Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A Study of the Efficacy of Two Educational Methods in the Reduction of Computer Fear

The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of two different educational methods in tne. reduction of computer fear. One of the methods focused on the effectiveness of a quasi-hypnotic session in the reduction of computer fear . An open-ended sentence completion questionnaire was given to 46 employees of Pittsburg State University in conjunction with an in-service training seminar on computers·. The data were analyzed according to Wilcoxon Matched Pairs Signed Ranks tests and Spearman Rho correlations. Results of this study indicate that an educational presentation is not as effective as an educational presentation paired with relaxation training in the reduction of computer fear . It also indicates that the latter method is more effective in fostering a subject's interest and increasing his/her confidence . Suggestions for future research. are also discussed.
Controlling Common Method Variance while Measuring the Impact of Emotional Intelligence on Well-being

Emotional intelligence (EI) is the ability of an individual to use emotions intelligently for positive outcomes. This ability is said to have an impact on many aspects of our personal and professional lives. Well-being (WB) is a person�s state of mind regarding his/her life. Theory suggests that highly emotionally intelligent individuals are likely to experience psychological well-being at a higher level than individuals who are low in emotional intelligence. Based on this concept, this paper examines the empirical relation between EI and WB, both of which are attitudinal variables. A sample of 104 respondents from the manufacturing sector of South India was considered for the study and their emotional intelligence and well-being levels were assessed using appropriate tools. When two attitude-based constructs are obtained from the same respondent, using the same instrument, at the same time, then the relationship between them is said to be influenced by Common Method Variance (CMV). It is the variance that is attributable to the measurement method rather than to the constructs the measures represent and is said to introduce a spurious correlation between the variables of interest. In this study, both EI and WB were obtained from the same respondent, through a single instrument. Hence CMV was considered and acted upon. While controlling the effect of CMV on the empirical relation between EI and WB, this paper aims at the following sub-objectives: To assess the EI and WB levels of the respondents To implement procedural remedies to control CMV To implement statistical remedies to control CMV To prove that EI is a predictor of WB, over and above the effect of CMV. Procedural remedies were used with respect to questionnaire design and statistical remedies were used to partial out the effect of CMV. This paper should serve as a framework for researchers, who wish to evaluate the potential biasing effects of method variance in their research, pertaining to behavioural aspects.
On the Relevance of Freedom and Entitlement in Development: New Empirical Evidence (1975-2007)

Reviewing the economic performance -- good and bad -- of more than 100 countries over the past 30 years, this paper finds new empirical evidence supporting the idea that economic freedom and civil and political liberties are the root causes of why some countries achieve and sustain better economic outcomes. For instance, a one unit change in the initial level of economic freedom between two countries (on a scale of 1 to 10) is associated with an almost 1 percentage point differential in their average long-run economic growth rates. In the case of civil and political liberties, the long-term effect is also positive and significant with a differential of 0.3 percentage point. In addition to the initial conditions, the expansion of freedom conditions over time (economic, civil, and political) also positively influences long-run economic growth. In contrast, no evidence was found that the initial level of entitlement rights or their change over time had any significant effects on long-term per capita income, except for a negative effect in some specifications of the model. These results tend to support earlier findings that beyond core functions of government responsibility -- including the protection of liberty itself -- the expansion of the state to provide for various entitlements, including so-called economic, social, and cultural rights, may not make people richer in the long run and may even make them poorer.
Actitud hacia las matemáticas en futuros docentes de Primaria y de Secundaria

