Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Empirical Examination of Discouraged Borrowers in the UK

For the most part, prior academic research has closely investigated the characteristics of SMEs who apply for credit (but are denied) to fund future growth. SMEs that require finance, but who do not apply for fear of rejection ‘discouraged borrowers’ have often been ignored. In this paper, using data from the first two waves of the Longitudinal Small Business Survey (LSBS), we investigate the underlying differences between SMEs that apply for funding and those that are discouraged from applying for funding. We also investigate the evolution of borrower discouragement and how this impacts on SMEs’ activities. Authors
Drug Treatment Courts: A Quantitative Review of Study and Treatment Quality

The effectiveness of drug courts has been the subject of numerous studies, and three major meta-analyses have examined many of these studies in regard to two main factors: (1) study quality and (2) treatment quality. The current study examines these two factors more closely. Study quality was assessed using the Collaborative Outcome Data Committee Guidelines (CODC); studies were rated as “rejected,” “weak,” “good,” or “strong” based on methodological quality. Drug court treatment quality was assessed by evaluating adherence to the principles of Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR). The RNR principles have been previously shown to mediate the effectiveness of offender treatment across various offender groups and a variety of criminogenic needs. In total, 96 studies were reviewed and assessed according to study and treatment quality. Results found that the study quality of the literature is poor and that this accounts for much of the variability in findings seen across studies. Furthermore, analyses revealed that although adherence to the RNR principles was poor, increasing adherence to RNR resulted in more effective treatment of offenders and reduced recidivism. Using only methodologically acceptable studies, the least biased estimate of the effectiveness of drug courts in reducing recidivism was found to be approximately 8%.
Variability study in seed morphology and uses of indigenous rice landraces (Oryza sativa L.) collected from West Bengal, India.

Variability in seed morphology was studied in 23 rice landraces using qualitative and quantitative characters. Germplasm of these indigenous rice landraces were collected from three districts (Dakshin Dinajpur, Uttar Dinajpur and Malda) of West Bengal, India during two exploration missions undertaken in summer and winter season (2012-2013). Data were recorded for traits such as kernel husk colour, seed coat colour, aroma, kernel size, 1000 kernel weight, presence of awn and awn length. Kalonunia and Tulaipanji were the most common traditional rice landraces, accounting for 25 per cent germplasm collected from this region. Seven landraces viz., Dangi basful, Gauchi, Gogal sail, Gujanonia, Gujinina, Jeera sail and Lal cholis were collected for important traits such as drought and diseases tolerant for the first time from this area. A total of 18 landraces had greyed-orange and greyed-yellow husk colour while six landraces had brown - greyed brown husk colour. The seed coat colour variation in different landraces ranged from white, brown, golden yellow, light brown and red. Aroma was present in 18 landraces out of the total collection. Seventeen landraces were awnless and only six landraces were with awn. Maximum awn length (19 mm) was recorded for landrace Swarna (long grain) while minimum awn length (6 mm) was recorded for landrace Lal cholis (short grain). Maximum 1000 kernel weight (24.74 g) was recorded for landrace Lal cholis while minimum kernel weight (9.32 g) was recorded for landrace Jeera sail. Cluster analysis classified 23 accessions into two major clusters (I and II) based on similarity in quantitative parameters (kernel size, kernel breadth, awn length and kernel weight). Landraces viz., Binni dhan, Chini sakkar, Dangi basful, Kalonunia and Purnima (Dakshin Dinajpur), Desi mansuri, Kala mogha and Gogal sail (Uttar Dinajpur) and Tulaipanji (Malda) from geographically different districts were clustered together. Whereas others like Chini atap, Jeera sail, Kanakchur, Kartik sail, Magur sail, Radhuni tilak, Red hira sail and Tejasili (Dakshin Dinajpur) from same district fall in different clusters. Information generated through seed morphology, cluster analysis and diversity study could be efficiently used in crop improvement programme harbouring different grain quality traits.
An Inverse Demand System for New England Groundfish: Welfare Analysis of the Transition to Catch Share Management

