Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
PERCEIVED SELF-EFFICACY OF MALAYSIAN ESL ENGINEERING AND TECHNOLOGY STUDENTS ON THEIR SPEAKING ABILITY AND ITS PEDAGOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

This study looks into the self-ef fi cacy of Malaysian ESL students (n=338) from a private university in their ability to speak in English. These students are majoring in engineering and technology. A questionnaire, designed by Idrus and Sivapalan (2007), adapted from Bandura (1990) and Mikulecky et al. (1996), was used to assess the perceived self-ef fi cacy of the students on the three dimensions of ability, aspiration and activity perception. The fi ndings indicate that, in general, the students had high self-ef fi cacy beliefs in their speaking ability on all the three dimensions. The study also compared the students’ self-ef fi cacy levels in relation to year of study, gender and ethnicity. This paper discusses the fi ndings and the pedagogical implications for the teaching and learning of speaking skills among English language learners.
Service Offshoring and Cultural Differences: Evidence from a US Financial Services Multinational’s Operations in Three EU Countries

The growing phenomenon 'service offshoring' has attracted increasing attention from the popular media, policy-makers and academic researchers. Cross-national cultural differences have been identified as a potentially significant influence on the location and effective performance of offshored services but this issue has received only limited treatment in the literature to date. To contribute to the emerging literature on service offshoring, this paper investigates the existence, nature and extent of differences in the culturally-determined work-related values of staff working at a US financial services multinational in Europe. Specifically, Hofstede's values survey module questionnaire was completed by staff working in this firm's 'retirement service centres' in Ireland, Portugal and Germany, which were involved in existing or potential bilateral intra-firm work offshoring relationships. The study identified significant differences in work-related values between the three country groups on several of the Hofstede dimensions. However, some of the results were surprising in that they contradicted the anticipated direction of cultural differences based on the published Hofstede country dimension scores. Some potential implications of these findings for the firm in question, for managerial practice more generally, and for policy-makers in different national contexts are discussed.
Effect of regrowth age in the content of secondary metabolites from Neonotonia wightii in the Valle del Cauto , Cuba

D.M. Verdecia1, R.S. Herrera2, J.L. Ramírez1, I. Leonard1, R. Bodas3, N. Prieto3, S. Andrés3, F.J. Giráldez3, J.S. González4, Y. Arceo1, M. Paumier1, Y. Alvarez1 and S. López4 1Universidad de Granma, Apartado Postal 21, Bayamo, C.P. 85 100, Granma, Cuba 2Instituto de Ciencia Animal, Apartado Postal 24, San José de las Lajas, Mayabeque, Cuba 3Instituto de Ganadería de Montaña (CSIC-ULE), Finca Marzanas, Apartado Postal 2436, Grulleros León, España 4Departamento de Producción Animal, Universidad de León, Campus de Vegazana 2407, Universidad de León, España. Email: dverdecia@udg.co.cu
Comparing software for modelling the management rules that river operators implement

Hydrologists, river managers and modellers advise on how different policy, past actions or climate change scenarios affect the use and distribution of water in regulated river systems. In the Australian context, this typically involves using Integrated Quantity Quality Model (IQQM) or Resource Allocation Model (REALM) but in the future may involve using RiverManager or other software packages. This paper compares how well these packages model some of the rules that policy-makers develop and river operators implement. The comparison centres on IQQM, REALM and RiverManager models for a regulated reach between Split Rock and Keepit dams of the Upper Namoi catchment of New South Wales, Australia. Figure 1 shows that each model predicts a similar volume of water in Keepit Dam, which demonstrates the correct modelling of operators' rules. Interestingly, each software package provides a different mechanism to describe the operators' rules and a different mechanism to solve the water distribution problem. The result of the comparison was that each software package accurately models the river flows and levels but software packages differ on other characteristics. IQQM performs faster than the other products at a daily time step. REALM is the most flexible of the models surveyed. River modellers should avoid REALM where transparency is important. RiverManager performance slows with the addition of complicated expressions. Subject to further investigation of user interface issues, IQQM is less suitable for a novice user. This paper contributes a better understanding of software packages for modelling river management. In addition, this paper validates the correctness of the packages for modelling operator behaviour. The assessment involved only one river system and did not involve a usability study. Further comparisons between the software products in additional river systems with multiple sets of users would increase confidence in the results. We conclude that of the limited set of software packages examined, RiverManager performs well against a range of criteria, suggesting it provides a good foundation for hydrologists, river managers and modellers to model the rules that policy-makers develop and river operators implement.
A Metadata Approach to Predicting Twitter User Geolocation

