Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do Financial Sector Policies Promote Innovative Activity in Developing Countries? Evidence from India

This paper attempts to shed some light on the role of financial sector policies in generating new knowledge, drawing on the experience of one of the fastest growing and largest developing countries. Using relatively long time series data, the results in this paper indicate that interest rate restraints help generate knowledge in India’s economy. Other financial repressionist policies, in the form of high reserve and liquidity requirements as well as significant directed credit controls, appear to have a dampening effect on ideas production. The results lend some support to the argument that some form of financial sector reforms may help stimulate economic growth via increasing innovative activity.
Multiwavelength VLBI observations of Sagittarius A

Context. The compact radio, NIR, and X-ray source Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), associated with the super massive black hole at the center of the Galaxy, has been studied with Very Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) observations performed on 10 consecutive days and at mm-wavelength.
Co-occurrence of MGMT gene promoter methylation and amplification of EGFR in glioblastoma

ficiency of chemotherapy of malignant gliomas may be combined administration of alkylating agents and those targeted at epithelial growth factor receptor (EGFR). The patients eligible for such therapy should show hypermethylation of MGMT (O6-methylguanineDNA-methyltransferase) promoter as well as amplification of EGFR. Aim of the study: Preliminary assessment of frequency of MGMT hypermethylation and amplification of EGFR co-occurrence in malignant gliomas in patients diagnosed and operated on in the Neurosurgery Department, JUMC in Cracow. Material and methods: 21 consecutive cases of glioblastoma multiforme (W 65%, M 35%, age average 51 y). The methylation status of the MGMT promoter was determined by methylationspecific PCR (MS-PCR). Before MS-PCR, genomic DNA was treated with sodium bisulphite, purified, denatured, precipitated and eluted. EGFR amplification was investigated using the FISH method. Results: With regards to MGMT methylation status and the occurrence of EGFR amplification, four groups of tumours (patients) were established: I – hypermethylation and amplification (4/21, 19.04%); II – hypermethylation, no amplification (6/21, 28.6%); III – no hypermethylation with amplification (4/21, 19.04%); IV – no hypermethylation, no amplification (7/21, 33.3%). Conclusions: Theoretically almost one fifth (19%) of patients with glioblastoma multiforme, i.e. those featuring MGMT hypermethylation and EGFR amplification, could potentially benefit from bimodal chemotherapy with an alkylating agent and an EGFR blocker. Our results confirm other reports indicating that there are no relations between MGMT methylation and EGFR amplification. Financial support by Grant No. K/ZDS/ 001044 Jagiellonian Univ.
Spatial variation in the incidence of a sexually transmitted parasite of the ladybird beetle Adalia bipunctata (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)

Whilst sexually transmitted pathogens and parasites are common on insects and other animals, the factors affecting their incidence are currently uncertain. In order to understand the factors important in determining the presence of sexually transmitted parasites, it would be helpful to have information on intraspecific variation in incidence, as the causes of this variation are likely to reflect the likely causes of the presence/absence of sexually transmitted parasites across species. We therefore mapped the incidence of the parasite Coccipolipus hippodamiae within Europe on its primary host, the ladybird Adalia bipunctata. We observed that C. hippodamiae was present widely in Central, Southern and Eastern Europe, but was absent from northerly and north-western popula- tions. The cause of this pattern of incidence variation is discussed, with particular reference to the voltinism of the host. We also note that the distribution of C. hippodamiae on A. bipunctata is not congruent with that of another sexually transmitted parasite of this species, Hesperomyces virescens.
A short‐duration pulse of ductile normal shear on the outer South Tibetan detachment in Bhutan: Alternating channel flow and critical taper mechanics of the eastern Himalaya

