Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
An Exploration of the Determinants of OCB in the Telecommunication Sector of Pakistan

This is an era of hyper competition and organizational learning where the extent of employee's Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) is found to lead the overall success of the organization. Its importance is evident by considering the fact that it guides in understanding the commitment of employees with the organization, especially to remain competitive. The current research is focused on identifying the determinants of OCB and their relationships with each other in the telecommunication sector of Pakistan. A sample of 200 employees working in various telecommunication companies of Pakistan was selected and a questionnaire was developed for the collection of data to probe the demographic characteristics and the antecedents of OCB i.e., Job Satisfaction and Organizational Commitment, Role Perceptions, Leadership Behavior and LMX, Fairness Perceptions, Individual Dispositions, Motivational Theories and Employee Age. The data was analyzed using regression to find the extent of dependent variables on the independent factor; OCB. Correlation was used to find the relationships among the determinants of OCB. Age of the employees and the individual dispositions were found to have minimal impact on defining the OCB from the developing countries context. The study will help organizations in devising the employee focused strategies to stay competitive, especially in an Asian perspective.
Feeding habits of stone martens in a Hungarian village and its surroundings

The feeding habits of the stone marten (Martes foina) were studied by scat analysis in a village (n = 423 samples) and its surrounding agricultural environment (n = 572), during a six-year study (three periods), in southwest Hungary. Birds (relative frequency 20%, mainly small perching birds) and plants (35%, mainly orchard fruit) were the most important foods for the martens living in the village. Small mammals (29%, mainly votes) and plants (34%, mainly fruit) were the main food resources for the stone martens living in the agricultural environment. With respect to diet composition environment-dependent difference proved significant, but intra-environment difference did not. In comparison with those living in the agricultural environment the stone martens studied living in the village consumed more frequently: 1) heavier prey (greater consumption of domestic animals), 2) arboreal prey (e.g. birds) and 3) prey associated with human settlements (e.g. house mouse, house sparrow, domestic animals).
The impact of Blended Learning and Team Teaching in tertiary pre-service music education classes

Abstract The nature of tertiary teaching is metamorphosing at a pace consistent with the expectations and requirements of an innovative society. This is due to more accessible advanced technology, the targeted use of online learning, student expectations for a flexible learning environment and the pressures of faculty budgets. As a result, more innovative approaches to teaching and learning are required. In response, a project is investigating the implementation of a Blended Learning process within tertiary preservice music education classes, underpinned by Team Teaching strategies. This paper will report on some of the findings of the project’s first two years of research.
DIFFUSE REFLECTANCE CHANGES DURING THE CULTURE OF COTTAGE CHEESE

A sensor for measuring diffuse reflectance of milk during the typical 6-h culture of cottage cheese was installed in a local manufacturing facility. Diffuse reflectance was found to increase slowly during the first three hours of the culture and increase rapidly toward the end of fermentation. The correlation between parameters generated from the diffuse reflectance profile and cutting time was sufficient to develop an algorithm for cutting time prediction. An algorithm incorporating tmax (time from adding culture to the maximum rate of change in reflectance) and slope of the reflectance curve at tmax predicted the operator selected cutting time with a standard error of 8.7 min.
Relationship TPM as mediator between TQM and Business Performance

In today’s highly competitive market, the demand for quality is the single most critical factor for companies to survive in the ever-expanding global marketplace. Total Quality Management (TQM) has been developed as a result of intense global competition. Most of the previous works show that TQM has significant relationship with business performance. However, the examining of moderators is less given in previous work, which mediators are known generally as general tools and techniques without specific focus on types of improvement. The purpose of this paper is to propose relationship between TQM practices and business performance with mediators effect of Total Productive Maintenance (TPM) based on extensive review of the literature. The main contribution of this paper is to identify the relationships among TQM, TPM practices and business performance as a conceptual model. This proposed conceptual model will help the academicians and industry players to have better understanding on the relationship between the practices.
The intrinsic Baldwin effect in broad Balmer lines of six long-term monitored AGNs

We investigate the intrinsic Baldwin effect (Beff) of the broad H α and H β emission lines for six Type 1 active galactic nuclei (AGNs) with different broad line characteristics: two Seyfert 1 (NGC 4151 and NGC 5548), two AGNs with double-peaked broad line profiles (3C 390.3 and Arp 102B), one narrow line Seyfert 1 (Ark 564), and one high-luminosity quasar with highly red asymmetric broad line profiles (E1821+643). We find that a significant intrinsic Beff was present in all Type 1 AGNs in our sample. Moreover, we do not see strong differences in intrinsic Beff slopes in different types of AGNs, which probably have different physical properties such as inclination, broad line region (BLR) geometry, or accretion rate. Additionally, we find that the intrinsic Beff was not connected with the global Beff, which, instead, could not be detected in the broad H α or H β emission lines. In the case of NGC 4151, the detected variation of the Beff slope could be due to the change in the site of line formation in the BLR. Finally, the intrinsic Beff might be caused by the additional optical continuum component that is not part of the ionization continuum.
Human–wildlife conflict in northern Botswana: livestock predation by Endangered African wild dog Lycaon pictus and other carnivores

