Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Influence of Splitter Blades on the Flow Field of a Centrifugal Pump:Test-Analysis Comparison

This work aims at studying the influence of adding splitter blades on the performance of a hydraulic centrifugal pump. The studied machine is an ENSIVAL-MORET MP 250.200. 400 pump (diameter = 408 mm, 5 blades, specific speed = 32), whose impeller is designed with and without splitter blades. Velocity and pressure fields are computed using unsteady Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) approach at different flow rates. The sliding mesh method is used to model the rotor zone motion in order to simulate the impeller-volute casing interaction. The flow morphology analysis shows that, when adding splitter blades to the impeller, the impeller periphery velocities and pressures become more homogeneous. An evaluation of the static pressure values all around the impeller is performed and their integration leads to the radial thrust. Global and local experimental validations are carried out at the rotating speed of 900 rpm, for both the original and the splitter blade impellers. The head is evaluated at various flow rates: 50%, 80%, 100%, and 120% of the flow rate at the best efficiency point (BEP). The pressure fluctuations are measured at four locations at the BEP using dynamic pressure sensors. The experimental results match the numerical predictions, so that the effect of adding splitter blades on the pump is acknowledged. Adding splitters has a positive effect on the pressure fluctuations which decrease at the canal duct.
Geostatistical Interpolation of Positively Skewed and Censored Data in a Dioxin-Contaminated Site

A correct delineation of hazardous areas in a contaminated site relies first on accurate predictions of pollutant concentrations, a task usually complicated by the presence of censored data (observations below the detection limit) and highly positively skewed histograms. This paper compares the prediction performances of four geostatistical algorithms (ordinary kriging, log-normal kriging, multi-Gaussian kriging, and indicator kriging) through the cross validation of a set of 600 dioxin concentrations. Despite its theoretical limitations, log-normal kriging consistently yields the best results (smallest prediction errors, least false positives, and lowest total costs). The cross validation has been repeated 100 times for a series of sampling intensities, which reduces the risk that these results simply reflect sampling fluctuations. Indicator kriging (IK), in the simplified implementation of median IK, produces good predictions except for a moderate bias caused by the underestimation of high dioxin concen.
Analysis of genetic diversity in four Canadian swine breeds using pedigree data

Conservation of animal genetic resources entails judicious assessment of genetic diversity as a first step. The objective of this study was to analyze the trend of within-breed genetic diversity and identify major causes of loss of genetic diversity in four swine breeds based on pedigree data. Pedigree files from Duroc (DC), Hampshire (HP), Lacombe (LC) and Landrace (LR) containing 480 191, 114 871, 51 397 and 1 080 144 records, respectively, were analyzed. Pedigree completeness, quality and depth were determined. Several parameters derived from the in-depth pedigree analyses were used to measure trends and current levels of genetic diversity. Pedigree completeness indexes of the four breeds were 90.4, 52.7, 89.6 and 96.1%, respectively. The estimated percentage of genetic diversity lost within each breed over the last three decades was approximately 3, 22, 12 and 2%, respectively. The relative proportion of genetic diversity lost due to random genetic drift in DC, HP, LC and LR was 74.5, 63.6, 72.9 and 6.
Innovation diffusion in networks: the microeconomics of percolation

We implement a diffusion model for an innovative product in a market with a structure of social relationships. Diffusion is described with a percolation approach in the price space. Percolation shows a phase transition from a diffusion to a no-diffusion regime. This has strong implications for market demand and pricing. We study the effect of network structure on market diffusion efficiency by considering a number of cases, such as one-dimensional and two-dimensional lattices, small worlds, Poisson networks and Scale-free networks. We consider two measures of diffusion efficiency: the size of diffusion and the diffusion time-length. We find that network connectivity "spreading" is the most important factor for the size of diffusion. Clustering is ineffective. This means that societies with higher dimensionality are better markets for diffusion. This result is most evident for the size of diffusion, while a short average path-length is more important for the speed of diffusion. Endogenous learning curves shift the percolation threshold to higher prices, and constitute an endogenous mechanism of price discrimination. The best market strategy of innovation diffusion is to start with high price and allow for a learning curve.1
Profit redistribution in family-controlled, group-affiliated publicly - Listed corporations in Malaysia

