Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Strategies for enhancing the learning of ecological research methods and statistics by tertiary environmental science students

Abstract To undertake rigorous research in biology and ecology, students must be able to pose testable hypotheses, design decisive studies, and analyse results using suitable statistics. Yet, few biology students excel in topics involving statistics and most attempt to evade optional courses in research methods. Over the last few years, we have developed a tertiary-level unit to create a positive, inquiry-based, learning environment for teaching survey methods and statistics to environmental science students. This paper reports the success of incorporating a staged sequence of learning and assessment tasks into an ecological research methods unit. To gauge reactions to the strategies incorporated into the unit, all students completed a questionnaire and several students were interviewed while the lecturer involved was interviewed. Overall, students demonstrated acquisition of fundamental research skills, enhanced understanding of the subtleties of the scientific method, and improved confidence in their use of inferential statistical procedures. Further, they recognised the value of interactions with their colleagues and the need for flexibility in research design to compensate for variable environmental conditions. Skills in statistics and survey design appear best taught using learning and assessment tasks that are integrated into the teaching sequence so that they emulate the steps involved in conducting ‘real-life’ scientific research.
Explicit Form Focus Instruction: The Effects on Implicit and Explicit Knowledge of ESL Learners

The study examines the effect of explicit form focus instruction and specifically metalinguistic information feedback on the development of both implicit and explicit knowledge of adult English as a Second Language (ESL) learners. Ninety-one subjects at the lower intermediate level were carefully selected through placement test at one of the selected education centre in Kuala Lumpur and randomly assigned into experimental and control groups by the researcher. A quantitative study was conducted over approximately four weeks in 16 sessions. Modal (can and have to), past tense with –ed, Present perfect (since and for), Comparatives, Unreal conditionals were chosen as the target structures. Target structures were taught based on the lesson plan of the study. Pretest and posttest were given before and after the intervention program. The tests consisted of two tests designed to measure implicit knowledge (i.e., EOIT & TGJT) and two other tests (i.e., UGJT & MKT) to measure explicit knowledge. Results of ANCOVA analysis show gains on both types of knowledge on the posttest. The theoretical implication of the results suggests explicit instruction adequately facilitates development of L2 implicit and explicit knowledge. Pedagogically, these results suggest that explicit instruction on some English language features may benefit L2 learners, especially in facilitating their implicit knowledge.
Determinants of Early Neonatal Mortality in Nigeria: Results from 2013 Nigeria DHS

Child mortality remains a significant public health challenge particularly in developing countries of sub-Saharan Africa where around 50% of the global 6.3 million children die before their fifth birth day. Additionally, all the 16 countries with under-5 mortality rate of more than 100 per 1000 live births are located in sub-Saharan Africa and the region experienced one of the slowest annual rates of reduction in child mortality of 2.7% between 1990 and 2012 [1]. Of the 6.3 million child death estimated to have occurred worldwide in 2032, around 44% of these deaths took place during the neonatal period (i.e. within the first 28 days of life) and a further 75% of these neonatal deaths occurred during the first week of life (i.e. the early neonatal period) [2,3]. It follows that around 33% (or 2.1 million) of the global child death took place during the early neonatal period while the remaining 67% takes place in the remaining 1818 days. These deaths are substantial and targeting their determinants in the form of programmatic interventions will lead to significant reduction in child mortality overall. Therefore, strategies that promote better survival during the early neonatal period will have the greatest impact to reduce the overall child mortality as well as sustaining the progress made in reducing child mortality thus far. In Nigeria, child mortality continues to be a public health challenge despite adopting the various international health agendas aimed at reducing child mortality such as millennium development goals (MDGs), partnerships for maternal, neonatal and child health (PMNCH) and the Countdown Strategy. Despite keying into these programs, neonatal, infant, child and under-5 mortality rates remain high at 37, 69, 64 and 128 per 1000 live births respectively and Nigeria’s contribution to the global burden of child mortalityis immensely huge at around 13% (or 804,000 child deaths) in 2013 [4,5]. Nigeria’s contribution to global pool of child mortality has marginally decreased from 849,000 in 1990 to 827,000 in 2012 while there is a reversal in the expected decline as neonatal deaths increasing from 207, 000 to 267,000 during the same period [4]. Past literature on the subject matter have continued to give more emphasis on either under-five mortality [6-11] or on neonatal mortality [12,13] ignoring the significant proportion of early neonatal deaths as an important component of both Research Article Abstract
Model-Based Predictive Control : A Practical Approach