In easternmost Bhutan the South Tibetan detachment (STD) is a ductile shear zone that juxtaposes the Radi (or Sakteng) klippe of the Tethyan Sedimentary Series from underlying high‐grade Greater Himalayan rocks. In situ LA‐ICPMS U‐Th‐Pb analysis of metamorphic monazite from the immediate footwall and hanging wall of the STD within the shear zone at the base of the klippe, constrains north vergent normal shear to between 25 and 20 Ma. Coeval thrusting on the Main Central Thrust during this time supports a phase of channel flow–viscous wedge model activity, lasting only ∼3 Ma. Geochronologic data from the eastern Himalaya indicate alternating mechanisms for extrusion of the metamorphic core of the orogen from the Late Oligocene through to the Late Miocene, switching from channel flow–viscous wedge behavior to critical taper–frictional wedge behavior, each phase lasting approximately only 2 to 5 Ma. The tectonic evolution of the eastern Himalaya is comparable to central and western Himalayan tectonics during the Early Miocene, but during the Middle Miocene metamorphism and magmatism in the eastern Himalaya migrated toward the orogenic hinterland, a process not widely documented elsewhere in the Himalaya, thus highlighting the need for an orogenic model in three spatial dimensions.
Public expenditure and economic growth nexus: Further evidence from Nigeria

This paper examines the relationship between public expenditure and economic growth in Nigeria during the period 1970-2009. A disaggregated public expenditure level was employed using the Gregory-Hansen structural breaks cointegration technique. The result confirms Wagner’s law in two models in the long run; there was a break in 1993 in which the political crisis that engulfed the nation was accountable. The result also shows that economic growth and development are the main objectives of government expenditure, especially investment in infrastructure and human resources all of which falls under social and community services. Based on the result, there should be efforts to maintain adequate levels of investment in social and economic infrastructure. Key words: Public expenditure, economic growth, structural breaks, cointegration.
Bubbling in a co-flow at high Reynolds numbers

The physical mechanisms underlying bubble formation from a needle in a co-flowing liquid environment at high Reynolds numbers are studied in detail with the aid of experiments and boundary-integral numerical simulations. To determine the effect of gas inertia the experiments were carried out with air and helium. The influence of the injection system is elucidated by performing experiments using two different facilities, one where the constancy of the gas flow-rate entering the bubble is ensured, and another one where the gas is injected through a needle directly connected to a pressurized chamber. In the case of constant flow-rate injection conditions, the bubbling frequency has been shown to hardly depend on the gas density, with a bubble size given by db∕ro≃[6U(k*U+k2)∕(U−1)]1∕3 for U≳2, where U is the gas-to-liquid ratio of the mean velocities, ro is the radius of the gas injection needle, and k*=5.84 and k2=4.29, with db∕ro∼3.3U1∕3 for U⪢1. Nevertheless, in this case the effect of gas density is relev.
Physiological and quality changes of fresh-cut pineapple treated with antibrowning agents

The physiological responses of pineapple slices to antibrowning agents have been studied. Slices were immersed for 2min in solutions of isoascorbic acid (IAA) 0.1mol/l, ascorbic acid (AA) 0.05mol/l or acetyl cysteine (AC) 0.05mol/l, packaged in polystyrene trays, prior to storage for up to 14 days at 10 C. The use of these antibrowning agents reduced browning and decay of pineapple slices significantly. These treatments also reduced changes in L and b values as well as firmness loss. Changes of inpackage atmosphere did not adversely affect quality of slices. Slices treated with 0.1mol/l IAA had the best visual appearance and were more acceptable compared with the control slices. The best results were obtained using IAA, followed by AC and AA. Organoleptic attributes were not affected and no off-flavors were detected in the treated slices. We conclude that pineapple slices can be maintained in good condition for up 14 days at 10 C following treatment with antibrowning agents. r 2003 Swiss Society of Food Science and Technology. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Do White Shark Bites on Surfers Reflect Their Attack Strategies on Pinnipeds