Esta investigacion tiene como objetivo aportar nuevos datos sobre la actitud hacia las Matematicas al aplicar a dos muestras, alumnos del Grado de Maestro de Primaria y alumnos del Grado de Matematicas, la escala de Auzmendi y conocer sus resultados, obteniendo que la actitud hacia las Matematicas en futuros maestros es de 3,099, no llegando a alcanzar 3 (actitud media) el 37,14% de hombres y el 47,75% de mujeres, y no llegando al percentil 50 de la escala de Auzmendi el 71,23% de alumnos y al percentil 25 el 43,15%. Por el contrario, en la muestra de futuros docentes de Secundaria la actitud hacia las Matematicas es de 4,288; en hombres de 4,265 y en mujeres de 4,310, por debajo del percentil 50 esta el 6,04% y por debajo del percentil 75 el 19,46%. Resultados satisfactorios en el caso de los alumnos del Grado de Matematicas, aunque mas bajo de lo deseado, mientras que preocupantes en el caso de alumnos del Grado de Maestro de Primaria, debido a su papel de futuros docentes de alumnos de los primeros niveles de la ensenanza obligatoria. Por ultimo, estos resultados son contrastados con otras investigaciones anteriores. Palabras clave: Actitud, Matematicas, ensenanza-aprendizaje, docentes
The Street Art World

In recent years, street art has become embedded in popular culture and received growing attention from the art market and art institutions. Work by street artists has entered galleries, auction houses and museums, and some artists have been given the opportunity to create large-scale sanctioned public art projects. Simultaneously, widespread photographic documentation of street artworks and the circulation of images online have provided artists with a potentially global audience. The Street Art World investigates street art as a relatively newly established field within contemporary art. With the American sociologist Howard S. Becker’s notion of “art worlds” as a central point of departure, the book seeks to characterise street art by studying and participating in the everyday interaction among the artists, gallerists, collectors, critics, curators, bloggers and street art enthusiasts that make up the social environment (the street art world) in which the term street art is continuously given its meaning. Major themes addressed in the book include: (1) The social construction of the meaning of the term street art and the resulting difficulties in formally defining what street art is. (2) The often contradictory attitudes within the street art world towards art history and the institutions of art. (3) The relationship between street art, the art market and the institutional art world. (4) The relationship between street art and public art. (5) Street art’s potential to affect the viewer’s perception of public space, and the possible challenges the increasing digital mediation of street art may pose to bringing this potential to fruition. While the book presents central characteristics of the street art movement, it also acknowledges that it is not feasible to pin down the nature of street art once and for all, since street art is a product of complex social processes.
Experimental and Analytical Analysis of Light Alloy Shell Castings Using Three Dimensional Printing

Growth of rapid prototyping (RP) technologies has proven highly significant in efforts to reduce the production time for a number of casting processes. Lot of research has been done in production of sacrificial sand moulds used in investment casting. This paper systematically presents procedure of producing shell casting using light alloys in ceramic moulds created with three dimensional printing (3DP). The shells are made using special sand provided by Z-Corporation for production of easy and economical shell moulds with creation of 3D printers. Selected part was designed using UNIGRAPHICS modeling software. The moulds using the CAD model were produced with ZCorp 510 RPT machine. An experimental and analytical investigation was conducted to establish the influence of parameters like Layer thickness (Lt), Post curing time (Pc), orientation (O) for printing of shell. Light alloy shell castings using aluminium, zinc and lead were produced with the developed moulds. The effect of other parameters like the shell wall thickness (SWT), weight density (WD) and pouring temperatures (PT) on mechanical characteristics like hardness, dimensional accuracy and international tolerance (IT) grades of castings was also analyzed experimently. The paper concludes feasibility to reduce the shell wall thickness from 12 mm to 2 mm with dimensional accuracy. Consistencies with the permissible range of tolerance grades were achieved. Further at optimised SWT 5 mm, 5 mm and 6 mm, production cost has been reduced by 54.28%, 54.28% and 49.12% and production time has been reduced by 46.05%, 46.28% and 43.42% respectively in comparison to 12mm recommended shell thickness for selected light alloys.
USING WEIGHTED DISTRIBUTIONS TO MODEL OPERATIONAL RISK

