Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Mapping the transition : content and pedagogy from school through university

A study has been carried out at the University of Edinburgh in order to examine how physics students’ abilities and attitudes towards study change during their time at university. This is a large topic with numerous possible avenues of research, as a result the field has been narrowed for this thesis in order to focus on three main subject areas; how students adapt during the transition from school to university, how students attitudes towards studying physics change during an undergraduate degree and, finally, student data handling skills in the undergraduate laboratory with links to whether student perceptions of their data handling skills are consistent with their ability. It has been found that students may face difficulties going from school to university study. Students potentially face gaps in their prior learning due to differences in school leaving qualification syllabi, which is compounded by instructors having expectations of student ability that are higher than student actual ability. It has been seen that students become less positive in their attitudes towards study over the course of their first year of instruction, potentially due to a drop in confidence. In the subject area of attitudes towards study, longitudinal studies have been carried out in order to examine the expert-like thinking of students. Results gathered are suggestive of a selection effect with the most expert-like thinkers possessing levels of expert thinking similar to those of physics instructors, even when initially entering the degree program. Investigation of student laboratory work has shown that there is a large gap between student estimations of their own ability and the reality of such skills. This has been demonstrated by contrasting the results of surveys examining student perceptions towards practical work with data gathered from a data handling diagnostic test that has been designed and implemented as part of this thesis.
Determinants of Workers' Remittances: Evidence from the European Neighbouring Region

Workers’ remittances have become the second largest source of net financial flows to developing countries. However, the main motives for sending remittances remain controversial. This paper examines the importance of altruistic versus investment motives using a new panel data set of bilateral flows from 21 Western European to 7 EU neighbouring countries. We find that altruism is important for remitting, as the GDP differential between sending and receiving countries is positively correlated with the average remittance per migrant. By contrast, interest rate differentials are insignificant, suggesting a weak investment motive. Finally, migrants’ skills raise remittances, while a large informal economy in the sending country depresses official remittance flows. JEL Classification: D13, D64, F22, F24, O15
Safety and Efficacy of Intermittent Intravenous Administration of High-Dose Micafungin.

BACKGROUND The use of mold-active azoles for antifungal prophylaxis after allogeneic stem cell transplantation (SCT) is hindered by adverse events and drug-drug interactions. Higher doses of echinocandins administered intermittently may be an alternative in this setting. METHODS This was a single-center, observational 5-year study to characterize the safety and efficacy of intermittent administration of high-dose intravenous micafungin (≥5 doses of ≥300 mg micafungin 2-3 times weekly) in patients with acute leukemia and allogeneic SCT recipients. RESULTS A total of 104 patients (84 allogeneic SCT recipients and 20 patients with leukemia) received intermittent high-dose intravenous micafungin, 83 (79.8%) as prophylaxis. Large variability in the micafungin dosing regimen was observed; 78 (75%) patients received >75% of their course as 300 mg micafungin 3 times weekly. Liver function tests decreased from baseline to end of treatment (EOT; P < .001). Patients with normal baseline liver function (n = 55 [52%]) maintained similar enzyme levels throughout the study. For patients with abnormal baseline liver function (n = 49 [47%]), liver function tests significantly improved from baseline to EOT (P ≤ .005). Duration and/or micafungin dosing algorithms were not associated with liver toxicity at EOT. There were no significant changes in renal function, and infusion-related reactions or deaths were not observed. Five of 83 (6.0%) patients in the prophylaxis group developed a breakthrough fungal infection. CONCLUSIONS In this largest cohort of patients to date, intermittent administration of high-dose micafungin was well tolerated, without any associated liver or renal function abnormalities, and may be considered an alternative antifungal prophylactic strategy. Prospective studies are needed to further validate these findings.
The Impact of FDI Inflow on Domestic Firms’ Uptake of CSR Activities: The Moderating Effects of Host Institutions

This study examines whether foreign direct investment (FDI) inflow helps or hinders local firms’ uptake of corporate social responsibility (CSR) activities in a developing host country. The study further examines the interaction effect of host institutions on the relationship between FDI inflow and local firms’ uptake of CSR activities. Results of hierarchical regression analysis of data from a sample of 227 local firms in Ghana, reveal that local firms’ uptake of CSR improves significantly with an increasing inflow of FDI through knowledge transfer. Host institutions are also found to influence the transfer of CSR activities from foreign firms to local firms. However, when the quality of institutions is very high, the impact of FDI on local firms’ CSR activities diminishes. Research and practical implications of these findings are discussed. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Degradation of individual polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons [PAHs] in soil polluted with aircraft fuel

Degradation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) such as phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, benzo[a]anthracene, chryzene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[e]pyrene, benzo[k]fluoranthene and benzo[a]pyrene) in the surface layer (5 cm) of soil polluted with aircraft fuel in an amount of 10 ml/kg was analyzed. The direct influence of solubility in water on the degree of its loss was proven. The clear influence of the soil type – directly related, among other things, to organic matter content and contribution of alluvial fraction – on the decomposition of 5-ring PAHs. Half-lives ranged from 152 to 313 for 3-ring PAHs and from 117 to 492 for 4- and 5-ring PAHs.
Work ability and treatment needs among Finnish female prisoners.