The theory of mistaken identity states that sharks, especially white sharks, Carcharodon carcharias, mistake surfers for pinnipeds when looking at them from below and thus bite them erroneously. Photographs of surfer wounds and board damage were interpreted with special emphasis on shark size, wound severity, and extent of damage to a board. These were compared with the concurrent literature on attack strategies of white sharks on pinnipeds and their outcomes. The results show that the majority of damage to surfers and their boards is at best superficial-to-moderate in nature and does not reflect the level of damage needed to immobilize or stun a pinniped. It is further shown that the size distribution of sharks biting surfers differs from that in pinnipeds. The results presented show that the theory of mistaken identity, where white sharks erroneously mistake surfers for pinnipeds, does not hold true and should be rejected.
Processing of Gustatory Information by Protocerebral Neurons in the Moth Heliothis virescens

Insects are guided to potential host plants by visual and olfactory signals. Upon arrival they encounter various taste stimuli, ultimately deciding whether the plant is a proper food or oviposition source. The detection of gustatory stimuli by contact chemosensilla has been studied in several insect species, and intracellular recordings from neurons in the subesophageal ganglion (SOG) in Heliothis virescens have revealed responses to several taste qualities mediated by different appendages. However, how the gustatory information is further processed in higher gustatory areas and how it may lead to taste-related behavior is poorly understood. Important questions are where gustatory neurons project in the protocerebrum and how they process information mediated by different appendages, i.e. the coding of taste identity and location. These topics were investigated in the present study using intracellular recordings combined with fluorescent staining techniques. The recordings were carried out in vivo from single neurons in the protocerebrum of the moth Heliothis virescens, while concurrently stimulating the contact chemosensilla of the antennae and the proboscis with gustatory and mechanosensory stimuli. The protocerebral neurons showed large diversity in their response tuning breadth, some responding specifically to one tastant applied at one appendage, whereas others responded to several tastants applied at one, two or three appendages. Some of the neurons were successfully stained, all of them partially or entirely located in the protocerebrum. In addition, some of the neurons targeted the SOG/tritocerebrum, the antennal mechanosensory and motor center (AMMC) and the antennal lobes (ALs). The present results point to different processing streams of taste information in the protocerebrum, where the narrowly tuned neurons seem to participate in a labelled line (LL) and the others in an across fiber pattern (AFP) mechanism. Moreover, the important role of the gustatory system for influencing behavior is substantiated by the widespread gustatory innervation of the protocerebrum. These projections suggest a role for the gustatory system in modulating the activity of other sensory systems, in addition to the coding of taste information.
The Impact of Human Capital Development on Economic Growth in Ethiopia: Evidence from ARDL Approach to Co-Integration

The main objective of the study was to investigate the long run and short run impact of human capital on economic growth in Ethiopia (using real GDP per capita, as a proxy for economic growth) over the period 1974/75-2010/2011. The ARDL Approach to Co-integration and Error Correction Model are applied in order to investigate the long-run and short run impact of Human capital on Economic growth. The finding of the Bounds test shows that there is a stable long run relationship between real GDP per capita, education human capital, health human capital, labor force, gross capital formation, government expenditure and official development assistance. The estimated long run model revels that human capital in the form of health (proxied by the ratio of public expenditure on health to real GDP) is the main contributor to real GDP per capita rise followed by education human capital (proxied by secondary school enrollment). Such findings are consistent with the endogenous growth theories which argue that an improvement in human capital (skilled and healthy workers) improves productivity. In the short run, the coefficient of error correction term is -0.7366 suggesting about 73.66 percent annual adjustment towards long run equilibrium. This is another proof for the existence of a stable long run relationship among the variables. The estimated coefficients of the short-run model indicate that education is the main contributor to real GDP per capita change followed by gross capital formation (one period lagged value) and government expenditure (one period lagged value). But, unlike its long run significant impact, health has no significant short run impact on the economy. Even its one period lag has a significant negative impact on the economy. The findings of this paper imply that economic performance can be improved significantly when the ratio of public expenditure on health services to GDP increases and when secondary school enrollment improves. Such improvements have a large impact on human productivity which leads to improved national output per capita. Hence policy makers and/or the government should strive to create institutional capacity that increase school enrollment and improved basic health service by strengthening the infrastructure of educational and health institutions that produce quality manpower. In addition to its effort, the government should continue its leadership role in creating enabling environment that encourage better investment in human capital (education and health) by the private sector.
Comparison of the effect of superplasticizing admixtures on the processes of cement hydration during mechanochemical activation