This paper attempts to examine the potential occurrence of profit redistribution in family-controlled business groups in Malaysia. It is argued that there exists a tendency for business groups with extensive family ownership and control to redistribute resources from group affiliates that outperformed to affiliates that underperformed. This phenomenon is prevalent particularly in large business groups where the link between business groups and politics is most clearly displayed. Such "propping up? activities are believed to adversely affect the shareholders of the outperforming affiliates as the performance of these affiliates diminishes due to the profit redistribution. They also result in inefficient allocation of resources within the business group, though it is found that higher board independence may reduce such inefficiency.
Thermal behavior of a commercial prismatic Lithium-ion battery cell applied in electric vehicles

Published: This paper mainly discusses the thermal behavior and performance of Lithium-ion batteries utilized in hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs), battery electric vehicles (BEVs) and fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs) based on numerical simulations. In this work, the battery’s thermal behavior is investigated at different C-rates and also contour plots of phase potential for both tabs and volume-monitored plot of maximum temperature inside the computational domain are illustrated. The numerical simulation is done via ANSYS Fluent traditional software package which utilizes the dual potential multi-scale multi-dimensional (MSMD) battery model to analyze the cell discharge behavior and investigate the thermal performance and potential variation(s). The results show that the maximum temperature of battery surface is proportional to the battery discharge rate, i.e., the higher the C-rate, the greater the cell surface temperature. Moreover, an increasing symmetric pattern is noticed for volume monitor of maximum temperature over the simulation period. Finally, it is worth noting that the battery tab potential varies more quickly if the C-rate becomes greater. In fact, the lowest and highest rate of changes are observed for 1C and 4C rate of discharging, respectively.
Composition and stability of hybrid stars with hyperons and quark color-superconductivity

The recent measurement of a $1.97\pm 0.04$ solar-mass pulsar places a stringent lower bound on the maximum mass of compact stars and therefore challenges the existence of any agents that soften the equation of state of ultra-dense matter. We investigate whether hyperons and/or quark matter can be accommodated in massive compact stars by constructing an equation of state based on a combination of phenomenological relativistic hyper-nuclear density functional and an effective model of quantum chromodynamics (the Nambu-Jona-Lasinio model). Stable configurations are obtained with $M \ge 1.97 M_{\sun}$ featuring hyper-nuclear and quark matter in color superconducting state if the equation of state of nuclear matter is stiff above the saturation density, the transition to quark matter takes place at a few times the nuclear saturation density, and the repulsive vector interactions in quark matter are substantial.
Analysis Of Children’s Mechanistic Reasoning About Linkages And Levers In The Context Of Engineering Design

