Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Dietary Calcium Sources on Laying Hens Performance and Egg Quality

This study was designed to investigate the effect of feeding two different (oystershell and limestone) sources of calcium to layer hens (Bovan) on performance and egg shell quality. The experiment extended for 4 weeks during which 24 Bovan layers at 24 weeks were used. Birds were divided into two groups (12 bird/ treatment) with four replicates in each battery cage. Traits measured were egg production, feed intake, feed conversion ratio,, body weight change, egg weight, egg height, egg diameter, albumen weight, albumen height, yolk weight, shell weight, and shell thickness. Results showed that the source of calcium (oystershell versus limestone) significantly affected (P<0.05) egg production(59.82 Vs 76.19), feed intake(139.53 Vs142.02), feed conversion ratio(4.67 Vs 2.99) and body weight change (-4.67 Vs 8.91). On the other hand, the source of calcium had no significant effect (P<0.05) on egg weight, egg height, egg diameter, albumen weight, yolk weight, shell weight, shell thickness and shell ash. The results suggest that the inclusion of lime stone in layers ration as calcium source is more beneficial than oystershell.
A Study on Information Technology Integrated Guided Iscovery Instruction towards Students' Learning Achievement and Learning Retention.

Background:In the information explosion era with constant changes of information, educators have promoted various effective learning strategies for students adapting to the complex modern society. The impact and influence of traditional teaching method have information technology integrated modern instruction and science concept learning play an important role. Teaching methods promoted in guided discovery instruction are to cultivate learners’ abilities of discovery, exploration, problem-solving and independent thinking, and creation and invention through discovery or creative learning. Students could actively and positively participate in learning and integrate and construct knowledge by themselves. In other words, all knowledge is individually operated and explained, rather than passively acquired.Material and methods:By applying quasi-experimental research with experimental design, 98 students in two classes in Fuzhou No.1 Middle School and Affiliated High School of Fujian Normal University are preceded the 16-week (3hr per week) experimental teaching research.Results:The research results reveal that 1.guided discovery instruction would affect learning achievement, 2.guided discovery instruction would influence learning retention, and 3.learning achievement presents significantly positive effects on learning retention. Based on the research results,Conclusions:conclusions and suggestions are proposed at the end of this study, expecting to provide reference and improvement for teachers’ teaching method.
Providing constructive feedback on learning patterns: An individual learner’s perspective

In order to decrease the growing drop-out and failure rates in first year higher education, institutions in Europe often organize learning skill training sessions, or provide feedback on student learning. In this study we question how students perceive the need for such initiatives or interventions and to what extent this is related to individual learner characteristics, such as their learning strategies and their sense of self-efficacy. 113 first-year students enrolled in a first year professional bachelor programme in a Belgian University College participated in this study. Results show that students have different preferences regarding to whether and how they want to change their learning patterns throughout the first year. For some students, external sources for feedback information are needed, such as the reliance on learner coaches, while other students prefer more internal sources and self- improvement. Students’ sense of self-efficacy, as well as the way they regulate their own learning, is associated with these preferences for learning pattern feedback. Neglecting these associations, when setting up one-for-all learning pattern feedback initiatives, seems not to be a good option and might result in negative friction for some learner groups. Particularly for those students more at risk, the results indicate that external and not internal sources for learning pattern feedback are preferred.
Marine Radiocarbon Reservoir Values in Southern California Estuaries: Interspecies, Latitudinal, and Interannual Variability