The results of the study of the influence of two different super­plasticizers on the peculiarities of the process of hydration during mechanochemical activation (MCA) of a binder are given. The influence of SAS admixtures during the MCA of a binder on the kinetics of heat release and the alkalinity of the liquid phase of cement slurry is revealed. Technological properties of concrete mixture and physicomechanical properties of heavy­weight concrete, obtained by the MCA of a binder with the SAS admixtures, were studied. Dependencies of the influence of SAS on the processes and the nature of cement hydration were established, as well as on granulometric and phase composition of hydrated new formations. It was established that the application of SAS admixtures at the MCA of a binder makes it possible to substantially increase the efficiency of cement dispergation, which manifests itself in the decrease of grain sizes and the increase in specific surface area. The MCA of a binder with SAS admixtures makes it possible to obtain homogeneous cement suspension with the uniform distribution of water in the volume of cement, which positively affects physicomechanical properties and the quality of the obtained concrete. The application of SAS admixtures at the MCA of a binder results in the reduction of induction period of hydration by 2–5 hours, and also in the acceleration of crystallization period by 5–7 hours faster than in the reference compositions. MCA of cement suspension with SAS admixtures leads to the increase in the density of concrete mixture and a substantial increase in the strength limit of heavy­weight concrete at compression during all periods of hardening. With the MCA of a binder with SAS, an increase in the amount of crystalline phase by 10–12 % is observed in the first twenty­four hours of hardening, which confirms the conclusion about acceleration of cement hydration with the joint use of SAS and MCA. According to the results of a comprehensive study we received new data of the influence of super­plasticizing admixtures of different chemical bases on the peculiarities of the processes of hydration of a binder during MCA. The obtained data can be used for selection of super­plasticizing admixtures in the production of the ferroconcrete products, obtained with the MCA of a binder, as well as in the technology of construction of buildings made of monolithic reinforced concrete.
Numerical simulations of Gurenhekou glacier on the Tibetan Plateau

Abstract We investigate the impact of climate change on Gurenhekou glacier, southern Tibetan Plateau, which is representative of the tens of thousands of mountain glaciers in the region. We apply a three-dimensional, thermomechanically coupled full-Stokes model to simulate the evolution of the glacier. The steep and rugged bedrock geometry requires use of such a flow model. We parameterize the temperature and surface mass-balance (SMB) uncertainties using nearby automatic weather and meteorological stations, 6 year measured SMB data and an energy-balance model for a nearby glacier. Summer air temperature increased at 0.02 Ka−1 over the past 50 years, and the glacier has retreated at an average rate of 8.3 m a−1. Prognostic simulations suggest an accelerated annual average retreat rate of ~9.1 ma−1 along the central flowline for the next 25 years under continued steady warming. However, regional climate models suggest a marked increase in warming rate over Tibet during the 21st century, and this rate causes about a 0.9 ± 0.3% a−1 loss of glaciated area and 1.1 ± 0.6% a−1 shrinkage of glacier volume. These results, the rather high warming rates predicted and the small sizes of most Tibetan glaciers, suggest that significant numbers of glaciers will be lost in the region during the 21st century.
Are Social Preferences Skin Deep? Dictators under Cognitive Load

