Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Polyurethane Coated Aerospace Aluminium Alloy (7075) By DSC, XRD and Adhesion Test

The research is envisaging characterizing the Polyurethane (PU) coating on AA 7075 so as to predict the aircraft coating life. Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and X-ray Diffractometry have been employed to investigate the differences in thermal behavior and crystalline structure of the polyurethane (GB BOND 141). DSC can be used to examine the material from a subambient starting temperature to the glass transition event and finally through the crystalline melting region. X-ray diffraction (XRD) provides important structural information about the polyurethane in the structure of semi-crystalline polymer substance consisting of two phases, viz., amorphous and crystalline as well as their fine texture which has a strong effect on physical and mechanical properties of polyurethane. After analyzing the characteristics, the extent of coating loss is examining visually in order to evaluate the adhesion property before carrying out the peel-off test.
Saving and Investment Patterns of Cooperative Farmers in Southwestern Nigeria

Abstract This study examined the pattern of saving and investment among four hundred cooperative farmers in southwestern Nigeria. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Data were analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple regression technique. Results show that cooperative farmers in southwestern Nigeria are mostly males, literate and of average age of 47 years. About 40% of total capital borrowed was expended on farm work and mean annual total investment was N75,043.00, with cooperative farmers earning more than 3 times the investment made. Average annual savings was N31,572.00 and this increased in proportion to annual incomes in the area. However, the unavailability and inadequacy of credit was a major problem of the farmers. Different factors influenced cooperative farmers’ saving and investment patterns. Income, loan repayment and amount of money borrowed were significant variables that influenced saving patterns while the fund borrowed significantly influenced investment patterns. These factors therefore have to be considered in designing strategies aimed at improving the saving and investment patterns of cooperative farmers in southwestern Nigeria. Additionally, the saving and investment level of the cooperative farmers can be enhanced if loans are adequately made available and proper supervision and monitoring of funds for specified production purposes are put in place.
Proximate biochemical composition of some commercial marine fishes from Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh.

- Fish is known to be one of the cheapest sources of animal protein and other essential nutrients required in human diets. The knowledge of proximate biochemical composition of fishery species is fundamentally important for: the application of different technological processes, the characteristics post-mortem of species, as an aspect of quality of raw material and giving an idea of sexual stage. The study was conducted to determine the proximate biochemical composition of four marine fishes of the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh. The study fishes were Dasyatis americana, Dasyatis pastinaca
The Influence of Active Immunization Against Adrenocorticotropin Hormone on Galactopoiesis in Merino Ewes

Background: Chronic active adrenocorticotropin hormone (ACTH) immunization of ewes (with a previous history of immunization) resulted in elevated titres of antibody against ACTH, which induced a reduction in circulating levels of cortisol. Objectives: The aim of the present study was to investigate: a) the influence of active immunization against ACTH on milk production of the ewe as assessed by milk intake of the lamb measured with two different methods, b) whether the stimulation of levels of β -end and α-MSH in the circulation can result in a similar increase in the expression of these peptides in the milk of the lactating ewe, thereby producing a milk with high analgesic properties. Materials and Methods: Ten primiparous Merino ewes (4-5 years old) during their first 5 weeks of lactation were used in the experiment. Milk intake of each lamb can be used to give the ewe’s milk yield per unit time, and this can be used for secretion of peptides over time. This was determined by two different techniques: the deuterium oxide method and the weigh-suck-weigh method. β -end, α-MSH and cortisol were measured in blood samples and β-end, α-MSH in milk samples using RIAs (Radio Immune Assay). Results: Plasma β-end and α-MSH in ACTH-immune animals increased to 3 and 38-fold respectively, although the level of α-MSH is most likely exaggerated by the presence of α-MSH antibodies in the ACTH immune plasma, as α-MSH comprises the N-terminal 13 amino acids of ACTH. Antibodies also were detected in the plasma of lambs of immune ewes after birth, at levels, which were comparable to those measured in the ewes during the period of colostrum production and thereafter decreased to much lower levels by the end of the experiment. Plasma β-end and α-MSH in the lambs of immune ewes were significantly higher than those measured in the lambs of control ewes. Conclusions: The immunization procedure had no effect on feed intake, live weight gain and milk production of ewes nor was the growth rate or milk intake of the lambs altered. The expression of β-end and α-MSH in milk was also unaffected by the high concentrations of these hormones in the circulation of immune ewes.
Lagrangian evolution of velocity increments in rotating turbulence : The effects of rotation on non-Gaussian statistics

