Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigating preference heterogeneity through individual level modelling

Unobserved preference heterogeneity is usually represented in discrete choice models by treating utility function coefficients as random variables. In this paper we propose a different approach to explicitly account for preference heterogeneity - we investigate the possibility of estimating individual-level choice models. To deal with required data intensity we designed a choice experiment in which each respondent faced 16 choice-sets, and was asked to provide a full ranking of the four alternatives in each choice-set. The exploded logit formula was used to estimate individual-level utility parameters which were used to calculate WTP of each individual. Using data at the individual level we explored respondents’ decision rules. In general, our results indicate that pooled models may conceal many types of irregular behaviour. Our analysis also indicates that many respondents exhibit lexicographic or near-lexicographic preferences.
Clearance Effects on the Onset of Instability in a Centrifugal Compressor

This report intends to shed an insight into the effect of large relative tip clearances on the onset of instability in a highly loaded centrifugal compressor. Time-resolved pressure measurements have been performed along the casing of a scaled-up model of a small compressor for two clearances at a wide range of operating conditions. Based on these time-resolved measurements, the pressure distribution along the meridional length and the blade loading distribution are calculated for each operating condition. In addition, the phase locked pressure fluctuation and its deviation are computed. The results show the behavior of each subcomponent of the compressor at different flow conditions and explain the role of the relative tip clearance on the onset of instability. For high mass-flow rates, the steady pressure distribution along the casing reveals that the inducer acts as an accelerating nozzle. Pressure is only built up in the radial part due to the centrifugal forces and in the subsequent diffuser due to area change. For off-design conditions, incidence effects are seen in the blade loading distribution at the leading edge while the inducer is unloaded. A region of high pressure deviation originates at the leading edge of the main blade and convects downstream. This feature is interpreted as the trajectory of the leakage vortex. The trajectory of these vortices is strongly affected by the mass-flow coefficient. If the mass-flow rate is sufficiently small, the trajectory of the leakage vortex becomes perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the leakage vortex interacts with the adjacent blade, and inlet tip recirculation is triggered. If the flow rate is further reduced, the leakage vortex vanishes and rotating stall is initiated in the diffuser. For larger clearances, stronger vortices are formed, stall is triggered at higher flow rates, and the overall compressor performance deteriorates.
Microfiltration for casein and serum protein separation

Microfiltration(MF), probably the oldest membrane separation technology, was developed between the First and the Second World Wars in Germany for the purpose of bacteria removal (Zsigmondy and Bachmann, 1922). Generally, MF membranes have a pore size ranging from 0.1 to 10 μm. This size range encompasses a wide variety of natural and industrial particles, such as colloids, bacteria, and red blood cells. MF is a pressure-driven separation process, which is similar to other widely used membrane processes such as ultrafiltration, nanofiltration, and reverse osmosis. Compared to these processes, MF is typically operated at a relatively lower pressure and is mainly applied for larger particle separation and fractionation. In this section, the principle of MF is introduced. This includes the introduction of MF membranes and processes, the mechanism of cross-flowMF, and membrane fouling.
The Rotational Shear Layer inside the Early Red-giant Star KIC 4448777

We present the asteroseismic study of the early red-giant star KIC 4448777, complementing and integrating a previous work, aimed at characterizing the dynamics of its interior by analyzing the overall set of data collected by the Kepler satellite during the four years of its first nominal mission. We adopted the Bayesian inference code diamonds for the peak bagging analysis and asteroseismic splitting inversion methods to derive the internal rotational profile of the star. The detection of new splittings of mixed modes, which are more concentrated in the very inner part of the helium core, allowed us to reconstruct the angular velocity profile deeper into the interior of the star and to disentangle the details better than in Paper I: the helium core rotates almost rigidly about 6 times faster than the convective envelope, while part of the hydrogen shell seems to rotate at a constant velocity about 1.15 times lower than the He core. In particular, we studied the internal shear layer between the fast-rotating radiative interior and the slow convective zone and we found that it lies partially inside the hydrogen shell above r ≃ 0.05R and extends across the core–envelope boundary. Finally, we theoretically explored the possibility for the future capabilty to sound the convective envelope in the red-giant stars and we concluded that the inversion of a set of splittings with only low-harmonic degree l ≤ 3, even supposing a very large number of modes, will not allow us to resolve the rotational profile of this region in detail.
Extramarital sexual practices and perceived association with HIV infection among the Borana pastoral community.