Reasoning about mechanisms is one of the hallmarks of disciplined inquiry in science and engineering. Despite the central importance of mechanistic reasoning, its origins are not well understood. Numerous curricular efforts involve simple machines and related physical systems, but these do not yet build toward a systematic and longer-term vision for promoting the development of reasoning about mechanisms. The research we describe here was developed in partnership with a team of engineers and science educators who aim to support the early development of mechanistic reasoning through a curriculum that challenges children to design kinetic toys called MechAnimations. Our research aims to characterize the intellectual resources available to children as they engage in design challenges and to describe the process by which these design activities may promote development of mechanistic reasoning. This paper provides an in-depth look at children’s prior understandings of a key aspect of MechAnimation design – the mechanics of linkages and levers. In a flexible interview, 9 children at grades 2 and 5 were asked to predict and explain the motion of mechanical linkages. Children explored contrasting pairs of mechanisms, chosen to highlight components of the system important to its functioning (such as the location of the fulcrum in relation to the input). As one might expect, many student responses focused on aspects of the mechanical system that were not oriented toward its function. For example, “it looks like a plus sign. ” However, children also exhibited more sophisticated thinking, such as describing the parts and structure of the mechanisms. The most sophisticated student responses included mechanistic descriptions of how the parts and structure worked to: constrain motion, affect the direction of rotation, coordinate the direction of motion for input and output levers, coordinate the movement of lever arms, and affect the magnitude of motion. Overall, children who more readily tended to relations between input and output seemed better able to predict mechanism motion. All children demonstrated at least some elements of mechanistic thinking, but many of their responses lacked coordination of multiple elements. When children coordinated multiple elements, they were also more likely to successfully predict the motion of one or more outputs, given an input. Children who predicted incorrectly tended to exhibit mechanistic reasoning only after observing the mechanisms move, if at all. Although designed to ascertain children’s’ naïve ideas about mechanisms, certain aspects of the interviews seemed to support the development of elements of mechanistic reasoning. For example, comparing the motion of contrasting mechanisms helped some children notice relevant variables not apparent before the contrast. These results suggest methods for characterizing mechanistic reasoning as well as potential resources for supporting its development. We anticipate that the latter may profitably be incorporated into design challenges.
The effect of management system on Camel's milk yield and calve growth rate in north Kordofan, Sudan.

Twenty lactating she-camels and two mature male for mating were selected in north Kordofan state, Sudan. The animals were divided into two groups 10 she-camel of each with one male for mating. Group one managed in a semi intensive system, all animals were herded during night in closed in pen and set free during the midday. Supplementation consists of concentrates (2kg/day) and roughages (5kg/day) were used. The other group served as a control (Under traditional system) all animals managed traditionally but within the site of the experimental work, on this system the animals are brought to grazing areas where they selected the feed by themselves from the available plants and allowing nothing as supplemented feeding. The calves’ weights were determined every six months using traditional balances, also daily milk yield were recorded. The study indicated that daily milk production in she-camel reared under semi-intensive system was higher than the camels reared under traditional management. Also the results indicated that the body weight of the calves under semi-intensive system during six, 12 and 18 months of age were the highest than the calves reared in the traditional system, semi-intensive system improved the daily growth rates of the calve. The study showed that there were non-significant differences between male and female on daily gain.
Numerical Chromosomal Abnormalities in Patients with Acute Lymphoblastic and Myeloid Leukemia in Iran

The majority of cases of ALL demonstrate an abnormal karyotype, either in chro mosome nu mber or structural changes. Abnormal chro mosome number in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia defines distinct biological subgroups with a different response to treatment. The tubes are cultured with three different protocols to save time if one protocol failed. Cultures are then harvested, and cells are fixed and chromosome spreads are prepared. Of 25 patient studied, one patient had psudodiploid karyotype, three patients had tetra-ploid karyotype, four patients had low hypo-diploid karyotype, four patients had high hyper-diploid karyotype, five patients had low hyper-d iploid karyotype and eight patients had normal karyotype. Some other factors like, Age, Sex, Consanguinity, Hemoglob in, W BC count, and Type of the leukemia cell also have been evaluated. We found excess number of patients having hypodiploid karyotype but still response to treatment protocols were satisfactory. By co mparison between 4 different cultures methods, we find d irect method to be more efficient for ploidy analysis.
The Effects of Tax Avoidance, Accrual Earnings Management, Real Earnings Management, and Capital Intensity on the Cost of Equity