Many studies use radiocarbon dates on estuarine shell material to build age-depth models of sediment accumulation in estuaries in California, USA. Marine 14C ages are typically older than dates from contemporaneous terrestrial carbon and local offsets (ΔR) from the global average marine offset need to be calculated to ensure the accuracy of calibrated dates. We used accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) 14C dating on 40 pre-1950 salt marsh snail and clam shells previously collected from four California estuaries. The average ΔR and standard deviation of 217 ± 129 14C yr is consistent with previous calculations using mixed estuarine and marine samples, although the standard deviation and resulting age uncertainty was higher for our estuarine calculations than previous studies. There was a slight but significant difference (p = 0.024) in ΔR between epifaunal snails (ΔR = 171 ± 154 14C yr) and infaunal clams (ΔR = 263 ± 77 14C yr), as well as between samples from individual estuaries. However, a closer examination of the data shows that even for the same species, at the same estuary, ΔR can vary as much as ∼500 14C yr. In some cases, the bulk of this variation occurs between samples collected by different collectors at different times, potentially indicating time dependence in carbon sources and ΔR variation. These variations could also be attributed to differences in collection location within a single estuary and resulting spatial differences in carbon sources. Intertidal specimens located in the high marsh may have lower ΔR than fully marine counterparts because of increased terrestrial 14C input. The large variations in ΔR here highlight the need for conservative chronological interpretations, as well as the assumption of wide uncertainties, when dating samples from estuarine sources.
Introduction of Digital Storytelling in Preschool Education : a Case Study from Croatia

Our case study from Croatia showed the benefits of digital storytelling in a preschool as a basis for the formal ICT education. The statistical analysis revealed significant differences between children aged 6 – 7 who learned mathematics by traditional storytelling compared to those learning through digital storytelling. The experimental group that used digital storytelling showed significant improvement in their abilities to solve computational and mathematical problems, which suggests that this method was age-appropriate and versatile. Also, the observations of educators from both the experimental and the control group showed that children were more motivated by digital storytelling, succeeding to complete all stories with an incredible amount of engagement and enthusiasm. These findings indicate that interactive multimedia storytelling, compared to the traditional one, can be used as an effective tool for improving child’s mathematical and computer literacy skills in the preschool context in which ICT is being introduced for the first time.
Development of Time-Cost Models for Building Construction Projects in Bangladesh

Abstract: Estimating time and cost is an important mission in the early phase of a construction project, especially in feasibility study. It provides a foundation for making decision whether or not the project is performed on schedule and within budget. Thus, reliability of this estimate plays a key role in measuring the success of a project. This study was carried out to investigate the time-cost relationship in building construction projects in Bangladesh. The mathematical equation used in this study is based on Bromilow’s equation. The research data were collected from sixty -three completed building projects through questionnaire survey. Type of clients, type of projects, and tender methods are the project characteristics considered in this study. The results of analysis indicated that the Bromilow’s time -cost (BTC) models developed for each project characteristic are appropriate due to quite high coefficient of determination and relatively small mean percent errors. Among them, the forecasted model for time and cost according to tender methods is the best fit model. It is concluded that the BTC model could be applied in building construction project to predict its time and cost in Bangladesh. Four different regression models were also developed in this study. The results of BTC model between some selected countries were compared to gain the comprehensive view.
PERFORMANCE OF GROWTH TRAITS IN BANDUR SHEEP UNDER FIELD CONDITION.

Siddalingamurthy H. K 2* , Manjunatha S. S 3 , Sreesujatha R.M 1 , Santhosh Talwar 1 , Remyashri B. Y 1 and Namratha M. J 1 . 1. Livestock Research and Information Centre (Sheep), Karnataka Veterinary Animal and Fisheries Sciences University, Mandya district, Karnataka. 2. Associate Professor and Head, Livestock Research and Information Centre (Sheep), Mandya district, Karnataka. 3. Assistant Professor, Livestock Research and Information Centre (Sheep), Mandya district, Karnataka. Manuscript Info Abstract . Manuscript History
Fiscal Policy in a Model with Matching Frictions

The endorsement of expansionary fiscal packages has often been based on the idea that large multipliers can contrast rising unemployment. Is that really the case? We explore those issues in a New Keynesian model in which unemployment arises because of matching frictions. We compare fiscal packages with different targets (pure demand stimuli versus subsidy to cost of hiring) and of government funding (lump sum taxation versus distortionary taxation). We find that in presence of demand stimuli fiscal multipliers are zero and even turn negative when financed with distortionary taxation. On the other side, in a model with a non-Walrasian labor market, policies aimed at reducing labor wedges, such as cost of hiring, are particularly effective in boosting employment and output.
A large narrow-band Hα survey at z∼ 0.2: the bright end of the luminosity function, cosmic variance and clustering across cosmic time

