Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
CFD Numerical simulations of Francis turbines

In this paper the description of the internal flow in a Francis turbine is addressed from a numerical point of view. The simulation methodology depends on the objectives. On the one hand, steady simulations are able to provide the hill chart of the turbine and energetic losses in its components. On the other hand, unsteady simulations are required to investigate the fluctuating pressure dynamics and the rotor-stator interaction. Both strategies are applied in this paper to a working Francis turbine in Colombia. The employed CFD package is ANSYS-CFX v. 11. The obtained results are in good agreement with the in site experiments, especially for the characteristic curve.
Interactive comment on “ Identifying the connective strength between model parameters and performance criteria ” by Björn Guse et al .

Comment: This study presents an approach to quantify the strength of the bijective relationship between model parameters to performance measures. The proposed method explores the model parameter-performance space using regression trees with the goal to detect performance measures that can uniquely identify a parameter. The regression trees are first developed by casting model parameter as explanatory variables and performance measure as prediction variables, and then by exchanging the explanatory and prediction variables. These trees are developed for two catchments in Germany. The main idea presented in the study is interesting and results contribute valuable insights towards model diagnostics.
Relationships between locus of control, self-efficacy, efforts and academic achievement among engineering students

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationships between the affective learning needs namely, self-efficacy and locus of control, learning efforts and academic achievement among engineering students. For this purpose, a survey was conducted on first year engineering students from two technical universities in Malaysia. Self-efficacy and locus of control were assessed using existing instruments while learning efforts were assessed using a specifically designed instrument based on Carbonaro’s model of learning effort. Academic achievement data were based on cumulative grade point average (CGPA) obtained from self-report by participants. The findings indicate that females engineering students tend to have higher self-efficacy compared to males while both groups have similar locus of control and invest in similar learning efforts. Only locus of control is found to be related to academic achievement while self-efficacy is found to be related to efforts. In conclusion, locus of control seems to be an important factor in predicting academic achievement among engineering students.
The Structure of Interdependence in International Stock Markets

This study investigates the dynamic structure of nine major stock markets using an error correction model and directed acyclic graphs (DAG). The DAG representation provides a structure of causality among these markets in contemporaneous time. Building on this contemporaneous structure and the estimated error correction model, innovation accounting techniques are applied. The results show that the Japanese market is among the most highly exogenous and the Canadian and French markets among the least exogenous in our nine-market study. The U.S. market is highly influenced by its own historical innovations, but it is also influenced by market innovations from the U.K., Switzerland, Hong Kong, France and Germany. The U.S. market is the only market that has a consistently strong impact on price movements in other major stock markets in the longer-run.
First-principles calculations of a high-pressure synthesized compound PtC

The first-principles density-functional method is used to study the recently high-pressure synthesized compound PtC. It is confirmed by our calculations that platinum carbide has a zinc-blende ground-state phase at zero pressure and that the rock-salt structure is a high-pressure phase. The theoretical transition pressure from zinc-blende to rock-salt structure is determined to be 52 GPa. Furthermore, our calculation shows the possibility that the PtC experimentally synthesized under high pressure conditions might undergo a transition from rock-salt to zinc-blende structure after a pressure quench to ambient conditions.
Polymorphisms of two neuroendocrine–correlated genes associated with body weight and reproductive traits in Jinghai yellow chicken

