Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determination of critical micelle concentration of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide: Different procedures for analysis of experimental data

Conductivity of two micellar systems was measured in order to determine critical micelle concentration (CMC) of cetyltrimethylammonium bromide (CTAB). Those systems were: CTin water and CTin binary mixture acetonitrile (ACN)-water. Conductivity (κ)-concentration (c) data were treated by four different methods: conventional method, differential methods (first and second derivative) and method of integration (methods A-D, respectively). As CTin water micellar system shows a sharp transition between premicellar and postmicellar part of the κ/c curve, any of the applied methods gives reliable CMC values and there is no statistically significant difference between them. However, for CTin ACN-water mixture micellar system the integration method for CMC determination is recommended due to a weak curvature of κ/c plot.
Current account sustainability in advanced economies

This paper investigates the sustainability of current accounts in advanced economies using a panel of 27 countries and annual data over the 1980–2008 period. Relying on various panel unit root tests and a sequential panel selection method, we find strong evidence in favour of nonlinear but stationary current account trajectories only for 7 countries, while the remaining 20 appear to be non-stationary and thus unsustainable. Our analysis indicates that careful empirical modelling of current account dynamics, particularly in relation to cross-section dependence and nonlinear behaviour, is crucial for appropriate economic policy-making.
Advertising and food, drink and tobacco consumption in the United Kingdom: a dynamic demand system

This paper tests for the influence of advertising on the inter-product distribution of consumer demand for non-durable goods and services in the UK, 1963-1996. The long-run demand for seven categories of non-durable products is modelled through an advertising-augmented version of the almost ideal demand system (AIDS), which is incorporated into an error-correction model to allow for short-run dynamic adjustments to long-run equilibrium positions. Model estimates confirm that the restrictions of price homogeneity and symmetry appear to be consistent with the data, yield measures of the various types of demand elasticity that are in general plausible, confirm the strong influence of prices on the allocation of consumer expenditure, but find little evidence to support the hypothesis that advertising has the power to effect marked changes in the inter-product pattern of consumer demand in the UK. © 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
The applicability and coherence of key performance indicators in global product development

The potential risks and opportunities as a result of the decision to globalise product development requires the use of key performance indicators to measure and monitor the process, providing feedback on the performance. Research towards the selection and use of key performance indicators in global product development is relatively unexplored. With the results from a survey and workshop for industry, this paper contributes towards understanding the applicability and coherence between strategic level risks and opportunities with operational level key performance indicators.
Models for real subspace arrangements and stratified manifolds

Let us consider a central subspace and half-space arrangement A in an euclidean vector space V and let M(A) be its complement. We construct some compactifications for the C∞ manifold M(A)/R. They turn out to be C∞ manifolds with corners whose boundary is determined by simple combinatorial data. This generalizes a construction described by Kontsevich in his paper on deformation quantization of Poisson manifolds (see [7]). Then we extend the construction to more general objects, i.e. stratified real manifolds whose stratification locally “looks like” the one induced by an arrangement of linear (half-)spaces. This is a real version of MacPherson and Procesi paper [10]; the models we obtain are again C∞ manifolds with corners equipped with a nice combinatorial description of the boundary.
AUD-SWIPE-P: A PARALLELIZATION OF THE AUD-SWIPE PITCH ESTIMATION ALGORITHM USING MULTIPLE PROCESSES AND THREADS

In this work we implement a parallel version of the pitch estimation algorithm Aud-SWIPE. The new implementation, Aud-SWIPE-P produces a remarkable acceleration, making it usable in applications where it was not efficient before because of its high computational cost. We parallelized the algorithm using multiple threads and processes to speed up different steps of the algorithm, and take advantage of different architectures. The goal for Aud-SWIPEP’s performance was to achieve an execution time below the signal duration, opening the possibility to create a realtime software using Aud-SWIPE as pitch estimation algorithm. The implementation was evaluated running the algorithm in different real-world scenarios. The acceleration achieved was around 4.4, compared with the sequential version of the algorithm. In sound files with a sampling frequency of 10 kHz or less, the real time execution goal was fully achieved.
Thinking and Content Learning of Mathematics and Science as Cognitional Development in Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL): Teaching Through a Foreign Language in Finland