We study the impact of cognitive load in dictator games to test two conflicting views of moral behavior. Are social preferences skindeep in the sense that they are the result of humans’ cognitive reasoning while the natural instinct is selfish, or is rather the natural instinct to share fairly while our cognitive capacities are able to adjust moral principles in a selfserving manner? Some previous studies in more complex settings give conflicting answers, and to disentangle different possible mechanisms we use simple games. We study both charitable giving and the behavior of dictators under high and low cognitive load, where high cognitive load is assumed to reduce the impact of cognitive processes on behavior. In the dictator game we use both a give frame, where the dictator is given an amount and may share some or all of it to a partner, and a take frame, where dictators may take from an amount initially allocated to the partner. The results from four different studies indicate that the effect of cognitive load is small if at all existing.
Fit between Organizational Culture and Business Excellence: A Case Study of Heavy Electrical Equipment Plant, BHEL

The Heavy Electrical Equipment Plant (HEEP) of Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL) at Hardwar, is the manufacturer and exporter of power generation equipments for hydro, thermal, gas-based and nuclear power plants of the country. HEEP-Hardwar has been engaged in excellence efforts for quite some time, having bagged the ISO certification in 1993. TQM was launched in HEEP in 1995. The plant got OHSAS accreditation in 2002. Along with these quality efforts, HEEP embarked upon its journey to excellence by adopting the European Foundation for Quality in Management (EFQM) model for business excellence. It continuously went for CIIEXIM Bank excellence award evaluation which in turn used the EFQM model for evaluation. In 2006, HEEP was declared as the best manufacturing plant in the country in CII evaluation. While HEEP�s results so far have been commendable, it has to go some way before becoming a truly world class organization. And organizational culture has to play an important role in it. This study basically is an attempt to assess whether HEEP has a strong excellenceoriented culture or not. The deciphered strength of culture shall indicate the strong areas as well as the areas which need improvement and thus help HEEP to inculcate a strong excellence oriented culture in its organization. The specific objectives of the study are to: identify a suitable culture for business excellence assess and measure the culture identify the gray areas in BHEL's culture. An exploratory study was done to determine the dimensions of culture required for achieving excellence. After literature survey and discussions with experts from BHEL and academia, Broadfoot and Ashkansay�s organizational culture profile (OCP) was found to be the best suited culture framework with certain modifications, keeping in mind the scope of the current study. A 16-dimension framework was thus formed, out of which 15 were selected for assessment of HEEP�s culture. The dimensional framework was then developed into a questionnaire/inventory and empirically tested. With the help of OC survey and in-depth interviews, HEEP�s culture was deciphered along the selected dimensional framework. The value of total OC was found to be just strong indicating scope of improvement in several areas.
Exit wave reconstruction from focal series of HRTEM images, single crystal XRD and total energy studies on SbxWO3+y (x ∼ 0.11)

Abstract A new tungsten bronze in the Sb—W—O system has been prepared in a solid state reaction from Sb2O3, WO3 and W metal powder. The average structure was determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. SbxWO3+y (x ∼ 0.11) crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group Pm21n (no. 31), a = 27.8135(9) Å, b = 7.3659(2) Å and c = 3.8672(1) Å. The structure belongs to the (n)-ITB class of intergrowth tungsten bronzes. It contains slabs of hexagonal channels formed by six WO6 octahedra. These slabs are separated by three layers of WO6 octahedra that are arranged in a WO3-type fashion. The WO6 octahedra share all vertices to build up a three-dimensional framework. The hexagonal channels are filled with Sb atoms to ∼80% and additional O atoms. The atoms are shifted out of the center of the channels. Exit-wave reconstruction of focal series of high resolution-transmission-electron-microscope (HRTEM) images combined with statistical paramäeter estimation techniques allowed to study local ordering in the channels. Sb atoms in neighbouring channels tend to be displaced in the same direction, which is in agreement with total energy calculations on ordered structure models, but the ratio of the occupation of the two possible Sb sites varies from channel to channel. The structure of SbxWO3+y exhibits pronounced local modulations.