Background: Evidence has shown that in sub-Saharan Africa, HIV spreads mainly through heterosexual relationships. It is documented that, among others, the problem is more pronounced in connection to prevailing multiple sexual relations and marital infidelity. Despite evident association between such practice and spread in HIV infection, to date multiple sexual partnerships is a common practice. Among the Borana pastoral community, where awareness about HIV and AIDS is documented to be limited, engagement in extramarital sexual practice is believed to be the norm rather than exception. However, it remains unclear as to why the practice continues and if the community feels its consequences. Objectives: To explore if and why extramarital sexual practice is maintained and sustained and perceived vulnerability to HIV infection among the Borana pastoral community. Methods: An ethnographic study design was employed to responds to the objectives of this study. Such questions: whether extramarital sex is still practiced, if so why? Who practices it, whether the community is aware of the consequence of such practice vis-a-vis HIV infection, were set to be answered. A total of nine FGDs with sixty-eight participants and sixty in-depth interviews with men and women participated in the study. Information so generated was coded, categorized and summarized with an application of MAXQDA version 10 qualitative data analysis software, and interpretation of the results was carried out based on the objectives of the study. Results: Sex before marriage is considered as a taboo and those involved are out-casted (cabana) from the normal life processes of the community. While young men may engage in sexual activity with married women even before marriage and continues to maintain extramarital partner (jaalto) after marriage, women’s engagement in the practice follows marriage. Participants agreed that although local culture ‘disproves’ it and the community recognizes the fact that it would facilitate HIV infection, extramarital sexual practice remains common in the community. Its persistence is attributed to multiple factors including personal interest to prove that one is wanted by the opposite sex given fulfillment of socially prescribed gender roles, and economic transactions between families of those involved. Despite consistent denial of the cultural approval of such practice and the growing concern over its consequences to the spread of HIV infection, extramarital sexual activity remains to be valued and cherished in the community. Conclusion: Despite the widespread recognition of the consequences of extramarital sex on the spread of HIV infection, there is vested interest among the community numbers to maintain the practice. This calls for urgent action to launch culturally sound HIV interventions to mitigate further spread of HIV infection in Borana.
Response of pomegranate cv. wonderful plants tο salinity

Three salts (NaCl; KCl; Na2SO4) were supplied to pomegranate cv. Wonderful plants, in order to investigate their effects on growth, nutrient status, chlorophyll, total carbohydrate content and antioxidant defense system. In general, high salt supply led to a significant decline in total N and K content of plants. Also, all salt treatments decreased Ca and Mg concentration of leaves. Both NaCl and KCl treatments increased leaf Cl concentration by up to 418%. Salt excess resulted in a significant decline of chlorophyll and carbohydrate concentration of leaves and/or roots. Finally, concerning antioxidants, diamine oxidase activity increased in the treatment of 120 mM Na2SO4. In conclusion, salinity impaired mineral nutrition of pomegranate cv. Wonderful. On the other hand, that cultivar presented mechanisms that alleviated the detrimental effects of salinity. Therefore, the studied plants, even under high saline treatments, managed to maintain water content, chlorophyll fluorescence and enzyme activity in normal levels. These results suggest that ,Wonderful, may be cultivated under saline conditions provided that a suitable fertilization program is used.
The Influence of Hydrothermal Duration on Structures and Optical Properties of ZnO Nanoparticles

