This study solely involves the use of secondary data and own-computations on volume and value of pineapple exports, production, domestic demand, export price faced by exporters, terms of trade index of exports, real effective exchange rate, comparative export performance index and net inflow of foreign direct investment Methodology: Separate regression with value and volumes of exports as explained variables were estimated with the Ordinary Least Squares estimator, and tested for appropriate standard Gaussian assumptions, appropriateness of specification and stability of coefficients Original Research Article British Journal of Economics, Management & Trade, 4(11): 1736-1754, 2014 1737 Results: The results show that Ghana’s fresh pineapple export industry has competitive advantage and is more price-driven than volume driven. Both volume and value of exports have positive association with production, openness to trade, and the index of competitiveness. Both however have an inverse association with domestic demand and net inflow of foreign direct investment. In as much as the value of exports increases with export price faced by exporters, the response for volumes exported is not significant. The effect of lagged volume of exports on both explained variables is as well not significant. Conclusion: Reviving the fresh pineapple export industry requires increasing production (to be achieved through creation of favorable production conditions), improvement in quality of produce exported, improvement in the country’s openness to trade, and minimization or avoidance of domestic market capturing and tariff jumping types of foreign direct investments.
Total magnitude, radius, colour indices, colour gradients and photometric type of galaxies

We present a catalogue of aperture photometry of galaxies, in UBVRI , assembled from three different origins: (i) an update of the catalogue of Buta et al. (1995) (ii) published photometric profiles and (iii) aperture photometry performed on CCD images. We explored different sets of growth curves to fit these data: (i) The Sersic law, (ii) The net of growth curves used for the preparation of the RC3 and (iii) A linear interpolation between the de Vaucouleurs () and exponential laws. Finally we adopted the latter solution. Fitting these growth curves, we derive (1) the total magnitude, (2) the effective radius, (3) the colour indices and (4) gradients and (5) the photometric type of 5169 galaxies. The photometric type is defined to statistically match the revised morphologic type and parametrizes the shape of the growth curve. It is coded from -9, for very concentrated galaxies, to +10, for diffuse galaxies.
Are agarose-sucrose gels useful for studying the probing and feeding behavior of aphids?

The effects of novel chemicals on aphid probing and feeding can be more easily studied in gels than in plants; therefore, we investigated whether aphid probing behavior is similar on agarose-sucrose gels vs. plants. Electrical penetration graphs (DC EPG) were used to monitor the probing/feeding behavior of the bird cherry-oat aphid, Rhopalosiphum padi L. on wheat plants and agarose- sucrose gels. The EPG patterns generated by aphids feeding on plants were used to interpret the patterns generated on the gels. Based on terms previously used to describe EPG waveforms generated by aphids probing/feeding on plants we propose using a "g-" prefix to indicate agarose-sucrose gel EPG waveforms. The five main waveforms generated by aphids feeding on gels in this study are interpreted to be analogous to or representative of the patterns previously described for the feeding of aphids on plants. In waveform g-np, the aphids stylet is outside the gel (analogous to the stylet being outside the plant). Waveform g-C, indicates stylet activity in the gel (analogous to the stylet penetrating the epidermis and mesophyll). Waveform g-E1 indicates salivation into the gel (analogous to secreting saliva). Waveforms g-E2 and g-G represent ingesting the gel (analogous to ingestion of phloem and xylem sap). We report that EPG waveform shape, frequency, amplitude, electrical origin, and graphic display of peaks and waves are very similar for R. padi probing on agarose-sucrose gels and wheat plants. These results suggest that agarose-sucrose gels could be used for study aphid probing/ feeding behavior under controlled conditions.
Lecturer Job Performance Study: Motivation, Emotional Intelligence, Organizational Culture and Transformational Leadership as Antecedents with Job Satisfaction as an Intervening

This study describes the perception of private college lecturers in Banjarmasin, Indonesia. The purpose of this study is to test the lecturer job satisfaction on their performance achievement by considering aspects of motivation, lecturer emotional intelligence, organization culture and implementation of transformational leadership. Lecturers are respondents of this study. There are 187 samples from 352 study population. It is a quantitative research design with survey method. Data were analyzed using structural equation modeling. This study found that there is an effect of lecturer motivation, lecturer emotional intelligence, organizational culture and transformational leadership on job satisfaction. The second finding shows that there is an effect of lecturer motivation, lecturer emotional intelligence, organizational culture and transformational leadership on individual job performance. The third finding proved that lecturer job satisfaction has a positive impact on individual job performance. An important finding of this study is lecturer job satisfaction, which is retention of becoming an educator, is an engine for motivational aspects of fulfilling social needs, lecturer emotional intelligence, culture of establishing working groups and a transformational leadership style to improve the lecturer job performance.
Collaboration, benchmarking and secondary schools' mean scores in the Western region, Kenya: An analytical investigation

