Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Numerical Analysis of the Effect of Sinusoidal Pressure Path on Thinning of Tube in Hot Metal Free Bulging Process

Light-weight and high strength alloys such as Al-Mg alloys are used in order to reduce the weight of industrial components. However, these materials should be formed at elevated temperatures due to their poor formability at room temperature. Hot metal gas forming is one of the high-tech forming processes that is used to solve this proble m. Recent investigation on tube hydroforming showed positive effects of oscillation of pressure paths in improving the formability of tubes. In thi s study, the effects of a sinusoidal pressure path on tube wall thinning of an Al6063 tube in HMGF process is investigated, and the results are compar ed with equal constant pressure by the finite element method. Moreover, the effect of stroke on t hickness reduction of the tube is also investigated. The results show that the proposed si nusoidal pressure paths have an obvious improvement of thinning in hot metal gas bulging of tube and some defects such as necking and bursting are prevented by the oscillation of the in ner pressure.
Genetic diversity and population structure of sweet cassava using simple sequence repeat (SSR) molecular markers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the population structure and genetic diversity among 66 sweet cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) traditional accessions collected in Maringa, Parana, Brazil, using microsatellite molecular markers. Population structure was analyzed by means of genetic distances and probabilistic models; allelic frequencies were used in order to assess the genetic diversity indexes (Ht, Ho, PIC, % polymorphism and number of alleles) for each locus studied. All evaluated loci were polymorphic and the average was highly heterozygote. The number of alleles per locus was low, suggesting that restrict genetic base is a consequence of accession exchange and a reduced number of ancestors in the population. The polymorphic information content (PIC) values showed considerable genetic diversity with a mean value of 0.5076 and peak of 0.5707 for locus GA140. The microsatellites markers revealed a wide genetic variability among the traditional accessions evaluated. Moreover, the sweet cassava populations were separated in two groups using two analytical methods (probabilistic and genetic distances). The most divergent accessions were BGM 17, BGM 20, BGM 51 and BGM 95. On the other hand, the most similar accessions were BGM 25, BGM 33, BGM 37, BGM 59 and BGM 214. Hybrid combinations formed by the most divergent combinations, especially between BGM 51 × BGM 296, BGM 95 × BGM 222 and BGM 20 × BGM 12, are the most promising ones for future sweet cassava breeding programs. Keywords : Genetic diversity, Manihot esculenta Crantz, microsatellite markers African Journal of Biotechnology Vol. 12(10), pp. 1040-1048, 6 March, 2013
Trace metal contents of facial (make-up) cosmetics commonly used in Nigeria

Several facial cosmetics available in Nigeria were analyzed for their contents of the heavy metals; lead, cadmium, chromium, nickel, zinc and iron. The levels of chromium, iron and zinc were much higher in the samples than those of the non-essential toxic metals; lead, cadmium and nickel. The range of the geometric average for the various cosmetics is: Fe, 97-256 g/g; Ni, 8-13 g/g; Pb, 87-123 g/g; and Zn, 88-101 g/g. The geometric mean values obtained for Cr and Cd were generally below 40 g/g and about 1 g/g, respectively. Our result indicates that these cosmetics are relatively safer to use when compared to the lead-based kwali eye make-up commonly available in Nigeria. These data indicate that the continuous use of these cosmetics could result in an increase in the trace metal levels in the ocular system and the human body beyond acceptable limits. The application of these cosmetics needs to be considered as a source of lead in evaluating patients with symptoms of lead intoxication in regions where this practice is common.
Capital Account Liberalization and Economic Growth: GMM System Analysis

The aim of this paper is to determine the correlation between capital account liberalization and economic growth. We are particularly interested in a qualitative indicator to measure this process. Our empirical study was conducted on a sample of 60 developed and developing countries covering the period 1984 to 2007. Referring to the dynamic panel model, our econometric results reveal a direct correlation between the capital account liberalization and economic growth which can be either positive or negative due to the sample selection and the study period. This leads us to predict the capital account opening is a sine qua non for initiating economic growth.
Integrating Molecular Phylogenetic and Paleobotanical Evidence on Origin of the Flower