ZnO nanoparticles were synthesized by hydrothermal method using ethylene glycol as a stabilizer and as well as a template. This study was aimed to examine the influence of hydrothermal duration (3, 6, and 12 hours) on the structures and optical properties of ZnO nanoparticles. X-ray diffraction results show that all peaks appear in the diffraction pattern indicate the hexagonal wurtzite structure of ZnO. The lattice parameters found just slightly varied with addition of hydrothermal duration. It is found that the particles size decreases whereas the average crystals size increase with hydrothermal duration. The average crystal size found increase with addition of hydrothermal duration. On the other hand, the particle grains were spread evenly distributed with decreasing size with hydrothermal duration increase, as indicated in the SEM images. Optical properties were investigated based on the optical transmission of the ZnO films. It is known that the films strongly absorb the visible region, whereas the absorption edge in the UV region. Bandgap energy of the films found increase with hydrothermal duration, that were 3.18 eV, 3.21 eV and 3.24 eV for 3 hours, 6 hours and 12 hours, respectively.
Diversity and antibacterial activity of actinomycetes from wetland soil

Diversity of soil actinomycetes isolated from various regions of a wetland was analysed. The strains were assigned under 11 genera according to their morphological and biochemical characteristics. They are: Nocardia, Pseudonocardia, Streptomyces, Micromonospora, Rhodococcus, Actinosynnema, Nocardiodes, Kitasatospora, Gordona, Intrasporangium and Streptoalloteichus. Around 55% of the identified strains are Nocardioform actinomycetes. Screening for their antibacterial activities revealed that 96% of the isolated strains showed different degrees of inhibition potential against 12 test pathogenic bacteria (including various serotypes of Salmonella, Vibrio cholerae, Bacillus subtilis and Escherichia coli). Of these about 41% of strains showed antagonism towards Bacillus subtilis. The Nocardioform actinomycetes exhibited antibacterial activity against 9 out of 12 test organisms. The least antibacterial potential was exhibited by Gordona, Rhodococcus, Micromonospora and Kitasatospora. The isolated strains differed among themselves in their ability to decompose proteins and amino acids and also in enzyme production potential.
Oxidative Stress in Human Health and Disease

Oxidative stress arises when the antioxidant capacity of cells to scavenge the excess production of reactive oxygen species(ROS) falls short. It may also be due to changes in the redox status of the cell. In health, pro-oxidants engage in useful signaling pathways that are important for growth and cellular health. Overstimulation of signaling pathways leads to sustained pro-oxidant production in the form of ROS that disrupt cellular structures and impair function leading to disease. Normally, antioxidants counteract the activity of prooxidants to retain cellular homeostasis and therefore a state of health.
Intermediate-age globular clusters in early-type galaxies: Better age determinations by adding U-band observations to the V, I, K datasets ,

This paper represents an extension to a series of publications on combined optical and near-infrared photometry of globular cluster systems in early-type galaxies. Based on color-color diagrams the cumulative age distributions of their globular cluster systems have been derived and revealed intermediate age clusters in two galaxies, namely NGC 4365 and NGC 5846. The extension of this observations towards the blue wavelength range was performed in order to increase the age resolution of photometric studies. In this paper we present the results of U-band observations of NGC 4365 and NGC 5846 and their combination with previously obtained V, I and Ks-band photometry. (U − I )v s. (V − Ks) color-color diagrams are used to derive the cumulative age distribution. The later is compared to simulated globular cluster systems of known age and size composition in order to set constrains on relative ages and size of the sub-populations.
Testing of the recently developed tectonomagmatic discrimination diagrams from hydrothermally altered igneous rocks of 7 geothermal fields