This paper presents a study on thinking and learning processes of mathematics and science in teaching through a foreign language, in Finland. The entity of thinking and content learning processes is, in this study, considered as cognitional development. Teaching through a foreign language is here called Content and Language Integrated Learning or CLIL. CLIL refers to all those diverse programmes, including some forms of immersion and bilingual education, where a foreign language is a medium of instruction, affecting the entire learning process of the learner. Thinking and content learning in CLIL manifests itself as analogical CLIL reasoning systems, based on two languages, and is assumed to affect cognitional development. Cognitional development was studied with 669Finnish mainstream L1 learners aged 7–15 in the public comprehensive school. The experimental group, 335 learners, was taught through English, French or Swedish. The experimental group was compared with a control group of 334 learners, taught through the mother tongue, i.e. Finnish. Cognitional development was studied in terms of of individual concepts and conceptual structures that are here called meaning schemes. The results of four measurements in 2002–2003 are presented in which statistical differences were found between the experimental and the control group in cognitional development.
Protective Effect of Luffa cylindrica L. Fruit in Paracetamol Induced Hepatotoxicity in Rats

ABSTRACT In present study to evaluate the hepatoprotective activity of the ethanol and aqueous extracts (100 and 200 mg/kg) of fruit of Luffa cylindrica were studied on paracetamol (2 gm/kg) treated albino rats. The hepatoprotective effect was evaluated on the basis of various biochemical parameters which includes aspartate aminotransferase (AST) and alanine aminotransferase (ALT),serum alkaline phosphatise(ALP), total bilirubin (TB), total cholesterol (TC) and total protein (TP). Treatment with ethanol and aqueous extracts (100 and 200 mg/kg) of fruit of Luffa cylindrical shown significant hepatoprotective effect and also supported by histopathological study.
Enzymatic Solubilisation and Degradation of Soybean Fibre Demonstrated by Viscosity, Fibre Analysis and Microscopy

The effect of a commercial multienzyme product obtained by fermentation from Aspergillus aculeatus on soybean and soybean meal was investigated using viscosity measurements, dietary fibre component analysis and different microscopy techniques utilizing histochemical dyes and antibody labelling. The results obtained demonstrated a strong viscosity reducing effect of the enzyme preparation on soluble galactomannan and xyloglucan polysaccharides and in addition non-starch polysaccharide analysis demonstrated a notable solubilisation of all polysaccharide constituents. The degradation of these components as native integral parts of cell walls upon exposure to the enzyme was visualized with microscopy. Two histochemical dyes, coriphosphine O and alcian blue were successfully used to follow pectin solubilisation after enzyme treatment. Commercial antibodies recognizing specific components of pectin and hemicellulose components of soybean cell wall were also used to visualize several enzyme activities in the commercial enzyme preparation The challenges of using commercial antibodies elicited from a given plant source to detect similar epitiopes on another plant source are also discussed. Non-starch polysaccharide analysis of the insoluble dietary fibre constituents before and after enzyme treatment corroborated the visualized mode of action demonstrated by microscopy. The combination of techniques provided visual and quantitative measurements of the solubilisation and degradation of hemicellulose pectic soybean cell wall components as part of the undesirable antinutrients in animal feed.
Dihadron Azimuthal Correlations in 200 GeV Au-Au and 2.76 TeV Pb-Pb Collisions

In a multisource thermal model, we detailedly show dihadron azimuthal correlations for 20–40% and 50–80% in Au-Au collisions at GeV and over a centrality range from 10–15% to 70–80% in Pb-Pb collisions at TeV. The model can approximately describe the azimuthal correlations of particles produced in the collisions. The amplitude of the corresponding source is magnified, and the source translates along the direction. The factor , in most cases, increases with the increase of the centrality in Pb-Pb collisions at TeV.
Katabatic Wind-Driven Exchange in Fjords

The general issue of katabatic wind-driven exchange in fjords is considered using an idealized numerical model, theory, and observations. Two regimes are identified. For fjords narrower than a viscous boundary layer width, the exchange is limited by a balance between wind and friction in lateral boundary layers. For the nonlinear viscous parameterization used here, this boundary layer thickness depends on the properties of the fjord, such as stratification and length, as well as on the wind stress and numerical parameters such as grid spacing and an empirical constant. For wider fjords typical of east Greenland, the balance is primarily between wind, the along-fjord pressure gradient, and acceleration, in general agreement with previous two-layer nonrotating theories. It is expected that O(10%) of the surface layer will be flushed out of the fjord by a single wind event. Application of the idealized model to a typical katabatic wind event produces outflowing velocities that are in general agreement with observations in Sermilik Fjord. The presence of a sill has only a minor influence on the exchange until the sill penetrates over most of the lower layer thickness, in which cases the exchange is reduced. It is concluded that the multiple katabatic wind events per winter that are experienced by the fjords along east Greenland represent an important mechanism of exchange between the fjord and shelf, with implications for the renewal of warm, salty waters at depth and for the export of glacial freshwater in the upper layer.
Agro-phenotypic characterization of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas L.) genotypes using factor and cluster analyses

