Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF ARTHROSCOPIC RECONSTRUCTION OF ACL USING BONE PATELLAR TENDON BONE GRAFT AND QUADRUPLED HAMSTRING TENDON GRAFT

Anterior Cruciate Ligament reconstruction (ACLR) using either autologous Bone patellar tendon bone (BPTB) graft or Quadrupled hamstring tendon graft has equal number of proponents worldwide. The aim of this study is to find out the advantages and disadvantages of each procedure in terms of outcome at 3 year of post-operative follow-up. Methods : In this study 30 patients underwent ACLR of which 15 patients each were allocated randomly to undergo either BPTB or Quadrupled hamstring graft. Subjective as well as objective outcome measures such as analog scales, international knee documentation committee (IKDC) form, Tegners scale, stress radiographs and Lysholm scores were used to document pre-operative and postoperative patient characteristics related to ACL deficiency and knee joint, were used in the study. Statistical analysis was used to compare preoperative status and postoperative outcome for all the variables measured in the study. Outcome was statistically analysed using PSPP software. Results : ACLR using either BPTB or hamstring graft yielded statistically significant improvement (p values 0.001 and 0.002 respectively) when compared to preoperative IKDC subjective scores. At 3 year postoperative follow-up, subjective & objective IKDC scores, Tegner’s scale, Lysholm scores and stress radiographs showed no significant difference between the two groups. PTB group had graft donor site related complaints including anterior
A Novel Multiple-kernel based Fuzzy c-means Algorithm with Spatial Information for Medical Image Segmentation

Fuzzy c-means (FCM) algorithm has proved its effectiveness for image segmentation. However, still it lacks in getting robustness to noise and outliers, especially in the absence of prior knowledge of the noise. To overcome this problem, a generalized a novel multiple-kernel fuzzy cmeans (FCM) (NMKFCM) methodology with spatial information is introduced as a framework for image-segmentation problem. The algorithm utilizes the spatial neighborhood membership values in the standard kernels are used in the kernel FCM (KFCM) algorithm and modifies the membership weighting of each cluster. The proposed NMKFCM algorithm provides a new flexibility to utilize different pixel information in image-segmentation problem. The proposed algorithm is applied to brain MRI which degraded by Gaussian noise and Salt-Pepper noise. The proposed algorithm performs more robust to noise than other existing image segmentation algorithms from FCM family.
Generative Leadership Scale Development Study Üretken Liderlik Ölçeği Geliştirme

The aim of this research is to develop a valid and reliable scale that includes school principals’ generative leadership behaviors and the expressions defining these behaviors. As a result of the literature review, the item pool was formed and the scope validity ratios were calculated according to the expert opinion. The draft item form was carried out as a pilot scheme to a group of 50 teachers. Final general practice was applied to 442 teachers. For the validation studies of the scale, the factor loadings of the items of the scale were determined by applying the Exploratory Factor Analysis. First, a four-factor structure emerged, followed by varimax rotation to obtain a twofactor structure. In this process, a total of 35 items were excluded from the scale and a scale with two factors named “Revealing Creative Dynamics” and “Innovation Generating Capacity” and consisting of 27 items. Subsequently, Confirmatory Factor Analysis was performed and then the study proceeded to reliability analyses and Cronbach’s Alpha and Composite Reliability values were calculated. After that, the distinctiveness of the scale was examined. Again, using Pearson analysis, the item-total and item-remainder correlations and the correlations between subscales and total scores of the scale items were calculated. All values obtained prove that the scale is valid and reliable.
Enhancing the innovation capability in dairy farms through knowledge sharing

The purpose of this paper is to develop and evaluate the framework for enhancing the innovation capability in dairy farms through knowledge sharing. It was hypothesized that trust, motivation, training and development are positively associated with knowledge sharing and that knowledge sharing between employees and managers impact positively on the innovation capability of the firms. The questionnaire based survey was used to collect the date from 254 randomly selected dairy farms that are located in the Punjab region of Pakistan. For data analysis SMART PLS-SEM 3.00 was used. The results of this paper confirmed all hypothesized relationships except the impact of trust on knowledge sharing which may be due to the unique contextual setting of Pakistan. This paper concludes that employees feel delighted in sharing knowledge for enhancing the innovation capability when they feel motivated and are provided with proper trainings.
Seasonal variation and pest status of rodents in Bir Farm Development , Ethiopia