PURPOSE The purpose of this paper is to assess the work ability and employment history of Finnish female prisoners and their need for treatment. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH The sample consisted of 101 female prisoners, with 309 male prisoners for comparison. The methods included interviews, the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-IV Axis I, II Disorders and medical examination including ICD-10 diagnoses. FINDINGS Among women, 78 per cent were unemployed and only 6 percent were employed whereas among men, the proportion of those employed was four times greater than for women. Of women, 42 per cent were unable to work; of men 11 per cent. Substance abuse disorders were the most common reason for impaired work ability (over 70 per cent in both genders). Among women, other mental disorders were the second most common reason (39 per cent), somatic diseases caused impairment in 23 per cent. Basic socio-demographic factors were not associated with impaired work ability among women. Violent crime as the present main offence was significantly more common among prisoners with limited working capacity. Need for treatment was found in 94 per cent of women and 90 per cent of men. In both genders, the majority of treatment needs were for mental disorders. Finnish female prisoners have serious problems with substance abuse, of both alcohol and drugs, which impairs their work ability, employability and is the cause of their need for treatment. In addition, female prisoners have other mental disorders commonly complicating their situation. ORIGINALITY/VALUE This paper is a part of the first comprehensive health study of Finnish female prisoners.
Structural Changes in Expected Stock Returns Relationships: Evidence from Ase

This paper suggests a recursive application of Fama and MacBeth's (1973) testing procedure to assess the significance of macroeconomic factors and firm-specific effects priced in explaining the cross-sectional variation of expected stock returns over time. The paper applies the suggested testing procedure to investigate the source of risks of the Athens Stock Exchange (ASE). Among the variables examined, it finds out that the changes in the short term interest rates and firm size can explain a significant proportion of the variation of the ASE individual returns. The paper argues that the significance of interest rate changes can be associated with monetary policy changes introduced by the Greek authorities after the mid-nineties. These changes were focused on targeting interest rates, instead of monetary aggregates. Copyright 2006 The Authors Journal compilation (c) 2006 Blackwell Publishing Ltd.
Integrated weed management for system productivity and economics in soybean (Glycine max)-wheat (Triticum aestivum) system

A field experiment was conducted at New Delhi during 2006-07 and 2007-08 to find out the effect of soil solar- ization, deep disking, smother crop (cowpea), glyphosate, imazethapyr and Sesbania mulch on the infestation of weeds and the productivity and profitability of soybean [Glycine max (L.) Merr. ]iiwheat (Triticum aestivum L. emend. Fiori & Paol.) cropping system. Soil solarization followed by (fb) glyphosate at 1.0 kg/ha reduced the den- sity and dry weight of weeds by 85% in soybean and 65% in wheat. It, therefore, resulted in considerably higher uptake of nutrients by soybean (92.5 kg N, 11.7 kg P and 34.3 kg Wha) with concurrent lower uptake by weeds (2.6 kg N, 0.5 kg P and 3.3 kg Wha). It also recorded 61.2% higher soybean seed yield and 28% higher wheat yield compared with those of farmersi practice (one summer ploughing). Two hand weedings among rainy-season treatments proved most superior in terms of lowest density, dry weight and nutrient uptake (2.4 kg N, 0.45 kg P and 3.1 kg Wha) by weeds and highest nutrient uptake (85.5 kg N, 10.5 kg P and 38.2 kg Wha) by soybean. It re- corded 41.3% more soybean seed yield than the unweeded control, but incurred the highest cost of cultivation (Rs 26,643). On soybean-wheat system basis, soil solarization fb glyphosate at 1.0 kg /ha incurred the highest cost of cultivation (Rs 31,519), but controlled weeds effectively and recorded the highest system productivity. However, the net income (Rs 59,926) and benefit : cost ratio (2.5) were the highest in smother crop (cowpea). lmazethapyr as a follow-up treatment in the rainy season provided the highest benefit :cost ratio (1.66). Thus, soil solarization fb glyphosate at 1.0 kglha being superior in weed control and system productivity proved to be a beneficial prac- tice in soybean-wheat system, but owing to its high cost was not as economical as the smother crop.
Information Subsidies, Journalism Routines and the Australian Media: Market Liberalization versus Marketplace of Ideas

Information technology is invariably equated with liberalization and greater citizen access to knowledge. However, some economies of scale made possible by technology, together with contemporary information-gathering and distribution processes, may diminish rather than enhance democratic practices. Analyses of the contributions of journalists and sources to television news reveal some consequences of technological innovation and organizational behaviour in the Australian media that justify retention of existing cross-media ownership laws restricting media barons to being princes of print or queens of screen.
What Rules in the ‘Deep’ Determinants of Comparative Development?

