Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Banana Vinegars Production Using Thermotolerant Acetobacter pasteurianus Isolated From Ivorian Palm Wine

Vinegar or sour wine is a product of alcoholic and subsequent acetous fermentation of sugary precursors. Among acetic acid producing bacteria, only few genera (Acetobacter and Gluconobacter) are used in vinegar industry. In this paper, we intended to produce vinegar at 37 °C using two Acetobacter pasteurianus strains (S3 and S32). These species were isolated from palm (Elaeis guineensis) wine and presented potentialities for industrial vinegar production at 37 °C. Successive fermentations were carried up and semi-continuous acetous fermentation was performed to increase acid production. Concentrated bananas (Musa ssp.) juice (11°Brix) was fermented using Saccharomyces cerevisae within 7 days, yielding 6.4% alcohol. After fermentation, 60 and 58 g/L acetic acid were produced in vinegars obtained using S3 and S32 stains respectively in 34 days and 5 flow cycles. Malic and acetic acids were the most substantial acids produced in alcoholic juice with 5 631.473 and 2 833.055 mg/L respectively. Among the eight organic acids responsible for vinegars total acidity, acetic acid was major compound with 23 459.416 and 21 268.407 mg/L for S3 and S32 strains respectively. Alcohol and acetic acid fermentation efficiency were 90.9% and 85.39 - 87.63% respectively. All the results above showed that S3 and S32 strains revealed great potentialities for successful industrial vinegar production from overripe banana.
Factors Affecting Customer Loyalty in the Telecommunications Industry in the Klang Valley, Malaysia

A vital factor in the growth and performance of a company in the current highly competitive telecommunications industry is the development and enhancement of customer loyalty. Although several studies in the past have helped explain the influence of some significant variables for loyalty, not many studies have examined the effects of certain factors such as service quality, customer value and corporate image on the loyalty of subscribers of mobile telecommunication companies or providers. Thus, the aim of this study is to explore the critical factors of service quality, customer value, corporate image and customer satisfaction that generate customer loyalty in the mobile communication service markets in the Klang Valley, Malaysia. Furthermore, this study also attempts to validate the connection between these factors and customer loyalty. This study employed the convenience sampling method to select 100 respondents in the Klang Valley, Malaysia, who are mobile phone users. Their personal information was analysed by means of descriptive analysis, while inferential analysis was used to test the hypotheses. All the hypotheses were found to be supported by the findings of the study, which also showed that the tested variables are significantly related to each other. This illustrates that mobile service providers wanting to build and maintain a competitive edge in the mobile service market should make greater efforts to enhance the quality of their service, provide superior customer value, attain higher customer satisfaction and win customer loyalty.
Gender and climate change-induced conflict in pastoral communities: Case study of Turkana in northwestern Kenya

Clitmate change-induced conflict is a major global threat to human security and the environment. It has been projected that there is going to be an increase in climate changes resulting in increased droughts and floods in northern Kenya. Climate change impacts will be differently distributed among different regions, ages, income groups, occupations and gender. People living in poverty are more vulnerable to environmental changes. In relation to these concerns, this article discusses the following issues: climate change, pastoralism and conflicts, gender issues in Turkana, and the future of pastoralism in relation to changing climate conditions. Specifically, the first section looks at the impacts of climate change on pastoralism and the livelihoods of pastoralists, and at the types of climate change-induced conflicts in Turkana. The next section focuses on the impact of climate change-induced conflict on women and men’s livelihoods, including discussion of the roles and participation in decision making. Finally, the future of pastoralism in relation to changing climate is discussed. The focus will be on scenarios of the past and future projections of rainfall patterns in Turkana, the future of pastoralism and the possibility of climate-induced conflicts in the future.
Degree of Homogeneity of Plant Life in Tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati, Pakistan