The effects of rotation on the evolution of non-Gaussian statistics of velocity increments in rotating turbulence are studied in this paper. Following the Lagrangian evolution of the velocity increments over a fixed distance on an evolving material element, we derive a set of equations for the increments which provides a closed representation for the nonlinear interaction between the increments and the Coriolis force. Applying a restricted-Euler-type closure to the system, we obtain a system of ordinary differential equations which retains the effects of nonlinear interaction between the velocity increments and the Coriolis force. A priori tests using direct numerical simulation data show that the system captures the important dynamics of rotating turbulence. The system is integrated numerically starting from Gaussian initial data. It is shown that the system qualitatively reproduces a number of observations in rotating turbulence. The statistics of the velocity increments tend to Gaussian when strong rotation is imposed. The negative skewness in the longitudinal velocity increments is weakened by rotation. The model also predicts that the transverse velocity increment in the plane perpendicular to the rotation axis will have positive skewness, and that the skewness will depend on the Rossby number in a non-monotonic way. Based on the system, we identify the dynamical mechanisms leading to the observations. © 2010 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Phenotypic and Morphological Characterization of Indigenous Chicken Populations in Southern Zone of Tigray, Ethiopia

Phenotypic characterization of indigenous chicken resources is a prerequisite for their rational utilization. Data were collected from 210 randomly selected households (HHs) using structured questionnaires. Visual appraisal was conducted to study morphological traits of indigenous chicken populations. Quantitative data were collected on body weight, shank length, body length, chest circumference, back length, keel length, wingspan, comb height, comb length, and wattle length from a total of 720 chickens (237 male and 483 females) aged more than 6 month. Descriptive statistics, Frequency procedures, and General linear model of SAS 2008 were used to analyze the data. The results revealed that a total of eighteen distinct plumage colors were identified in which the predominant plumage colors were red (24.17%) followed by white (13.33%) and black (13.06%). The results also indicated that (57.08%) of chicken populations were rose combed followed by pea (27.36%), single (12.22%), walnut (2.5%), strawberry (0.56%) and cushion (0.28%) combs. Yellow was the major shank color (50.55%), followed by white (38.89%) and black (10.56%). The majority (40.28%) of chicken population exhibited white and red earlobe, followed by red (28.89%), white (26.94%) and yellow (3.89%). Males in all populations are heavier and taller than females. The mean body weight of indigenous male and female chickens was 1271±12.6g and 1034±8.05g, respectively. The present study suggests that indigenous chicken populations might possess useful genetic potentials for improved productivity under scavenging feed resource-based production systems. Therefore, efforts need to be made in services like health, husbandry, research, extension, training and credit interventions. In addition morphological and phenotypical variations have been observed among the indigenous chicken populations; hence an in-depth molecular evaluation is needed to prove the level of genetic differentiation and relationship among them. Keywords: Households, indigenous chicken, productivity, qualitative trait, quantitative trait
Remote sensing-assisted mapping of quantitative attributes in Zagros open forests of Iran

The Zagros forests come as one of the most valuable ecosystems in western Iran. Therefore, accurate and up-to-date information on basal area, canopy cover, and stem number per hectare of these forests are the important factors in the context of forest management and conservation. The main objective of this study was to estimate quantitative forest attributes using Landsat 8-OLI image data and Random Forest, a well-known machine learning technique. The results were shown the lowest out of bag error with the combination of 800 trees and 8 variables in each node as the optimal model parameters to classify forest canopy cover with overall accuracy and Kappa coefficient of 83% and 0.73 respectively, while those of classified mapping of basal area were 78% and 0.72, and also those of stem number per hectare were 75% and 0.69 respectively. All in all, the Random Forest classifier algorithm provided comparatively successful mapping results of quantitative attributes in Zagros open forests of Iran from Landsat 8-OLI image data.
Large regional-scale variation in C3/C4 distribution pattern of Inner Mongolia steppe is revealed by grazer wool carbon isotope composition