Abstract We conducted a questionnaire survey among 77 cattle posts and farms to investigate human-carnivore conflicts in northern Botswana, with a particular focus on Endangered African wild dog Lycaon pictus, persecuted throughout their shrinking range in sub-Saharan Africa for allegedly predating livestock. Predator attacks on livestock (n = 938 conflict reports) represent an economic concern for livestock owners, particularly alleged predation by black-backed jackal Canis mesomelas, which were blamed for 77% of all reported livestock losses. The presence of two known resident packs of wild dogs did not result in corresponding conflict reports with livestock owners, as wild dogs accounted for only 2% of reported predator attacks and largely subsisted on wild prey. Nevertheless, most of these wild dogs were killed in the months following this survey. Reported conflicts involving the two largest predator species (lion Panthera leo and spotted hyaena Crocuta crocuta) declined with increasing distance from protected areas. Leaving livestock unattended during the day seems to facilitate predation but kraaling livestock at night reduces predation. Compensation payments for livestock losses did not demonstrably change livestock owners’ willingness to coexist with predators. Our results corroborate studies from elsewhere that simple improvements in livestock husbandry practices would help mitigate human-carnivore conflicts.
Reconstruction of Global Monthly Upper-Level Temperature and Geopotential Height Fields Back to 1880

Abstract This work presents statistically reconstructed global monthly mean fields of temperature and geopotential height (GPH) up to 100 hPa for the period 1880–1957. For the statistical model several thousand predictors were used, comprising a large amount of historical upper-air data as well as data from the earth’s surface. In the calibration period (1958–2001), the statistical models were fit using the 40-yr European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) Re-Analysis (ERA-40) as the predictand. After the weighting of the predictors, principal component (PC) analyses were performed on both the predictand and predictor dataset. Multiple linear regression models relate each principal component time series from the predictand with an optimal subset of principal component time series from the predictor. To assess the quality of the reconstructions, statistical split-sample validation (SSV) experiments were performed within the calibration period. Furthermore, the reconstructions were compared w.
Nitrate pollution control under soil heterogeneity

This article presents results on measures to abate nitrogen pollution when soil heterogeneity is considered by using a dynamic model of corn production. Several policy options for the control of nitrate pollution are evaluated by their cost efficiency. While results show that a nitrogen standard or tax is a good second-best control instrument, neglecting dynamics may lead to the wrong choice of instrument. Other important findings for the design of nonpoint pollution policy measures are that water pricing, as advocated by the Water Framework Directive, is inefficient as a pollution abatement tool, and differentiating control measures by soil type enhances welfare, although welfare gains may be small.
Corporate Governance and Financing Dicisions of Listed Firms in Pakistan

The purpose of the study is to explore the link between corporate governance mechanisms and firms financing decisions. We have selected 24 banks which were listed on the “Karachi Stock Exchange”, during the period of 2008-2012. The Ownership Concentration, composition and size of the board, and role duality were considered as independent corporate governance variables while firm specific control variables were size, liquidity, profitability and tangibility of assets. Debt ratio is taken as a dependent variable representing firm’s financing decision (capital structure). The results indicate that Ownership Concentration, Size of the board, and leverage are positively correlated. However no significant relationship was found between Board composition, CEO duality and capital structure. We use panal least square regression to determine the affect of corporate governance and firm level characteristics on capital structure. Keywords: Banking Sector, Capital Structure, Corporate Governance
Title Asymptotically efficient product-limit estimators with censoringindicators missing at random

In this paper, we develop methods for estimating a survival function with censoring indicators missing at random. The resulting methods lead to the use of imputation and inverse probability weighting. We give several asymptotically efficient PL estimators. All the estimators are proved to be strongly uniformly consistent and weakly convergent to a Gaussian process. Further, it is shown that these estimators are asymptotically efficient. A simulation study was carried out to evaluate the finite sample performances of the proposed estimators and compare the proposed estimators with van der Laan and McKeague’s (1998) estimator under missing at random (MAR) and missing completely at random (MCAR) assumptions, respectively.
Human Capital and Growth: Specification Matters