In order to meet the heightened multiple expectations now placed on schools to have engaged teachers and students, schools have turned to collaboration and benchmarking. The problem is that, despite adoption of these techniques in the Western region, academic performance remains dismal. The main objective of this study was therefore, to establish the effect of collaboration and benchmarking on secondary schools’ mean scores in the Western Region. The study adopted a descriptive survey design and targeted 137 schools out of which 41 schools representing 30% were randomly selected. Findings revealed that, schools involved in both practices had above average mean scores (8.480) during the five year period and performed above the provincial mean score compared to those engaged in neither practice which had below average means (4.644), and performed below the provincial mean score. It was therefore recommended that, schools should adopt a three pronged collaboration and benchmarking process that involved schools, departments and subjects in order to maximize the benefits of the two practices.
Effect of tobacco tar on Staphylococcus aureus and Candida albicans biofilm formation

Twenty compounds were determined in the tar of cigarette smoke. The tar was obtained using tobacco filters and then analyzed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). Tobacco tar expressed marked decrease in the susceptibility of Staphylococcus aureus to penicillin, tetracycline and amoxicillin/clavulanic antibiotics and showed marked decrease in susceptibility of Candida albicans to the tested antifungals except for clotrimazole and ketoconazole. Tobacco tar decreased the permeability of the tested organisms to ethidium bromide in the presence of antimicrobials, after 2 h for both S. aureus (17.8-20%) and C. albicans (13.3-16.3%) and decreased the adherence of the tested microorganisms at concentrations above Minimal Inhibitory Concentration (MIC). Tobacco tar showed a marked increase in the hydrophobicity of the tested microorganisms by 2.5 to 7 fold. Tobacco tar increased or upregulated ALS1 and HWP1 genes that play an important role in adhesion, hyphae formation and biofilm formation of C. albicans and increased the expression of ica A gene that regulate biofilm formation of S. aureus. Key words: Tobacco tar, Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans, antimicrobial susceptibility, ethidium bromide, biofilm formation.
ASSESSMENT OF BODY COMPOSITION AND DIETARY INTAKE FOR PRIMARY SCHOOL BOYS IN MAKKAHAREA.

Eslam A. Header 1,2 , Hassan M. Bukhari 1 , Nehal A. A. Alfky 1 , Mousa A. Abo Doraib 3 and Doaa R. Negm 1 . 1. Clinical Nutrition department, Faculty of Applied Medical Sciences, Umm al Qura University, Makkah, Saudi Arabia. 2. Department of Nutrition and Food Science, Faculty of Home Economics, Minufiya University, Egypt. 3. Clinical NutritionDepartment, Hera'a General Hospital,Makkah, Saudi Arabia. Manuscript Info Abstract . Manuscript History
Isolation, antimicrobial and antitumor potential of endolithic actinobacteria inhabiting diorite rocks of South Sinai, Egypt

THIRTY-FOUR actinobacteria strains were recovered from diorite rocks of South Sinai, Egypt, using direct isolation. The predominant types were Streptomyces and Nocardioides (8 strains, each), followed by Kitasatosporia and Nocardiopsis (4 strains, each). Twenty-five strains were active against Escherichia coli NCMB 11943, two clinical cultures (Staphylococcus aureus, Candida albicans) and/or three solid tumor cell lines (colon C38, colon H-116, lung H-125 M). One strain showed potent activity towards S. aureus, C. albicans and inhibited colon HCT116 and liver HepG2 carcinoma cell lines at IC50 3.2 and 1.3μg/ml, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated its identity as Micromonospora citrea, at 99.6% similarity. MALDI/TOF-MS analysis of its metabolic extract revealed 18 compound masses, molecular weight range of 585.52 to 669.64Da. Statistical general full factorial design indicated varying effects of four-carbon and three-nitrogen sources on its bioactivity. Starch and potassium nitrate at 1% w/v, as C- and N-sources, respectively, were significantly effective for enhancing the antitumor activity up to 1.3-fold (P = 0.007). M. citrea extract revealed non-significant cytotoxic effects in rats, at 10mg/kg injection dose, every two days for two weeks. The kidney and liver functions were not significantly impaired, as indicated from results of serum enzymatic activities, urea, total protein and albumin levels. The strain was deposited at the Egyptian Microbial Culture Collection as M. citrea SP1 EMCC 1923 and was patent registered (Egyptian Patent Office, No. 655). These results indicate the importance of actinobacteria inhabiting arid rocks of Sinai for production of promising antibiotic leads.
Resonant scattering of energetic electrons in the plasmasphere by monotonic whistler-mode waves artificially generated by ionospheric modification