Abstract. This work explored the spatial variation of C3/C4 distribution in the Inner Mongolia, P. R. China, steppe by geostatistical analysis of carbon isotope data of vegetation and sheep wool. Standing community biomass (n=118) and sheep wool (n=146) were sampled in a ~0.2 Mio km2 area. Samples from ten consecutive years (1998–2007) were obtained. Community biomass samples represented the carbon isotopic composition of standing vegetation on about 1000 m2 ("community-scale"), whereas the spatio-temporal scale of wool reflected the isotope composition of the entire area grazed by the herd during a 1-yr period (~5–10 km2, "farm-scale"). Pair wise sampling of wool and vegetation revealed a 13C-enrichment of 2.7±0.7‰ (95% confidence interval) in wool relative to vegetation, but this shift exhibited no apparent relationships with environmental parameters or stocking rate. The proportion of C4 plants in above-ground biomass (PC4, %) was estimated with a two-member mixing model of 13C discrimination by C3 and C4 vegetation (13Δ3 and 13Δ4, respectively), in accounting for the effects of changing 13C in atmospheric CO2 on sample isotope composition, and of altitude and aridity on 13Δ3. PC4 averaged 19%, but the variation was enormous: full-scale (0% to 100%) at community-scale, and 0% to 85% at farm-scale. The farm-scale variation of PC4 exhibited a clear regional pattern over a range of ~250 km. Importantly PC4 was significantly higher above the 22°C isotherm of the warmest month, which was obtained from annual high-resolution maps and averaged over the different sampling years. This is consistent with predictions from C3/C4 crossover temperature of quantum yield or light use efficiency in C3 and C4 plants. Still, temperature gradients accounted for only 10% of the farm-scale variation of PC4, indicating that additional factors control PC4 on this scale.
Profitability and Leverage: Evidence from Nigerian Firms

This study examines the profit profile of firms in Nigeria and analyzes the impact of leverage on profitability for the period 1999-2007. The results show that aggregate profit level for the firms decreased by 0.02 percent yearly over the study period. However, when disaggregated into sectors, a few firms actually experienced an increased profit level. The results show that firm size has a significant positive effect on profitability, while leverage has negative effect. The paper suggests that expansion, increased sales and low debt ratios enhance firm profitability.
The summer comfort house: A prototype compressorless house for California transitional climates

Demonstration houses that stress energy efficiency have traditionally concentrated on achieving good building performance, but often look experimental and alienate potential developers. This has resulted in a history of demonstration designs with limited market penetration. This ongoing research project investigates the elimination of residential compressive cooling in transitional California climates through design and technical alternatives to the typical single-family, detached production house. The goal is to avoid peak electrical demand while continuing to provide occupant comfort during overheated periods. A design workshop produced an initial set of house designs and cost estimates which were then reviewed by developers and builders. Comfort and energy use parameters were used to optimize the building technologies and to define the climate range of application. The design most representative of market directions was taken through design development, including complete mechanical and structural design. Further discussions with industry representatives are generating interest in constructing a set of demonstration houses while industry design award sponsorship is broadening the introduction in the merchant housing industry. The prototype house does not look substantially different than the average contractor-built house, but has a number of innovations which increase thermal performance and marketability. Achieving a compressorless house with good building performancemore » delivers other desirable characteristics: a heavier house with more sound and fire resistance, enhanced connections between interior and exterior living spaces, and a level of year-round thermal comfort not found in standard production housing. These characteristics can be packaged in a form that the industry can understand and sell. « less
Characterising the observational properties of δ Sct stars in the era of space photometry from the Kepler mission

The δ Sct stars are a diverse group of intermediate-mass pulsating stars located on and near the main sequence within the classical instability strip in the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. Many of these stars are hybrid stars pulsating simultaneously with pressure and gravity modes that probe the physics at different depths within a star’s interior. Using two large ensembles of δ Sct stars observed by the Kepler Space Telescope, the instrumental biases inherent to Kepler mission data and the statistical properties of these stars are investigated. An important focus of this work is an analysis of the relationships between the pulsational and stellar parameters, and their distribution within the classical instability strip. It is found that a non-negligible fraction of main sequence δ Sct stars exist outside theoretical predictions of the classical instability boundaries, which indicates the necessity of a mass-dependent mixing length parameter to simultaneously explain low- and high-radial order pressure modes in δ Sct stars within the Hertzsprung–Russell diagram. Furthermore, a search for regularities in the amplitude spectra of these stars is also presented, specifically the frequency difference between pressure modes of consecutive radial order. In this work, it is demonstrated that an ensemble-based approach using space photometry from the Kepler mission is not only plausible for δ Sct stars, but that it is a valuable method for identifying the most promising stars for mode identification and asteroseismic modelling. The full scientific potential of studying δ Sct stars is as yet unrealised. The ensembles discussed in this paper represent a high-quality data set for future studies of rotation and angular momentum transport inside A and F stars using asteroseismology.
Chapter 2 Quantum Transport Simulations Based on Time Dependent Density Functional Theory