During the past decade or so empirical literature on comparative development of nations has turned to investigation of "deep" or determinants of productivity and capital intensity, such as institutions, trade, geography and human capital. In this paper I revisit this debate and make three contributions. First, I review critically the main findings in the literature using all potentially endogenous determinants of comparative development. The findings suggest that in general the results are not robust to the use of measures of institutional quality and/or respective instruments, and might be misspecified. Second, I make a careful selection across all the instruments for all the deep determinants and argue that settler mortality proposed by Acemoglu et al. (2001) is not a dominant instrument for institutional quality and its potentially the most prone to fail to satisfy the exclusion restriction. Consequently I provide evidence that the theory of colonial origins is not institutional in its nature and rather supports human capital prevalence hypothesis. Third, I show that earlier studies have failed to account for substitutable roles between institutions and openness. In the final race, however, human capital and geography come out as winners with openness having at best indirect complementary effects.
How Does a New Sports Stadium Affect Housing Values? The Case of FedEx Field

This study investigates how the construction of a sports stadium affects residential housing values. Hedonic analyses are conducted to assess the price differentials between housing units in close proximity to FedEx Field (home of the Washington Redskins) and comparable units away from it. Using a difference-in-difference approach, the study finds that properties near FedEx Field sold at a discount; however, this price differential was narrowed after the completion of the stadium. Contrary to neighborhood activists’ concern that sports venues adversely affect property values, the findings of this study indicate that a new stadium improves housing values in the surrounding area. (JEL R53, R31)
Free revealing and the private-collective model for innovation incentives

A central tenant of open innovation is free revealing of the detailed workings of novel products and services, so that others may use them, learn from them, and perhaps improve them as well. We explain that innovators frequently do freely reveal proprietary information and knowledge regarding both information-based products and physical products they have developed. We explain why free revealing can make good economic sense for innovators and for society as well. The article develops the case for free revealing in terms of a ‘private collective’ model of innovation incentives.
Water sorption properties of Dutch type semi-hard cheese edge in the range of common storing temperatures

Moisture sorption isotherms of Dutch type semi-hard cheese edge in the temperature range of 10-25 oC and water activity (Aw) from 0.11 to 0.98 were determined using manometric method. The sorption curves had a sigmoid shape. The equilibrium moisture content (EMC) of cheese samples increased with an increase in Aw at a constant temperature both for water adsorption and desorption. An increase in temperature caused an increase in Aw for the same moisture content (MC) and, if Aw was kept constant, an increase in temperature caused a decrease in the amount of absorbed water. Critical values of equilibrium moisture content, corresponding to the Aw = 0.6, were between 11 % MC (w.b.) and 17 % MC (w.b.) both for moisture adsorption and desorption. Values of sorption heat were calculated from moisture sorption isotherms by applying the Clausius-Clapeyron equation. Values of the heat of desorption are higher than those of adsorption and the difference increases with the MC decrease. Heat of sorption decreased from 48.5 kJ/mol (~5.5 % MC w.b.) to the values approaching the heat of vaporization of pure water, free MC. The critical value for free water evaporation is about w = 27 % (w.b.) for the range of temperature 10-25 oC.
Applicability of HCI techniques to systems interface design

This thesis seeks to identify reasons why HCI techniques are unsuitable for application in real world design projects. User-oriented systems design and evaluation require that many considerations such as the psychology of users, the applications and target tasks be born in mind simultaneously. A selection of influential HCI design and evaluative techniques from HCI research literature are reviewed and characterised in terms of their analytic scope. Two studies of systems designers' approaches to user-oriented design and evaluation were carried out in order to gain a clearer picture of the design process as it occurs in applied and commercial projects. It was found that designers frequently lack adequate information about users, carrying Out, at best, informal user-evaluations of prototypes. Most notably HCI design and evaluative techniques, of the type common in the literature, are not being used in applied and commercial design practice. They seem to be complex, often limited in scope, and possessed of inadequate or unrepresentative views of the design process within which they might be applied. It was noted that design practice is highly varied with only a small number of common goal directed classes of activity being identified. These together with observed user-oriented information sources and design constraints provide a useful schema for viewing applied and commercial design practice. A further study of HCI specialists' practice in commercial environments was undertaken, in order to identify particular user-oriented design approaches and HCI techniques suitable for application in practice. The specialists were able to describe desirable, and undesirable properties of the techniques they used which made it possible to identify a list of specific desirable features for HCI techniques. A framework for assessing applicability of HCI techniques was developed from the findings of the thesis. This is demonstrated using an example project from the design studies and may prove valuable in supporting design, evaluation, critiquing and selection of HCI techniques.
HAS MACROECONOMIC PERFORMANCE REGAINED ITS ANTIPOVERTY BITE