This study aims to examince the effects of tax avoidance, accrual earning management, real earnings management and capital intensity on the cost of equity. The population of this study is a manufacturing company listed on the Indonesia Stock Exchange which amounted to 146 companies. The sampling technique used was purposive sampling and resulted in 420 units of analysis. This type of research is quantitative causality by performing hypothesis testing analysis is done by using multiple linear regression model. The findings of this research are tax avoidance will add to the risks that must be borne by investors thus increasing uncertainty over their investment. Investors consider that accrual profit management actions are opportunistic as risk-taking actions as well as real profit management actions. While on Capital Intensity, investors assume the information on the company’s fixed assets is not useful in making investment decisions. The conclusions that can be taken are tax avoidance, accrual profit management, and earnings management real positive to the cost of equity. However, capital intensity has a negative effect.
Effects of neutral detergent fiber concentration and particle size of the diet on chewing activities of dairy cows

Six dry Holstein cows were used to evaluate the effect of dietary neutral detergent fiber (NDF) concentration and particle size (PS) on chewing activity. Treatments were arranged in a 3×3 factorial design; total mixed rations contained three NDF concentrations (26, 32, 38%) and three PS (1.0, 1.5, 2.0 cm). NDF levels and particle sizes of diets were adjusted by formulating rate and cutting length of alfalfa hay and rice straw. Cows were fed twice daily at 90% of ad libitum feed intake throughout the experiment. Chewing activity was positively associated with NDF concentration, but not significantly affected by PS of diet. Eating time per unit of NDF intake was affected by PS rather than NDF concentration of diet. Time spent ruminating per unit DM or NDF intake increased with increasing NDF concentration of diet, but was not affected by PS. As the PS of diet increased, the eating time per day increased, but the rumination time decreased. In addition, as the number of rumination bolues decreased the rumination duration increased as well as the chews per bolus. The regression equation induced from relationships of NDF concentrations (NDF, %) and particle sizes (PS, cm) of diet on roughage value index (RVI, min of chewing time/kg DMI) was as follows. RVI=-19.672+1.44×NDF+5.196×PS, (r 2 =0.81). (Asian- Aust. J. Anim. Sci. 2004. Vol 17, No. 11 : 1535-1540)
The endemic plant families and the palms of New Caledonia: a biogeographical analysis

This paper provides a panbiogeographical analysis of the endemic plant families and the palms of New Caledonia. There are three endemic plant families in New Caledonia and several genera that were previously recognized as endemic families. Of these taxa, some are sister to widespread Northern Hemisphere or global groups (Canacomyrica, Austrotaxus, Amborella). The others belong to trans‐Indian Ocean groups (Strasburgeria), trans‐tropical Pacific groups (Oncotheca) or Tasman Sea/Coral Sea groups (Phelline, Paracryphia) that are sister to widespread Northern Hemisphere or global groups. In palms, the four clades show allopatric regional connections in, respectively: (1) western Indonesia, Malaysia and Thailand; (2) Vanuatu/Fiji and the southern Ryukyu Islands near Taiwan; (3) the western Tasman/Coral Sea (eastern Australia, New Guinea and the Solomon Islands); and (4) the eastern Tasman/Coral Sea (Lord Howe and Norfolk Islands, New Zealand, Vanuatu, Fiji and the Solomon Islands). The four clades thus belong to different centres of endemism that overlap in New Caledonia. The patterns are attributed not to chance dispersal and adaptive radiation but to the different histories of the eight terranes that fused to produce modern New Caledonia. Trans‐tropical Pacific connections can be related to the Cretaceous igneous plateaus that formed in the central Pacific and were carried, with plate movement, west to the Solomon Islands and New Zealand, and east to Colombia and the Caribbean.
Quantum Mechanical Modeling of Fluoromethylated-pyrrol Derivatives a Study on their Reactivities, Structures and Vibrational Properties

In this work, the structural and vibrational properties of 1-5-(difluoromethyl-1H-pyrrol-2-yl-) ethanone (DFPE) were studied by using the hybrid B3LYP/6-31G* method. The properties were analyzed and compared with those obtained for 1-(1H-pyrrol-2-yl) ethanone (PE) and 1-(5-(trifluoromethyl)-1H-pyrrol-2-yl) ethanone (TFPE). The theoretical 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR and 19F-NMR chemical shifts for DFPE were predicted by using the B3LYP/6-311++G** approach with the GIAO and CGST methods showing the three spectra good concordances with the corresponding experimental ones. A complete assignment of the vibrational spectra was presented.
Microbial Processing Of Spent Sorghum Grains for Possible Use as Chicken Feed