Recently developed multidimensional tectonomagmatic discrimination diagrams based on log-ratio variables of chemical elements, discordant outlier-free databases, and probability-based boundaries have been shown to work better than the earlier diagrams. Hydrothermally altered drilled well rock cuttings obtained from different depths of geothermal fields were used to test these diagrams to compare the inferred tectonic setting with the expected one. In spite of the hydrothermal alteration effects, these diagrams provided the following expected tectonic settings: (1) an arc setting for Ahuachapan and Berlin geothermal fields, El Salvador; (2) a rift setting for Cerro Prieto geothermal field, Mexico, and Tendaho geothermal field, Afar region; (3) a MORB setting for Reykjanes geothermal field, Iceland; (4) a transitional arc and collision setting for Roman volcanic provenance, Italy; and (5) an arc setting for Tongonan geothermal field, Philippines. The present study indicates that the recently developed multielement discriminant function based diagrams may be successfully applied to infer the original tectonic setting of hydrothermally altered rock samples and thus confirms the robustness of these diagrams.
Assessment of genetic diversity among Sudanese wheat cultivars using RAPD markers

The objective of this study was to assess the genetic diversity among locally cultivated Sudan’s wheat cultivars. Diversity was estimated by Random Amplified Polymorphic DNA (RAPD) technique using 21 arbitrary 10-mer and six Dehydration Responsive Elements (DRE) primers. RAPD analysis detected a total of 232 DNA fragments of which 152 (65.5%) were polymorphic. The genetic similarity matrix (based on Dice index) ranged from 0.435 to 0.81. These indices were used to construct a dendrogram using average linkage between groups. Wheat cultivars were clustered into six groups; Cluster A included cultivars Debaira, Nisr and Sasraib, cluster B included Nabta, Wadi Elniel, Argeen and Condor, cluster C included the cultivar Imam, cluster D contained the cultivar Al-neelain, cluster E included Tagana and Bohain and the most distant cultivar (Khalifa) in the dendrogram stands in cluster F. The highest similarity (0.81) among the wheat cultivars was observed between Debaira and Nisr while the lowest (0.043) was between Alneelain and Bohain. RAPD-PCR technique showed considerable potential for estimating genetic diversity among our wheat cultivars. The study provides valuable information for cultivars fingerprinting at a molecular level and can be used to assist efficient selection in wheat breeding strategies aiming at achieving sustainability in wheat production in Sudan.
Determining Private Equity Fund Risk: An Empirical Study of Fund Characteristics

Using a sample of European private equity funds, we investigate the effect of fund type and size on risk using three two-way ANOVA models and two regression models. The main finding is that large buy-out funds are the least risky of the fund types whereas medium-sized buy-out funds carry the most risk. Venture capital funds are not as risky as smaller buy-out funds but riskier than large buy-out funds. Risk increases as the size of a venture capital fund increases.
The continental source of glyoxal estimated by the synergistic use of spaceborne measurements and inverse modelling

Abstract. Tropospheric glyoxal and formaldehyde columns retrieved from the SCIAMACHY satellite instrument in 2005 are used with the IMAGESv2 global chemistry-transport model and its adjoint in a two-compound inversion scheme designed to estimate the continental source of glyoxal. The formaldehyde observations provide an important constraint on the production of glyoxal from isoprene in the model, since the degradation of isoprene constitutes an important source of both glyoxal and formaldehyde. Current modelling studies underestimate largely the observed glyoxal satellite columns, pointing to the existence of an additional land glyoxal source of biogenic origin. We include an extra glyoxal source in the model and we explore its possible distribution and magnitude through two inversion experiments. In the first case, the additional source is represented as a direct glyoxal emission, and in the second, as a secondary formation through the oxidation of an unspecified glyoxal precursor. Besides this extra source, the inversion scheme optimizes the primary glyoxal and formaldehyde emissions, as well as their secondary production from other identified non-methane volatile organic precursors of anthropogenic, pyrogenic and biogenic origin. In the first inversion experiment, the additional direct source, estimated at 36 Tg/yr, represents 38% of the global continental source, whereas the contribution of isoprene is equally important (30%), the remainder being accounted for by anthropogenic (20%) and pyrogenic fluxes. The inversion succeeds in reducing the underestimation of the glyoxal columns by the model, but it leads to a severe overestimation of glyoxal surface concentrations in comparison with in situ measurements. In the second scenario, the inferred total global continental glyoxal source is estimated at 108 Tg/yr, almost two times higher than the global a priori source. The extra secondary source is the largest contribution to the global glyoxal budget (50%), followed by the production from isoprene (26%) and from anthropogenic NMVOC precursors (14%). A better performance is achieved in this case, as the updated emissions allow for a satisfactory agreement of the model with both satellite and in situ glyoxal observations.
Amphotericin B-Deoxycholate is as Effective and Safe as the Costly Amphotericin B Colloidal Dispersion in the Treatment of Paediatric Invasive Fungal Infections

