Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
GENDER DIFFERENCES IN THE EQI DATA

Drawing upon previous research on gender and corruption, this report looks at gender differences in the ‘Quality of Government institute’ regional data on governance in Europe. By examining the raw survey material, containing 85000 respondents from over 200 NUTS regions in the EU, the report shows interesting gender differences with regard to corruption: Women, on average, perceive corruption levels as worse, report paying fewer bribes and have a lower tolerance for corrupt behavior, compared to men. These gender differences seem to exist in basically all countries included in the study. In the second part of the report, established theories of gender and corruption are tested in a multivariate model at the regional level in Europe, using the EQI index. The results indicate, in line with previous research, that the share of locally elected female politicians and the share of women in the labor market might have positive effects on the overall quality of governance. Mattias Agerberg The Quality of Government Institute Department of Political Science University of Gothenburg ma.agerberg@gmail.com
Financial Stability of Islamic Banks: Empirical Evidence

The present paper seeks to analyze the financial stability of Islamic banks in Malaysia. Using the time frame of 2008 to 2012, the paper adopts Z-score analysis, Liquidity ratio, Nonperforming financing as well as Credit risk ratio to assess financial stability of Islamic banks. The relevant data were collected from the annual reports of sixteen Islamic banks in Malaysia as obtainable in the bank-scope data base. The finding of the paper reveals that the Z-score is relatively high and thus suggests that Islamic banks at the moment are on the whole financially stable. The paper however finds that Islamic banks at present grant excessive financing while the total assets they invest on financing are on the increase. This therefore portrays an impending financial crisis for Islamic banks if their current financing mechanism is not revisited. The implication of this paper is that Islamic banks have the potentials of absorbing shock and are not likely to experience financial mess in the immediate term provided their liquidity ratios and loan to deposit ratios are regularly kept under check.
Methylation status of ACCase promoter affects seed vigor-viability trait in Oryza sativa L.

Rice (Oryza sativa L.) varieties exhibiting phenotypic features of high/low seed vigorviability were used to explore genetic controls associated with a varietal difference in seed vigor and viability traits. Since germination rate i.e. vigor is a reflection of the onset of metabolic activity of a hitherto quiescent embryo and seed viability reflects cell molecular events controlling macromolecular damage/protection in post-harvest (dry) quiescent embryo, expression of a housekeeping gene viz. Acetyl CoA Carboxylase (ACCase), that through its dual role controls lipid biosynthesis for germination and flavonoid biosynthesis for macromolecular protection during post-harvest aging, was studied. Our data revealed variation in ACCase gene expression among high and low vigor-viability varieties although Southern blot analysis demonstrated single copy of this gene in all the varieties regardless of their vigor-viability status. Methylation Sensitive Restriction Enzyme assay revealed methylation in CpG island of ACCase promoter in the phenotypically designated low vigor-viability varieties confirming that low seed vigor in rice varieties is due to low expression of ACCase gene brought about by its promoter methylation. Since promoter methylation is transferable through breeding lines this study opens up an opportunity for introgressing high seed vigor-viability trait into otherwise desirable varieties.
The Role of Social Agency in Student Learning

Although the pedagogical strategy known as the personalization principle has received considerable support in the laboratory, there is little work examining its generalizability, ecological validity, and potential for statistical mediation and moderation. In 5 experiments, these topics are examined in the laboratory as well as in a real classroom setting. Experiment 1a provides evidence for moderation of the effect of the personalization principle by the learner’s score on the need to belong scale. Experiment 1b shows support for a variable that measures subjective perceptions of the learning material mediating the effect of the personalization principle on learning outcomes. Experiments 2 and 3 replicate and extend the findings from experiments 1a and 1b, and experiment 4 provides a replication of the personalization principle in a real classroom setting. The key findings of the 5 experiments provide converging evidence that the personalization principle is moderated by the need to belong variable and may be mediated by the learner’s subjective perceptions of the learning materials. These findings were replicated several times using learning material from different disciplines. Interpretations of results and implications for future research and implementation of the personalization principle are discussed.
Derivational relations in English, Czech and Zulu wordnets