This paper suggests that the weak empirical effect of human capital on growth in existing cross-country studies is partly the result of an inappropriate specification that does not account for the different channels through which human capital affects growth. A systematic replication of earlier results from the literature shows that both, initial levels and changes in human capital, have positive growth effects, while in isolation, each channel often appears insignificant. Moreover, the effects are heterogeneous across countries with different levels of development. The results suggest that the effect of human capital is likely to be underestimated in empirical specifications that do not account for both channels. This study therefore complements alternative explanations for the weak growth effects of human capital based on outlier observations and measurement issues.
Understanding Professionals' Perspectives on Access to Care for Patients with Carcinoma of the Urinary Bladder in Scotland: A Qualitative Study

Urinary bladder carcinoma is the most frequently occurring cancer of the urinary tract. Like any other types of cancer the diagnosis, treatment and overall management of urinary bladder cancer is not only expensive but also time consuming. During all these procedures, patients face several barriers while accessing care. The physicians and healthcare administrative or policy makers have the opportunity to closely observe patients' situation or their view towards existing policy and support system. Objective of this study is to explore professionals' perspective on access to care for patients with urinary bladder carcinoma in Scotland in order to identify recent progresses and difficulties faced by patients at different stages of management of the disease. Semi structured interview approach was chosen for its suitability for exploring attitudes, values, beliefs and motives. A total of twelve participants were interviewed. All the twelve participants were chosen through purposive sampling. A phenomenological approach was used to explore perspectives of these twelve professionals having experience of treating patients with urinary bladder carcinoma. All the participants despite of the differences in their views have identified backlog and/or long standing waiting list, lack of patient centered care and shortage of infrastructure, as major barriers in access to care for urinary bladder carcinoma patients. The major gaps identified were inefficiencies of the system and lack of focus on bladder cancer. According to the participants' financial deficiency, systemic complication, age group and socio-economic status of patients are the biggest challenges to overcome these barriers. Professionals gave their opinion for increasing the capacity of the service by establishing bladder cancer care centers and also employing skilled workforce in accordance to the patient number in these centers.
The labour share and financialisation: Evidence from publicly listed firms

This paper provides international evidence for the effect of financialisation on the labour share at the firm level. We test different hypotheses about the impact of financialisation on functional income distribution, while also controlling for the effect of technological change, market concentration, labour market institutions and globalisation. We use panel data for publicly listed non-financial companies globally and with a particular focus on the EU15 for the period of 1995-2016. We find a negative effect of financialisation on the labour share due to increased shareholder value orientation in all countries, while there is also evidence of a negative effect due to an increase in mark-ups in France and the UK. Additionally, our findings cast doubt on the hypotheses that the decline in the labour share in European publicly listed firms is due to technological change. Similarly, market concentration did not play an important role for the decline in the labour share. In contrast, we find that concentration has declined among publicly listed firms in Europe, and that concentration is not associated with declining labour shares.
Eco-hydrobiology with Special Reference to Entamofauna and Avifaunal Diversity of Sothuparai Reservoir, Periyakulam, Theni District, Tamilnadu, India

Sothuparai reservoir is located at the foothills of the Western Ghats. The water quality parameters such as water temperature, PH, turbidity, total dissolved solids, total hardness, electrical conductivity, magnesium, calcium and chloride were analyzed and are within the permissible limits and can be used for irrigation and domestic purpose. A total of 2,670 individuals of aquatic entamofauna were represented by 43 genera categorized under 32 families and 9 orders during the study period. The diversity, evenness and the Ephemeroptera, Plecoptera and Trichoptera families were higher in upperstream than in downstream. Ephemeropteran was most diverse and its presence is an indicative of good water quality. The abundance of organic pollution tolerant Baetis species was found in downstream. To compare with the upperstream has the better water quality than the downstream of the reservoir. This may be due to the interruptions by anthropogenic activities in the downstream. The diversity and structure of bird communities is essential to delineate the importance of regional or local landscapes for avian conservation. Total count method was used and a total of 1,348 individuals belonging to 38 species of 25 families were observed in Sothuparai reservoir. Out of 25 Families, Muscicapidae dominated with 4 species and Culicidae with 3 species. Thus the present investigation depicts that the Sothuparai reservoir supports variety of bird’s population and aquatic insect communities. Regular monitoring of the reservoir using aquatic insects and birds as indicators will facilitate better conservation and management.
Investigation of Flow Patterns in Continuous‐flow Stirred Vessels by Laser Doppler Velocimetry

he design and geometrical conﬁguration of a stirred vessel isusually geared to some speciﬁc process. For example, batch stirredtanks usually have their outlet located at the bottom of the vessel,to facilitate emptying and cleaning. In continuous-ﬂow stirred vessels, onthe other hand, the outlet is located often at mid-height, or the liquidexits by overﬂowing, as is the case with ﬂotation cells.Ideally, one should be able to use an optimally-designed stirred vesselfor a speciﬁc task. However, in real life, it is often necessary to make useof a given stirred tank for a variety of recipes, and its conﬁguration maylead to ﬂow pathologies and sub-optimal process performance. Forexample, the inlet tube is often positioned close to the turbine, so thatthe entering liquid is fed straight into the liquid being drawn in theagitator-swept region. In a bottom-outlet vessel, one would expect, evenintuitively, that this might lead to short-circuiting. One way to investigate the appropriateness of a particular design is bydetermining its effect on the ﬂow patterns in the stirred vessel. However,most of the work published so far is related to batch cases — see Mavrosand Bertrand (2002) and Mezaki et al. (2000), among others. On theother hand, although continuous-ﬂow stirred cells have been used for anextremely long time – a plate in Agricola’s
The Impact of Three Feedback Types on Postgraduate TEFL Student Teachers’ Writing Accuracy and Organization