Abstract The quantification of operational risk has to deal with various concerns regarding data, much more than other types of risk which banks and insurers are obliged to manage. One of the main questions that worries both researchers and practitioners is the bias in the data on the operational losses amounts recorded. We support the assertions made by several authors and defend that this concern is serious when modeling operational losses data and, typically, is presented in all the databases. We show that it's possible, based on mild assumptions on the internal procedures put in place to manage operational losses, to make parametric inference using loss data statistics, that is, to estimate the parameters for the losses amounts, taking in consideration the bias that, not being considered, generates a two fold error in the estimators for the mean loss amount and the total loss amount, the former being overvalued and the last undervalued. In this paper, we do not consider the existence of a threshold for which, all losses above, are reported and available for analysis and estimation procedures. In this sense, we follow a different approach to the parametric inference. Here, we consider that the probability that a loss is reported and ends up recorded for analysis, increases with the size of the loss, what causes the bias in the database but, at the same time, we do not consider the existence of a threshold, above which, all losses are recorded. Hence, no loss has probability one of being recorded, in what we defend is a realist framework. We deduce the general formulae, present simulations for common theoretical distributions used to model (operational reported) losses amounts, estimate the impact for not considering the bias factor when estimating the value at risk and estimate the true total operational losses the bank incurred.
The Conservation Effects of Trade with Imperfect Competition and Biased Policymakers

In this paper, we study the effects of international trade on forest conservation and welfare in a two-country model with industry-biased policymakers and Cournot-competing firms. We find that opening up to trade increases the harvest taxes that the industry-biased governments impose compared to the autarky taxes. The tax increase is large enough to decrease the production levels, which leads to higher conservation levels. In addition, the numerical simulation predicts that increasing the industry-bias monotonically increases (i) the positive tax effect, (ii) the positive conservation effect, and (iii) the welfare gains from trade. The intuition behind the results is that industry-biased governments already degrade the environment under autarky, so even a highly-distorted trade outcome can be welfare-improving. We conclude that, even if industry bias decreases conservation, it does not have to increase the environmental costs of trade.
Effect of CNT-Emulsified Fuel on Performance Emission and Combustion Characteristics of Four Stroke Diesel Engine

CNT-emulsified fuel is used in a single cylinder water cooled four stroke diesel engine. CNT: Carbon nano tubes are produced by indigenous flame synthesis method. Water diesel emulsion prepared in the proportion of 83% diesel, 15% water and 2% surfactant is used. Tween 80 and Span 80 are used as surfactants with a HLB balance of 8. CNT in the mass fraction of 50ppm, 100ppm and 150ppm are blended in the water diesel emulsion. CNT are dispersed in the water for 35 minutes with the help of ultrasonicator set at frequency of 40 kHz and ultrasonic power of 120 W. Dispersed CNT are subsequently added in mixture of diesel and surfactant to produce CNT blended water diesel emulsion. A mechanical homogeniser is used to produce emulsion at the speed of 3000 rpm for 25 minutes. The experiment is conducted on a single cylinder diesel engine coupled with eddy current dynamometer and equipped with data acquisition system. Exhaust emissions are measured by AVL Di-gas analyser and AVL smoke opacity meter. Experiment is carried out at a constant speed of 1500 rpm from no load to full load for all fuel specimens. Effect of CNT-emulsified fuel on the characteristics such as rate of pressure rise, net heat release in the cylinder , brake specific fuel consumption ,brake thermal efficiency, and emissions i.e. NOx, CO, HC, CO2 are analyzed. The results have shown significant improvement in the engine performance, combustions attributes and reduction in emissions using CNT-emulsified fuel.
Toward More Readable Big Five Personality Inventories

The Estonian version of the International Personality Item Pool NEO (IPIP-NEO; Goldberg, 1999) was administered to 297 participants in parallel with the Estonian version of the NEO-PI-R (Kallasmaa, Allik, Realo, & McCrae, 2000). On average, the EPIP- NEO items were 3 words, 7 syllables, and 18 characters shorter than the NEO-PI-R items. By all relevant psychometrical properties the EPIP-NEO was comparable to the NEO-PI-R. The mean convergent correlation between the facet scales was . 73. The scales with shorter and grammatically simpler items tended to have higher internal consistency. In an independent cross-validation sample the initial results were generally replicated. The scales also demonstrated an adequate cross-observer agreement. It is concluded that the EPIP-NEO, as a more readable personality inventory compared to the NEO-PI-R, is suitable for a wider range of samples with different levels of reading skills.
Autonomy as Determinant of Prospective Learning: A Study of English Language Learners