Abstract. Modulated high-frequency (HF) heating of the ionosphere provides a feasible means of artificially generating extremely low-frequency (ELF)/very low-frequency (VLF) whistler waves, which can leak into the inner magnetosphere and contribute to resonant interactions with high-energy electrons in the plasmasphere. By ray tracing the magnetospheric propagation of ELF/VLF emissions artificially generated at low-invariant latitudes, we evaluate the relativistic electron resonant energies along the ray paths and show that propagating artificial ELF/VLF waves can resonate with electrons from ~ 100 keV to ~ 10 MeV. We further implement test particle simulations to investigate the effects of resonant scattering of energetic electrons due to triggered monotonic/single-frequency ELF/VLF waves. The results indicate that within the period of a resonance timescale, changes in electron pitch angle and kinetic energy are stochastic, and the overall effect is cumulative, that is, the changes averaged over all test electrons increase monotonically with time. The localized rates of wave-induced pitch-angle scattering and momentum diffusion in the plasmasphere are analyzed in detail for artificially generated ELF/VLF whistlers with an observable in situ amplitude of ~ 10 pT. While the local momentum diffusion of relativistic electrons is small, with a rate of
Compact, Generalized Component Mode Mistuning Representation for Modeling Bladed Disk Vibration

New techniques are presented for generating reduced-order models of the vibration of mistuned bladed disks from parent finite element models. A novel component-based modeling framework is developed by partitioning the system into a tuned bladed disk component and virtual blade mistuning components. The mistuning components are defined by the differences between the mistuned and tuned blade mass and stiffness matrices. The mistuned-system model is assembled with a component mode synthesis technique, using a basis of tuned-system normal modes and attachment modes. The formulation developed is general and can be applied to any mistuned bladed disk, including those with large geometric mistuning (e.g., severe blade damage). In the case of small (i.e., blade frequency) mistuning, a compact reduced-order model is derived by neglecting the attachment modes. For this component mode mistuning model, the blade mistuning is projected first onto the component modes of a tuned, cantilevered blade, and then projected again onto the tuned-system normal modes via modal participation factors. In this manner, several natural frequencies of each mistuned blade can be used to capture systematically the effects of the complex physical sources of mistuning. A numerical validation of the developed methods is performed for both large and small mistuning cases using a finite element model of an industrial rotor.
Evolution and rupture of vulnerable plaques: a review of mechanical effects

Atherosclerosis occurs as a result of the buildup and infiltration of lipid streaks in artery walls, leading to plaques. Understanding the development of atherosclerosis and plaque vulnerability is of critical importance, since plaque rupture can result in heart attack or stroke. Plaques can be divided into two distinct types: those that rupture (vulnerable) and those that are less likely to rupture (stable). In the last few decades, researchers have been interested in studying the influence of the mechanical effects (blood shear stress, pressure forces, and structural stress) on the plaque formation and rupture processes. In the literature, physiological experimental studies are limited by the complexity of in vivo experiments to study such effects, whereas the numerical approach often uses simplified models compared with realistic conditions, so that no general agreement of the mechanisms responsible for plaque formation has yet been reached. In addition, in a large number of cases, the presence of plaques in arteries is asymptomatic. The prediction of plaque rupture remains a complex question to elucidate, not only because of the interaction of numerous phenomena involved in this process (biological, chemical, and mechanical) but also because of the large time scale on which plaques develop. The purpose of the present article is to review the current mechanical models used to describe the blood flow in arteries in the presence of plaques, as well as reviewing the literature treating the influence of mechanical effects on plaque formation, development, and rupture. Finally, some directions
Boland Hamill ' ' Forgotten ' ' Generation Caring for Grandparents With Alzheimer ' s Disease : Help From the

This study examined adolescent grandchildren’s contributions to caregiving for grandparents with Alzheimer’s disease. It was predicted that grandchildren would provide more care when parents experienced greater burden, and when adolescents had higher quality relationships with parents and grandparents. It was also hypothesized that these factors would predict higher levels of social commitment and more positive attitudes toward the provision of long-term care. Twenty-nine adolescents and their parents participated in the telephone interview study. Adolescents rated the amount of care they provided to grandparents, relationship quality with grandparents and parents, social responsibility, and attitudes toward the provision of longterm care. Parents reported levels of caregiver burden. Results indicated that grandchildren provided more help when parents provided more care and when grandchildren had greater affection for grandparents. Adolescent grandchildren exhibited lower levels of social responsibility and more negative attitudes toward the provision of long-term care when fathers experienced higher subjective burden.
Modelling the transport of geometrically necessary dislocations on slip systems: application to single- and multi-crystals of ice