Introduction Common Linear Models Used in Model Predictive Control Prediction in Model Predictive Control Predictive Control-The Basic Algorithm Examples - Tuning Predictive Control and Numerical Conditioning Stability Guarantees and Optimising Performance Closed-Loop Paradigm Constraint Handling and Feasibility Issues in MPC Improving Robustness-The Constraint Free Case The Relationship Between Modelling and the Robustness of MPC Robustness of MPC During Constraint Handling and Invariant Sets Optimisation and Computational Efficiency in Predictive Control Predictive Functional Control Multirate Systems Modelling for Predictive Control Appendices Conclusion
الفشل الكلوي المزمن لدى الأطفال في المنطقة الغربية من السعودية جزيره العرب Chronic renal failure in children in the Western area of Saudi Arabia.

Sixty-six children (35 boys and 31 girls) aged 14 years or younger, with chronic renal failure (CRF), were reviewed in the department of pediatrics at The King Abdul Aziz University Hospital (KAUH), Jeddah, over a four-year period from September 2000 until July 2004. Fifty-nine percent (39 patients) were Saudi Nationals while the remaining were from other nationalities. Forty-two percent lived outside Jeddah in other cities of the western or the southern provinces. Their mean glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was 15.3 +/- 11.1 ml/minute/1.73m(2); 50patients (76%) had severe CRF with GFR of < 25 ml/minute/1.73m(2), of whom 34 (52%) were in end-stage renal failure (ESRF), with GFR < 10 ml/minute/1.73m(2). The mean age at first presentation was 4.5 +/- 4.3 years, while the mean age at referral to a pediatric nephrologist was 6.6 +/- 4.4 years. Congenital abnormalities of the renal system were the major cause of CRF (33 patients, 50%) followed by neurogenic bladder (19.6%), either idiopathic (6%) or associated with neural tube defects (13.6%). Hereditary conditions were the cause in 12% and glomerular disease in 13.6%. Fourteen children (21.2%) received peritoneal dialysis, seven (10.6%) received hemodialysis, two (3%) were transplanted abroad and 12 patients (18%) died. Our study, which is the first from Jeddah on the epidemiology of CRF in children, shows that the profile is similar to other parts of the KSA with a predominance of congenital causes. There was a considerable delay in referring children with CRF patients to a pediatric nephrologist resulting in delay in the management of preventable causes such as neurogenic bladder associated with neural tube defects.
Understanding Hypertext Navigation through Cluster Analysis

Hypertext documents are unlike traditional text for not only do they represent a computer-based medium, but also readers can process the hypertext in a nonlinear, random access fashion. The ability to navigate through hypertext sometimes presents individuals with difficulty perhaps because these readers do not possess adequate domain knowledge or interest in the topics encountered. This study was designed to inspect the navigational profiles of participants as they process a hypertext document. Using cluster analysis, three performance profiles emerged: 1) knowledge seekers, 2) feature explorers, and, 3) apathetic hypertext users. Analyses demonstrated that domain knowledge seems to differentiate among the cluster groups. Results indicated that students who are interested in computers and hypertext but who do not possess relevant amounts of domain knowledge aligned with the text material experienced difficulty when trying to comprehend hypertext. Implications for learning, assessment, and teaching are discussed.
Membrane Computing Based Virtual Network Embedding Algorithm with Path Splitting