An agro-phenotypic characterization study was conducted at the Njala Agricultural Research Centre (NARC) experimental site, Sierra Leone. The aim of the study was to evaluate the level of diversity within sweet potato germplasm using factor and cluster analyses. A total of 17 genotypes including six introduced and eleven local entries were grown in a randomized complete block design with three replications in 2012 and 2013. Twenty-eight morphological traits measured from the genotypes were analysed using factor analysis (FA) and hierarchical cluster analysis (HCA). Factor analysis loaded five factors which explained 72.79% of the total phenotypic variation in the dependence structure. Other factors (>6) explained the rest of the genetic variation and may not be important in sweet potato breeding programmes. Unweighted pair-group method using an arithmetic average (UPGMA) revealed eight groups at distance coefficient of 0.80. This study revealed that wide genetic variation exists in sweet potato genotypes grown in Sierra Leone which could be used to breed for high yield and other desirable food and market traits. Findings would also be useful for conservation planning of sweet potato using molecular techniques to confirm the variation observed.
Impact of labour migration on entrepreneurship ecosystem: case of Eurasian Economic Union

Labour migration is one of the most important socioeconomic development indicators. The problem of a steady decline in the working-age population size has changed a role of migration that has an active impact on the human potential development. With the help of an empirical example from the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), this research paper presents specifics of labour migration. A review of literary sources points out to an ambiguous impact of a number of factors on dynamics of migration flows, employment, and unemployment. Correlation-regression modelling of migration processes for the EEU in various configurations has resulted with the following. First, a revealed direct relationship between a natural growth (decline) in the population, a number of vacant jobs and the population migration indicator. Second, researchers have established an inverse dependence between GDP per capita, consumer price index, minimum wage, unemployment rate, and population migration indicator. Thirdly, they have shown that a direction of migrant flows depends on such factors, as GDP per capita, number of vacant jobs and minimum wage. Results of the analysis show that an increasing difference between an average wage in the region and across the EEU, and minimum standard of living leads to decreasing numbers of migrants from a particular region of the EEU. In the EEU, for the population main reasons for employment abroad include unemployment in rural areas, no regular income, and lower wages compared to neighbouring countries. The discussion explains an essence of contradictory consequences of the labour migration impact on a development of national economic systems in terms of the completed academic and empirical research. In this regard, it is reasonable to consider labour migration as a global economic phenomenon and this needs further research in terms of factors that influence it.
Efficacy of fungicides, Sodium hypochlorite and neem seed powder to control seed borne pathogens of maize.

Using standard blotter and deep freezing techniques, 7 genera and 11 species of fungi viz., Aspergillus niger, A. flavus, A. wentii, Chaetomium sp. , Drechslera sp. , Fusarium chlamydosporum, F. oxysporum, F. moniliforme, F. semitectum, F. nivale, Nigrospora sp. , Phoma sp. and Rhizopus sp. were isolated from maize seeds. Seed treatment with fungicides viz., Antracol (70% WP), Aliette (80% w/ w), Ridomyl Gold (MZ 68% WP), Neem seed powder @ 0.1%, 0.2% & 0.3% and Sodium hypochlorite @ 10% were used. No adverse effects were observed on the germination of seeds in blotter method whereas the germination was reduced due to dead/frozen embryo in deep-freezing method. Ridomyl Gold was found to be effective against seed borne mycoflora of maize followed by Aliette, Neem seed powder, Antracol and Sodium hypochlorite.
ATTITUDES OF PRE-SERVICE TEACHERS IN AN AUSTRALIAN UNIVERSITY TOWARDS INCLUSION OF STUDENTS WITH PHYSICAL DISABILITIES IN GENERAL PHYSICAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS

Attitudes of teachers are an important determinant of behaviour in educational settings (Avramidis & Norwich, 2002). The aim of this study was to describe the attitudes and determine predictors of intentions in pre-service teachers in Australia toward inclusion of students with physical disabilities in general physical education classes. The Attitudes Towards Individuals with Physical Disabilities in Physical Education - Revised (ATIPDPE-R) instrument, based upon the Theory of Planned Behaviour (Ajzen, 1991) was used to measure the attitudes of pre-service teachers from first and fourth year primary and physical education courses at a University in Australia. 230 participants, including 177 females, 53 males with an average age of 20.94 years took part in the study. Although no significant differences were found between year groups or subject majors, results found positive attitudes of pre-service teachers towards inclusion (Primary ATT (attitude) mean = 78.41; PE ATT mean = 75.27). Attitudes were found to account for 20% of variance of intentions (r2 = 0.208), and when attitudes, subjective norm and gender were combined, these accounted for 26% of prediction of intention (r2 = 0.258).
A neural network approach to predict the horizontal air velocity component in low airspeed regime