The possibility of upgrading spent sorghum grains to chicken feed through microbial processing was investigated. Spent sorghum grains (SSG) were fermented for a period of 21 days at 25 ± 2 o C using a consortium of A. niger, C. globosum and S. cerevisiae. The effects of microbial processing on the nutrient composition of the SSG were assessed and the nutrient composition of the microbe-processed product was compared with the nutrient requirements of chicken. Fermentation led to increases in the contents of crude protein (56%), crude fat (59.65%) and ash (38%). Crude fibre and NFE contents were decreased by 24.84% and 35.43% respectively. Energy content increased by 7.8%. The percent dry matter values of fifteen amino acids ( lysine, histidine, arginine, aspartic acid, glutamic acid, proline, glycine, alanine, cystine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine tyrosine and phenylalanine) were found to increase. Elemental analysis revealed increases in the values of calcium, phosphorus, potassium and iron, and decreases in the values of magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc. Microbial processing with the test organisms generally enhanced the nutritional quality of SSG, but for it to be used as chicken feed, there is need for further fibre reduction, energy enhancement and mineral supplementation.
Theoretical Orientations of Turkish Counselor Trainees: The Role of Thinking Styles, Epistemology and Curiosity

Counselors vary in personality traits, worldviews, epistemic values, cognitive styles, and developmental influences, and these variations in return effect their choice of a guiding theory. This study addresses the variables associated with the theoretical orientations of Turkish psychological counseling students. Participants completed measures of curiosity, thinking styles, epistemological beliefs and a questionnaire on their theoretical choices. Three separate discriminant analysis were conducted to understand which variables differentiate between theoretical orientations. Results of the discriminant analysis revealed that conservative and liberal thinking styles and absorption dimension of curiosity differentiated between theoretical orientations.
Economic Analysis of Market Performance of Fresh Fish in Lagos State, Nigeria

This study analysed the market performance of fresh fish marketing in Lagos state, Nigeria. It critically focused on ascertaining the market structure, determining the profitability of fish marketing and determining the marketing efficiency of fresh fish marketing in the study area. Multistage sampling procedure was used to sample 80 fresh fish marketers from Lagos state. The data collected for the study were analysed using Gini coefficient, budgetary technique and shepherd efficiency model. The study revealed that there was inequality in the income distribution among the fresh fish marketers with Gini coefficient of 0.78, it further shows that fresh fish marketing is profitable with gross margin of #27,101.36 and that fish marketing activities among fish marketers is highly efficient (517.5%). Thus, government should help in the provision of a soft loan to the marketers so as to promote fresh fish marketing being a profitable and efficient business.
Toward a Framework for Identifying Attitudes and Intentions to Music Acquisition from Legal and Illegal Channels

Technological developments have had a profound effect on modern music acquisition, allowing people to share music over the Internet for free. The research identifies the antecedents of consumers’ attitudes and intentions to acquire music from various channels. The paper reports findings of a structured questionnaire survey of university students in the UK and Greece (n=511). Using structural equation modeling the authors conclude that consumers’ intention to acquire music via a legal channel is influenced by idolatry, the perceived quality of music, the perceived likelihood of punishment (digital legal channel only) and their subjective norm. On the other hand, intention to acquire music via an illegal channel is influenced by the perceived benefits of piracy. The price of legitimate music was only significant for the illegal street vendor channel, whereas idolatry had a positive effect on illegal downloading. Gender had moderating effects on perceived likelihood of punishment and attitude, and income moderated attitude and intention from P2P platforms. The findings carry important implications for academic researchers, practitioners and policy makers.