In this study, insulin-like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP-2) and signal transducers activators of transcription 5b (STAT5b) gene were studied as candidate gene associated with body weight and reproductive traits of the Jinghai Yellow chicken. Single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of the IGFBP-2 and STAT5b genes were examined in both Jinghai Yellow chicken and three reference chicken populations by PCR-SSCP. Two SNPs (T3746TG and CC3753TT) were detected in the IGFBP-2 gene. One SNP (C8066T) was observed in the STAT5b gene. For primer 1, the general linear model analysis showed that Jinghai yellow chickens with FF genotypes had significant effect on hatch weight, egg weight at 300 days and body weight at 300 days than those of the EF genotype and had significant effect on body weight at 8 weeks of age than those of the EE genotype (P < 0.05). For primer 2, Jinghai yellow chickens with CT genotype had significant effect on hatch weight and age at first egg than CC genotype and TT genotype respectively (P < 0.05). SNPs in both IGFBP-2 and STAT5b genes had significant effect on body weight and reproductive traits of the Jinghai yellow chicken than those with either SNP alone. These SNPs may be served as a potential genetic marker for growth and reproduction traits evaluation of the Jinghai yellow chicken. Key words: Jinghai Yellow chicken, IGFBP-2 gene, STAT5b gene, economic traits, polymorphism.
Exploración de los efectos de cambios en la perspectiva del tiempo futuro, y de la instrumentalidad percibida, sobre rendimiento cualificado

Introduction. This study aimed to explore the possible changes in the Future Time Perspective (FTP) and Perceived Instrumentality (PI) over time as long as one academic semester, as well as to explore whether those changes in FTP and PI explained students’ Graded Performance (GP) with regard to a specific course; educational psychology. Method. A total of 188 undergraduate students participated in the study. Both classical statistical techniques and the Reliable Change Index were used to examine the possible changes in FTP and PI, whereas the Hierarchical Regression and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) analyses were used to examine the effects of those changes in FTP and PI on GP. Results. The results showed that for the majority of the students FTP and PI significantly changed, while they remained stable for others within the sample over one academic semester, signifying that the concepts of FTP-change and PI-change are more complex than it has been assumed to date in educational settings. However, those changes in FTP and PI did not explain GP with regard to the Educational Psychology course. Furthermore, while there was no observed significant age and gender effect on GP, a significant lecturer effect was observed. Conclusion. This effect was confirmed by the results of the SEM analysis. Educational implications and directions for future research were also discussed.
Sustainable organizational capacity building: is organizational learning a key?

This article offers reflections on an unexpected outcome of a study of the distinctive 'twinning' method employed during the last two decades by the Swedish International Development Cooperation Agency (Sida) to promote sustainable organizational and institutional capacity building in developing countries. Twinning arrangements have produced impressive benefits at the level of professional/technical upgrading, but results at the level of sustainable capacity building have generally been less satisfactory. Consequently, Sida have speculated whether the notion of organizational learning might provide a productive framework for twinning projects. The article reports on what appears to be the 'discovery' of an evolving 'learning organization' in apparently unlikely circumstances, and examines the factors which might account for this. The broader implications of the 'discovery' are discussed, and the possible relevance of the notion of tacit knowledge is suggested.
HST Grism Confirmation of 16 Structures at 1.4 < z < 2.8 from the Clusters Around Radio-Loud AGN (CARLA) Survey

We report spectroscopic results from our 40-orbit Hubble Space Telescope slitless grism spectroscopy program observing the 20 densest Clusters Around Radio-Loud AGN (CARLA) candidate galaxy clusters at 1.4 < z < 2.8. These candidate rich structures, among the richest and most distant known, were identified on the basis of [3.6]–[4.5] color from a 408 hr multi-cycle Spitzer program targeting 420 distant radio-loud AGN. We report the spectroscopic confirmation of 16 distant structures at 1.4 < z < 2.8 associated with the targeted powerful high-redshift radio-loud AGN. We also report the serendipitous discovery and spectroscopic confirmation of seven additional structures at 0.87 < z < 2.12 not associated with the targeted radio-loud AGN. We find that 1010–1011 M⊙ member galaxies of our confirmed CARLA structures form significantly fewer stars than their field counterparts at all redshifts within 1.4 ≤ z ≤ 2. We also observe higher star-forming activity in the structure cores up to z = 2, finding similar trends as cluster surveys at slightly lower redshifts (1.0 < z < 1.5). By design, our efficient strategy of obtaining just two grism orbits per field only obtains spectroscopic confirmation of emission line galaxies. Deeper spectroscopy will be required to study the population of evolved, massive galaxies in these (forming) clusters. Lacking multi-band coverage of the fields, we adopt a very conservative approach of calling all confirmations “structures,” although we note that a number of features are consistent with some of them being bona fide galaxy clusters. Together this survey represents a unique and large homogenous sample of spectroscopically confirmed structures at high redshifts, potentially more than doubling the census of confirmed, massive clusters at z > 1.4.
Seeing young fathers in a different way