The determination of the horizontal air velocity component in low airspeed regime, typically below 40 KIAS, has been a challenge for the rotary-wing engineering development. Regarding this issue, this paper develops a mathematical model, in neural network, for predicting the horizontal air velocity component of the AS 355 F2 helicopter by taking advantage of Matlab Neural Network Toolbox, to be used as a real time telemetry tool by Brazilian Institute of Research and Flight Tests, IPEV. By using a flight test acquisition system installed in the AS 355 F2 tail number FAB 8816, some parameters are measured in the fuselage, like stick positions, rotating speeds and attitudes, during steady-state conditions and leveled flight acceleration maneuvers. These measurements are used as input and references to backpropagation neural networks with supervised learning. Two sort of neural networks are developed: one to predict longitudinal air velocity, u, and other to predict the lateral air velocity, v. Training process approach consists of trying and error by changing input parameters set and neural network structure. The LevenbergMarquardt algorithm is used to perform the optimization process of networks weights and biases. During the validation procedure a new data set is applied to the neural networks that had provided the best training results for each air velocity. It’s verified that one longitudinal and lateral neural network association, with 11 input parameters and 2 hidden layers with 25 processing elements each, provides satisfactory results in predicting horizontal air velocity component in stabilized maneuvers, with accuracy level of 3,4 kt and 16°, along with unsatisfactory results in level flight acceleration maneuvers. Additionally, as a contribution of this work, this neural network association is implemented, by using Matlab, in the Brazilian Air Command IPEV telemetry facility proving the viability of this computational code as a real-time flight test tool.
The Effect of CSR on Stock Performance: New Evidence for the USA and Europe

This paper provides new empirical evidence for the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on corporate financial performance. In contrast to former studies, we examine two different regions, namely the USA and Europe. Our econometric analysis shows that environmental and social activities of a firm compared with other firms within the industry are valued by financial markets in both regions. However, the respective positive effects on average monthly stock returns between 2003 and 2006 appear to be more robust in the USA and, in addition, to be nonlinear. Our analysis furthermore points to biased parameter estimations if incorrectly specified econometric models are applied: The seemingly significantly negative effect of environmental and social performance of the industry to which a firm belongs vanishes if the explanation of stock performance is based on the Fama-French threefactor or the Carhart four-factor models instead of the simple Capital Asset Pricing Model.
The Next Generation Fornax Survey (NGFS). IV. Mass and Age Bimodality of Nuclear Clusters in the Fornax Core Region

We present the analysis of 61 nucleated dwarf galaxies in the central regions (≲Rvir/4) of the Fornax galaxy cluster. The galaxies and their nuclei are studied as part of the Next Generation Fornax Survey using optical imaging obtained with the Dark Energy Camera mounted at Blanco/Cerro Tololo Inter-American Observatory and near-infrared data obtained with VIRCam at VISTA/ESO. We decompose the nucleated dwarfs in nucleus and spheroid, after subtracting the surface brightness profile of the spheroid component and studying the nucleus using point source photometry. In general, nuclei are consistent with colors of confirmed metal-poor globular clusters, but with significantly smaller dispersion than other confirmed compact stellar systems in Fornax. We find a bimodal nucleus mass distribution with peaks located at and ∼6.3. These two nucleus subpopulations have different stellar population properties: the more massive nuclei are older than ∼2 Gyr and have metal-poor stellar populations (Z ≤ 0.02 Z⊙), while the less massive nuclei are younger than ∼2 Gyr with metallicities in the range 0.02 < Z/Z⊙ ≤ 1. We find that the nucleus mass ( ) versus galaxy mass ( ) relation becomes shallower for less massive galaxies starting around 108 M⊙, and the mass ratio shows a clear anticorrelation with for the lowest masses, reaching 10%. We test current theoretical models of nuclear cluster formation and find that they cannot fully reproduce the observed trends. A likely mixture of in situ star formation and star cluster mergers seems to be acting during nucleus growth over cosmic time.
Multidimensional numerical modeling of surges over initially dry land

Abstract : For modelers evaluating the impact of dam, levee and structure failures the need is to be able to determine the flood height and timing. A two-dimensional (2-D) model needs to be able to reproduce this flood wave along the channel and over dry ground. This report details the testing of the 2-D shallow-water module of the ADaptive Hydraulics (ADH) model for surges over initially dry ground. ADH utilizes an unstructured computational mesh that is automatically refined. Other modules in ADH include three-dimensional (3-D) Navier Stokes (with and without the hydrostatic pressure assumption) and groundwater flow. Testing is conducted in comparison to physical flume results for two test cases. The first test case is for a straight flume and the second contains a reservoir and a horseshoe channel section. It is important that the model match the timing of the surge as well as the height In both cases the ADH compared closely with the flume results.