From the mid-1980s to the early 1990s, several important studies examined the statistical relationship between the U.S. official poverty rate and overall economic performance. Most of these studies focused on the apparent break in this relationship beginning in the late 1970s or early 1980s. In this article, we present the results of our study of the relationship between macroeconomic performance and the poverty rate, using annual time-series data on macroeconomic variables, such as the unemployment rate and per-capita GDP growth from 1959 through 1998. Like these earlier studies, we also find that economic performance had a smaller antipoverty effect during the 1970s and 1980s than it did in earlier years. However, our estimates suggest that the weakened economic growth-poverty relationship may have been an aberration of this period and that the expected relationship of the 1960s has again been reestablished in the 1990s. This is true even after accounting for changes in earnings inequality over the entire period. Copyright 2000 Western Economic Association International.
Women Empowerment and Economic Development-An Exploratory Study in Pakistan

Women are the component of our society but still they have hindrances in getting their rights. Women should be empowered with their rights of education, health, security, jobs, skills, decision making authority, better living standard, and respect. The research question of this paper is: Is Woman Empowerment responsible for the development of the economy? Questionnaires were completed by thirty female participants having higher positions in Banking, Education, and Transport sectors. Demographics characteristics and open-ended questions were asked from the participants. Open-ended questions were: ‘ Do you agree that women should be empowered ? ’ ‘ What do you think are the main hindrances in empowering women? ’ ‘ Do you think that women empowerment leads to the development of economy? ’ ‘ What suggestions do you have regarding women empowerment? ’Findings indicate that men want their dominancy so they are not willing to empower women. Both men and women should work together in the society to bring prosperity. Women must raise voice for their rights and they should be self-confident. Empowering women is essential for the development of the economy. Key terms: Women Empowerment, Gender, Economic Development, Inequality
Distractive auditory stimuli reduce the unpleasantness of dyspnea during exercise in patients with COPD.

BACKGROUND Dyspnea is the primary symptom limiting exercise in patients with COPD. Recent research has demonstrated that psychological factors can substantially influence the perception of dyspnea, but little is known about the modulation of perceived intensity or unpleasantness of dyspnea by attentional distraction. Therefore, we examined the impact of distractive auditory stimuli on the perception of exercise-induced dyspnea and the affective state in patients with COPD during 6-min walking tests (6MWTs). METHODS Twenty patients with mild-to-severe COPD (mean FEV1, 55.9% predicted) underwent two 6MWTs. Under one exercise condition, distractive auditory stimuli were presented with headphones, while the other condition was performed without auditory distraction. Lung function (FEV1), heart rate (HR), pulse oximetric saturation (SpO2), perceived intensity of dyspnea (ie, visual analog scale for perceived intensity of dyspnea [VAS-I]), and perceived unpleasantness of dyspnea (visual analog scale for perceived unpleasantness of dyspnea [VAS-U]) were measured before and after exercise. In addition, the global level of dyspnea (Borg score), positive affectivity (PA), and negative affectivity were assessed after both conditions. RESULTS A similar exercise level during both conditions was confirmed by comparable results in FEV1, HR, SpO2, and distances walked. During auditory distraction, Borg scores and increases in VAS-U were smaller, while PA was higher compared to the nondistraction condition (p<0.05). VAS-I did not show differences across conditions. CONCLUSIONS Distractive auditory stimuli decrease the global level of exercise-induced dyspnea in patients with COPD by reducing the perceived unpleasantness of dyspnea and lead to an additional increase in PA. Auditory distraction might therefore serve as an intervention for the reduction of dyspnea during exercise in this patient group.
Partnerships, suppliers and coercive influence

This paper adapts intra-firm influence strategies to an inter-firm context. In the process it retests the link between coercive influence strategies and supplier performance. Qualitative data is drawn from interviews conducted with 17 informants in the Australian Recruitment Industry. In line with expectations, the study shows that intra-firm influence strategies are adaptable to an inter-firm context. Contrary to predictions, the study finds that suppliers use frequent checking and persistent reminders (pressure strategy), benefits and favors (exchange strategy), form coalitions with other suppliers and buyer managers (coalition strategy) and go over a buyer managers head (upward appeals) to improve their performance in partnerships. These findings suggest that suppliers use a wider set of influence strategies than previously reported in the literature. In short, influence strategies are more heterogeneous than previously implied in the literature.