Network virtualization is recognized as an important enabler technology to diversify the future Internet and the Virtual Network Embedding problem is major challenge to fulfill it. In this paper, we proposed a parallel Virtual Network Embedding algorithm with Path splitting on the basis of membrane Computing (VNEPC). And more importantly, it is one phase embedding algorithm that maps virtual nodes and virtual links in the same phase without decomposing the VNE problem. Extensive simulation results show that our proposed VNEPC algorithm outperforms the existing algorithms in long-term average revenue, acceptance ratio and long-term R/C ratio.
The use and usability of SFX: context‐sensitive reference linking

SFX is an XML‐based product designed to inter‐link electronic resources with other resources in context‐sensitive manner. SFX was first developed at the University of Ghent by Herbert Van de Sompel and has been released as a commercial product by Ex Libris. Use statistics garnered from SFX’s statistics module since the implementation in July of 2001 are discussed in the context of an academic research library environment. The results from usability testing conducted at Washington State University are reported. These usage statistics demonstrated a pattern of increasing use and exceptional use from FirstSearch databases.
Architectural and Functional optimizations to the Digital subsystem of Active Digital Aura (ADA) chip

The primary objective of this thesis project is to investigate and develop optimal software and hardware architectures to detect the Start Of Packet (SOP) indicator present in a Body Coupled Communication (BCC) based message packet. The SOP detection module is a part of the receiver block present in the digital subsystem of the Active Digital Aura (ADA) circuit [2]. The project is comprised of two tasks. The first task is to investigate alternative solutions to detect the SOP in a received message. Accurate detection of the SOP under varying noise conditions is crucial for reducing retransmissions and improve the data rate. The various investigated solutions are implemented using VHDL and tested for the accuracy of SOP detection using Xilinx ISE simulations. The solutions are also synthesized using Cadence Synthesis tools to determine the hardware statistics such as area utilization, power consumption, and slack. The solution having highest accuracy and optimal hardware resource utilization is chosen as the best possible alternative solution. Furthermore, to verify the SOP detection in a typical BCC scenario, different types of noise such as burst noise and distributed noise with varying intensity are injected to the message packet to introduce errors. Both the current and best alternative solutions are subjected to functionality tests under these noise variations to determine the detection accuracy and limitations of each. The second task is to incorporate necessary modifications to the digital subsystem of existing ADA circuit [2] to develop a prototype model of it on the ML401 (Xilinx Virtex-4 based) FPGA board [3]. The prototype aids in testing of the modifications made to the digital subsystem of ADA chip (such as the SOP detection module) at real time, prior to ASIC manufacturing. A firmware application is also developed for an ARM Cortex-M4F based ? C device (host) which is used to interact with and test the FPGA prototype. The functionality of the existing and alternate SOP detection solutions are verified at real time on the FPGA hardware.
Fractal Analysis of Street Vistas: A Potential Tool for Assessing Levels of Visual Variety in Everyday Street Scenes