As the volume of available data created from social media grows, creating value out of this information becomes an interesting challenge. This work presents an approach to identify a users country of origin from just looking at a single tweet. The approach focuses on using only metadata, while disregarding the actual content of the tweet. This work also looks at the scalability of the approach using Naive Bayes algorithm. The experiments concludes that using metadata to predict a user geolocation is a viable approach that scales to a stable accuracy with increasing data size.
AN EMPIRICAL ANALYSIS OF MACRO-ECONOMIC INFLUENCES ON CORPORATE CAPITAL STRUCTURE OF LISTED COMPANIES IN KENYA.

Capital structure is an important aspect of financial management however the influence of macroeconomic factors in the determination of capital structure is to some extent under-researched. This article analyzes the influence of the macro economic factors on the capital structure of selected listed companies in Kenya. The article through analytical and descriptive research design aimed at determining the magnitude and the direction of the relationship between selected macroeconomic variables on corporate capital structure of listed companies in Kenya. An econometric model of multiple linear regressions was used where leverage (debt ratios) was regressed against GDP growth rate, inflation and interest rate. The study revealed that indeed macro economic factors have pronounced influence on the capital structure of the listed companies. GDP growth rate was found to have a positive influence on long term debt ratio and a negative influence on total debt ratio and short term debt ratio. Inflation on the other hand had a negative influence on the short term debts while interest rates as measured by the treasury bills have a positive influence on the long term debt ratio and total debt ratio and a negative influence on the short term debt ratio.
Lower gastrointestinal bleeding: Spectrum of colonoscopy findings in Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria

Lower gastrointestinal bleeding (LGIB) is a common ailment seen at emergency departments. It is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the elderly worldwide. The aim of this study was to determine the aetiology and management outcome of LGIB in our centre and compare it with results elsewhere. Sixty-eight consecutive patients who underwent colonoscopy for LGIB were recruited into this study. The study was carried out at the Ekiti State University Teaching Hospital (EKSUTH), Ado-Ekiti, Nigeria from January, 2010 to December, 2012. Ethical approval for the study was obtained from
UvA-DARE ( Digital Academic Repository ) Market Interactions , Endogenous Dynamics and Stabilization Policies

We review a recent literature that shows that interactions between markets, created by the market entry and exit behavior of boundedly rational firms, may cause complex endogenous dynamics. In particular, these models predict that welfare decreases if firms rapidly switch between markets. Against this background, we show that policy makers have the opportunity to stabilize markets and thus to enhance welfare by regulating interacting markets. For instance, imposing profit taxes reduces the markets’ profit differentials and thus slows down the firms’ market entry and exit behavior. However, these stabilization policies may also lead to undesirable side effects, such as coexistence of attractors, hysteresis effects and, in a multi-region setting, failure of policy makers to coordinate on the globally optimal policy. Moreover, regulation may be subject to the lobbying efforts of special interest groups and thus not be
Why do Borrowers pay a Premium to Larger Lenders ? Empirical evidence from sovereign syndicated loans