Autonomy plays a crucial role in the enhancement of important learning qualities in the learners. In that line of thinking, this study was launched to discover how English language learners exposed to an autonomously managed versus teacher controlled conditions would respond to the learning determinants. Two classes of English language learners at Isfahan University of Technology, Iran were thus treated under the two learning conditions. On the closing days of the semester, they were administered a questionnaire constructed based on three action phases of learning, namely, forethought, performance/volitional control, and self reflection. The questionnaire statements were rated on the Likert scale. The data analysis revealed that autonomy to a large extent determines the learners' views of learning. The class where autonomy was practiced showed a great deal of motivational boost or what is reinterpreted as forethought. The other two categories of learning, namely, their performance and self reflection, were also distinctly better perceived by the autonomous learners. The results point out the significance of preparing learners through autonomy for the prospective independent and critical learning.
ANALYSIS AND CLASSIFICATION OF NUTRITIONAL, HUSBANDRY AND HEALTH RELATED PARAMETERS TO DEFINE SPECIALIST DAIRY FARMING

The level of specialist dairy farming in Burdurregion of Turkeywas determinedby the analysis of nutritional, husbandry, breeding, health and product safety and quality parameters.A face-to-face questionnaire was conducted. The data obtainedwere classified andtransformed to numerical values before statistical analysis. A multiple-response analysis was performed to define the classification of dairy farms into qualified, averaged and unqualified, which were establishedbyalgorithmic rules within each set ofparameters. The results revea led that the level of specialist(qualified) dairy farms was only 4 7%, whereas 33%unqualifiedand 20% averaged.The nutritional expertise levels of farmers were not at a satisfactory level: 50% of farmers were qualified, 23% averaged and
Experimental Meniscal Allografts in the Rabbit

Pa‰a L. , A. Neaas, I. Piperisova, H. Kecova, P. Vi‰Aa, F. Tich˘: Experimental Meniscal Allografts in the Rabbit. Acta Vet. Brno 2005, 74: 87-95. Meniscal injury belongs to most common consequences of stifle trauma in humans. Its treatment usually consists of partial meniscectomy; this procedure, however, predisposes the knee to progression of gonarthrosis and thus increases morbidity and subsequently raises drug consumption. Progression of pathologic changes often leads to implantation of total knee prosthesis. With development of arthroscopy, the number of salvage procedures of injured menisci increased. This method also reduces progression of arthrotic changes. However, not every meniscal lesion is reparable and not every reinserted meniscus will heal. That is why the number of performed meniscectomies is still high. The purpose of this study was to verify on experimental model if transplantation of fresh and frozen medial meniscal allografts into the stifle joints after total meniscectomy reduces progression of gonarthrosis. Progression of arthrotic changes in stifle joints after total meniscectomy was evaluated in three groups of 8 rabbits: group 1: rabbits after total meniscectomy without meniscal transplantation (control); group 2: meniscectomy followed by transplantation of fresh meniscal allograft; group 3: transplantation of deep frozen (-80 °C) meniscal allograft. The results of surgical procedures were evaluated both clinically and radiographically. The quality of allograph incorporation was evaluated both macroscopically and histologically 4 months after the surgery. Severe osteoarthritis developed in rabbits after total meniscectomy. In both groups after meniscal transplantation, allografts healed with well functional stifles and progression of gonarthrosis was reduced comparing to the group of rabbits after meniscectomy alone. The extent of arthrotic changes was smaller after transplantation of frozen allografts than after transplantation of fresh allografts. Histology of stifles with fresh meniscal transplants showed more pronounced perivascular inflammatory infiltration in site of transplant insertion to the joint capsule than in the frozen allografts. Promising results of this study need to be verified in clinical cases. Medial meniscus, allograft, osteoarthritis, stifle joint, knee, rabbit
Onion, Orange and Prickly Pear Peel Extracts Mixed with Beef Meatballs Ameliorate the Effect of Alloxan Induced Diabetic Rats

