Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Yarn tenacity modeling using artificial neural networks and development of a decision support system based on genetic algorithms

Yarn tenacity is one of the most important properties in yarn production. This paper addresses modeling of yarn tenacity as well as optimally determining the amounts of the effective inputs to produce yarn with desired tenacity. The artificial neural network is used as a suitable structure for tenacity modeling of cotton yarn with 30 Ne. As the first step for modeling, the empirical data is collected for cotton yarns. Then, the structure of the neural network is determined and its parameters are adjusted by back propagation method. The efficiency and accuracy of the neural model is measured based on percentage of error as well as coefficient determination. The obtained experimental results show that the neural model could predicate the tenacity with less than 3.5% error. Afterwards, utilizing genetic algorithms, a new method is proposed for optimal determination of input values in yarn production to reach the desired tenacity. We conducted several experiments for different ranges with various production cost functions. The proposed approach could find the best input values to reach the desired tenacity considering the production costs.
Subsistence versus Cash Crop Weather Index Insurance. A Willingness to Pay Study for Maize and Bean Crops in Mafeteng, Maseru and Berea Districts

The paper analysed the potential of weather index insurance as one of the strategies for managing climate variability in Lesotho through a Double Bounded Dichotomous Choice Contingent Valuation Method with an open ended follow up question to elicit farmers’ willingness to pay. The study went further to compare willingness to pay for weather index insurance between a cash crop (Bean) and a subsistence crop (Maize). Bivariate probit model was used in the analysis. Based on data collected from 400 farmers, the results showed that majority of farmers are willing to insure their crops; maize (94.75%) and bean (92.5%) against weather perils and pay a monthly premium of M96.72 ($7.28) for maize and M101.31 ($7.63) for beans. This implies that farmers in the lowlands of Lesotho regard weather index insurance as one of the strategies for managing climate variability. The results of the t-test showed statistical significance (p<0.1) between maize and bean mean willingness to pay. Thus, policy and program intervention designed to address the climate variability problem in the study area should consider these preferences in the insurance product. Keywords: Willingness to pay, weather index insurance, maize, beans
Effects Of Dietary Inclusion Of Fish Oil On Broiler Performance And Feed Utilization

This study was performed to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation of fish oil on broiler performance and feed utilization. Feed consumption, body weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR), carcass characteristics, water consumption, mortality, protein efficiency ratio, lysine efficiency ratio, efficiency of energy utilization, relative water consumption٫ production efficiency factor were studied. Two hundred unsexed broiler chicks, 28 day-old (Ross 308) were used. The Chicks were randomly distributed into 2 treatments experimental groups, designated T1 and T2, each group has 4 replicates of 25 chicks. Birds were fed the experimental diets for 3 weeks. They were fed finisher diets from 29 to 49 day old, in which fish oil was added to the iso-calaric and iso-nitrogenous diet, T1 0% (Control group) and T2 3% fish oil. Two rations (iso-nitrogenous and iso-caloric) were formulated according the requirement of (NRC) National Research council. Adding fish oil improved feed intake, body weight, weight gain, carcass weight, dressing percentage, protein ratio efficiency, efficiency energy utilization, lysine efficiency and production efficiency factor were significantly affected (P<0.01) and improved water intake, feed conversion ratio were significantly affected (P<0.05) of broilers for the three weeks. No significant differences were observed for relative water intake. Therefore it is concluded that adding fish oil based diets improved broiler performance and feed utilization.
Impact of Kaizen implementation on performance of manufacturing companies’ staff