All other terms being equal (e.g. seniority), syndicated loans provide larger lending compensations (in basis points) to institutions funding larger amounts. This paper explores empirically the motivation for such a price design on a sample of sovereign syndicated loans during the period 1990-1997. I find strong evidence that a larger premium is associated with higher renegotiation probability. It has hardly any impact on the number of lenders though. This is consistent with the hypothesis that main banks provide services in situations of liquidity shortage. Moreover, larger payment discrepancies are also associated with larger syndicated loan amounts. Hence, the large lender obtains compensation for the increase in the probability of success of the loan syndication. This provides new evidence that larger borrowers bear additional borrowing costs. JEL classification : F34; G21; G33
Ozone loss rates in the Arctic stratosphere in the winter 1991/92: Model calculations compared with match results

We present box model calculations of ozone loss rates corresponding to the results of the Match experiment 1991/92. The Match technique infers chemical ozone depletion from an analysis of pairs of balloon soundings that measure ozone in the same airparcel at different points of a calculated trajectory. It allows a quantitative comparison with model results because the exposure of the observed air‐masses to sunlight is well known. The model significantly underestimates the loss rates inferred for January to mid‐February. Extensive sensitivity studies show that the discrepancy between model and Match results cannot be explained by the known uncertainties in the model parameters.
Recognition of emotional speech for younger and older talkers: Behavioural findings from the toronto emotional speech set

A study that was conducted to analyze recognition of emotional speech for younger and older talkers is presented. Each actor recorded the stimuli individually in a sound- attenuating booth for approximately 20 hours. During the recording sessions, which typically lasted three to four hours, the majority of the time was spent creating the voice recordings, while approximately 10% of the time was devoted to practicing and fine-tuning each actor's portrayal of each of the emotions. Three female undergraduate students with normal hearing listened to the stimuli and identified, for each actor, which token of each NU-6 item they considered to be the most representative for each of the seven emotions. The experimenter used the same procedure to listen to each of the sound files.
The Use of Electrophoretic Isozymes to Detect Tungro Infected Rice

Tungro is one of the most common diseases of rice plants which caused by double infection of RTBV (Rice Tungro Bacilliform Virus) and RTSV (Rice Tungro Spherical Virus), and it gives a significant economic loss. These viruses are transmitted by green leaf hopper ( Nephotteti x virescen s. Distant), and the interaction between host plant and the viruses were still quite difficult to be fully understood. In order to look at whether there are any differences between the healthy and tungro infected rice, this study was set to examine the character differences between the infected and the healthy plants based on isozyme banding pattern. The infected plants were collected from three districts around Surakarta (Sragen, Sukoharjo, Klaten) followed by Polyacrilamide Gel Electrophoresis (PAGE) to evaluate the isozyme banding patterns. There were peroxidase, esterase and acid phosphotase isozymes used. The results showed that the real differences of isozyme banding patterns of both healthy and tungro infected plants were discovered. In all cases, the Tungro infected rice had thicker and more band numbers compared to the healthy one. This evident suggested that Tungro infected rice could be detected early using PAGE method.
Phytogenic Administration and Reduction of Dietary Energy and Protein Levels Affects Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility and Antioxidant Status of Broilers

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of reduced dietary energy (ME) and protein (CP) levels along with administration of a phytogenic feed additive (PFA) based on oregano, anise and citrus essential oils, on broiler growth performance, nutrient digestibility, meat and blood biochemical parameters and total antioxidant capacity (TAC). Depending on dietary ME and CP level down regulation compared to a corn-soybean meal basal diet A used as positive control, three diet types [A, B(=A-3%) and C(=A-6%)] were implemented. Depending on the inclusion or not of PFA at 125 mg/kg diet, 450 1-d old, male Cobb broilers were randomly allocated in six treatments according to a 3×2 factorial arrangement with 5 replicates of 15 broilers; A: diets formulated optimally to meet broiler nutrient requirements for maximizing protein content of meat for starter, grower and finisher growth periods; APh: A+PFA; B: suboptimal in ME and CP levels by 3%; BPh: B+PFA; C: suboptimal in ME and CP levels by 6%; CPh: C+PFA. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) was improved in birds fed diet A compared to diet C during the grower period (PD=0.021) and overall (PD=0.010). Phytogenic supplementation resulted in higher (PD×Ph=0.020) total tract apparent digestibility of fat in birds fed diet C compared to diet A. Birds fed diet A had higher (PD=0.001) plasma cholesterol, compared to birds fed diet C. In addition, birds fed diets A and B had higher (PD=0.002) breast protein content compared to C. Overall, PFA inclusion reduced cholesterol (PPh=0.002) and increased plasma TAC (PPh<0.001). Moreover, PFA increased breast (PPh=0.001) and thigh (PPh=0.01) TAC. In conclusion, a reduction in dietary ME and CP levels, adversely affected the FCR, whereas PFA supplementation tended (PPh=0.089) to compensate these effects. Moreover, the addition of PFA reduced plasma cholesterol and improved plasma and meat TAC.
Growth performance, haematology and histopathology of African catfish (Clarias gariepinus) fed varying levels of Aloe barbadensis leaves