One skill that student teachers need to develop during their academic studies is the capacity to produce accurate and well-organized texts. This study reports on the comparative impact of metalinguistic feedback (MLF), teacher interactive feedback (TIF(, and the peer-feedback (PF) on the accuracy and organization of postgraduate ELT student teachers’ writing. The participants were 57 postgraduate students who were recruited from a population of 70 postgraduate students, in three classes, that were randomly assigned as the MLF group, the TIF group, and the PF group based on the focus of the presentation and the feedback type they would receive during the 14 session treatment. A hybrid process-oriented and genre-based methodology was employed to teach the identical teaching materials to all the groups with a focus on grammatical features and relevant grammatical exercises in the MLF group, on reflective and interactive negotiation of form and meaning in the TIF group, and on individual peer-assessment of the peer’s writing in the PF group. The results revealed significantly higher levels of accuracy among the MLF group with no significant difference in the organization of the groups’ writing. The findings underscore the role of MLF in enhancing accuracy.
Theory of Stellar Population Synthesis with an application to N-Body simulations

Aims. We present here a new theoretical approach to population synthesis. The aim is to predict colour magnitude diagrams (CMDs) for huge numbers of stars. With this method we generate synthetic CMDs for N-body simulations of galaxies. Sophisticated hydrodynamic N-body models of galaxies require equal quality simulations of the photometric properties of their stellar content. The only prerequisite for the method to work is very little information on the star formation and chemical enrichment histories, i.e. the age and metallicity of all star-particles as a function of time. The method takes into account the gap between the mass of real stars and that of the star-particles in N-body simulations, which best correspond to the mass of star clusters with different age and metallicity, i.e. a manifold of single stellar sopulations (SSP). Methods. The theory extends the concept of SSP to include the phase-space (position and velocity) of each star. Furthermore, it accelerates the building up of simulated CMD by using a database of theoretical SSPs that extends to all ages and metallicities of interest. Finally, it uses the concept of distribution functions to build up the CMD. The technique is independent of the mass resolution and the way the N-body simulation has been calculated. This allows us to generate CMDs for simulated stellar systems of any kind: from open clusters to globular clusters, dwarf galaxies, or spiral and elliptical galaxies. Results. The new theory is applied to an N-body simulation of a disc galaxy to test its performance and highlight its flexibility.
How Large are Returns to Scale in the U.S.? A View Across the Boundary

I study the degree of returns to scale in aggregate U.S. data by estimating the standard RBC model with and without variable capacity utilization using Bayesian methods. The source of increasing returns is the presence of an externality in production. I find that, at best, returns are mildly increasing at a level statistically indistinguishable from the constant-returns case. A high enough degree of increasing returns is needed to support equilibrium indeterminacy and sunspot-driven business cycle fluctuations. In my estimation results, I find that I can conclusively rule out this possibility on account of a low estimated degree of increasing returns and a fairly inelastic labor supply.
Yield and yield attributes of maize (Zea mays L.) as affected by detasseling and potassium fertilization.

Maize yield is low due to inadequate use of fertilizers and management practices in Pakistan. A field trial was carried out on potassium application and detassleing at Agronomy Research Farm, The University of Agriculture Peshawar, in 2015. The objectives were to find out the effect of six potassium levels (0, 25, 50, 75, 100 and 125 kg ha) and three detasseling stages (Tassel not removed, Detasseling at complete pollen shedding stage and Detasseling at complete post dried silking stage) on maize yielding attributes. The research was designed through randomized complete block design RCBD with split plot arrangements replicated four times. Detasseling at complete pollen shedding stage produced significantly higher 1000 grains weight (242 g), grain yield (3850 kg ha) and biological yield (10672 kg ha). Potassium fertilization at the rate of 75 kg ha produce higher number of ears m (6.60), number of grains ear (325), 1000 grains weight (250 g), grain yield (4101 kg ha ) and biological yield (11207 kg ha). The interactive effect of detasseling and potassium were found significant only for grain yield. According to the result detasseling at complete pollen shedding stage and potassium at 75 kg ha were best than others in relations to yield and yield attributes of maize.