The welfare effects of the 2010 transition from Days-at-Sea to catch share management in the Northeast U.S. groundfish fishery are examined by combining a model of groundfish demand with a simulation-based model of supply. Counterfactual supply is constructed based on the Days-at-Sea system that was recalibrated to meet mandated conservation goals. Due to the decreases in catch that were required to meet those goals, the 2010 policy undoubtedly resulted in worse outcomes for both producers and consumers compared to 2009. However, the conservation-equivalent Days-at-Sea system would have been far worse for both consumers and producers. Copyright 2013, Oxford University Press.
Exploring Factors Affecting End-user Performance of Information Systems

Organizations continue to invest increasingly in various types of information systems implementations, such as enterprise resource planning and supply chain management systems, primarily because of the belief that these investments will lead to increased productivity for employees. A present interest has remained in forming accurate insights into how users interact with information systems to perform tasks. As an increasing number of companies have adopted enterprise resource planning systems, there is a need to understand the impact of enterprise resource planning systems on individual job performance. A fundamental question for business managers in various types of firms is how to attain better performance from end users of information systems. Information systems researchers continue to have difficulty telling managers what they need to do to achieve the highest level of performance from end users. In this paper, therefore, we conjecture that a better starting point to address this issue is to carefully identify all the important factors related to end-user performance with the aim of forming a more inclusive model. Our model has been validated and statistically tested, suggesting a more inclusive site for examining the utilization and impacts of information systems. The findings support the strength of the study model in explaining a large part of variance in user performance. The results indicate that system quality, task technology fit, and information quality are the most important factors that lead to better end-user performance.
A remote approach to measure blood perfusion from the human face

A CMOS camera-based imaging photoplethysmography (PPG) system has been previously demonstrated for the contactless measurement of skin blood perfusion over a wide tissue area. An improved system with a more sensitive CCD camera and a multi-wavelength RCLED ring light source was developed to measure blood perfusion from the human face. The signals acquired by the PPG imaging system were compared to signals captured concurrently from a conventional PPG finger probe. Experimental results from eight subjects demonstrate that the camera-based PPG imaging technique is able to measure pulse rate and blood perfusion.
Comparison of the Effect of Plyometric and Resistance Training on Explosive Power and Speed in Female Taekwondo Players

In competitions, athletes usually experience situations where they have to compete against stronger or faster individuals or teams. Plyometric and resistance exercise trainings contribute to athletes’ power and speed. The present study aims to compare the effects of plyometric and resistance exercise trainings on crural explosive power and speed in young female Taekwondo players. A number of 20 Taekwondo players (Age=20.4±1.6 yrs) volunteered to participate in the study. The subjects were randomly assigned into either a plyometric or a resistance training groups. Either group participated in a 6-week training program, three sessions a week. Kolmogorov-Smirnov and t-student tests were run to examine the normality of the data and to compare the mean scores of the two groups, respectively (P<0.05). The results showed no significant difference between the effect of plyometric and resistance trainings on crural explosive power and speed in young female Taekwondo players. Research has shown that neuromuscular coordination, reflective electrical activity, increased muscular contraction speed and using more motor units result from either training method, which might have improved crural explosive power and speed in Taekwondo players. Still, considering the similar effects of plyometric and resistance trainings, it is recommended that either method be used consistent with facilities and the principle of training diversity.
Use of Cassava Residue for the Removal of Congo Red from Aqueous Solution by a Novel Process Incorporating Adsorption and In Vivo Decolorization