Inferences on the origin of the angiosperm flower require consideration of other seed plants, especially fossils. Molecular data favor a relationship of Gnetales to conifers rather than to angiosperms, and both alternatives are equally parsimonious in terms of the morphological data set presented here. However, if molecular relationships among extant taxa are accepted, morphology still associates glossopterids, Pentoxylon, Bennettitales, and Caytonia with angiosperms. Bennettitales had flowerlike structures, but if Caytonia is sister to angiosperms, aggregation of fertile parts probably occurred independently in Bennettitales and angiosperms. These results and developmental genetic data are consistent with homology of the angiosperm bitegmic ovule with the cupule of glossopterids and Caytonia, while the carpel could represent a leaf and a cupule‐bearing axillary branch. Origin of an adaxial cross zone could produce a uniovulate, ascidiate carpel, as in living basal angiosperms. Stamens may represent similar units bearing two microsynangia. However, ovulate structures of Pentoxylon and Bennettitales are more difficult to interpret, and any homologue of the carpel wall in Caytonia is unclear. Further progress may require better understanding of homologies in known fossils and/or recognition of closer stem relatives of angiosperms. A proposed Cretaceous stem relative, Archaefructus, is more likely a crown‐group angiosperm related to Hydatellaceae (Nymphaeales).
National Innovation Policies in the EU: A Fuzzy-Set Analysis

This paper argues that innovation policy research can benefit from utilizing new research methods as they might lead to different policy recommendations. It demonstrates this by using a set-theoretic fsQCA method to analyse the data on innovation policies in the European Union (EU). It shows that the use of correlation-based statistical methods is not appropriate for the evaluation of innovation policies due to their causally complex nature that correlational statistical methods cannot unravel. This paper demonstrates this by focusing on the special importance of linkages among actors and innovation commercialisation through entrepreneurship and the notion that they represent a necessary condition for innovation success. Results confirm that the single factor of Linkages & entrepreneurship is the necessary condition for innovation success, thus emphasizing the importance of an open innovation framework for innovation policy-making. Results also show three combinations of sufficient conditions (but no single factor) lead to innovation success. They confirm the causal complexity of innovation policy and confirm that using different research methods will lead to different policy recommendations
Threshold in the Relationship between Inflation and Economic Growth: Empirical Evidence in Vietnam

This paper aims to determine a threshold level in the relationship between inflation and economic growth in Vietnam. Our paper is considered as one of the first empirical studies on inflation threshold in Vietnam - a country in transition from a communist centrally-planned to a market economy. The research applied three regression methods including Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Two-Stages Least Squares (2-SLS) and Generalized Method of Moments (GMM) with annual data for the period of 1986 - 2013. The results consistently concluded that the inflation threshold is about 7 percent, which means inflation will be detrimental to economic growth if inflation rate exceeds 7 percent. Therefore, the policy-makers in Vietnam need to define a target inflation rate lower than this level to stabilize economic growth. The results also indicated that the Government should increase investment as well as enhance the effectiveness of investment to foster economic growth. Finally, Vietnam should stabilize trade balance to favor economic growth in long term.
Drought stress mitigation using supplemental irrigation in rainfed chickpea ( Cicer arietinum L.) varieties in Kermanshah, Iran