The present investigation explains the homogeneity of plant life on the basis of frequency classes during 2009-2010 in Tehsil Takht-e-Nasrati, District Karak, Pakistan. The result shows that no homogeneity in the region among the phases and seasons. The value of frequency class is high (9) of class B and low in E (1) in phases 1 during spring season. In summer class C has high value (4.75) while it is low in A. (1). The value of class A is high (14.8) in winter. In phase 2 the class B has high value during spring (9.86) and summer (7.29) while the value of class A is high (8.86) in winter. In phase 3 and 4 the class B has high value throughout all season as compare to other classes. So the equation of homogeneity will be in phase 1; A less than B greater than C greater than D greater than E. , A less than B less than C greater than D less than E. , A less than B less than C less than D greater than E. ; in phase 2; A greater than B less than C less than D less than E. , A greater than B less than C less than D greater than E. , A less than B less than C less than D greater than E. ; In Phase 3; A greater than B less than C less than D less than E. , A greater than B less than C less than D greater than E. , A greater than B less than C less than D greater than E. and in Phase 4 ; A greater than B less than C less than D less than E. , A greater than B less than C less than D less than E. , A greater than B less than C less than D greater than E. in spring, summer and winter respectively. The heterogeneity of plant life shows that the area is under heavy biotic pressure owing to consumers and soil erosion.
Vegetative propagation of the endangered Azorean tree

Picconia azorica (Tutin) Knobl. (Oleaceae), commonly named “pau-branco”, is an endangered tree endemic to the Azores. Vegetative propagation may be important for the preservation of this species, particularly in depauperate populations, with low seed set. The objective of this study was to evaluate effective techniques for the vegetative propagation of P. azorica by rooting of stem cuttings or by air layering. Rooting substrate, IBA concentration, and the portion of the area of the terminal leaf pair kept on stem cuttings, when tested in early spring (semi-hardwood cuttings) and autumn (hardwood cuttings) failed to produce any rooted cuttings. In contrast, air layering performed in the autumn on lateral branches of adult trees was successful. After 12 months, air layers treated with 5000 ppm of IBA in talc achieved 65% rooting, while those treated with 2500 ppm IBA or without growth regulator only attained 41 and 28% rooting, respectively. Our study indicates that P. azorica is relatively easy to propagate by air layering. This method could be used to restore natural populations of P. azorica when seeds are not available or plant competition impairs natural regeneration.
A Study of Particle Histories during Spray Drying Using Computational Fluid Dynamic Simulations

Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models for short-form and tall-form spray dryers have been developed, assuming constant rate drying and including particle tracking using the source-in-cell method. The predictions from these models have been validated against published experimental data and other simulations. This study differs from previous work in that particle time histories for velocity, temperature, and residence time and their impact positions on walls during spray drying have been extracted from the simulations. Due to wet-bulb protection effects, particle temperatures are often substantially different from gas temperatures, which is important, because the particle temperature–time history has the most direct impact on product quality. The CFD simulation of an existing tall-form spray dryer indicated that more than 60% of the particles impacted on the cylindrical wall and this may adversely affect product quality, because solids may adhere to the wall for appreciable times, dry out, and lose their wet-bulb protection. The model also predicts differences between the particle primary residence time distributions (RTD) and the gas phase RTD. This study indicates that a short-form dryer with a bottom outlet is more suitable for drying of heat-sensitive products, such as proteins, due to the low amounts of recirculated gas and hence shorter residence time of the particles.
A multiphase series-resonant converter with a reduced number of thyristors and common grounds for inputs and outputs

Multiphase series-resonant (SR) power converters provide a flexible way to transform power between a utility grid and a multiphase load or source. The current implementations all suffer from a high component count, which makes the use of these converters unattractive from an economical point of view. A new topology for multiphase SR converters has been proposed in (l) in a simulation context. This topology uses half the number of power semiconductors compared to the existing multiphase SR converters. The present paper addresses the implementation of the new topology in a prototype converter. Simulation data and measured waveforms are shown, and a comparison is made between the new and the existing topologies. It is shown that the economical gain due to the reduction in component count is offset by a lower power rating.
A Test of the Optimal Positive Production Network Externality in Major League Baseball