Beginning with the landmark publication of Aviram and Ratner in the 1970s [1], interest in the basic question how current flows through individual molecules spawned a whole new research field termed molecular electronics. Several decades later, progress in the manipulation of materials at the nanoscale allowed to realize molecular junctions in a reliable and reproducible fashion even allowing for control of the current through suitable gate electrodes [2]. Classified by the molecule-contact interaction, different regimes of quantum transport could be identified, ranging from coherent ballistic transport for strong coupling to sequential tunneling and Coulomb blockade for weak coupling [3]. Even though the residence time of electrons on the molecule is extremely short, scattering may strongly modulate the transport characteristics of a device. This is seen in strongly correlated systems where the e-e interaction plays a dominant role or in tunneling spectra that are modified by inelastic electron-phonon scattering. These latter effects are theoretically often treated at the level of model Hamiltonians, which offer—through abstraction—an indispensable basic understanding of the physics involved. Notwithstanding, atomistic first principles simulations of quantum transport have contributed significantly in the interpretation of experiments over the last years. These calculations provide not only detailed and unbiased information of the energetically most favorable binding configuration of molecular junctions, they are also used to quantify the current, especially for devices with strong molecule-lead coupling. In the majority of ab-initio studies the Landauer-Büttiker formalism is
The effect of periuretral care and follow-up on bacteriuria in patients with urinary catheter: A comparison of three solutions

Objective: The aim of this study was to compare urinary colonization rates in subjects whose periurethral area was cleaned with sterile water or tap water versus povidone-iodine before and after urinary catheter insertion. Patients and Methods: The study was conducted in intensive care, surgery and medical wards of a university hospital. The study assessed a total of 207 adult patients requiring urinary catheterization for bacteriuria. They were screened for eligibility by the supervising physician. 110 patients were excluded from the study. The study sample included a total of 97 patients. The only difference among the three groups was that sterile, tap water and povidone-iodine were used to clean the periurethral area. A urine specimen was collected immediately before and 72 hours after catheter insertion. Results: The povidone-iodine group patients had a mean age of 67.9±12 years, the mean of the sterile group patients was 66.3±14 years, and the mean of the tap water group patients was 63.5±12 years. The Chi-Square test revealed no inter-group difference for age groups (P=0.483). Urinary tract infections occurred in 18% of the total sample. The percentage of infection for povidone-iodine, sterile water and tap water groups was 22.2%, 38.9%, and 38.9% respectively. Conclusion: There were no significant differences in the rate of bacteriuria or urinary tract infections in the sterile water, tap water and povidone-iodine groups. Traditionally, povidone-iodine solutions have been used to clean the periurethral area is probably not useful than water solutions.
Undergraduate housing transitions in Portugal during the economic crisis

Like a number of other European countries, Portugal has recently been in a state of economic crisis. One consequence of this condition has been a sharp rise in the national unemployment rate, particularly among the youth population: 23% in the final quarter of 2010 for those aged between 15 and 24 compared to the equivalent figure of 11.1% for the total population (INE, 2011). For young people nearing the end of their period of full-time education there is the additional challenge of having to enter the labour market, most of them for the first time, in addition to coping with other aspects of the transition to adulthood, including establishing an autonomous home of their own. This latter issue forms the main focus of this investigation, which concentrates upon exploring housing transitions among undergraduates presently studying at universities in the Lisbon area during the economic crisis period. In respect to the main research question, with prior research suggesting that Portuguese youth already spend long periods residing with their families (Figueiredo et al., 1999), can we anticipate this distended period of inter-generational co-residence to elongate further? Following a contextualisation of pertinent themes within youth transitions literature and an outline of methodological approach, key results derived from the analysis of quantitative and qualitative data are presented. As might be anticipated, it was found that the majority of the young people surveyed see the economic crisis as having a negative impact upon their incipient housing transitions. Three key influences are emphasised in housing decision-making processes: economic factors, the role of the family and prevailing cultural norms. It is also evident that the level of support these young people receive from their families is extensive. Finally, the responsibility for both causing and for ameliorating the crisis is attributed primarily to the Portuguese government and, to a lesser extent, banks and financial speculators. These findings lead to the conclusion that among those surveyed in most cases housing transitions are likely to continue to be deferred into the future should the economic crisis continue, even after these respondents have completed their studies.
ON CERTAIN TRADE-OFFS BETWEEN STRUCTURAL CHANGES AND MONETARY POLICY

The organisers should be congratulated upon the choice of the conference topic at least due to two reasons: a) an unexpected strong decline in the economic growth in Poland since the last six months of the previous year, which phenomenon put in a new light the relationships between structural changes and the monetary policy and b) a relatively poor identification of this significant relation in the literature.