This article investigates one kind of cross-part-of-speech relation for English, Czech and Zulu lexical resources in the form of semantic networks (wordnets). Many languages have rules whereby new words are derived regularly and productively from existing words via morphological processes. The morphologically unmarked base words and the derived words, which share a semantic core with the base words, can be interlinked and integrated into wordnets, where they typically form “derivational nests”, or subnets. Efforts are described to capture the morphological and semantic regularities of derivational processes in English, Czech and Zulu to compare the linguistic mechanisms and to exploit them for suitable computational processing and wordnet construction. While some work has been done for English and Czech already, wordnets for Zulu and other Bantu languages are still in their infancy. This article illustrates how Zulu can benefit from existing work.
Raised serum IL 6 and CRP in Radiographic Knee Osteoarthritis in Eastern India

Background: Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common age-related joint disorder in the world. Among the mechanisms involved in osteoarthritis, biomarkers (cytokines profile) may be related to pain and pain intensity, functional capacity, and pressure pain thresholds (PPT). Thus, the study of these relationships may offer useful information about pathophysiology and associated mechanisms involved in osteoarthritis. Aims & Objectives: Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the concentration of proinflammatory cytokines (IL-6) and CRP in patients with painful knee osteoarthritis CRP in radiographic knee osteoarthritis in eastern India. Results: ESR and hs-CRP were elevated in RKOA cases as compared to controls which were found statistically significant. Serum IL 6 levels were also increased in RKOA cases as compared to controls and were statistically significant (16.88 ± 7.20 versus 6.68 ± 2.89 pg/ml; P < 0.0001). However, a high positive correlation was observed between ESR with serum IL 6 level (r = 0.917; P =<0.001) among RKOA subjects while no correlation was seen in controls (r = -0.019; P = 0.251). Conclusion: This study showed that serum levels of IL-6 and CRP were higher in knee OA than in healthy controls. These findings align with a physio-pathological understanding of pain and functionality that surpasses the one which currently provides basis for therapeutics in OA.
DERECHO HAZARDS IN THE UNITED STATES

Abstract Convectively generated wind-storms occur over broad temporal and spatial scales; however, the more widespread and longer lived of these windstorms have been given the name “derecho. ” Utilizing an integrated derecho database, including 377 events from 1986 to 2003, this investigation reveals the amount of insured property losses, fatalities, and injuries associated with these windstorms in the United States. Individual derechos have been responsible for up to 8 fatalities, 204 injuries, forest blow-downs affecting over 3,000 km2 of timber, and estimated insured losses of nearly a $500 million. Findings illustrate that derecho fatalities occur more frequently in vehicles or while boating, while injuries are more likely to happen in vehicles or mobile homes. Both fatalities and injuries are most common outside the region with the highest derecho frequency. An underlying synthesis of both physical and social vulnerabilities is suggested as the cause of the unexpected casualty distribution. In additio.
Intraspecific variation in leaf and root traits across nutrient and light gradients in coffee agroforestry systems

Functional traits can evaluate crop responses to farm-level management practices, however there are considerable uncertainties as to the extent and drivers of trait variation. In a coffee agroforestry system I examined three shade and four nutrient treatments, in order to i) quantify intraspecific trait variation of coffee leaves and roots along soil fertility and light gradients, and ii) test if the functional biology of coffee, as described by its position along a known functional trait spectra, is best predicted by soil nutrients or light. Low light led to high intraspecific variation within plant photosynthetic rates while high light systems resulted in reduced intraspecific variation across all leaf traits. High fertilization produced lower amounts of intraspecific root variation. Finally, functional traits correlated along a resource gradient as expected. Agroforestry systems then have the potential to increase within species variation, which has important long-term consequences for the structure and function of agroecosystems.
Identification of photovoltaic array model parameters by robust linear regression methods