We have carried out the largest (>3.5 x 10(5) Mpc(3), 26 deg(2)) H alpha narrow-band survey to date at z similar to 0.2 in the SA22, W2 and XMMLSS extragalactic fields. Our survey covers a large enough volume to overcome cosmic variance and to sample bright and rare Ha emitters up to an observed luminosity of similar to 10(42.4) erg s (1), equivalent to similar to 11M(circle dot) yr(-1). Using our sample of 220 sources brighter than > 10(41.4) erg s (1) (> 1M(circle dot) yr(-1)), we derive Ha luminosity functions, which are well described by a Schechter function with phi(star) = 10 (2.85 +/- 0.03) Mpc (3) and L-H alpha* = 10(41.71 +/- 0.02) erg s (1) (with a fixed faint end slope alpha = -1.35). We find that surveys probing smaller volumes (similar to 3 x 10(4) Mpc(3)) are heavily affected by cosmic variance, which can lead to errors of over 100 per cent in the characteristic density and luminosity of the Ha luminosity function. We derive a star formation rate density of rho(SFRD) = 0.0094 +/- 0.0008M(circle dot) yr(-1), in agreement with the redshift-dependent H alpha parametrization from Sobral et al. The two-point correlation function is described by a single power law omega(theta) = (0.159 +/- 0.012)theta(( 0.75 +/- 0.05)), corresponding to a clustering length of r(0) = 3.3 +/- 0.8Mpc h(-1). We find that the most luminous Ha emitters at z similar to 0.2 are more strongly clustered than the relatively fainter ones. The L-H alpha* H alpha emitters at z similar to 0.2 in our sample reside in similar to 1012.5-13.5M(circle dot) dark matter haloes. This implies that the most star-forming galaxies always reside in relatively massive haloes or group-like environments and that the typical host halo mass of star-forming galaxies is independent of redshift if scaled by L-H alpha/L-H alpha* (z), as proposed by Sobral et al.
The Impact of Summary Writing with Structure Guidelines on EFL College Students’ Rhetorical Organization: Integrating Genre-Based and Process Approaches

This study aimed at investigating the impact of writing on Iranian EFL college students’ rhetorical organization. Thirty Iranian female undergraduate students majoring in English at Al-zahra University participated in the current study. The writing instructions included two stages, each lasting for four weeks. The participants were assigned to a control group and an experimental group according to an “S” model and received writing instructions based on genre and process approaches. The experimental group received writing instruction on text structure designed according to descriptive genre for the first four weeks, followed by the instruction on the process approach for the second four weeks. However, the control group received the process writing instruction only during the second stage. The research questions focused on whether summary writing with instructions on text structure improves students’ rhetorical organization or not. Also, the study sought to find out how students’ rhetorical organization improves when instructions on text structure are used as a supplementary tool to the process approach. The design of the study was quasi experimental. The findings revealed that summary writing with instructions on text structure helps students have better performances in rhetorical organization, concerning content, organization, language use, and syntactic complexity. Also, the obtained results indicated that genre and process approaches can be complementary, and summary writing with instructions on text structure can be used as a supplementary tool to the process approach.
Sources of Risk in Currency Returns

We quantify the sources of risk in currency returns as a first step toward understanding the returns reported for the carry trade. To do this, we develop and estimate an empirical model of exchange rate dynamics using daily data for four currencies relative to the US dollar: the Australian dollar, the British pound, the Swiss franc, and the Japanese yen. The model includes (i) Gaussian shocks with stochastic variance, (ii) jumps up and down in the exchange rate, and (iii) jumps in the variance. We identify these components using data on exchange rates and at-the-money implied variances. We find that the probability of a jump depreciation (appreciation) in the exchange rate is increasing in the domestic (foreign) interest rate. The probability of jumps in variance is increasing in the variance but not related to interest rates. Many of the jumps in exchange rates are associated with macroeconomic and political news, but jumps in variance are not. Overall, jumps account for 25% of total currency risk over horizons of one to three months.
A Comparison of Methods for Estimating Reynolds Stress from ADCP Measurements in Wavy Environments