The present study deals with seasonal variation and pest status of rodents in Bir Farm Development, Ethiopia. Snap-traps, baited with peanut butter were used to collect data for three consecutive nights during wet and dry seasons in each habitat. Each season, seven snap-trap grids were placed in fields of major crops (maize, wheat and soybean) and in permanent grass cover, forest and bushland vegetation. Population density varied from season to season; highest was observed during the dry season and less during the wet season. Crop damage to wheat, maize and soybean crops was assessed 2 weeks prior to the farmer’s intended date of harvest. The level of damage by rodents was 13.2% for wheat, 12.9% for soybean and 9.6% for maize farms on the farm development. Comparatively, high rate of damage (29.2%) was observed in the maize farm from the locally farmed areas. Diet analysis indicated that consumption of animal matter was high during the wet season, and monocot seeds, dicot seeds and plant roots were more during the dry season.
Importance of Nonverbal Communication in Simultaneous Interpreting

This article deals with quality assessment in simultaneous interpreting based on the importance of nonverbal communication. Our aim is to set out to build on and add to the state of the art in research on user's expectations and extend the concern with quality criteria to include actual product assessment by different types of listeners. The results of our study show a clear separation between quality and the perceived quality or success of a simultaneous interpretation. The users are not good judges of quality because they are not in a position to perform this task. In our opinion, this means that users not only desire but in fact demand, albeit implicitly, a certain degree of intrusion or active involvement on the part of the interpreter. As far as intonation is concerned, the interpreter should feel free to improve on the delivery of the speaker.
The Long-Run Effects of Monetary Policy

Does monetary policy have persistent effects on the productive capacity of the economy? Yes, we find that such effects are economically and statistically significant and last for over a decade based on: (1) identification of exogenous monetary policy fluctuations using the trilemma of international finance; (2) merged data from two new international historical cross-country databases reaching back to the nineteenth century; and (3) econometric methods robust to long-horizon inconsistent estimates. Notably, the capital stock and total factor productivity (TFP) exhibit strong hysteresis, whereas labor does not; and money is non-neutral for a much longer period of time than is customarily assumed. We show that a New Keynesian model with endogenous TFP growth can reconcile these empirical findings.
A critical test of empirical mass loss formulas applied to individual giants and supergiants

Editorial Dear Colleagues, It is our pleasure to present you the 118 issue of the AGB Newsletter. A large number of contributions present new work on elemental abundances, in particular in metal-poor stars, whilst several others discuss the driving of cool stellar winds or the morphology of the circumstellar medium. Last month’s Food for Thought statement on the link between rotation and magnetic activity of AGB stars generated some reaction. Renada Konstantinova-Antova kindly pointed out that X-ray emission has been detected from some M giants, and that there is at least one active M giant that seems to be a single star which is rotating relatively fast (Hünsch et al., in IAU Symposium 219). More reactions are always welcome. And don’t miss the advertisement for a PhD studentship in Brussels. The next issue will be distributed on the 1 of April; the deadline for contributions is the 31 of March.
International Varanid Interest Group Testing the Applicability of 15 N Isotopic Marker in Skin Tissue to Distinguish Between Captive and Wild Monitor Lizards

Monitor lizards face a number of potential threats, including habitat destruction, human consumption, Abstract In an effort to meet the demand for the trade and to reduce pressure on wild populations of monitor lizards (Varanus spp.), several countries have encouraged the establishment of captive breeding facilities. The fear has been expressed, however, that these facilities are not able to produce the quantity of specimens they claim and therefore supplement their supply with wild specimens. Thus, reliable methods are required for verifying the declaration of origin. Stable isotope analyses have been discussed as a potential method to discriminate wild from captive specimens. We herein designed a controlled feeding study and marked ten specimens of three Varanus species (V. acanthurus, V. macraei, and V. melinus) at the Cologne Zoo in Germany with 15N enriched glycine in order to examine the time lag for the isotopic signal to appear in renewed epidermis. We found that the 15N enriched marker was detected within two to five weeks after exposition and conclude that 15N isotopic signature in keratin skin tissue is likely to change quickly after the introduction of novel diets. Thus, distinguishing captive-bred from wild origin based on δ15N values in shed skin material might not be effective due to permanent, rapid epidermal renewal and therefore of limited forensic relevance. Thus, the study of isotopic signals from tissue samples including several layers and tissues could be an alternative approach. Furthermore, diet shift studies relating to isotopic incorporation rates as well as reconsidering the examination of site-specific markers are recommended. Additional methods need to be tested for suitability to identify the origin of monitor lizards being declared as captivebred, which can prevent the laundering of wild-caught individuals through breeding farms.
Woody plants structure and composition in Burkina Faso Sahel: Case study in Kékénéné village