The aim of this paper is to propose an approach for photovoltaic (PV) sources modeling based on robust least squares linear regression (LSR) parameter identification method. On the basis of experimental data of solar irradiance, cell temperature and voltage and currents at maximum power points for a given PV array, correlation functions among the considered quantities are defined. By implementing these functions in a Matlab® Simulink model, accurate I-V characteristics for the considered array are obtained, managing only the solar irradiance. The method is validated comparing the computed and the experimental maximum power points (MPPs). Its effectiveness is proven to be better with respect of parameter identification methods based on discrete approaches and standard LSR method.
Botanic Origin, Various Physicochemical and Antioxidant Properties of Honey Samples From Giresun, Turkey

Bu çalışmanın amacı Türkiye’nin Giresun-Karadeniz Bölgesi’nden toplanan dört bal örneğinin bitkisel kökeni, fizikokimyasal parametreleri (pH, nem, hidroksimetilfurfural, früktoz/glukoz oranı) ve antioksidan özelliklerinin değerlendirilmesidir. Palinolojik analizlere göre, incelenen iki örnek Castanea sativa balı diğer ikisi de multifloral bal olarak tanımlanmıştır. Bal örneklerinin pH değerleri 3.11 ve 4.4 aralığında bulunmuştur. Nem değerleri ise %11.59-14.13 aralığındadır. Örneklerin früktoz içerikleri 36.58 ve 43.42 g/100 g aralığında ve glukoz içerikleri ise 24.84-33.55 g/100 g aralığında bulunmuştur. Castanea sativa ballarının HMF değerleri 1.6±1.0 mg/kg, multifloral balların ise 0.65±0.66 mg/kg olarak bulunmuştur. Castanea sativa ballarının toplam fenol miktarları multifloral ballara oranla yüksek çıkmıştır. Toplam flavonoid miktarları ise 3 numaralı örnekte en yüksek oranda bulunmuştur.
DEEP CONVOLUTIONAL NEURAL NETWORK FOR AUTOMATIC DETECTION OF DAMAGED PHOTOVOLTAIC CELLS

Abstract. The number of distributed Photovoltaic (PV) plants that produce electricity has been significantly increased, and issue of monitoring and maintaining a PV plant has become of great importance and involves many challenges as efficiency, reliability, safety, and stability. This paper presents the novel approach to estimate the PV cells degradations with DCNNs. While many studies have performed images classification, to the best of our knowledge, this is the first exploitation of data acquired with a drone equipped with a thermal infrared sensor. The experiments on “Photovoltaic images Dataset”, a collected dataset, are presented to show the degradation problem and comprehensively evaluate the method presented in this research. Results in terms of precision, recall and F1-score show the effectiveness and the suitability of the proposed approach.
Perception of assistant teaching staff of their leaders’ transformational leadership behaviors and its relation to their organizational citizenship behaviors in Suez Canal University

Background and objective: Heads of academic departments are the first line leaders who directly influence the quality of their departments, transformational leadership has been demonstrated as an effective leadership style in leading organizations and motivating the subordinates to do more than what is being expected. This study aimed to assess the perception of assistant teaching staff of their leaders’ transformational leadership behaviors and its relation to their organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) in Suez Canal University. Methods: The studied sample was 456 of assistant teaching staff working at 13 faculties in Suez Canal University. Data collected using self-administrated questionnaire consists of two tools: transformational leadership scale, and organizational citizenship behaviors (OCBs) scale, both likert types rating scale. Results: More than two thirds (65.2%) of the participated assistant teaching staff perceived their leaders as having unsatisfactory transformational leadership behaviors, two thirds (66.4%) of them were satisfied with their organizational citizenship behaviors, and there was significant positive correlation between transformational leadership behaviors and OCBs. Conclusions: There was significant positive correlation between transformational leadership behaviors and OCBs.
Response of chickpea (Cicer arietinum L.) to exogenous salicylic acid and ascorbic acid under vegetative and reproductive drought stress conditions