The present study was carried out to investigate the effectiveness of three plant parts methanol extracts (orange peel extract, OPE, red onion skin powder, ROSE, and prickly pear extract, PPE) mixed with beef meatballs in modulating hyperglycemia using alloxan induced diabetic rats model. Treatment of animals with alloxan caused a significant increase (p≤0.05) in serum glucose concentration (49.47%) compared to normal control group. Compared to the diabetic control, hypoglycemic capability of beef meatballs supplemented with 0.1% plant parts methanolic extracts was demonstrated by significant (p≤0.05) decreasing of glucose concentration in serum. The rate of decreasing was recorded 29.91, 39.99, 31.15 and 41.75% for meatballs supplemented with OPE, ROSE, PPPE and their mixture, respectively. The same behavior was recorded for liver tissue malonaldialdehyde (MDA) level, the biomarker of oxidative stress in liver. Activities of AST, ALT and ALP were increased significantly (P<0.05) in alloxan-induced diabetic rats in comparison with normal control group. Treatment with meatballs mixed with selected methanolic extracts to diabetic rats significantly (P < 0.05) decreased the elevated AST, ALT and ALP almost near to normal levels. In conclusion, OPE, ROSE and PPPE have ameliorated the effect of alloxan induced diabetes in rats. So, we advise to use these plant parts extracts in human nutrition as natural food additives for their anti-hyperglycemic effects.
Foreign aid and developing countries' creditworthiness

We explore whether foreign aid afiects developing countries’ creditworthiness, as proxied by the Institutional Investor’s measure of country credit risk. Based on a simple model of international borrowing and lending, we develop the hypothesis that aid reduces the likelihood that borrowers in a given country default on their foreign debt. We then test this hypothesis, using a panel data set that covers a large number of developing countries in the 1980s and 1990s. Our empirical flndings support the notion that aid improves countries’ standing vis-a-vis international capital markets. However, the strength of this efiect difiers across types of aid and country groups.
Morphology and Lectin histochemistry of the testes of brown-banded bamboo shark (Chiloscyllium punctatum)

The testes of three brown-banded bamboo male sharks collected from Okinawa Churaumi Aquarium, Japan were used in this study. The testes were studied grossly and microscopically. In addition, conventional and lectin histochemistry (panel of 8 HRP lectins, UEA-I, DBA, LCA, PNA, ConA, PHA-E4, WGA and RCA 120) were applied for studying the glycoconjugates.
Alcohol Exposure Mediated Purkinje Cell Loss in Developed Albino Rats

The normal (group A) Purkinje cells w ere arranged in a single row to form Purkinje cell layer, while in the treated groups they appeared in more than one row. The ultrastructural studies of normal Purkinje cells at D 14 showed their large pear - shaped perikaryon with large round nucleus. The treated groups showed loss of Purkinje cells represented by neurocyte chromatolysis, or vacuolation. In addition, alcohol affec ts the denderitic tree of Purkinje cells so it was reduced in groups B & C but was moderate in size in groups D & E. The normal (group A) Purkinje cells were deeply stained; this reflects the high amount of Nissl granules if compared with other treated gro ups due to the high metabolic activity of the normal pups . In group B, some of the detected neurons were degenerated. In group C, most of neurons were pale at D1 4 , while they were moderately - stained in groups D& E. After birth the pups were divided into fi ve groups A, B, C, D and E, each of 15 animals. On days 7 and 21 after birth, 5 of the pups from each group were sacrificed to study the effect of alcohol at different periods and conditions. Group A: normal pups (control). Group B: the mothers were given alcohol from D 7 of gestation till the D21 after birth. Group C: the pregnant females were given alcohol from D7 of gestation but alcohol administration was stopped at birth and the mothers were given the chance to lactate their pups for 21 days. Group D : the pups of treated mothers were transferred at birth to be lactated by normal surrogate mothers for 21 days. Group E: the pups of normal mothers were transferred at birth to be lactated by females that were given alcohol every day (treated surrogate mot her) for 21 days.