Astonishing progress of Japan has made ​​ everyone think over policy, theme of work culture and management systems of these hard-working people. In the last analysis, improvement creation in field of cost quality and planning (rate of productivity and delivery time) is converted to a key and major factor. Kaizen is strategy of improvement based on needs and demands of the customers. Kaizen believes that employees of an organization should uninterruptedly think over improving and maintaining improvement achievements in their own organization but how much is their share in this movement? There are two different approaches to achieve progress: a gradual improvement (Kaizen) and improvement based on the great leap (innovation). Overall, Japanese companies prefer gradual improvement and the western companies believe in innovation. Now, in this article, we seek to answer this question: which of this view is implementable in Iran? Improvement means Kaizen and innovation; each company or organization use both Kaizen and innovation for its survival, growth and progress. Continuous improvement refers to the operation, process of achieving better productions and cost reduction in production and sales operation and as a strategic goal, it contains certain categories of total quality control, efficiency increase, effectiveness surplus, improvement promotion, cost reduction and elimination of defective items (wastes) from the productive process. Similarly, the managers will get involved in the base of the job and they will truly develop partnerships’ level and solve problems using accurate view. Normal 0 false false false RU X-NONE X-NONE /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Обычная таблица"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0cm; mso-para-margin-right:0cm; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0cm; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;}
Comparison of lightning activity in the two most active areas of the Congo Basin

Abstract. A comparison of the lightning activity in the two most active areas (Area_max for the main maximum and Area_sec for the secondary maximum) of the Congo Basin is made with data obtained by the World Wide Lightning Location Network (WWLLN) during 2012 and 2013. Both areas of same size (5° × 5°) exhibit flash counts in a ratio of about 1.32 for both years and very different distributions of the flash rate density (FRD) with maximums in a ratio of 1.94 and 2.59 for 2012 and 2013, respectively. The FRD is much more widely distributed in Area_sec, which means the whole area contributes more or less equal to the lightning activity. The diurnal cycle is much more pronounced in Area_max than in Area_sec with a ratio between the maximum and the minimum of 15.4 and 4.7, respectively. However, the minimum and maximum of the hourly flash rates are observed roughly at the same time in both areas, between 07:00 and 09:00 UTC and between 16:00 and 17:00 UTC, respectively. In Area_sec the proportion of days with low lightning rate (0–1000 flashes per day) is much larger (∼ 45 % in 2013) compared to Area_max (∼ 23 % in 2013). In Area_max the proportion of days with moderate lightning rate (1001–6000 flashes per day) is larger (∼ 68.5 % in 2013) compared to Area_sec (∼ 46 % in 2013). The very intense convective events are slightly more numerous in Area_sec. In summary, the thunderstorm activity in Area_sec is more variable at different scales of time (annually and daily), in intensity and in location. Area_max combines two favourable effects for thunderstorm development, the convergence associated with the African easterly jet of the Southern Hemisphere (AEJ-S) and a geographic effect due to the orography and the presence of a lake. The location of the strong convection in Area_sec is modulated by the distance of westward propagation/regeneration of mesoscale convective systems (MCSs) in relation to the phase of Kelvin waves.
Malic acid combined with heat treatment to protect protein from soybean meal against rumen degradation