Understanding woody vegetation composition and structure is important for leading management decisions in the Sahelian vulnerable zones. The objective of the study was to better knowledge woody vegetation structure and richness in natural vegetation and cropland. The study area is Kekenene village located in Soum province, surroundings Djibo in northern Burkina Faso. In total 54 sample plots were surveyed by means of a botanical inventory of woody vegetation species. All trees ≥ 10 cm dbh were measured. The vegetation structure pattern analyzed were diameter at breast height (dbh), basal area, relative dominance, and relative density, Importance Value Index (IVI) and Family Importance Value (FIV). In total 658 trees recorded was belonging to 21 species, 9 families in natural vegetation and 11 species, 5 families in cropland. Tree density was 15.7 stems/ha and 3.7/ha respectively in natural vegetation and cropland. Tree basal area was 0.54 m² ha -1 for cropland and 0.35 m² ha -1 in natural vegetation with a mean dbh of 3.5 cm for the two occupation types. The most importance family according to FIV was Balanitaceae in cropland and Combretaceae in natural vegetation. The Sorensen’ similarity coefficient of family in the two landscapes is lowest than 0.5 which means that the similarities in species family are low between the two occupation types. In natural vegetation, Anogeisus leiocarpus and Balanites aegyptiaca were the most important species in relation to IVI, while in cropland Balanites aegyptiaca, Acacia senegal and Acacia seyal were the most important species. Results reveal an abundance of Balanites aegyptiaca in both cropland and natural vegetation in the study site. Given its high socio-economic value in this region, this tree deserves to be more valued in a perspective of management and sustainable use in Kekenene village. Keywords : Composition and structure, woody species, management, Sahel ecosystems, Burkina Faso.
The National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) in Nigeria: Has the Policy Achieved its Intended Objectives?

Universal coverage of health is one of the goals of the United Nations and one which every African country, Nigeria inclusive strives to achieve. Referred to as NHIS, the study was motivated by a desire to review a policy with so much importance and set out to appraise the scheme’s objectives and assess the level of achievement across sectors including the Small and Medium Scale enterprises popularly known as the SMEs. Research design using the cross sectional approach was employed along with the use of convenience and random sampling, a sample of employees (150) from ten Lagos resident health maintenance organisations (HMOs) with National accreditation were used. Data was collected with the aid of a structured questionnaire and the study relied on regression analysis to derive results. The results showed that the relationship between objectives of the NHIS were significant to the predictor variables (FWA=facility well assessed, RPS=restricted to public sector, ASN=adequate subscription and HAW=high awareness), thus accepting the alternative hypothesis. However, the relationship with the SMEs was only marginal. The study, based on its findings, concludes the scheme is yet to fully achieve its intended objectives and therefore recommend that the scheme's management put effort to expand the coverage across all sectors through enlightenment, improved assess to facilities whilst also collaborating with relevant stakeholders to assuage the people’s needs with regards to good quality and affordable healthcare service.
FIRM PERFORMANCE AND AGGLOMERATION EFFECTS: EVIDENCE FROM TUNISIAN FIRM-LEVEL DATA1

Using Tunisian manufacturing data between 1998 and 2004 and by referring to multilevel approach, this paper investigates the impact of agglomeration and individual characteristics on firm’s performance. The empirical results show the importance of considering both regional and firm characteristics when examining firm performance. They also support the validity of self selection and learning-by-exporting hypotheses. Urbanization and localization effects are significant and positive for firm’s export behavior, but only localization economies have a positive effect of firm productivity. However, the results of the quantile approach show that selection, rather than agglomeration economies in larger cities, better explain spatial productivity differences.
Building Constructivist Learning Environment at Senior High School in Indonesia

Constructivist learning environment enhances students to be actively participating in the classroom activity. The way is through relating students’ real-life situation with the knowledge that will be learned, thus, students are able to develop their comprehension of constructing a conceptual meaning of knowledge. It is essential to consider the students’ perspectives toward constructivist learning since they are the center of learning. The objective of this study is to investigate the teachers’ perception towards the implementation of constructivist in a language lesson. Six teachers were selected as the participants using purposive sampling technique. The data were obtained through in-depth interviews and participant observations. The data were evaluated and analyzed using observation, documentation, and filed note into relevant themes through triangulation strategy. The result of this study indicates that most of students’ participation to learn was influenced by some factors such as teachers’ supports, task-oriented in learning, deliberating cooperative activities, cohesively and closely related to their life using relevant, critical, and negotiable learning. By implementing constructivist classroom learning, the teachers and the students engaged in mutual positive relationship especially in building the students’ motivation.
Does Leadership Style Differ between a Post-Disaster and Non-Disaster Response Project? A Study of Three Major Projects in New Zealand