I think it's absolutely outrageous that so many young men in our society feel they can go out, get women pregnant, allow them to have children, make them bring them up by themselves, often on benefits, and then just disappear. It is utterly shocking and I hope . the ministers will get hold of some of these feckless fathers, drag them off, make them work, put them in chains if necessary. (David Davies MP, 12 November 2013, House of Commons; Cornack, 2013)
Aerosol nucleation and its role for clouds and Earth's radiative forcing in the aerosol-climate model ECHAM5-HAM

Abstract. Nucleation from the gas phase is an important source of aerosol particles in the Earth's atmosphere, contributing to the number of cloud condensation nuclei, which form cloud droplets. We have implemented in the aerosol-climate model ECHAM5-HAM a new scheme for neutral and charged nucleation of sulfuric acid and water based on laboratory data, and nucleation of an organic compound and sulfuric acid using a parametrization of cluster activation based on field measurements. We give details of the implementation, compare results with observations, and investigate the role of the individual aerosol nucleation mechanisms for clouds and the Earth's radiative forcing. The results of our simulations are most consistent with observations when neutral and charged nucleation of sulfuric acid proceed throughout the troposphere and nucleation due to cluster activation is limited to the forested boundary layer. The globally averaged annual mean contributions of the individual nucleation processes to total absorbed solar short-wave radiation via the direct, semi-direct, indirect cloud-albedo and cloud-lifetime effects in our simulations are −1.15 W/m2 for charged H2SO4/H2O nucleation, −0.235 W/m2 for cluster activation, and −0.05 W/m2 for neutral H2SO4/H2O nucleation. The overall effect of nucleation is −2.55 W/m2, which exceeds the sum of the individual terms due to feedbacks and interactions in the model. Aerosol nucleation contributes over the oceans with −2.18 W/m2 to total absorbed solar short-wave radiation, compared to −0.37 W/m2 over land. We explain the higher effect of aerosol nucleation on Earth's radiative forcing over the oceans with the larger area covered by ocean clouds, due to the larger contrast in albedo between clouds and the ocean surface compared to continents, and the larger susceptibility of pristine clouds owing to the saturation of effects. The large effect of charged nucleation in our simulations is not in contradiction with small effects seen in local measurements: over southern Finland, where cluster activation proceeds efficiently, we find that charged nucleation of sulfuric acid and water contributes on average less than 10% to ultrafine aerosol concentrations, in good agreement with observations.
Microbial Lipases: A Prospect for Biotechnological Industrial Catalysis for Green Products: A Review

Microbes have been novel hosts for suitable industrial enzymes including lipases. With the rapid increase in biotechnological industries, there is need for improvement of bioproducts, enhance environmental safety and product yield. Microbes are qualified biological arsenal for the achievement of the above mentioned targets in the industrial sectors. Lipases as versatile biological catalyst has given a promising prospect in meeting the needs for most industries such as biodiesel, foods and drinks, leather, textile, detergents, pharmaceuticals and medicals. Catalytic importance of lipases includes hydrolysis, esterification and transesterification. Each of the mentioned reactions has their industrial applications. Lipases exhibit various properties, with respect to its source. Immobilization has made the use of microbial lipases attain its optimum performance and hence suitable for various reaction and the need to add flavor to the immobilization processes.
Beyond intentional trust: supplier opportunism and management control mechanisms in public sector procurement and contracting