La protection des proteines du tourteau de soja par des traitements combinant des solutions d'acide malique (a deux doses croissantes) et la chaleur a ete etudiee selon un dispositif en carre latin 3 × 3 avec trois regimes et trois moutons castres porteurs de canules du rumen et du duodenum. Des solutions de 2,25 et 4,50 N d'acide malique ont ete pulverisees (400 mL.kg -1 ) sur le tourteau de soja sous malaxage continu. Puis, les tourteaux traites ont ete seches dans un four a 117 °C pendant 6 heures. Les rations etaient isoproteiques et ont inclus 55 % de foin de luzerne et 45 % de concentre, avec du tourteau de soja non traite (UT) ou traite (T2.25N et T4.50N). Les rations ont ete distribuees, a 50 g·kg BW -0.75 , en six repas egaux (toutes les quatre heures). L'estimation de la degradabilite theorique (DT) ruminale de la matiere seche et des matieres azotees totales (MAT) des echantillons du tourteau de soja a ete obtenue en utilisant la technique in situ et de passage des particules hors du rumen, tandis que la digestibilite intestinale (DI) a ete determinee par la methode des sachets de nylon sur les residus incubes dans le rumen pendant 8 heures. Les effets de l'addition de l'acide malique dans la ration sur les voies de fermentation dans le rumen et l'activite fibrolytique (mesuree par degradation in situ du foin de luzerne) ont egalement ete evalues. Les traitements n'ont pas altere la cinetique de transit digestif des particules du tourteau de soja, pour lesquelles le taux de sortie du rumen a ete compris entre 5,5 et 6,1 %·h -1 . La courbe de degradation des MAT a eu une forme sigmoide pour tous les echantillons et a bien ete decrite avec un modele exponentiel simple, base sur une vitesse de degradation partielle constante (k d ); ou en utilisant un modele logistique dans lequel la vitesse de degradation partielle augmente avec le temps d'une valeur initiale (k 0 ) a une valeur finale (k ∞ ). Selon le premier modele, la valeur k d correspondant aux traitements protecteurs tend a diminuer (P = 0,054) avec les traitements (de 4,41 a 3,32 et 3,35 %·h -1 pour, respectivement, UT, T2.25N et T4.50N). Dans le second modele, cette reduction de la vitesse de la degradation des MAT a seulement affecte k o (P = 0,039), tandis qu'aucun effet n'a ete observe pour k ∞ . Ces changements ont moderement reduit la degradabilite theorique des MAT des echantillons traites (15-16 %) par rapport aux echantillons non traites, bien que les differences n'aient pas ete significatives (46,2, 39,3 et 38,5, respectivement, comme moyennes des deux modeles). Aucun effet n'a ete observe pour la digestibilite intestinale des MAT, qui a eu des valeurs comprises entre 99,0 et 99,4 %. L'incorporation d'acide malique dans la ration n'a pas eu d'effet considerable sur la degradation de la MS et les fractions ligno-cellulosique ou sur les parametres des fermentations ruminales, excepte une diminution (P = 0,050) du rapport acide acetique/acide propionique (4,44, 3,53, et 3,78, respectivement, pour UT, T2.25N et T4.50N).
NEW EVIDENCE ON FDI DETERMINANTS: AN APPRAISAL OVER THE TRANSITION PERIOD

The aim of this work is to provide new evidence on the factors that determine the fl ow of FDI among transition countries. The analysis takes into consideration the period of most intense transition and post-transition (1994-2002) of 26 former socialist countries. The empirical estimates enable us to draw two main conclusions: fi rst classical locational FDI factors maintain their role in the context of transition countries, and, second, that FDI are infl uenced by specifi c market and institutional factors. Among market variables, relatively higher labour costs surprisingly do not constitute an obstacle for foreign investment. We fi nd that variables refl ecting market stabilising institutions play a more important role than those representing market creating institutions. Although, there is a certain tolerance of foreign investors towards weak institutional environment, we demonstrate that, to attract FDI, countries should reinforce their macroeconomic stability by focusing on market stabilising institutions.
Weak Nonlinear Double Diffusive Magneto-Convection in a Newtonian Liquid under Gravity Modulation

The present paper deals with a weak nonlinear theory of double-diffusive magnetoconvection in an electrically conducting Newtonian liquid, confined between two horizontal surfaces, under a constant vertical magnetic field, and subjected to imposed time-periodic thermal boundaries. The temperature of both walls is varied time periodic in this case. The disturbances are expanded in terms of power series of amplitude of convection, which is assumed to be small. Using nonautonomous Ginzburg-Landau equation, the Nusselt and Sherwood numbers obtained analytically and studied heat and mass transport in the system. Effect of various parameters on the heat and mass transport is discussed extensively. It is found that the effect of magnetic field is to stabilize the system. Further, it is also notified that the heat and mass transport can be controlled by suitably adjusting the external parameters of the system.
Towards a UML Meta Model Extension for Aspect-Oriented Modeling

The aspect-oriented programming paradigm (AOP) as a way of improving the separation of concerns principle has emerged initially at the programming level using strong languages like AspectJ. Currently, it becomes mature to stretch at premature stages of the software development process namely, the Aspect-Oriented Software Development (AOSD) which is a popular topic of software engineering research that leads to more dependable, reusable and maintainable artifacts. In this paper, we propose a UML profile for modeling crosscutting concerns where the separation of concerns is maintained to the level of code and the weaving is done by an AspectJ compiler.
Combining academics and social engagement : a major-specific early alert method to counter student attrition in STEM