A model based on the elastic theory of continuously distributed dislocations, accounting for the transport of geometrically necessary dislocations (GND) on slip systems is developed. It allows keeping the crystallographic nature of glide by allocating velocities specific to slip systems to GND. At grain boundaries, the dislocation transport equation is resolved between a specific system in a grain and a specific system in the adjacent grain. It is used to simulate a compression creep test followed by unloading of a multiple slip deforming multi-crystal of ice during which kink band formation, grain boundary migration and localized grain nucleation are observed. The model predictions are compared to 2D strain fields obtained by digital image correlation and show a good agreement. Besides, the kink band position corresponds very well with an area of strong lattice misorientation predicted by the model and is also bounded by opposite densities of edge dislocations, in agreement with kink banding theory and characterization. Furthermore, the grain boundary migration is observed to happen from predicted low dislocation density area towards high dislocation ones—also in agreement with the theory. Lastly, the triple junctions where nucleation is observed are also characterized by high GND density and especially strong gradient of elastic energy density. These different features show the relevance of using a continuum theory of polarized dislocations per slip system to study the onset of relaxation mechanisms like kink banding, grain boundary migration and grain nucleation and possibly to propose nucleation and migration criteria.
Developing a common standard for authentic restaurants

ABSTRACT This paper investigates the paradox of authenticity versus standardisation. It examines the features that constitute restaurant authenticity and determines whether these can be standardised within an alliance of top restaurants to reap the benefits of commonalities among the restaurants. We determine the features of authenticity by examining the literature, by interviewing owners and managers of alliance restaurants and by means of a consumer survey. The results show several discrepancies. Combining these three data sources allowed us to distinguish between essential and peripheral features of authenticity. This distinction can help to define a standard for restaurant authenticity, specifying minimum levels for essential features of authenticity.
THE RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN IT FLEXIBILITY, IT-BUSINESS STRATEGIC RANGING, AND IT CAPABILITY

At present, organizations are looking at IT flexibility as the main and fundamental competency that is required in order for organizations to exist and grow in the present-day environments. This research studies the problem about the lack of ranging between IT and business strategies. Therefore, according to various literatures on this subject, it was found that IT flexibility is one of the most essential factors that help support strategic ranging. The Mata analysis on different researcher having a detailed discussion on the possible areas related with the present body of knowledge has discovered gaps in the studies that have been undertaken on strategic ranging and IT flexibility. This is because IT capability in relation to IT flexibility and strategic ranging has been ignored in the previous studies. As a result, this research proposes a relationship between IT flexibility, IT capability, and strategic ranging.
PERFORMANCES OF SOME COOL SEASON TURFGRASS SPECIES IN MEDITERRANEAN ENVIRONMENT: I. Lolium perenne L., Festuca arundinacea Schreb., Poa pratensis L., and Agrostis tenuis Sibth

The commitment to turf research is more recent and is challenged by the diversity of climatic conditions occurring throughout the Anatolian peninsula in Turkey, thereby complicating the recommendation of species and cultivars. Assessing the peculiarities of turfs during the growing period and the efficient use of turf for establishing lawns requires field evaluation of the existing cultivars particularly in the sites with a Mediterranean climate. Our study is aimed at evaluating the adaptability and quality of the popular cultivars (introductions) of cool season turfgrass species in a Mediterranean site in western Turkey, Bornova/IZMIR. Six cultivars of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.), four cultivars of tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.), four cultivars of Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.) and four cultivars of colonial bentgrass (Agrostis tenuis Sibth) were tested for 3 years in a replicated experimental block group design. Turf cover, colour and quality traits of each cultivar in each species were evaluated by using a visual score (1-9) and assessed in each season from 2003 to 2005. Cultivars of tall fescue and to some extent perennial ryegrass species were better able than those of Kentucky bluegrass and colonial bentgrass to cope with the existing Mediterranean climatic condition. All species performed better in winter, spring and autumn than summer season, except for tall fescue. Kentucky bluegrass and colonial bentgrass cultivars were not found recommendable for Mediterranean environment.
Recycling and Assessment of Struvite Phosphorus from Sewage Sludge

Abstract This study presents an integrated approach for the recovery of P from the wastewater path. Since natural P sources are limited, recycling processes are making an increasingly important contribution to meeting the nutritional requirements of plant production. The groundwork for developing a new fertilizer from upgraded sewage sludge includes an evaluation of nutrients and heavy metal contents. Struvite (NH 4 MgPO 4 • 6 H 2 O) derived from sewage sludge had a total P content of 6.1% with 3.5% being water-soluble. Plant availability was tested in pot experiments with wheat and maize. P uptake rates were 66.7% and 85.9%, respectively. In terms of heavy metal contents, struvite showed contaminant levels at least three times below the limiting values of the German Sewage Sludge Ordinance. Stricter rules of the German Federal Soil Protection Act are also fulfilled if the loading of heavy metals is considered during periodical fertilization. This implies that P recovery as struvite may be one way of declaring a new type of fertilizer.