Purpose–The leadership styles of three major infrastructure projects within New Zealand were determined and comparatively analysed to ascertain whether the leadership style employed in a post-disaster recovery project would differ significantly from a normal infrastructure project. A multifactor leadership questionnaire was administered to project leaders and personnel of the three infrastructure projects. The statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in leadership styles were determined using one-way ANOVA analytical tool in STATISTICA 13. Results showed all three projects have strong transformational and transactional leadership traits. There were similarities in leadership style amongst the projects. None of the projects had a significant laissez-faire leadership style. Hence there is no significant difference in leadership style between a disaster recovery project and a normal project. Plausible reasons and implications are provided to support these findings. This study provides insight into leadership styles employed in projects in New Zealand, which could assist in the decision-making process for new and existing projects. Future studies could investigate the effect a combination of leadership styles will have on project success and staff retention. More studies are required across New Zealand to verify the generalizability of the current study findings.
IDENTIFICATION AND DISCRIMINATION TRAINING YIELD COMPARABLE RESULTS FOR CONTRASTING VOWELS

This study compares the use of an identification task with the use of a discrimination task for training Japanese speakers on the English high front vowels. Seventeen Japanese speakers completed two sessions of identification training with feedback, using ‘ship’ and ‘sheep’ tokens that were manipulated to vary along the vowel duration and formant dimensions. Their results were compared with those of twenty Japanese speakers trained with an AX discrimination task. A two-alternative forced-choice identification task (without feedback) evaluated the participants’ use of temporal and spectral information before and after training. The results indicate that both training paradigms led to comparable improvement in the use of temporal and spectral information. Hence, previous research suggesting that the identification task provides superior results to the discrimination task may be due to mislabeling issues, rather than learners’ lack of improvement in the use of spectral information.
Monocular depth estimation using deep convolutional neural networks

For a long time stereo-cameras have been deployed in visual Simultaneous Localization And Mapping (SLAM) systems to gain 3D information. Even though stereo-cameras show good performance, the main disadvantage is the complex and expensive hardware setup it requires, which limits the use of the system. A simpler and cheaper alternative are monocular cameras, however monocular images lack the important depth information. Recent works have shown that having access to depth maps in monocular SLAM system is beneficial since they can be used to improve the 3D reconstruction. This work proposes a deep neural network that predicts dense high-resolution depth maps from monocular RGB images by casting the problem as a supervised regression task. The network architecture follows an encoder-decoder structure in which multi-scale information is captured and skip-connections are used to recover details. The network is trained and evaluated on the KITTI dataset achieving results comparable to state-of-theart methods. With further development, this network shows good potential to be incorporated in a monocular SLAM system to improve the 3D reconstruction.
SPEECH COMMUNICATION IN BACKGROUND NOISE: EFFECTS OF AGING

Most communication in everyday life takes place in less than ideal listening conditions and the presence of noise or other voices in the background is often challenging for older adults. This study investigated how the informational content of the background noise affects communication in age-matched younger and older talker pairs. We used an interactive ‘spotthe-difference’ task to elicit spontaneous interactive speech in younger (20-27 years, N=10) and older (5876 years, N=20) female talkers with normal hearing. The task was done in quiet and in three different masker conditions varying in informational content: no content (speech-shaped noise), unrelated speech, related speech. Communication efficiency, self-rated listening effort, and acoustic-phonetic features of speech were measured for all conditions. Even though younger and older talkers did not differ in task efficiency or self-rated effort in the masker conditions, some of these conditions elicited speech adaptations consistent with increased speaking effort in older talkers.
Idiosyncratic risk and long-run stock performance following seasoned equity offerings 1

Post-issue stock underperformance is driven, at least in part, by the contemporary decline in idiosyncratic risk (proxied by idiosyncratic volatility) exposure for seasoned equity offerings (SEO) firms. As young firms dominate the SEO market, they generally face higher uncertainty of mean profitability, which they resolve more quickly due to learning. Hence they experience a larger reduction in idiosyncratic risk than their size, book-to-market, and exchange matching firms suggests. Furthermore, post-issue abnormal change in idiosyncratic risk is positively associated with long-run stock abnormal return, an association driven mainly by young firms that experience significant abnormal declines in idiosyncratic risk. JEL classification: D83; G12; G32