One hundred and twenty Clarias gariepinus fingerlings (2.33 ± 0.07 g) were fed with 40% crude protein diets containing three concentrations of Aloe barbadensis leaves-paste: ABL1, 1%; ABL2, 2%; ABL3, 3%, and control, 0% ad libitum twice daily for 12 weeks. Mean weight gain and percentage weight gain increased ( P < 0.05) as concentration of A . barbadensis increased. Survival rate decreased as concentration of paste increased. Differences ( P < 0.05) seen in packed cell volume (PCV), haemoglobin (Hb), and red blood cell (RBC), thus highest in ABL3: PCV (36.67 ± 0.89%), Hb (12.37 ± 0.37 g dl –1 ) and RBC (3.47 ± 0.08×10 6 L –1 ) and lowest in control: PCV (22.0 ± 0.58%), Hb (7.37 ± 0.20 g dl –1 ) and RBC (2.07 ± 0.06 ×10 6 L –1 ). Liver histology of control fish was normal, while fatty degenerations were seen in the treated fish. The histology of fish kidney was normal in all treatments. The study concluded that 1% A. barbadensis leaves-paste could effectively improve growth performance, nutrient utilization and survival of cultured C. gariepinus .
Surinamese Medicinal Plants for Treating Hypertension with Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme-Inhibitory Activity: A Review of Literature

Plant-based antihypertensive preparations are abundantly used in traditional medicinal practices in many parts of the world including the Republic of Suriname (South America). In some cases, their apparent blood pressure lowering activity may be related to inhibition of the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE). In this literature review, 12 plants that are commonly used in Suriname for treating hypertension have been compiled and assessed for an involvement of ACE inhibition in this condition. The 12 most commonly used ‘antihypertensive’ plants with ACEinhibitory properties are Ruellia tuberosa, Mangifera indica, Apium graveolens, Cocos nucifera, Cucumis sativus, Momordica charantia, Punica granatum, Hibiscus sabdariffa, Musa x paradisiaca, Averrhoa bilimbi, Phyllanthus amarus, and Piper betle. All of them inhibited ACE activity in vitro, 3 (M. charantia, P. granatum, and P. betle) inhibited ACE activity in laboratory animals as well, and 2 (P. granatum and M. paradisiaca) were also active against ACE in human subjects. Indications about the identity of the pharmacologically active ingredient(s) were available for R. tuberosa, M. indica, A. graveolens, M. charantia, H. sabdariffa, and P. amarus. In most cases, the active ingredient(s) were associated with phenolic compounds. The results from this study support the involvement of ACE inhibition in the blood pressure-lowering activity of traditionally used Surinamese medicinal plants but also indicate that the scientific evidence for this contention is limited. Further pharmacological studies on these aspects as well as the pharmacologically active constituents of the plants are warranted, since they may help identify novel plant-based ACE inhibitors.
Improvement of Bending Strength of Carbon Fiber/Thermoplastic Epoxy Composites —Effects of Molecular Weight of Epoxy on Carbon Fiber/Matrix Interfacial Strength and Connection of Cracks in Matrix