An experiment was carried out in 2007 to investigate the effects of different irrigation regimes, and chickpea cultivars on chickpea production in the Agricultural Research Station, College of Agriculture, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah Branch, Iran. The experimental design was split-plot with three replications. Supplemental irrigation at three levels, that is, control treatment (without irrigation) (I0), one time irrigation at 50% flowering stage (I1) and one time irrigation at pod-filling stage(I2), was allocated to main plots and the varieties ILC-482 (V1), Hashem (V2) and Arman (V3) were allotted to sub plots. A significant difference was observed between irrigation treatments in terms of grain yield, plant height, number of axillary branches, distance to the first pod from soil surface, number of grain per plant, number of pod per plant, biological yield, harvest index and 100-grain weight. Such differences were also observed between testing varieties in terms of all traits rather than 100-grain weight. Grain yield was significantly higher for Arman than that of Hashem which was significantly higher than that of ILC-482. Of course, there was no significant difference between Hashem and ILC-482 in terms of grain yield. Arman had the highest values of the number of grain per plant and the highest pod per plant pertained to Arman and Hashem, respectively. High rate of grain yield in irrigation treatment at podfilling stage was associated with yield components, especially with the number of pod per plant and 100-grain weight. Grain yield was positively correlated with number of pod per plant (r = 0.654**), number of grain per plant (r = 0.902**) and 100-grain weight (r = 0.707**). This research showed that podfilling is the most sensitive stage to drought stress, and under water limitation conditions, we can considerably increase grain yield at this stage by one time irrigation, especially for Arman cultivar.
Lifting the Veil: The Face of TFP in an Indian Rail Mill

We use a proprietary data set on the floor-level operations at the Bhilai Rail and Structural Mill (RSM) in India to understand how output rose sharply in response to competitive pressures. Output increases came predominantly from reductions in production delays of various kinds. We model interruptions to the production process as a function of worker characteristics and training and find that a large part of the avoidable delay reductions are attributable to a particular form of training, suggesting that such investments can have very high returns. Our work suggests very high returns to knowledge-enhancing investments in emerging economies.
Internal combustion engines in cylinder flow simulation improvement using nonlinear k-ε turbulence models

The purpose of this paper is to studying nonlinear k-e turbulence models and its a dvantages in internal combustion engines, since the standard k-e model is incapable of representing the anisotropy of turbulence intensities and fails to express the Reynolds stresses adequately in rotating flows. Therefore, this model is not only incapable of expressing the anisotropy of turbulence in an engine cylinder, but also is unable to provide good performance when computing the swirling and tumbling flows is important in engine cylinders. Thus, in this paper, the results of nonlinear k-e model are compared with those of the linear one. Results of diesel engine simulation with linear and nonlinear k-e models in comparison show that turbulence intensity in the nonlinear model simulation is higher than that of the linear model; also, nonlinear k-e models predict the second peak value because of the bowl shape in expansion stroke for turbulence intensity. Gas injection results show that nonlinear turbulence models predict spray penetration accurately because of correctly turbulence intensities predicting. Also, the results demonstrate that, for high pressure gas injection, turbulence intensity is high and predicted accurately using nonlinear models. Then, its spray penetration length is predicted accurately in comparison to experimental data’s. Although CPU time spending in the nonlinear model is more than that of the linear one, the non-linear stress model is found to increase computation time by 19%.
Executive functions and attention in school-age children according to the behavioral profile rated by their teachers

The present study aimed at analyzing the link between school-age children's performance in neuropsychological tests that examine the executive function (EF) and attention, and their behavioral profiles (i.e., Attention Deficit (AD) and Hyperactivity (HA), as rated by their teachers. For the assessment of EF and attentional mechanisms, different tasks were administered to a sample consisting of 124 children from 3rd to 6th grade. In addition, teachers from each grade completed a behavior rating scale for every child. Bifactorial MANCOVA was used in order to analyze the effect of both AD and HA factors, controlling for the intelligence, over the child’s cognitive performance. Results demonstrated significant differences according to AD level in tasks that assess (i) selective attention, (ii) working memory, (iii) reactive cognitive flexibility (iv) verbal fluency and (v) reflexivity-impulsivity. Conversely, regarding the HA level, results showed significant differences only in terms of the number of errors made in the MFFT20. This work provides evidence on the relationship between children's behavior within the school setting and their cognitive performance.
Professional Development: Mathematical Content versus Pedagogy.