Drought stress is considered as a critical limiting factor in plant growth and productivity. Substances such as salicylic acid (SA) and ascorbic acid (AA) may enhance drought tolerance in plants. Therefore this experiment was aimed to study the growth and physiological response of two chickpea cultivars (ILC482 & Kurdistan) to SA and AA foliar application in four different conditions of drought stress including: control or well watered, vegetative drought stress, reproductive drought stress and complete drought stress (vegetative and reproductive drought stress). Results showed that plant biomass was significantly increased through SA and AA application. SA spraying in complete drought stress condition, significantly increased the proline content of leaves. Foliar application of SA and AA both in well watered and water deficit treatments reduced the electrolyte leakage in leaves. Generally it was concluded that SA and AA had the potential of diminishing injurious effects of drought stress and promoting crop productivity.
The prospect of biogas among small-holder dairy goat farmers in the Uluguru Mountains, Tanzania

Biogas can be a clean cooking alternative where biomass is the dominant source of cooking energy and where feedstock for anaerobic digestion is available. By substituting woody biomass for energy, biogas may reduce local deforestation. Tanzania has more than 15.6 million goats. Dairy goats of different breeds are found in the mid- to high altitudes of the country. Population density has made firewood increasingly scarce and there are few energy alternatives in mountainous areas such as in the Uluguru Mountains. In Mgeta ward, Morogoro region, introduction of Norwegian dairy goats in the 1980s has improved livelihoods in the area. In this study, goat manure was assessed as feedstock for biogas and as fertilizer. Field work among small-holder dairy goat farmers in Mgeta was conducted to measure daily manure production, and to provide a basic model for prediction of the quantity of droppings which may be collected by farmers. Biogas and fertilizer potential from goat manure was compared to cow and pig manure. Buswell’s formula was used to calculate approximate methane yield. The results show that goat manure from Mgeta can yield 167 l∙kg Volatile Solids -1 (VS). Compared with other substrates approximate methane yield can be ranked as pig > guatemala grass > cow > goat. The average goat of 25 kg in Mgeta leaves 61 kg Total Solids (TS) droppings per year. It was estimated that 15 goats∙capita -1 would be required to meet the total cooking energy needs of small-holder households in the study location. N:P:K content in goat manure (TS) is 2:1:1, similar to cow and pig manure. Goat droppings had to be macerated to reduce particle size for anaerobic digestion. Biogas from dairy goats could be combined with the year-round irrigated horticulture production in Mgeta. Vegetable gardens in the slope below the digesters could be fertilized by gravitation with the NH 4 + -rich bioslurry, to save labour and increase yields. Keywords: Biogas, bioslurry, goat, manure, dairy, fertilizer, Buswell, Morogoro, Tanzania
Evaluating Automatic Detection of Misspellings in German.

Anne Rimrott and Trude Heift Simon Fraser University This study investigates the performance of a spell checker designed for native writers on misspellings made by second language (L2) learners. It addresses two research questions: 1) What is the correction rate of a generic spell checker for L2 misspellings? 2) What factors influence the correction rate of a generic spell checker for L2 misspellings? To explore these questions, the study considers a corpus of 1,027 unique misspellings from 48 Anglophone learners of German and classifies these along three error taxonomies: linguistic competence (competence versus performance misspellings), linguistic subsystem (lexical, morphological or phonological misspellings), and target modification (single-edit misspellings (edit distance = one) versus multiple-edit misspellings (edit distance > 1)). The study then evaluates the performance of the Microsoft Word® spell checker on these misspellings. Results indicate that only 62% of the L2 misspellings are corrected and that the spell checker, independent of other factors, generally cannot correct multiple-edit misspellings although it is quite successful in correcting single-edit errors. In contrast to most misspellings by native writers, many L2 misspellings are multiple-edit errors and are thus not corrected by a spell checker designed for native writers. The study concludes with computational and pedagogical suggestions to enhance spell checking in CALL.
Trade Persistence and the Limits of Trade Agreements

International trade ows reveal strong persistence over time. This paper is concerned with the role of trade agreements in this persistent environment. The data reveal a high level of heterogeneity of the trade- creating effect along the trade volume and per-capita income distributions. If controlled for persistence in bilateral trade ows, I find that higher per- capita incomes are associated with smaller increases in bilateral trade ows if an agreement is present, compared to lower-income countries. This gives rise to a re-assessment of trade agreements and hence of economic policy. While they are a powerful tool for trading partners at the lower end of the per-capita income distribution, they are less so at the upper end.
Selection of Learning Algorithm for Musical Tone Stimulated Wavelet De-Noised EEG Signal Classification