Turbulent Reynolds stresses are now routinely estimated from acoustic Doppler current profiler (ADCP) measurements in estuaries and tidal channels using the variance method, yet biases due to surface gravity waves limit its use in the coastal ocean. Recent modifications to this method, including spatially filtering velocitiestoisolatetheturbulencefromwavevelocitiesandfittingacospectralmodeltothebelow-waveband cospectra, have been used to remove this bias. Individually, each modification performed well for the published test datasets, but a comparative analysis over the range of conditions in the coastal ocean has not yet been performed. This work uses ADCP velocity measurements from five previously published coastal ocean and estuarine datasets, which span a range of wave and current conditions as well as instrument configurations, to directly compare methods for estimating stresses in the presence of waves. The computed stresses from each were compared to bottom stress estimates from a quadratic drag law and, where available, estimates of wind stress. These comparisons,alongwith an analysis of the cospectra, indicatedthat spectralfitting performswell whenthe wave climateis wide-bandedand/ormultidirectionalas well as wheninstrument noise is high. In contrast, spatialfiltering performs better when waves are narrow-banded, low frequency, and when wave orbital velocities are strong relative to currents. However, as spatial filtering uses vertically separated velocity bins to remove the wave bias, spectral fitting is able to resolve stresses over a larger fraction of the water column.
Seismotectonic characterization of the Becerreá area (NW Spain)

The NW sector of the Iberian Peninsula has been classically considered as a seismically stable area, with only dispersed and low-magnitude activity. Around the village of Becerrea (Lugo) a significant concentration of earthquakes is observed. Since the beginning of instrumental record in 1979, seven seismic crisis have been reported in that zone, including 14 events of magnitude >4 and a larger event of magnitude 5.1mbLg (VII EMS) in 1997. Even if this seismicity is to be related to the general compressive regime between Africa and Eurasia, the seismotectonic characterization of the area is still controversial, as the different hypotheses considered are based on insufficiently accurate data. New insights to the problem are discussed here, coming from the deployment of a seismic portable network between 1999 and 2002, which has provided new accurate seismic data. The corresponding events are distributed around a subvertical axis, reaching a depth of 12km, and epicentres tend to concentrate beneath the intersection of the main Becerrea fault and secondary, ENE/WSW oriented faults. This intersection structure is thus interpreted as being responsible for the relatively high level of seismic activity over the area.
The Scattering of FRBs by the Intergalactic Medium: Variations, Strength, and Dependence on Dispersion Measures

The scattering of fast radio bursts (FRBs) by the intergalactic medium (IGM) is explored using cosmological hydrodynamical simulations. We confirm that the scattering by the clumpy IGM has significant line-of-sight variations. We demonstrate that the scattering by the IGM in the voids and walls of the cosmic web is weak, but it can be significantly enhanced by the gas in clusters and filaments. The observed nonmonotonic dependence of the FRB widths on the dispersion measures (DM) cannot determine whether the IGM is an important scattering matter or not. The IGM may dominate the scattering of some FRBs, and the host galaxy dominates others. For the former case, the scattering should be primarily caused by the medium in clusters. A mock sample of 500 sources shows that at z < 1.5. Assuming that the turbulence follows Kolmogorov scaling, we find that an outer scale of L0 ∼ 5 pc is required to make τIGM ∼ 1–10 ms at ν = 1 GHz. The required L0 ∼ 5 pc can alleviate the tension in the timescales of turbulent heating and cooling but is still ∼4 orders of magnitude lower than the presumed injection scale of turbulence in the IGM. The gap is expected to be effectively shortened if the simulation resolution is further increased. The mechanisms that may further reduce the gap are shortly discussed. If future observations can justify the role of the IGM in the broadening of FRBs, it can help to probe the gas in clusters and filaments.
Resonant sound caused by flow past two plates in tandem in a duct