Fractal analysis and the calculation of fractal dimension offer the potential for the numerical characterisation of places by providing a synthetic measurement of place complexity. This paper provides a fractal analysis of street vistas linking the calculation of fractal dimension to the perception of levels of visual variety present in everyday urban streets. A technique for calculating street vista fractal dimensions of textures extracted from greyscale images is presented, and correlations between the resultant fractal dimension and scores for perceived visual variety are discussed.
Effect of Intravenous Clonidine as Premedication on Haemodynamic Responses during Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Background: Surgical laparoscopy is associated with significant pathophysiological changes due to pneumoperitoneum using carbon dioxide and haemodynamic alterations that need to be effectively attenuated. Clonidine an alfa-2 agonist is one of the agent recommended for the control of stress responses with laparoscopic surgery under general anaesthesia. Material & Method: In a randomized double blind study on 60 ASA grade I/II adult patients scheduled for laparoscopic cholecystectomy were included. Ethical clearance and Informed consent obtained. Group B (n=30) patients received plain infusion of ringer lactate and in group C (n=30) 1.5 mcg/kg of clonidine was added to the infusion of ringer lactate and given 30 minutes prior to the Induction of general anesthesia. The baseline and perioperative vital parameters noted. Pre medicated with injection glycopyrrolate 0.2 mg ranitidine 50mg, ondesetrone 4 mg and fentanyl citrate 1.5 µg/kg intravenously and induced with propofol 2 mg/kg. Endotracheal intubation was facilitated by succinylcholine 1.5 mg/kg, anaesthesia maintained by 50% oxygen in nitrous oxide, 0.6-1% isoflurane and muscle relaxant Vecuronium bromide 0.1 mg/kg with IPPV to maintain the EtCO2 between 30-40 mm Hg. Results: Intra operatively there was significant heart rate variation in group B (77.3 ± 10.4/min to 111.2 ± 13.7/min) than in group C (77.7± 9.4/min to 83.5 ± 8.4/min) and the mean blood pressure varied from 91.3 ± 10.05 mm of Hg to 109.6 ± 10.4 mmHg in group B and in group C 91.4 ± 11.6 mmHg to 93.9± 7.5 mmHg. In group B seven (23.33%) patients required intra-operative NTG drip for control of hypertension but not in group C. One patient in group C required inj. Atropine 0.6 mg for control of bradycardia. Patients in group C were more sedated whereas VAS score, requirement of analgesic and incidence of shivering were significantly less in group C patients than in group B. Conclusion: Premedication with intravenous 1.5 mcg/kg clonidine in ASA I/ II patients is safe and effective for hemodynamic stability during laparoscopic cholecystectomy
Assessing the safety benefits due to coordination amongst vehicles during an emergency braking maneuver

In this paper, we consider the problem of estimating three safety parameters, namely, the probability of an intervehicular collision, expected number of such collisions and expected relative velocity at impact, for assessing the safety benefits of coordination. We consider an emergency braking scenario, in which the lead vehicle brakes at its maximum capability and the following vehicles obey a vehicle following control law. It is assumed that the maximum braking capability of all vehicles are independent and identically distributed random variable. The fact, that coordination renders effective braking of a vehicle different from its maximum braking capability, leads us to a natural way of analyzing the problem: the first step is that of determining how the coordination of vehicles alters the probability distribution of "effective" braking; this has been done in an earlier paper by the authors. The second step is that of determining how one can compute the probability of a collision, the expected number of primary collisions and relative velocity at impact in a platoon of n vehicles, from the knowledge of the probability distribution of "effective" braking and from the braking differential that guarantees a collision/no-collision between successive vehicles; this is the focus of this paper. We have conducted Monte Carlo simulation to demonstrate the safety benefits of coordination during emergency braking and the viability of our analytical approach to estimate them.
Executive Performance on the Rorschach Comprehensive System

The Rorschach request for candidates for positions in the upper corporate hierarchy – the so-called executive positions – has become a usual practice since the 1960s when the most classic and complete work about executive evaluation with the Rorschach appeared. The most commonly cited traits for successful executives are: ambition and intense desire to achieve; ability to make decisions; assertiveness; practicality; ability to work efficiently in frustrating conditions; ability and desire to include others in solving problems; ability to question his/her own positions and decisions in an objective fashion; ability to express hostility with tact; ability to set realistic targets; have varied tastes; “ability to work most of the time at a dizzying pace and sometimes with the reflection and calm of a Buddhist monk” (p. 4); interest in others; ability to deal with concrete and abstract problems; ability to be cautious or bold depending on circumstances; ability to take positions; initiative; predictive capaci.
Computation/communication balance-point modeling in multiprocessors