To investigate the removal of Congo red (CR) from an aqueous solution using cassava residue, a novel process incorporating adsorption and in vivo decolorization was proposed. The conditions and characteristics of CR adsorption on cassava residue were investigated by batch adsorption experiments. Langmuir and pseudo-second order models were found to fit well with the data of equilibrium adsorption and kinetics adsorption, respectively. The adsorption was affected considerably by the adsorbent (cassava residue) dosage and CR concentration. The maximum adsorptive capacity was 59.2 mg/g (mCR/mcassava residue), calculated by the Langmuir model. Then, CR-loaded cassava residue was further decolorized via an in vivo process by Trametes sp. SYBC-L4. The laccase produced by Trametes sp. SYBC-L4 effectively decolorized CR, which was revealed by native polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The moisture content affected the performance of in vivo decolorization considerably. Decolorization of 81.6 ± 2.4% was achieved under the conditions of pH 5.5, temperature 30 °C, and moisture content of 60% after 16 days of cultivation. Moreover, analyses of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy indicated that the carbonyl (C=O), hydroxyl (-OH), and amino (-NH) groups in cassava residue were the potential adsorption sites for interaction with CR and that the structure of cassava residue was modified in the process of in vivo decolorization.
TRAIT ANXIETY, SEX, AGE AND DENTAL TREATMENT EXPERIENCE AS DETERMINANTS OF DENTAL ANXIETY AMONG CHRONIC DENTAL PATIENTS IN NIGERIA

Objectives - To investigate the influence of trait anxiety, sex, age andprevious dental treatment experience on dental anxiety.Design - The study utilised a cross-sectional survey design. Independentvariables are trait anxiety, sex, age and dental treatment experience.Dependent variable is dental anxiety.Setting - The dental centre of a teaching hospital in Nigeria.Participants - Data were collected from 255 (115 male and 140 female)respondents selected through purposive sampling technique. The mean agewas 28.59 years (SD=10.74 years). Results: This study revealed that respondents with high trait anxiety levelsreported significantly higher dental anxiety (t (253) =- 5.78, p <. 01) thanthose with low trait anxiety. Male respondents reported significantly lowerdental anxiety (t (253) = -3.04, p < . 05) than the females.Conclusion: Trait anxiety dispositions and sex are important predictors ofdental anxiety and should be taken seriously in the management of dentalanxiety at the various secondary care dental centres.
Remarks on Input-to-State Stability and Non-Coercive Lyapunov Functions

We consider an abstract class of infinite-dimensional dynamical systems with inputs. For this class the significance of noncoercive Lyapunov functions is analyzed. It is shown that the existence of such Lyapunov functions implies integral input-to-integral state stability. Assuming further regularity it is possible to conclude input-to-state stability. For a particular class of linear systems with unbounded admissible input operators, explicit constructions of noncoercive Lyapunov functions are provided. The theory is applied to a heat equation with Dirichlet boundary conditions.
Melt inclusions in migmatites and granulites