The bending strength of carbon fiber/thermoplastic epoxy composites (CF/TP-EP Compo.) had bi-linear increasewith increase of weight-average molecular weight (Mw) of matrix. The transition in the bending strength appeared at around 55k of Mw (“k” means 103). SEM observation of fractured surface of CF/TP-EP Compo. showed that the fracture mode changed from interfacial failure to fiber breakage dominated failure. The smooth surface of carbon fibers appeared at lower Mw than 55k while some resin remained on the fibers indicating good adhesion between carbon fiber and matrix at higher Mw than 55k. The interfacial shear strength between carbon fiber and matrix bi-linearly increased with an increase of Mw similarly to the bending strength of the composite, measured by the micro droplet test. The dynamic loss tanδ of the matrix measured at 2 Hz also showed a bi-linear relationship with respect to Mw having a knee point at Mw = 55k. The connection probability of two cracks introduced on each side of specimens also confirmed that the interfacial strength between carbon fiber and matrix is the key for the mechanical performance of CF/TP-EP Compo. in bending.
Behavioral Aspects of Communication in Organizations

Oil discoveries can constitute a major positive and exogenous shock to economic activity, but the resource curse hypothesis would suggest they might also be detrimental to growth over the long run. This paper utilizes a new methodology for estimating growth underperformance to examine the extent to which discoveries depress the growth path of a country following a discovery and prior to production starting. The study finds causal evidence of a significant negative effect on short-run growth and growth relative to counterfactual forecast growth in countries with weak institutions, creating growth disappointments prior to private and public resource windfalls. This effect is termed the presource curse. For a giant oil or gas discovery in 1988-2010, the study estimates an average growth disappointment effect of 0.83 percentage points, measured as the average annual gap between forecast and actual growth over the five years following a discovery. Further, the estimated effect varies by the size of the discovery, increasing to a 1.77 percentage points gap in the case of super giant discoveries. The estimated effect is inversely related to the quality of political institutions, and driven by countries with lower institutional quality at the time of the discovery, consistent with the similar long-run results documented in the resource curse literature. For countries with below-threshold institutional quality, the growth disappointment effect is larger, measured as 1.35 percentage points in annual terms. There is no measured growth disappointment effect for countries with strong institutions. Using the synthetic control method, we confirm our findings for a selection of countries above and below the institutional quality threshold. The findings suggest that studies of the resource curse that focus only on the effects of resource exploitation or examine only long-run growth effects may overlook important short-run growth disappointments following discoveries, and the way countries respond to news shocks.
Function and Temporal Variation in Use of Ossuaries by Bearded Vultures (Gypaetus barbatus) During the Nestling Period

Abstract We analyze the use and functionality of ossuaries by the Bearded Vulture (Gypaetus barbatus) in the Pyrenees during the nestling period. In 71% of cases, the ossuary was used to prepare food for chicks, in 11% for storing food, and only in 18% for preparing the adults' own food. Pairs used an average of two ossuaries at a mean distance from the nest of 789 m (SE ± 377). The average time dedicate to breaking bone was 5.3 min (SE ± 4.2) and 4.5 throws (SE ± 5.8) for each session in the ossuarie (n = 86). The temporal variation found in the use of the ossuaries, with maximum frequencies between 31–90 days of age of chicks, may be due to a possible qualitative variation in chicks' diets. Ossuaries are also used to store food, this being a differentiating and advantageous trait with respect to feeding behavior developed by other meat scavengers.
Why Tariffs, Not Subsidies? A Search for Stylized Facts

Abstract Barriers to trade are commonly viewed as a result of political systems in which politically influential groups benefit from and successfully lobby for protection. However, trade policy is a highly inefficient tool for redistributing income. Although recent theoretical research has focused on explanations of why (inefficient) trade barriers might be preferred to more direct means of redistribution, this research has been carried out with little empirical support. We address this gap in the literature with an exploratory cross-country empirical investigation of the economic factors correlated with a reliance on tariffs over subsidies. We find that the existing theoretical literature is consistent with the cross-country evidence.