Students are most likely to leave science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) majors during their first year of college. We developed an analytic approach using random forests to identify at-risk students. This method is deployable midway through the first semester and accounts for academic preparation, early engagement in university life, and performance on midterm exams. By accounting for cognitive and noncognitive factors, our method achieves stronger predictive performance than would be possible using cognitive or noncognitive factors alone. We show that it is more difficult to predict whether students will leave STEM than whether they will leave the institution. More factors contribute to STEM retention than to institutional retention. Early academic performance is the strongest predictor of STEM and institution retention. Social engagement is more predictive of institutional retention, while standardized test scores, goals, and interests are stronger predictors of STEM retention. Our approach assists universities to efficiently identify at-risk students and boost STEM retention.
How Manager-Employee Narcissism Congruence Undermines Environment Management System (EMS) Adoption and Overall Innovation Performance in China?

Despite surging debates among academics and practitioners to unwrap micro-antecedents to employee disengagement in green initiatives, current research offers limited empirical frameworks that explain factors influencing employee engagement or disengagement in environmental management systems (EMS) for sustainable development and innovation. Intellectuals believe that certain institutional pressures impact adoption of EMS and overall performance. Although theoretically unexplored, researchers argue that narcissism, as one of normative influence, disrupts employee socio-ecological preferences. The purpose of this paper was to test whether manager-employee narcissism congruence elicit indirect effects on overall performance through negative perception of employee EMS adoption. Using structure equation modelling (SEM), data were analysed from 882 participants (442 unique manager-employee pairs) from diverse sectors in China. Results suggest that manager-employee narcissism had negative impact on EMS adoption preferences, which in turn, reduced perceived overall innovation performance. The findings offer critical insight on how narcissist managers could be detrimental for China’s sustainable future. Practical implications are discussed for experts and academics.
EFFECT OF STRAIN AND AGE ON BONE INTEGRITY OF COMMERCIAL BROILER CHICKENS

Skeletal disorders and leg problems cause varying degree of economic losses in broiler birds. This study was aimed at investigating the effect of strain and age on bone integrity of some broiler strains available to poultry farmers in Nigeria using morphometric and mechanical indices. Four hundred (400) oneday old chicks comprising of 100 each of Arbor Acre (AA), Hubbard (HB), Marshal R (MR) and Marshal Y (MY) strains were raised for a period of 42 days. The birds were fed similar diet at the starter and finisher phases. At the end of each week, 4 birds were randomly selected from each of the group and sacrificed, femur and tibiotarsal (left and right) bones were obtained from each of the bird for analyses. Body Weight (BW), Femur Weight (FW), Femur Length (FL), Tibia Weight (TW), Tibia Length (TL), Weight/Length Index (WLI), Diaphysis Diameter (DD), Relative Bone Density (RBD), Robusticity Index (RBT) and Tibiotarsal Index (TI) were recorded each week. Mechanical parameters were evaluated using the universal testing machine: Force, Moment of Inertia (MI), Stress and Modulus of Elasticity (ME). Mean values of Mechanical indices of the femur bone was significant at Day 42 with AA Strain having the least mean value of force and MY Strain with highest value of ME. The results of tibiotarsal bone revealed that MY Strain had highest mean value of force, ME and Stress across the weeks. Conclusively, Marshal Y strain was found to have better bone integrity than the other groups.
Learning Styles and Emotional Intelligence Levels of University Teacher Candidates

The purpose of this research was to examine the learning styles of prospective teachers in terms of emotional intelligence with some other variables. Grasha-Reichmann’s learning style scale prepared by Grasha-Reichmann (1994) and Turkish version of which was adapted by Saritas and Sural (2010) was used to measure the learning styles of students who are candidates to become teachers. Their emotional intelligence was measured using this scale. The study group of the research composed of 406 university teacher candidates who were studying in the Education faculty in the academic year of 2016/2017. The research was carried out using the relational screening model. A significant relationship between subscales of learning styles and emotional intelligence sub-dimensions was found. In addition, significant differences were found in the dependent learning style and participative learning style sub-dimensions of learning styles according to the genders of teacher candidates. A significant level of differentiation was seen in the independent learning style, dependent learning style, competitive learning style and avoidant learning style sub-dimensions.
Variation in phenolic constituents and antioxidant capacities of plant organs of three Cuban species of Pluchea Cass. (Asteraceae) under ex vitro and in vitro growth conditions