Important advances have been made during the last 15 years in the study of melt inclusions in minerals from migmatites and granulites. Pioneer work on high temperature metapelitic anatectic enclaves in peraluminous dacites from SE Spain has shown that droplets of granitic melt can be trapped by minerals growing during incongruent melting reactions, and that the composition of such trapped melts can be representative of that of the bulk melt in the system during the anatexis of the rock. Therefore melt inclusions may represent samples of embryionic anatectic granite. In most cases, these melt inclusions define microstructures that are typical of primary entrapment, and show little or no evidence of melt crystallization upon cooling. Rather, the melt solidified to glass due to very fast cooling associated with the submarine extrusion of the dacites. Hence inclusions can readily be analyzed for major and trace elements by conventional methods such as the electron microprobe or by laser ablation-inductively coupled plasmamass spectrometry. Based on the results from these quite unusual anatectic enclaves, one would expect similar melt inclusions to be present also in more conventional, slowly cooled, regionally metamorphosed migmatite and granulite terranes. As a matter of fact, recent investigations confirm this hypothesis. Tiny (<25 μm) inclusions containing a cryptocrystalline aggregate of quartz, feldpars, biotite and muscovite have been found in garnet from the metapelitic granulites of the Keraka Khondalite Belt, as well as in garnet and ilmenite from metapelitic and quartzo-feldspathic migmatites from the Alps, Ronda and the Himalayas. Due to the grain-size, texture and chemical/mineralogical composition, these inclusions are called "nanogranites" and are interpreted to represent a crystallized inclusion of anatectic melt. Exceptionally and spatially associated with the nanogranites, inclusions containing glass have also been observed. In general, the preparation of the samples and analysis of these inclusions in migmatites and granulites require more sophisticated techniques than those applied to inclusions in xenoliths and enclaves, but the information on the composition of crustal anatectic melts can also be obtained. Since its discovery, new occurrences of nanogranite are being reported, or can be inferred from re-assessment of literature data, from migmatites and granulites worldwide. These former melt inclusions open new perspectives both for the microstructural approach to partially melted rocks and for the chemical characterization of natural crustal melts. Citation: 2011. Melt inclusions in migmatites and granulites. In: (Eds.) Marnie A. Forster and John D. Fitz Gerald, Journal of the Virtual Explorer, volume 38, paper 2, doi: 10.3809/jvirtex.2011. 00268 Journal of the Virtual Explorer, 2011
Prosody in first-generation adult immigrants and second-generation heritage-language users: the timing of prenuclear rising accents

Our study examines the extent to which successive generations of Greek speakers in Austria show similarities or differences in the timing of prenuclear rises in Greek. Three first-generation adult immigrants from Greece, and three second-generation Austrian born adult heritage-language users read out a set of sentences in Greek. Two Austrian and two Greek monolingual control speakers read out a set of sentences in their respective native languages. Measurements of the timing of the start and end of the rise were taken in Praat. Results show that Greek and Austrian German differ in the timing of the start of the rise (which begins well into the stressed vowel of the prenuclear target word in Austrian, and just before the onset consonant of the prenuclear target word’s stressed syllable in Greek), but not in the end of the rise. The findings for the first-generation immigrants show evidence of L1 attrition, with a later alignment of the start of the rise compared to the Greek monolingual controls. The second-generation heritage speakers showed similar values to the first-generation speakers. Both groups were observed to produce intermediate values between the Greek and Austrian monolingual control groups.
Analysis of Nutrients and Phytochemicals content in Corn Silk(Zea. Mays)

When environmental conditions are degraded such that the range of tolerance is exceeded, there will be a significant impact on human health. Free radicals were well documented for playing a dual role as both deleterious and beneficial species. In lower or moderate concentration free radicals are involved in normal physiological functions but excess production leads to oxidative stress. The plant sources are rich in antioxidants. Dietary plants contain variable chemical families and enormous amount of antioxidants. The plant based foods introduce significantly more antioxidant into human diet then nonplant foods. Corn silk will be used to produce novel natural antioxidants as well as flavouring agents in various products. Organic acids like formic acids, lactic acid, succinic acid, palmitic acid, steric acid, oleic acid and linolic acid are presented in corn silk. The present study shows the nutrients present in the corn silk. Corn silk contains higher amount of fibre (6g) and less in fat (0.36g). Total antioxidant activity and total phenolic content of dried corn silk was analysed. Microwave dried corn silk contains high amount of total antioxidant activity.
Differential Processing of Abnormal Sex Offenders: Utilization of California's Mentally Disordered Sex Offender Program

psychological abnormality-to present an unusually high danger of commission of future sex offenses1 have received adverse publicity. The conventional wisdom is that such programs were developed under political and emotional pressure and without adequate consideration.2 Further, it is often asserted that they are based upon the questionable or erroneous assumptions that the behavior of sex offenders is more predictable and amenable to "treatment" than that of other offenders. Finally, it is often charged that such programs serve to prolong the confinement that persons committing relatively minor sex offenses are forced to endure without any justification for such increased severity.3 Nevertheless, sex offender programs have generally survived legal attacks upon their validity,4 although the Supreme Court recently indicated that the actual operation of these programs could present substantial constitutional claims. 5 Resolution of these constitutional issues, as well as determination of the general acceptability of sex offender programs, requires extensive information concerning the administration of the programs. This article evaluates several aspects of the most extensively utilized program in the United States, the California Mentally Disordered Sex Offender program. 6
The Influence of Idealized Heterogeneity on Wet and Dry Planetary Boundary Layers Coupled to the Land Surface.

