Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Seasonal Diets of the Denali Caribou Herd, Alaska

Food habits of the Denali (formerly McKinley) herd of barren-ground caribou ( Rangifer tarandus granti ) were studied during 1978-80 in Denali National Park, Alaska, with emphasis on diets of adult females. Data from fecal analyses, field observations, and forage digestibilities were combined to estimate diets. Spring (late May to July) diets contained primarily Salix leaves (41%), lichens (25%), forbs (16%), and graminoids (12%). Summer (mid-July to mid-August) diets were similar, containing about 46% Salix leaves, 17% lichens, 10% forbs, 10% graminoids, and 12% mushrooms. In contrast, autumn (mid-September to mid-October) diets consisted primarily of lichens (43%) with less proportions of forbs (9%). graminoids (14%), mushrooms (10%), and mosses (5%). Winter (mid-November to early May) diets consisted largely of lichens (62%) and small proportions of Vaccinium vitis-idaea (6%), forbs (7%), graminoids (11%), and mosses (10%). Key words: caribou, Denali National Park, diets, fecal analysis, food habits, Rangifer
VIBRATION-ISOLATION PERFORMANCE OF FLOATING SLAB TRACK USED IN UNDERGROUND RAILWAYS

Floating slab track is a popular approach used to try to reduce vibration transmitted from underground railways into the surrounding soil and thence into nearby buildings. The rails are fixed to a concrete slab foundation which is supported on a resilient mounting, so isolating the track from the tunnel invert. However, the effectiveness of the vibration attenuation does not compare well with the simple mass-spring models typically used in the design of these tracks. This paper uses models of infinite length to investigate the performance of floating slab track in more detail. A track model constructed from an infinite series of repeating units is presented, each unit being two beams (for the rail and the slab) separated by elastic layers (for the resilient elements used in the track construction). An improved model consisting of an infinite slab beam mounted inside a tunnel of infinite length in soil of infinite extent is also presented.
A New Multiple Instance Learning Algorithm based on Instance-Consistency

Multiple-instance learning (MIL) has been successfully utilized in image retrieval. Existing approaches cannot select positive instances correctly from positive bags, which may result in low accuracy. Inspired by the characteristic that consistencies are always among instances and instances, and bags and instances, we propose a new algorithm called multiple instance learning based on instanceconsistency (MILIC) to mitigate this issue. First, we select potential positive instances effectively in every positive bag through the minimum cost of instance-consistency. Second, we use the L1-LR to select irrelevant instances from potential positive instances to further improve the retrieval efficiency. Then, we design a novel feature representation scheme based on the irrelevant potential positive instances to convert a bag into a single instance. Band on the feature representations, we finally conduct object-based image retrieval and image categorization by adopting the standard single-instance learning (SIL) strategy, such as the support vector machine (SVM), to verify the effectiveness of our proposal.
Performance Standards in Need-Based Student Aid

College attendance is a risky investment. But students may not recognize when they are at risk for failure, and financial aid introduces the possibility for moral hazard. Academic performance standards can serve three roles in this context: signaling expectations for success, providing incentives for increased student effort, and limiting financial losses. Such standards have existed in federal need-based aid programs for nearly 40 years in the form of Satisfactory Academic Progress (SAP) requirements, yet have received virtually no academic attention. In this paper, we sketch a simple model to illustrate not only student responses to standards but also the tradeoffs faced by a social planner weighing whether to set performance standards in the context of need-based aid. We then use regression discontinuity and difference-in-difference designs to examine the consequences of SAP failure. In line with theoretical predictions, we find heterogeneous effects in the short term, with negative impacts on persistence but positive effects on grades for students who remain enrolled. After three years, the negative effects appear to dominate. Effects on credits attempted are 2–3 times as large as effects on credits earned, suggesting that standards increase the efficiency of aid expenditures. But it also appears to exacerbate inequality in higher education by pushing out low-performing low-income students faster than their equally low-performing, but higher-income peers.
THE INTERACTIVE EFFECTS OF WATER MAGNETIC TREATMENT AND DEFICIT IRRIGATION ON PLANT PRODUCTIVITY AND WATER USE EFFICIENCY OF CORN (ZEA MAYS L.)