Two plates placed in tandem in a duct flow shed vortices, which can excite and sustain an acoustic resonance associated with the duct. The sound can in turn ‘feed back’ and ‘lock’ the vortex shedding rate to the sound frequency. The experimental conditions under which loud resonant sound is sustained are described in this paper. The acoustic sources are predicted by combining a vortex model of the flow field with a finite-element solution of the sound field, and then using Howe's theory of aerodynamic sound to calculate the energy exchange between the flow and the sound field. Only in certain regions near the plates is substantial net energy exchange possible; the direction of energy transfer depends on the spacing of the plates. The region around the trailing edge of the upstream plate is found to be always a net acoustic source during resonance, while the region around the downstream plate is a net source or sink depending on the phase of the acoustic cycle at which vortices arrive there, which in turn depends on plate spacing and flow velocity. The net source region around the downstream plate is suppressed over a wide range of plate spacings by splitting this plate at midspan and rejoining it so that one half is offset in the flow direction by the distance a vortex travels in half a sound cycle.
The Determinants of Information Asymmetry between Managers and Investors: A Study on Panel Data

Thanks to the study of 124 firms listed on the SBF 250 index, the researchers were able to identify the determinants of information asymmetry between firms' managers and investors, using panel data over the period ranging from 1999 to 2008. The results of the random effects model show that most variables are not significant. There is a problem of heteroscedasticity and a problem of autocorrelation. In this regard, the researchers have used the method of generalized least squares to overcome these problems. The results obtained, by using this method, show that the trading volume, as well as the volatility of stock returns, has a positive and significant effect on information asymmetry. The coefficient of the insiders' trading variable is high what shows the relevance of this variable in the explanation of the information asymmetry problem. However, the stock price variable has a negative effect. These results are conclusive to corroborate the thesis of variables relevance resulting from the theory of markets microstructure.
The Cosmic History of Hot Gas Cooling and Radio AGN Activity in Massive Early-Type Galaxies

We study the X-ray properties of 393 optically selected early-type galaxies (ETGs) over the redshift range of z approx equals 0.0-1.2 in the Chandra Deep Fields. To measure the average X-ray properties of the ETG population, we use X-ray stacking analyses with a subset of 158 passive ETGs (148 of which were individually undetected in X-ray). This ETG subset was constructed to span the redshift ranges of z = 0.1-1.2 in the approx equals 4 Ms CDF-S and approx equals 2 Ms CDF-N and z = 0.1-0.6 in the approx equals 250 ks E-CDF-S where the contribution from individually undetected AGNs is expected to be negligible in our stacking. We find that 55 of the ETGs are detected individually in the X-rays, and 12 of these galaxies have properties consistent with being passive hot-gas dominated systems (i.e., systems not dominated by an X-ray bright Active Galactic Nucleus; AGN). On the basis of our analyses, we find little evolution in the mean 0.5-2 keY to B-band luminosity ratio (L(sub x) /L(sub Beta) varies as [1 +z]) since z approx equals 1.2, implying that some heating mechanism prevents the gas from cooling in these systems. We consider that feedback from radio-mode AGN activity could be responsible for heating the gas. We select radio AGNs in the ETG population using their far-infrared/radio flux ratio. Our radio observations allow us to constrain the duty cycle history of radio AGN activity in our ETG sample. We estimate that if scaling relations between radio and mechanical power hold out to z approx equals 1.2 for the ETG population being studied here, the average mechanical power from AGN activity is a factor of approx equals1.4 -- 2.6 times larger than the average radiative cooling power from hot gas over the redshift range z approx equals 0-1.2. The excess of inferred AGN mechanical power from these ETGs is consistent with that found in the local Universe for similar types of galaxies.