Amphotericin B deoxycholate (AmBD) and amphotericin B colloidal dispersion (AmBCD) are the two most commonly used antifungals for invasive fungal infections (IFI) among paediatric patients. The objective of this pilot study was to compare the efficacy, adverse effects and cost-effectiveness between AmBD and AmBCD in the treatment of IFI among paediatric patients admitted at Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia Medical Centre (UKMMC). Methods : Secondary data analysis of the medical records of all paediatric patients with IFI was obtained and data extraction was performed for patients admitted between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2011. Efficacy of treatment was determined and reports of adverse effects were noted. Results : Between July 1, 2006 and June 30, 2011, thirty-five patients received AmBD-only treatment and five patients received AmBCD-only treatment. Twenty-four patients were males and the mean age was 7.18 (SD 4.59) years. On average, the AmBCD treatment course was significantly more expensive than AmBD (p<0.01). Patients on AmBD had more adverse effects compared to those on AmBCD. However, there was no significant difference in severe adverse events between these groups. There was no significant difference in efficacy between these groups, in terms of IFI resolution or treatment duration. Conclusion : These findings imply that the use of AmBD instead of AmBCD in IFI treatment among paediatric patients is justified, given its cost-effectiveness, as there was no significant difference in the efficacy or in the incidence of severe adverse effects between these two treatments.
Nutritional status, prevalence of some metabolic risk factors for cardiovascular disease and BMI-metabolic-risk sub-phenotypes in an adult Nigerian population

Studies have shown that metabolic risk factors associated with increased body mass index are the critical factors that confer risk for the chronic diseases associated with fat. The prevalence of these disorders is scarcely reported in Nigeria. We evaluated 542 adult Nigerians for nutritional status, serum total cholesterol, fasting blood glucose level and hypertension, using standard anthropometric and clinical methods. The results show that 32.1%, 11.8%, 19.6%, 11.8% and 60.7% of the population, irrespective of sex were over-weight, obese, hyperglycaemic, hypercholesterolemic and hypertensive respectively. Approximately 33% of the obese population were metabolically-healthy obese-like (MHO-like) while 8.6% of the normal BMI population were metabolically-obese normal-weight-like (MONW-like). Other sub-phenotypes were present at rates of 5 – 32% in the population. The results are discussed and compared to figures from other populations. Our data apparently supports the view that the assessment of metabolic risks for chronic diseases, irrespective of body mass index, may be more useful in identifying individuals or groups at risk of these disorders.
The Effects of Perceived Organizational Support, Perceived Supervisor Support and Intra-Organizational Network Resources on Turnover Intentions: A Study of Chinese Employees in Multinational Organizations

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of perceived organizational support (POS), perceived supervisor support (PSS) and intra-organizational network resources on the turnover intentions of the Chinese employees of multinational enterprises. The study utilized structured equation modeling to analyze survey data from 437 Chinese employees of five multinational enterprises operating in the Chinese service sector.The study found that POS was positively related to affective organizational commitment, which in turn was negatively related to turnover intentions. A direct relationship was revealed between PSS and turnover intentions, as well as a mediated relationship through POS. In contrast, the relationship between intra-organizational network resources and turnover intentions was fully mediated through POS. The implications for research and practice are discussed.