Abstract This manuscript describes numerical experiments investigating the influence of 2–30-km striplike heterogeneity on wet and dry convective boundary layers coupled to the land surface. The striplike heterogeneity is shown to dramatically alter the structure of the convective boundary layer by inducing significant organized circulations that modify turbulent statistics. The impact, strength, and extent of the organized motions depend critically on the scale of the heterogeneity λ relative to the boundary layer height zi. The coupling with the land surface modifies the surface fluxes and hence the circulations resulting in some differences compared to previous studies using fixed surface forcing. Because of the coupling, surface fluxes in the middle of the patches are small compared to the patch edges. At large heterogeneity scales (λ/zi ∼18) horizontal surface-flux gradients within each patch are strong enough to counter the surface-flux gradients between wet and dry patches allowing the formation of.
An Investigation of the Curvilinear Effects of Contingent Reward Leadership on Stress-Related and Attitudinal Outcomes

Considerable research has accumulated on contingent reward leadership (CRL), a dimension of transactional leadership. As a whole, this research has found positive associations between CRL and desired outcomes. These findings have resulted in the notion that these relationships are linear, with ever increasing CRL being associated with better and better outcomes. However, there are theoretical and empirical reasons to question the assumed linearity of these relationships. In a sample of 397 police officers, our findings provide support for the notion that the linkages between CRL and the outcomes of stress, job burnout, and job satisfaction may best be represented as curvilinear as opposed to linear. We conclude with theoretical and managerial implications, limitations, and directions for future research.
Lessons Learned: Self-Hardening Slurries in Slurry Trenching

Vertical barriers constructed using self-hardening slurries such as cement-bentonite were in use by the early 1970’s and slag-cement-bentonite (slag-CB) slurries were first used in the UK in 1975 (Jefferis, 1997). Since then, a number of studies have been conducted to assess the properties of slag-CB, although the vast majority are laboratory or theoretical studies. In this paper, the authors extract data and observations from recent field applications of slag-CB slurry. The observations from these field studies offer both new insight as well as reinforcement of certain existing understandings of self-hardening slurry walls. Topics addressed include: 1. Long term performance development including strength and hydraulic conductivity 2. Strength variability 3. Relationship between trench sample density and strength. 4. Effect of sample size on strength 5. Effect of sample handling on performance For each topic, potential practical implications associated with the observations are given as well as recommendations for improvement in the standard of practice. RÉSUMÉ Les barrières verticales construites à l'aide de boues autodurcissantes comme le ciment-bentonite étaient bien établies au début des années 1970 et les boues de laitier-ciment-bentonite (scories-CB) ont été utilisées pour la première fois en 1975. Depuis, un certain nombre d'études ont été menées. les propriétés du scories-CB, bien que la grande majorité soit des études de laboratoire ou théoriques. Dans cet article, les auteurs extraient des données et des observations d'applications récentes sur le terrain de la suspension de scories-CB. Les observations de ces études de terrain offrent à la fois de nouvelles perspectives et un renforcement des connaissances existantes. Les sujets abordés comprennent: 1. Développement à long terme de performance comprenant la force et la conductivité hydraulique 2. Variabilité de la force 3. Relation entre la densité de l'échantillon de tranchée et la résistance. 4. Effet de la taille de l'échantillon sur la force 5. Effet de la manipulation de l'échantillon sur la performance Pour chaque sujet, des implications pratiques potentielles associées aux observations sont données ainsi que des recommandations pour améliorer la norme de pratique.