We test an argument, drawn from transaction cost economics, that an assumption of intentional trust should be replaced with one of supplier opportunism in public sector procurement and contract management. We use structural equation modelling to evaluate quantitative evidence from 180 public and private sector buyers on the perceived effectiveness of various management control mechanisms aimed at restraining supplier opportunism. Our findings suggest that supplier opportunism is potentially a problem and that certain procurement and contract management mechanisms can assist buying organisations in moderating that opportunism. This supports arguments in favour of a ‘cautious approach’ to procurement and contract management.
Effects of Learning Environmental Education on Science Process Skills and Critical Thinking of Mathayomsuksa 3 Students with Different Learning Achievements

Problem statement: The object of this research aimed to investigate a nd compare effects of learning environmental education by wises of two ap proaches: The 5 E-Learning cycle with met cognitive techniques and the teacher's handbooks, o n learning achievement, basic science process skills and critical thinking of 75 Mathayomsuksa 3 (grade 9) students with different learning achievements. Approach: They were assigned to an experimental group with 3 8 students who learned using the 5 E-Learning cycle with met cognitive tec hniques and a control group with 37 students who learned using the teacher's handbook approach. Inst ruments used in the study included (1) 6 plans of learning organization using the 5 E-Learning cycle with 3 met cognitive techniques: Intelligibility, plausibility and wide applicability, 6 plans of lea rning organization using the teacher's handbook, approach; each plan for 3 h of learning in each wee k; (2) the learning achievement test with 40 item; (3) the test on basic science process skills with 8 subclass and 40 items and (4) the critical thinkin g test with 5 subclass and 54 items. The data were analyze d by the uses of a percentage, mean, a standard deviation, the paired t-test and the f-test (two-wa y MANCOVA). Results: The whole students, The high achievers and the low achievers in the experim ental group showed gains in learning achievement, basic science process skills in general and in 3-6 subclass and critical thinking in general and in 4- 5 subclass from before learning at the 0.05 level of significance. The experimental group indicated more learning achievement, basic science process skills in general and in 2 subclass: Process skills in gen eral and in 2 subclass: Measuring and predicting and cri tical thinking in general and in 1 subclass: interpretation, than the control group at the 0.05 level of significance. The high achievers shoed onl y higher basic science process skill in general and i n 3 subclass: Using space-time relationship, classifying and predicting, more than the low achie ves at the 0.05 level of significance. The statisti cal interactions of learning achievement with learning model on learning achievement and critical thinking were not found to be significant. Whereas, the inte raction of these two variables on basic science process skills in general and in 3 subclass: Measur ing, classifying and predicting were found to be significant at the 0.05 level. Concussion/Recommendations: The 5 E-Leaning cycle with met cognitive techniques could develop efficiently lear ning achievement, basic science process skills and critical thinking of the students. The teachers, th erefore, should be encourage and supported to implement this approach in teaching and learning en vironmental education in all grade levels.
A Comparative Study of Management of Fistula–In Ano with Partial Fistulectomy Combined With Medicated Seton Technique and Conventional Fistulectomy

Background Fistula in ano is one of the commonest problems faced in today’s world. It is still the disease of the present and has acquired much significance today in the background of a risingincidence of fistula in ano.Several techniques have been described for the management of fistula-in-ano, but all carrytheir own risks of recurrence and incontinence. Technology has evolved over the past 2decades that may enable surgeons to deal with this troublesome issue with greater success.This study summarizes the history of fistula-in-ano management, the current techniquesavailable, and describes new technologies. Aims And Objectives 1. To review & study patients who presented with Fistula-in-ano. 2. To study the efficacy of partial fistulectomy combined with medicated setontechnique. 3. To compare the efficacy of this technique with the conventional techniques offistulectomy. 4. To study and compare the morbidity associated with this technique with conventionalmethods. 5. To study and compare the early and late post operative complications of thistechnique with the conventional techniques.
Evidence of nuclear disks in starburst galaxies from their radial distribution of supernovae