A maize (Zea mays L.) field experiment was conducted in Sulaimania Governorate, Iraq to study the influence of water magnetism under full and limited irrigation schemes on actual evapotranspiration ETa, growth and yield of corn. Drip Irrigation system was used to apply water for all treatments to bring the soil moisture content of the 0-90 cm layer up to the field capacity. Three different irrigation treatments (I0, I1 and I2) were applied depending on soil water depletion replenishments. Symbols I0, I1 and I2 refer to treatments receiving 100%, 75% and 50% soil moisture depletion successively which were applied right after the emergency stage. The results showed that the growth and productivity of corn were increased by water magnetism under both full and limited irrigation. Both of water use efficiency WUE and irrigation water use efficiency IWUE increased when irrigation water was magnetized particularly under water deficit condition. The growth and productivity parameters of corn were directly proportional to actual ET starting from the minimum values of ETa up to maximum ET (ETm) level. Maximum WUE and IWUE were obtained when ETa/ETm ratio were between 0.65-0.85. Average values of crop ET (ETc) calculated by Blaney-Criddle and Hargreaves equation can be used to estimate the amount of applied irrigation water because of the closeness of ETc values from ETa values. Crop response factor for corn decreased when magnetized water was used for irrigation. The best magnetic flux density was 50-100 mT to give the best response for corn crop. Most measured physical and chemical properties of water were slightly affected by magnetism. ةيقارعلا ةيعارزلا مولعلا ةلجم 44 :)صاخ ددع( 4 61 9 61 ، 2011 هدوع و حاتف ةرذلا لوصحمل هايملا مادختسا ةءافكو ةيجاتنا يف صقانلا يرلاو ءاملا ةطنغمل ةلخادتملا تاريثاتلا
Risk Adjustment and Trading Strategies

We assess the profitability of momentum strategies using a stochastic discount factor approach. In unconditional tests, approximately half of the strategies' profitability is explained. In conditional tests we see a further slight decline in profits. We argue that the risk of these strategies should be increasing in the market risk premium. Empirically, while their risk measures estimated relative to the stochastic discount factor behave as predicted, market betas do not; thus capital asset pricing model (CAPM)-like benchmarks may lead to incorrect inferences. Given that our nonparametric risk adjustment explains roughly half of momentum strategy profits, we cannot rule out the possibility of residual mispricing. Copyright 2003, Oxford University Press.
Evaluation of genetic variability of the breed Norik of Muran according to pedigree information

Halo M. , Mlyneková E. , Horná M. , Ivančíková M. , Hrdá A. (2018): Evaluation of genetic variability of the breed Norik of Muran according to pedigree information. Czech J. Anim. Sci., 63, 195–200. The Norik of Muran, a unique draught horse bred in Slovakia, belongs to country’s biodiversity treasures. The genetic diversity of this horse type was evaluated on the basis of indicators derived from the common ancestry and the probability of gene origin. The pedigree file of the analyzed horses involved 115 individuals (15 stallions and 100 mares). The number of complete generations was 4.49 on average. The maximum number of ancestor generations at the examined population of living horses was 5.38 and the equivalent number in the generation of ancestors was 5.14. The highest average length of the generation interval was 10.97 years in the father–son direction compared to father–daughter (9.74), mother–son (10.87), and mother–daughter (8.99 years – the lowest average length). The generation interval overall average length was 10.14 years. The total coefficient of relatedness was 1.72% on average. The efficient number of core ancestors evenly used in breeding in comparison with the core ancestors mildly decreased to 198. Therefore the Austrian Norik incorporation in the breeding program is the opportunity how to maintain genetic diversity.
The Role of Intuition in the Decision Process of Ski Guides

The criteria individuals use and much of the decision making related knowledge base in professional, mountain guiding has remained poorly understood even to active practicing professionals. Many mountain guides might have difficulty in expressing exactly how field-based risk management decisions are made in particular, how intuition is used. The increased interest in decision-making is not unique to mountain guiding and the avalanche industry. There is much to be learned from how other fields have approached the challenge of understanding the complexities of the decision making process. Research that helps to describe the innovative practices and extant knowledge of mountain guiding will help theory and practice to be more in harmony. With an annual average fatality rate over the last ten years of just under two and a half fatalities per 100,000 skier days in the Canadian mechanized ski industry, it is not unreasonable to suggest that there is considerable knowledge entrenched within the daily activities of the practitioners (BC Coroner, 2003; Israelson, 2008). However it is arguable that even this number of fatalities is too many and all efforts should be made to reduce the number of fatalities in guided groups.
Improving the Information Value of Performance Items in Large Scale Assessments: NAEP Validity Studies. Working Paper Series.