An analytic model for predicting processor utilization in a CC-NUMA (cache coherent non-uniform memory access) shared-memory multiprocessor is developed. The interconnection network in such systems transfers cache line messages between processor caches and memory modules on read and write misses. The major component of the miss penalty, for the case of large systems, is the network delay. Using only a relatively small number of node parameters (cache miss rate, cache line length, number of outstanding transfer requests allowed, memory access time, proportion of Reads to Writes), along with the bandwidth and delay versus throughput characteristics of the network, the analytic model is shown to give good estimates of the processor utilization values derived from an independent detailed simulation study. In particular, for multiprocessor sizes of 72 and 108 nodes, and for variations in the node parameters, the processor utilization values determined by the analytic model are within 10% of the simulation results. Processor utilizations vary from 0.41 to 0.88. The interconnection network involved is a hierarchical slotted-ring system.
HUBUNGAN ANTARA PERILAKU OLAHRAGA, STRESS DAN POLA MAKAN DENGAN TINGKAT HIPERTENSI PADA LANJUT USIA DI POSYANDU LANSIA KELURAHAN GEBANG PUTIH KECAMATAN SUKOLILO KOTA SURABAYA

Abstract The elderly will be many setbacks organs occurance, therefore elderly susceptible diseases such as hypertension. Common elderly hypertension is systolic hypertension if the systolic pressure ≥ 140 mmHg and diastolic pressure < 90 mmHg. This study uses cross-sectional approach by taken sample used simple random sampling and got 107 elderly. The independent variable was exercise behavior, stress and diet while the dependent variable was the rate of hypertension in elderly. The results showed, the elderly who suffer from hypertension with less exercise as many as 45.79%, and less resistant to stress as many as 39.25%. Most of elderly consumed foods that cause hypertension such as salt, sugar, and foods that contain fat. Testing with Chi-square test showed exercise behavior and stress have significant relationship with the occurrence of hypertension in the elderly, obtained p = 0.000 (p <0.05) for exercise behavior and p = 0.047 (p <0.05) for stress behavior. The conclusion is, there is a relationship among exercise behavior, stress and diet with the level of hypertension in the elderly at posyandu lansia kelurahan gebang putih kecamatan sukolilo Surabaya. Active participation of the community is expected include volunteers and families to determine the success of the posyandu lansia’s program. Keywords Exercise, stress, diet, level of hypertension in the erderly
Using gaming simulation to understand deregulation dynamics

Emerging from a protected, regulated environment, utilities use gaming and simulation models to learn about the dynamics of deregulation. UTILITIES 21, an all-fuel, fully integrated energy model, details actual data and area dynamics. Proven both reliable and valid, the results generated from the UTILITIES 21 gaming model predicted recent energy crises as being caused by implementation of conventional decision making rather than employment of new knowledge learned from the gaming sessions. Gaming facilitators realize that learning new knowledge is insufficient. They must also teach utilities how to implement that knowledge.
Making Voices Count: Corpus Compilation in Bilingual Communities

Corpus compilation is of great relevance in linguistics today, with growing appreciation of studies based on spontaneous speech, in particular for minority communities. This paper puts forward a model for corpus compilation in bilingual communities, illustrated through the New Mexican Spanish–English Bilingual corpus, in which the same speakers—from a long-standing minority community in the United States—use both Spanish and English in the same conversations, smoothly alternating between their languages. We advocate community-based fieldwork for the collection of speech data by community members; the formation of a corpus which comprises recordings of spontaneous interactions and is thus of widespread usability (rather than being tied to any particular set of research questions or elicited linguistic features); scrupulously compiling information about the demography and the linguistic history of the participants that may shape their patterns of language use; and comprehensive transcription of the data taking into account prosodic aspects and making considered decisions about how to responsibly represent the speech. This community-based approach yields linguistic data situated in its social context and amenable to systematic quantitative analysis, which allows for confronting the many claims about language contact with the facts of bilingual usage.
Phase-shift keying in fading channels

Phase-shift keying (p.s.k.) is discussed as a modulation technique for transmitting digital data over radio circuits subject to fading. The modest bandwidth requirements of p.s. k. modulation suggest that it can not only alleviate spectrum crowding, but can also transmit traffic with fewer errors. The theoretical results presented here indicate, however, that the random phase perturbations inherent in fading radio signals cause unavoidable degradation in the performance of p.s. k. systems. Experimental data which partially support the theoretical results are cited, and comments relevant to the improvement of p.s. k. systems are included.