Recent teacher professional development in California tends to focus on increasing teachers’ mathematical knowledge. In Australia, pedagogically focused programs are preferred. The two approaches are contrasted by comparing a Californian professional development model based on improving mathematical knowledge in number and algebra with a New South Wales school-based model involving the teaching of angle concepts. In both approaches, strengths and weaknesses are identified in terms of appropriate mathematical content, research-based pedagogy, and accreditation. Examples of courses incorporating all these components are given, and difficulties associated with implementing such courses are identified. Two important criteria for success, perceived relevance and teacher enthusiasm, are seen to be dependent on cultural factors in the education systems involved.
Effect of Peak-Aged Heat Treatment on Corrosion Behavior of the AA6063 Alloy Containing Al3Ti

The purpose of this study is to analyse the microstructure and corrosion properties of homogenised and aged AA 6063 aluminium alloys, containing up to 2% Ti, after the conventional casting technique. The microstructure of the homogenised and aged alloys was examined using an optic microscope, and scanning electron microscope. The micro-hardness test was used for the hardness measurements of the investigated alloys. Corrosion tests were performed by suspending samples of certain sizes into 30 gr/l NaCl + 10 ml/l HCl solutions, measuring the mass loss; potentiodynamic polarisation measurements were carried out in the same solution. The microstructure characterization of the investigated alloys shows the Al (matrix), non-shaped dark globular grey-coloured phase and rod-shaped phases formed at the grain boundaries. The non-shaped dark grey-coloured phase is Mg2Si. The rod-shaped phase, formed in the microstructure of the Ti-added AA 6063 alloys, is Al3Ti. The Ti content of the alloy increases, the Al3Ti phase tends to elongate and become plated. The results of the corrosion tests proved that the corrosion rate decreased in alloys containing less than 1% Ti, and the rate of corrosion increased in alloys containing more than 1% Ti, regardless of whether the alloys were homogenised and aged. Another observation was that aging heat treatment improved corrosion resistance.
Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) of Tourism Destination Competitiveness in Ethiopia: The Tourists’ Perspective

In this study the Importance-Performance Analysis (IPA) of Tourism Destination Competitiveness (TDC) in Ethiopia was conducted from the tourists’ perspective. 384 inbound tourists to Ethiopia were taken as a sample. Mapping the scores of attributes regarding their importance and performance against the Iso-Priority Line gave a meaning that the distribution of attributes in the graph were more skewed to the importance of attributes than the performance which speaks that Ethiopia as a tourist destination has more of homework to catch up and maintain its global competitive balance than more of a competitive advantage. Based on the market behavior of inbound tourists to Ethiopia, the important market wise deviation was observed only on the importance of two TDC constructs (amplifiers and demand condition) on North Americans and Africans, respectively. Through the IPA four quadrant grid, entry points of Ethiopian TDC were found that show how to deploy scarce resources to where they are needed most through demand based and context based interventions or public spending. A set of robust indicators that are short and ready for immediate application in Ethiopian context were found with a point of caution that these should be directly aligned with the geopolitical policy priorities so it can help the country compete with global economies of mature tourism sector.
Trade, Resource Reallocation and Industry Heterogeneity

Recent trade models with heterogeneous firms (Bernard et al., 2003 and Melitz, 2003) show how lower trade costs can spur aggregate productivity by forcing lower productivity firms out of the market, cutting off the lower tail of the productivity distribution. In this paper we find significant heterogeneity regarding this impact across different industries. In particular, we find that the exit of inefficient plants due to stronger import competition is very prominent in light industries, that is, in industries in which only a limited amount of capital is needed and where most plants are of small-scale. In contrast, we find no significant effects of import competition on the exit of plants in heavy industries. The result has important policy implications regarding the role of trade reform in boosting aggregate productivity, particularly in industries with high levels of distortions.
Present attitudes of physical education students towards future employment in their profession