This essay explores what is known and what remains to be learned about the information value of performance items when they are used in large scale assessment. Within the context of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), there is substantial interest in answering these questions as issues of national assessment are considered for the future. The concept of information value is operationalized in the essay. Information has value to the degree that it helps in decision making or drawing conclusions about issues that matter. In education the issues that matter usually take the form of questions about cognitive processes or curriculum. This essay is divided into four sections. The first considers the construct of information value in its broadest sense, and then describes ways to operationalize it. The second section reviews the available literature within each of the operational traditions of: (1) item response theory; (2) factor analysis; and (3) correlational studies. The third section considers some alternative versions of information value, based on more cognitive, conceptual, and pragmatic considerations. The final section outlines a series of studies that, it is asserted, should be supported by the National Center for Educational Statistics to answer the questions about how the NAEP can be modified to increase its information value. The question of what constructed response items add to the interpretation of NAEP results is critical at this point in the history of the NAEP. Critics assert that constructed response items should be eliminated in the interests of economy and precision. Until, and unless, it can be demonstrated that there are grounds, whether psychometric, conceptual, or pragmatic, for maintaining or expanding the emphasis on constructed response items, their use will be questioned and questionable. (Contains 26 references.) (SLD) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ******************************************************************************** U S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) Errhis document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it CI Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy Improving the Information Value of Performance Items in Large Scale Assessments P. David Pearson Diane R. Garavaglia
Relationships between Motivational Beliefs and Active Procrastination: The Mediating Role of Self-Regulation

This study examined the mediating role of self-regulation strategies in the relationships between motivational beliefs (self-efficacy, intrinsic goal orientation, and extrinsic goal orientation) and active procrastination. A total of 426 pre-service teachers studying in colleges of education in Northern Nigeria participated in the study. A descriptive correlation research design was employed to address the research objectives. Two instruments, namely the ‘Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ)’ and ‘Active Procrastination Scale’ were utilized to assess respondent’s levels of procrastination, motivational beliefs, and self-regulation. Pearson correlation and Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) were conducted to investigate the relationship between the motivational beliefs variables and active procrastination among the participants. Finding from the study indicates that the respondents demonstrate a moderate level of active procrastination. Findings also revealed that there were significant relationships between respondents’ motivational beliefs (self-efficacy, intrinsic goal orientation, and extrinsic goal orientation) and active procrastination. Analysis using SEM indicated that there were indirect effects of self-efficacy and extrinsic goal orientation on active procrastination through self-regulation strategies as the mediator. Findings further show that there is no significant causal relationship between intrinsic goal orientation and active procrastination. Implications of the study and suggestions have also been offered.
Arbuscular Mycorrhizal Fungi Influences Oxidative Stress in Tomato Plantsin Drought Stress

The present investigation has several aspects related to drought tolerance in Arbuscular Mycorrhizal (AM) tomato plants. The study included both shoot and root tissues in order to reveal the preferred target tissue for AM effects against drought stress. Non-AM and AM soybean plants were grown under well-watered or drought-stressed conditions, and oxidative damage to lipids, and other parameters were determined. Results showed that AM plants were protected against drought, as shown by their significantly higher shoot and root biomass production. These results showed that AMF inoculation stimulated growth and enhanced drought tolerance of tomato plants through changes in morphological, physiological and biochemical traits. This symbiosis might be an effective cultivation practice in improving the yield and development for tomato plants.
Self- and Peer Assessment of Oral Presentations: Investigating Correlations and Attitudes

Despite the proven advantages of alternative assessment including self- and peer assessment, there is still uncertainty about the accuracy of these techniques especially in Iran since little research has conducted in this area. To this aim, a total of 2261 evaluation sheets were collected to investigate 118 peer assessments and 48 self- assessments of oral presentations in comparison with their teacher assessments. The data were collected during four semesters in general English classes held in Sharif University of Technology. Students were supposed to make an oral presentation for at least twenty minutes on a topic of their interest, and were then rated by their teacher, themselves, and their peers based on ten pre-established assessment criteria. The number of peer assessments for each presentation was within the range of 8-27. In addition, in order to delve into the students' attitudes toward the new techniques, 64 students expressed their opinions on five-point Likert scale surveys before and after the implementation of self- and peer assessment. It was indicated that the results of the peer assessment were more consistent with those of teacher assessment and the resemblance grew when the number of peers was within the range of 16-19. On the other hand, it was observed that the students' attitudes significantly changed in a positive way toward both techniques. All in all, the findings of the present study suggested that peer assessment closely resembled teacher assessment while the students' attitude changed more positively toward self-assessment in comparison with peer assessment. The findings of this study could have implications for language teachers, material designers, and educational policy makers.
Conversion of Waste Glasses into Sodium Silicate Solutions

In this study, hydrothermal and fusion methods used to prepare sodium silicate solution from waste glasses. Three different color of waste glasses (white, green and brown), the waste products of municipal and industry are rich in amorphous silica was used to produce sodium silicate solution. The best condition for sodium silicate solution production was reacted waste bottle glass reaction with 90 wt. % NaOH at 650oC for 60 min. The chemical compositions of liquid products were analyzed by standard TIS 433-1996 method. The results indicated that under favorable conditions, liquid sodium silicate with having Na2O/SiO2 molar ratio of about 1 : 5 can be produced by this method. The silicate solution contains 0.01-0.05 wt. /v% of iron and 0.00-0.01 wt. /v% of sulfate as impurity. The process established in the present study was found to have a potential applicability as a recycling process of waste glasses.
Characterization of Reservoir Heterogeneity by Capacitance-resistance Model in Water-flooding Projects