Galaxy–galaxy interactions are expected to be responsible for triggering massive star formation and possibly accretion onto a supermassive black hole, by providing large amounts of dense molecular gas down to the central kiloparsec region. Several scenarios to drive the gas further down to the central ∼100 pc, have been proposed, including the formation of a nuclear disk around the black hole, where massive stars would produce supernovae. Here, we probe the radial distribution of supernovae and supernova remnants in the nuclear regions of the starburst galaxies M 82, Arp 299-A, and Arp 220, by using high-angular resolution (<0. �� 1) radio observations published in the literature (for M 82 and Arp 220), or obtained by ourselves from the European VLBI Network (Arp 299-A). Our main goal was to characterize the nuclear starbursts in those galaxies and thus test scenarios that propose that nuclear disks of sizes ∼100 pc form in the central regions of starburst galaxies. We obtained the radial distribution of supernovae (SNe) in the nuclear starbursts of M 82, Arp 299-A, and Arp 220, and derived scale-length values for the putative nuclear disks powering the bursts in those central regions. The scale lengths for the (exponential) disks range from ∼20–30 pc for Arp 299-A and Arp 220, up to ∼140 pc for M 82. The radial distribution of SNe for the nuclear disks in Arp 299-A and Arp 220 is also consistent with a power-law surface density profile of exponent γ = 1, as expected from detailed hydrodynamical simulations of nuclear disks. Our results support scenarios where a nuclear disk of size ∼100 pc is formed in (U)LIRGs, and sustained by gas pressure, in which case the accretion onto the black hole could be lowered by supernova feedback.
Check This Word out! Exploring the Factors That Affect Students' Vocabulary Learning Using Smartphones Via Partial Least Squares

A rigorous understanding of the use of Smartphones for foreign language vocabulary acquisition is crucial. Employing the technology acceptance model, this study aims to investigate students’ behavioural factors affecting Saudi students’ attitudes towards employing Smartphones for foreign vocabulary acquisition. Two hundred and seventy-three students studying in a preparatory year programme were surveyed. SmartPLS was employed to analyse the data obtained from the study’s sample. The results revealed that perceived usefulness and attitude proved to be significantly and positively related to vocabulary development. In addition, perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use proved to be significant predictors of students’ attitudes towards the use of Smartphone for vocabulary learning. However, the study showed that the relationship between perceived ease of use and vocabulary development is not significant. Thus, publishers of dictionaries may find it necessary to take into account the important role played by the design of dictionaries interfaces in facilitating the use of dictionaries in Smartphones. Furthermore, teachers and educators are encouraged to employ creative activities (e.g., word guessing games) that invest students’ use of Smartphones to learn vocabularies. Using Smartphones in learning improves interaction among students and teachers. Discussion and conclusions are also provided.
Effectively communicating masculine and feminine brand personality traits using brand logo designs

This research aims to further explore and clarify the roles of visual design elements in brand logos and their ability to influence brand gender perceptions. In an improvement on past research, this study clearly delineates the independent effects of type font, colour hue, and colour brightness in brand logos on creating brand femininity and masculinity perceptions. Using a between-subjects design with an online panel of American consumers, the study finds that display fonts, blue hues, and dark brightnesses in brand logos significantly enhance brand masculinity perceptions while script fonts, pink hues, and light brightnesses in brand logos significantly enhance brand femininity perceptions. This research is the first in the brand gender literature to uncover strong main effects for all three of these design elements. Individual-level uncertainty avoidance, Masculine and Feminine Gender Trait Index, and participant-identified sex are also tested as moderators and the main and interaction effects of these participant traits on brand gender perceptions are discussed. The results of this research provide theoretical contributions to brand personality, evolutionary psychology, and sensory marketing literatures. Limitations, future research ideas, and managerial implications conclude the discussion of this research.