The phenolic content and antioxidant capacity of Cuban Pluchea species extracts were measured by polar extraction technique with the aim to optimize antioxidant-rich extracts. Our results highlighted the variability of the phenolic content and antioxidant potential in the genus Pluchea according to the species and plant organs. The antioxidant capacity and phenolics were additionally examined in Pluchea carolinensis under various growth conditions, ex vitro (location, age, and harvest time) and in vitro (amount of added cytokinin). Some specific phenolic compounds were monitored during the harvest time. Leaves proved to be richest in antioxidants, followed by inflorescences. The antioxidant capacities of P. carolinensis (DPPH: 103.2 ±1.3 mg TE/g DW; ORAC: 254.4 ±14.2 mg TE/g DW) and Pluchea rosea (DPPH: 97.2 ±5.9 mg TE/g DW ORAC: 286.7 ±23.7 mg TE/g DW) leaf extracts were higher than that measured in material from various plant species, including fruits, vegetables and condiments. Adult P. carolinensis grown in a natural environment and harvested in winter showed the highest phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. A micropropagation protocol was developed for P. carolinensis. The presence of cytokinin in the in vitro culture medium increased the antioxidant capacity in leaves, but the level remained lower in natural plants. Key words: Antioxidants, Pluchea, phenolic acids, flavonoids, micropropagation.
Capital Shares and Income Inequality: Evidence from the Long Run

This article studies the long-run relationship between the capital share in national income and top personal income shares. Using a newly constructed historical cross-country database on capital shares and top income data, we find evidence on a strong, positive link that has grown stronger over the past century. The connection is stronger in Anglo-Saxon countries, in the very top of the distribution, when top capital incomes predominate, when using distributed top national income shares, and when considering gross of depreciation capital shares. Out of-sample predictions of top shares using capital shares indicates several cases of over- or underestimation.
Modeling catalytic naphtha reforming process using discrete lumping approach

Catalytic naphtha reforming is one of key processes in petroleum refineries for improving the octane number of gasoline. Simulation and kinetic modeling of an industrial scale catalytic fixed-bed naphtha reforming plant to predict the important output variables of reforming plant i.e., outlet temperature of three reactors, research octane number, yield of gasoline and hydrogen purity have been studied. The process modeling is based on a discrete-lumped kinetic model consisting twenty-one reaction pathways. All kinetic and deactivation parameters are estimated from pilot plant experiments, and they are fine-tuned using industrial data. To evaluate the simulation, the predicted variables are compared against actual ones. Results show that there is a close mapping between the actual and predicted variables, and the absolute average deviation (AAD%) of the mentioned variables are 0.33, 0.613, 0.689, 0.40, 3.99 and 2.6%, respectively.
EFFECT OF FEEDING FREQUENCY ON CONSUMPTION, GROWTH, AND EFFICIENCY IN JUVENILE TILAPIA (OREOCHROMIS NILOTICUS)

Triplicate groups of juvenile Oreochromis niloticus (34.4 g) were fed a commercial diet once, twice, three, or five times a day for 29 days. Consumption, growth, and feed utilization were evaluated. No significant differences in growth, feed efficiency, or protein utilization were detected among the fish fed two, three, or five times daily, but all were significantly better than in fish fed only once. Fish fed three meals had significantly higher gross energy and lipid and lower crude protein contents than fish in the other treatments (p<0.05). Energy retention in fish fed three times daily (84.7%) was significantly higher than in fish fed five times (49.4%). Feeding juvenile tilapia nutrient dense pelleted feeds obviates the need for frequent feedings.