Tedious calculations and simulations are needed to obtain an efficient production scenario and/orproper field development strategy. Capacitance-resistance model (CRM) is proved to be a fastreservoir simulation tool using just the field-available data of production and injection rates. Thisapproach sets a time-constant and a weighting factor (or well-pair connectivity parameter) betweeneach pair of injection and production wells according to their histories. In this study, we investigatedthe behavior of the CRM parameters in synthetic reservoir models with different porosity andpermeability maps. Four reservoirs are considered with different porosities and permeabilities to studytheir effects on CRM response. We defined a new parameter, named error to mean production ratio(EMPR), to analyze the CRM performance. Some fluctuations are exerted on the production data toevaluate the capability of CRM against variable production records. Porosity showed a stronger effecton CRM parameters than the permeability based on the calculated EMPR. Unstable productionhistory would result in large error which can be corrected with some smoothing techniques onvariable production data. Also, a linear trend of EMPR was obtained with the change of porosity andpermeability or a combination of the two parameters within the reservoir.
Density, Sex Ratio, Size, Weight, and Recruitment of Plicopurpura pansa (Gastropoda: Muricidae) in Costa Chica, Guerrero, México

Plicopurpura pansa is a cultural resource with economic importance since ink can be extracted from it to dye clothes. This snail inhabits the rocky intertidal zone of Mexican Pacific, is found attached to rocks in crevices and holes. The objective was to analyze the P. pansa population structure in Costa Chica of the State of Guerrero based in density, sex ratio, size and weight, besides to realize observations on mating and recruitment, for which quarterly sampling was made during an annual cycle in three beaches. The density was 4.83 snails/m2. Sex ratio ranged from 0.76:1.00 to 1.00: 0.96 (F:M). Average size was 20.91 mm. The best represented sizes in females were from 10.5 to 28.5 mm and in males 13.5 to 28.5 mm. Averaged weight was 1.99 g, females showed a coefficient of variation in weight of 96.53%. Recruitment occurred for the entire year. In December 2006 and September 2007 a larger frequency of recruits was shown. Sex ratio showed a 1:1 tendency. Snail population was characterized by being small sized and in high densities. Weight variations in females were found related to their reproductive cycle.
Production of recombinant proteins GST L1, E6 and E7 tag HPV 16 for antibody detection of Tunisian cervical cancer patients

In the present work recombinant proteins were produced for used in LUMINEX in order to undergo serological study of Tunisian female population. HPV types 16 L1, E6 and E7 sequences fused to their 3’-end to a sequence encoding the terminal undecapeptide of the SV40 large T-antigen (tag) were isolated from plasmids and inserted into a pGEX vector for expression as GST fusion proteins in Escherichia coli. Coding sequences for L1tag, E6tag and E7tag of HPV 16 respectively were mobilized by digestion with enzymes and ligated into digested plasmids downstream of the GST domain. An expression plasmid for GST tag was constructed by inserting a fragment coding for the tag epitope. Data showed that the lysates were stable for detection and they were used in Luminex for detection of antibodies in female Tunisian female patients. This assay showed that the sero-positivity towards the different antigens depends upon the group studied and differences between cases and controls were significant (P
Comparison of two methods for analysing the biological factors contributing to assortative mating or sexual isolation

Question: How can we establish the biological factors that contribute to variation in assortative mating (based on a quantitative or qualitative trait)? Key assumptions: Assortative (or disassortative) mating for a particular trait can produce sexual isolation between ecotypes or incipient species. The individual contribution to population assortative mating for a quantitative trait can be estimated by means of the ri statistic, which is an additive decomposition of the Pearson correlation coefficient. The mating pair contribution to population sexual isolation can be estimated by the PSI coefficient. These statistics can be used to quantify the variability in assortative mating/sexual isolation in a particular population. Search method: It was recently proposed that both the ri statistic and the PSI coefficient could be used as dependent variables in a multiple regression approach to determine which of a set of independent variables explains the greatest variation in the dependent variable. We describe both statistics and undertake simulations to compare the efficiency of each statistic to infer assortative mating when it is caused a priori by a mate choice decision based on a quantitative or a qualitative trait. Conclusions: The ri statistic outperforms the PSI coefficient when trying to infer the causes of both assortative mating and sexual isolation. The applicability of both methods to other cases is discussed.