Unlike most businesses, firms in a sports league need viable competitors. While a certain amount of domination is optimal, from an individual owners perspective, too much will result in league dissolution, and thus a lower utility for every owner. Hence, there is a limited positive production network externality. This paper examines the optimal level of the externality in professional baseball using data from each game of the 1996 MLB season. Both absolute and relative quality are important determinants of the demand for sports contests. In fact, fans prefer a game in which two high quality teams are competing, but the home team has approximately twice as good of a chance as the visiting team of winning.
Hydrazonoyl halides, Pyrimidine, 1,3,4-Thiadiazole, Thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine, Thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine

Novel thiophene, pyrimidine, 1,3-thiazole, 1,3,4-thiadiazole, thieno[2,3-d]pyrimidine, and thiazolo[3,2-a]pyrimidine derivatives bearing pyridine moiety were synthesized starting from the readily accessible 3-oxo-N-(pyridin-2-yl)butanamide.
Gender bias when assessing recommended ecology articles

Gender bias is still unfortunately rife in the sciences, and men co-author most articles (> 70%) in ecology. Whether ecologists subconsciously rate the quality of their peers’ work more favourably when they are the same gender (homophily) is still unclear. To test this hypothesis, we examined how ecologist editors ranked important ecology articles based on a previously compiled list where they had first each proposed some articles and then voted on all proposed articles. The proportion of female co-authors on the articles proposed by men were lower (0.06 to 0.09) than those proposed by women (0.13 to 0.27), although the data were highly skewed and most proposed articles (77%) had no female co-authors. For the 100 topranked articles voted by women or men only, the gender difference remained: female voters ranked articles in the top 100 that had more female co-authors (0.029 to 0.093 proportion women) than did those voted by men (0.001 to 0.029). Female voters tended to rank articles more highly as the number of male coauthors increased, and the relationship between article rank and proportion of male co-authors was even stronger when only men voted. This effect disappeared after testing only articles that editors declared they had actually read. This could indicate a persistent, subconscious tendency toward homophily when assessing the perceived quality of articles that ecologists have not actually read.
Machining and Surface Characteristics of AISI 304L After Electric Discharge Machining for Copper and Graphite Electrodes in Different Dielectric Liquids

In Electric Discharge Machining (EDM), the thermal energy used for material erosion depends on the intensity of electric sparks, the thermal conductivities of electrode material and the dielectric liquid. In this paper, the effect of EDM on AISI 304L steel is studied using copper and graphite electrodes and distilled water and kerosene oil as dielectric liquids. Material Removal Rates (MRR), Tool Wear Rates (TWR) and surface conditions are calculated for four different combinations with the two electrode materials and the two dielectric liquids. These investigations are carried out at different pulse currents. Machined surfaces are evaluated by morphological studies, energy dispersive spectrographs (EDS) and white layer thickness using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). It is found that a transfer of carbon takes place from the kerosene oil and the graphite electrodes into the machined surface which alters the metallurgical characteristics, depending on the electrical and thermal conductivities of the electrode material and the dielectric liquid.
Absorptive capacity on rural properties of farmers associated with an agroindustry cooperative

This article describes the process of absorptive capacity through the application of the theoretical model of Lane, Koka and Pathak (2006). It has been adapted to rural properties of cooperative farmers of an agroindustry organization in south-central Paraná, with the view that this process goes through the stages of recognition, assimilation and application of new knowledge in agricultural properties, which will be portrayed in the positive outcome of the cooperative organization. It is a qualitative research, of a descriptive nature and with crosscutting, because the data collection occurred through in-depth interviews with five cooperative farmers who have over time experienced an evolution in productivity rates and profitability in agricultural activity. The results of the research were relevant both at the organizational level – because they offer directions to the management of the cooperative organization to be able to identify how the process of application of new knowledge is given, as well as the necessary improvement points – and for the dissemination and application of knowledge – as in the theoretical discussion, since they deepened the theory of dynamic capacities based on the agricultural reality, a sector of great regional and national importance in Brazil.
DYNAMIC CAPITAL STRUCTURE: EVIDENCE FROM THE SMALL DEVELOPING COUNTRY OF JORDAN