The task of classifying EEG signals pose a challenge in the selection of which learning algorithm is best to provide higher classification accuracy. In this study, five wellknown learning algorithms used in data mining were utilized. The task is to classify musical tone stimulated wavelet de-noised EEG signals. Classification tasks include whether the EEG signal is tone stimulated or not, and whether the EEG signal is stimulated by either the C, F or G tone. Results show higher correct classification instances (CCI) percentages and accuracies in the first classification task using the J48 decision tree as the learning algorithm. For the second classification task, the k-nn learning algorithm outruns the other classifiers but gave low accuracy and low correct classification percentage. The possibility of increasing the performance was explored by increasing the k (number of neighbors). With the increment, its produced directly proportionate in accuracy and correct classification percentage within a certain value of k. A larger k value will reduce the accuracy and the correct classification percentages.
The prevalence, pathogenesis and control of canine and human toxocariosis in Ibadan, Nigeria

Five hundred and sixty four dogs of under 3 years of age from a total of 1,620 that were presented at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital Clinic at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan between April and August 2003 were screened for Toxocara canis. Also a total of 128 children of below 11 years of age from some schools at the immediate vicinities of 5 playgrounds in Ibadan, from a total of 1,012 volunteers were clinically examined and scored on given guidelines for the diagnosis of Viscera Larva Migrans (VLM). They were again screened by the Toxocara-Elisa assay for VLM, while their area playgrounds were evaluated for T. canis eggs. Group prevalence for canine Toxocariosis was 64.9% by the flotation method, while VLM was 87.5% by the ELISA. Mean T. canis egg counts were significantly higher( p<0.05) than the 2.1 eggs/5.0 grams of soil recommended for human safety from ascariosis in the two unfenced playgrounds at Bodija and Ijokodo areas than in the other three that are fenced. The most susceptible group (2 – 5 yrs) had the highest titre for T. canis (1.62 – 3.10E) and also came from these high “risk” playgrounds at Bodija and Ijokodo. Dog faecal contamination of soils was observed to be higher in the same unfenced playgrounds than in the fenced. While all playgrounds are recommended for fencing, veterinarians are also challenged to intensify control efforts on dogs by using larvicidal anthelminthics to reduce environmental contamination. Children should be treated periodically,and also educated formally on the need to develop a good personal hygiene habits in order to avoid the dangers of both the VLM and the more serious OLM. Keywords : Faeces, Ibadan, Nigeria, Prevalence, Ibadan, Soil, Toxocariosis
Hydrology and circulation in the Strait of Hormuz and the Gulf of Oman—Results from the GOGP99 Experiment: 1. Strait of Hormuz

In October and early November 1999, the GOGP99 experiment collected hydrological, currentmeter, tide recorder, thermistor and drifting buoy data near the Strait of Hormuz. Data analysis provides the water mass structure in the Strait: Persian Gulf Water (PGW) core is banked against the Omani coast, while Indian Ocean Surface Water (IOSW) lies near the Iranian coast. These water masses are most often covered by a homogeneous surface layer. Thermohaline characteristics of the PGW core decrease substantially downstream, from the Persian/Arabian Gulf to the Gulf of Oman. PGW and IOSW thermohaline characteristics and distribution also exhibit notable changes at periods shorter than a month as shown by repeated hydrological sections. The tidal signal measured south of the Strait by moored ADCP and thermistor chains has predominant semi-diurnal M2 and S2 and diurnal K1 components and possesses a complex vertical structure. Tidal intensification near the surface pycnocline is associated with noticeable internal waves. At subtidal timescale, mooring recordings confirm the water mass variability observed in the repeated hydrological sections. The mixed layer also deepens substantially during the 1-month period. Finally, trajectories of surface buoys drogued at 15 m exhibit reversals over periods characteristic of changes in wind direction.