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the research was to examine empirically the attitudes of physical education students towards their future profession in physical culture and some of their considerations about the choice of their field of study and their opinion about the course of studies.METHODS: The research embraced physical education students studying at the Academy of Physical Education in Cracow. The research took place in two stages (May 2005 and 2008). The first part involved first year students (N=162), the second the same students then being fourth year students, but only those, who passed all semesters on time (N=103). The students' attitudes towards their future profession were examined by means of a questionnaire worked out by Grabowski and Skrzypiec.RESULTS: For 45.6% of our respondents the choice of their field of study and prospective profession was determined by positive factors. More than half of the tested students (51.6%) chose physical education as their field of study because of their interests and passion. Salary, stability and terms of work are also significant factors. More than half of the respondents declare their willingness to work in their profession after graduation.CONCLUSIONS: From among the values preferred while choosing the physical educator's profession, passion was the main choice of the respondents, regardless of gender. The fact that their studies' positive influence on the respondents' attitudes towards their future profession decrease clearly between the first and the last year of studies, is alarming. It would be advisable to do more detailed research in other schools to verify the educational system and the practical preparation of prospective physical education teachers.
Linking producers and processors–sorghum for poultry feed: a case study from India

Rainy-season sorghum in India is mainly cultivated by resource poor farmers to meet households requirements of food and fodder and a small surplus for the market. During the last two decades the food demand for rainy-season sorghum grain has declined in India, due to faster growth in the production of fine cereals (primarily wheat and rice) and public policies (procurement, and distribution) that make the subsidized grains accessible to the low-income consumers. At the same time, new alternative markets for sorghum grain uses are emerging, for example, poultry feed, livestock feed, alcohol manufacturing etc. However, owing to scattered and small-scale production farmers are unable to meet the requirements of the industry that need grain in bulk quantities. This paper describes an innovative institutional arrangement for formation of sustainable economic inter-linkages between rainy-season sorghum producers and poultry feed manufacturers through a coalition of partners that includes researchers, farmers, farmers associations, poultry feed manufacturers, and poultry producers. The common or shared goal of this arrangement is to augment the income of small-scale sorghum growers by establishing market linkages with poultry feed manufacturers. Under this arrangement farmers were supplied with seed of improved sorghum cultivars and trained in bulking and storage of grain, poultry nutritionists conducted poultry feed trials replacing maize with sorghum in varying proportions, feed manufacturers developed poultry feed rations with sorghum. Finally, the project linked sorghum growing ‘Farmer Groups’ with feed manufacturers thus assuring a market for the sorghum growers and bulk supplies to the industry.
STAT1 inhibits STAT3 activation in esophageal squamous cell carcinoma

Background Signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 1 is an important transcription factor and has been reported to be a tumor suppressor in many types of cancer. However, another STAT family member, STAT3, is considered to be an oncogene. The cross-talk between STAT1 and STAT3 in cancer has not been fully demonstrated. Materials and methods Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) was used as a model to examine STAT1-STAT3 cross-regulation in cancer. We detected STAT1-STAT3 binding by co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) and measured the transcription activity by using a luciferase reporter gene. DNA binding was detected by a DNA probe. Expression of STAT1 and STAT3 in ESCC was detected by immunohistochemistry. Results We found that STAT1 attenuated STAT3 activity upon oncostatin M treatment by decreasing STAT3 transcription activity and DNA binding ability of STAT3. Furthermore STAT3 downregulation increased the phosphorylation and transcriptional activation of STAT1. Finally, STAT1 expression and STAT3 expression were negatively correlated in ESCC cases. Conclusion Altogether, this paper demonstrated STAT1 and STAT3 cross-regulation in ESCC and proposed that STAT3 downregulation and/or STAT1 accumulation may be a therapeutic approach to treat ESCC.