his paper examines the determinants of the target capital structure of Jordanian manufacturing firms and the adjustment process towards this target. The study extends the empirical work on capital structure in two ways. First, it uses a dynamic model which sheds light on the dynamic nature of the capital structure adjustment process by firms. Second, the study employs a panel data analysis and GMM estimation techniques that control for unobserved firm-specific effects and the endogeneity problem. The findings of the paper suggest that Jordanian firms have target leverage ratios and they adjust to them relatively fast. Consistent with the predictions of capital structure theories, and the findings of the empirical literature, the results of this paper suggest that size, tangibility, profitability, growth opportunity, and earnings volatility exert significant effects on the capital structure choice of Jordanian firms.
DIFFERENCES IN PERSONALITY FEATURES AND ACHIEVEMENT MOTIVATION IN CHILD ATHLETES AND NONATHLETES UDC 159 . 922 : 796 . 332-053

Research results show that athletes and non-athletes differ according to the degree of the incidence of certain personality features. The testing of potential differences in the personality and motivation in children and young athletes can offer useful guidelines for stimulating the development of desired features. The aim of this research was to establish whether there are differences in some personality features and achievement motivation in children involved in football and children non-athletes. Some 56 boys were tested, 12-13 years of age, young football players from the Partizan club, and boys not involved in sports. Cattell’s HSPQ form A questionnaire was applied, as well as the MSP questionnaire for testing sports achievement motivation. A t-test for independent samples was used to process the data. The results showed that children involved in sports were emotionally more stable and mature, with a better self-control of their emotions and behavior, as well as being more self-assured, more responsible, amenable, relaxed, and more motivated to attain achievements and to cope with achievement. Differences were established on the HSPQ-C, HSPQ-G, HSPQ-H, HSPQ-O, HSPQ-Q3, HSPQ-Q4, MSP-P, MSP-F+ and MSP-Fdimensions. With an adequate pedagogical-psychological approach and in a sports context, it is possible to advance the sports affirmation of talented children, as well as to stimulate the conveying of desired personality features and motivation into other areas of life.
Continuous and discrete sliding mode control of an active car suspension system

In this paper, sliding mode control (SMC) algorithms are tested for their use in an active car suspension system. Using the quarter model of the car as an example, the comparison of the efficiency of the algorithms is made. A continuous and two discrete versions of the sliding mode control are taken into consideration. The study is limited to finding the relation between the control parameters and the comfort factor. This is done by analyzing the response of the model to the harmonic and impulse excitation.
Leaching Behavior of Construction and Demolition Waste (Concrete and Gypsum)

Recycling of Construction and Demolition Waste (CDW) aims to minimize the generation of waste and reduce the dependency on natural resources. The aims of the research are to characterize inorganic element and to determine the leaching behavior of CDW (concrete and gypsum) by means of the leaching test. The analyzed results were compared with the European Union (EU) Landfill Directive to assess their acceptance criteria. Both wastes were found to have elements of Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Mn, Pb, Cu, Cd, As, Cr, Se, Ni, CI and SO4 . The highest concentration and variety of inorganic element found in waste gypsum (WG) were SO4 >Ca>CI>Mg>Zn>Cu>Fe. X-ray diffractometric (XRD) analysis proved that the WCo was dominated by quartz, calcite, ettringite, cordierite, diopside and the WG was only dominated by gypsum. The leaching behavior of WG demonstrated pH dependent particularly for the elements of Ca, Mg, Fe, Zn, Cu and Mn but only the elements of Ca and Cr in WCo were shown to be pH dependent in the leaching test. The element of SO4 2from the WG indicated a higher reading than WCo without the influence of pH. Noticeably, the concentration of SO4 2within the WG strongly require regulation and control before it can be utilized as part of raw materials in the production of environmental friendly recycled building materials. doi: 10.5829/idosi.ijee. 2016.07. 02.17
Climatic variation affects clutch phenology in Agassiz's desert tortoise Gopherus agassizii

There is concern about how climate change might affect Agassiz's desert tortoise Gopherus agassizii, a threatened species. We studied the effects of climatic variation on clutch phenology of a population at a wind energy generation facility for 7 field seasons between 1997 and 2011. Using X-radiography, we quantified the following phenophases based on the number of calendar days to each event from 1 January: appearance and disappearance of 65 first and 53 sec- ond clutches, and inter-clutch intervals between first and second clutches. Although third clutches were rare (n = 8), they were observed in 5 of 7 yr and were produced by 8 different females, all of which produced a third clutch only once during the study. Shelled eggs were visible from as early as 11 April to as late as 28 July, and the overall time span that eggs were visible differed among years. After controlling for maternal effects, we observed statistically significant inter-annual vari- ation in all phenophases except for inter-clutch interval. Clutch appearance was late in cool years relative to warm years and especially late after 2 consecutive cool years. Using degree day (DD) methodology, we calculated DD accumulation during the post-hibernation and nesting season for each year. We then used DD estimates for mean date of first clutch appearance to predict the mean date of first clutch appearance in subsequent years with 1 to 10 d accuracy for all but 1 yr (1998) with El Nino conditions. Clutch phenology appears to be correlated with inter-annual variation in climate and may be influenced by climatic events in previous years.
Productivity , sustainable growth and Serbia ’ s preparedness for digital transformation

Pojam digitalne transformacije, odnosno upotrebe tehnologije radi unapređenja učinka, proučava se u kontekstu održivog ekonomskog razvoja i tehnološke spremnosti Srbije. Autori se dodatno usredsređuju na ulogu obrazovanja u oblasti softverskog inženjerstva. Programeri su ključni nosioci procesa primene novih tehnologija, pružajući tehničku podršku stvaranju prilagođenih i novih poslovnih modela. Stoga članak razmatra rezultate prve studije tehničkih kompetencija, obrazovanja i uslova rada srpskih programera, koja je sprovedena u oktobru 2015. godine. Nalazi potvrđuju međunarodna istraživanja koja uočavaju udaljavanje od formalnog obrazovanja, delom zbog jaza između etabliranih nastavnih planova i potreba tržišta za agilnim programiranjem i upravljanjem projektima. Ovaj jaz treba popuniti ne samo učenjem inovativnog programiranja, već i netehničkim kompetencijama, što može da bude tema daljih istraživanja. Pored toga, treba proučiti razloge za nizak stepen prihvatanja digitalnih tehnologija u poslovnom sektoru u Srbiji, te ispitati ulogu evropskih integracija i stranih ulaganja u ovom procesu. Jedan značajan pozitivan trend u Srbiji predstavlja velika otvorenost programera prema preduzetništvu, što može da bude izvor novih inovacija. Dodatan izazov je kako spojiti programere sa tradicionalnim preduzećima da bi se omogućila šira digitalna transformacija i stvaranje istinske digitalne ekonomije.
Hedging Behavior in Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises: The Role of Unobserved Heterogeneity

We investigate factors that drive derivative usage in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs). The influence of these factors on hedging behavior cannot a priori be assumed equal for all SMEs. To address this heterogeneity, a generalized mixture regression model is used which classifies firms into segments, so that the hedging response to the determinants of derivative usage is the same within each segment. Using a unique data set of 415 SMEs, containing both accounting and experimental data, we find that factors like risk exposure, risk perception, risk attitude, and the decision-making unit, among others are useful in explaining hedging behavior. However, the effects of these factors are not homogeneous across all managers, and the roots of the heterogeneity can partially be traced to differences in attitudes, perceptions, and to differences in ownership structure.