Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Service Quality in Convenience Stores: A Predictor of Customer Satisfaction

Organized Retail Industry is one of the most growing industries in India and was forecasted to grow by 31% in the year 2018. It is expected to grow to USD 1200 billion by the year 2021. India is ranked as fifth most preferred destination in retail sector which gives an edge to different companies in the retail chain. Convenience stores contribute a major part in the retail sector and will continue to be the important part in the years to come. According to BCG’s latest survey it has been found that from 2009 to 2017 convenience stores captured the large share in the retail market and also grew at exceptionally faster than other type of retail stores. In this study, Ondoor, Reliance, Supermarket, Aapurti stores are selected and determined the service quality and its impact on customer satisfaction.The objective of this study is to examine the impact of service quality (tangibility, reliability, assurance, empathy, responsiveness) on customer satisfaction and for these total 90 customers is selected from the selected convenience stores in Indore city. Through the application of regression, hypothesis was tested and found that the customers are satisfied with the service quality provided in convenience stores.
Ectopic expression of AtCIPK 23 enhances drought tolerance via accumulating less H 2 O 2 in transgenic tobacco plants

Drought is a major threat to agricultural crop growth and productivity. However, the molecular mechanism behind such effects remains largely unknown. Plant CBL (Calcineurin B-Like)-interacting protein kinases (CIPKs) are believed to play an important role in plant drought tolerance and signalling transduction. Here, we report the influence of a member of the CIPK family, AtCIPK23, in drought stress responses in tobacco. Transgenic tobacco plants over-expressing AtCIPK23 showed enhanced tolerance to drought stress compared with wild-type plants. After drought stress treatment, the survival rates and levels of chlorophyll, proline, and soluble sugar in three transgenic lines were significantly higher than those in WT plants. Additionally, in the transgenic plant lines the accumulation of H2O2 was lower, and the expression levels of NtSOD, NtCAT and NtAPX were higher compared with wild-type plants under drought stress. A quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that over-expression of AtCIPK23 in tobacco induced the expression of the NtDREB, NtLEA5 and NtCDPK2 genes. Therefore, AtCIPK23 perhaps is involved in the plant response to drought stress via regulating the expression of stress-related genes.
North-South FDI and Bilateral Investment Treaties ( Preliminary and Incomplete )

Bilateral Investment Treaties (BITs) have become increasingly popular as a means of encouraging FDI from developed to developing countries. We adopt a difference-in-difference analysis to deal with the problem of self-selection when estimating the effects of BITs on FDI flows from a sample of OECD countries to a broader sample of lesser developed countries. Our results indicate that forming a BIT with a developed country significantly increases FDI inflows to developing countries, with BITs found to increase FDI flows by between 50 and 70 per cent. Much of the increase in FDI flows is found to arise due to the formation of new FDI relationships, with little evidence of a significant impact on FDI flows from OECD countries that previously undertook FDI in the developing country of interest. JEL Classification: C21, F21
The Correlation Between Self Efficacy and the Learning Achievement

Education was a universal phenomenon and happened throughout human life. Especially in the success of achievement, student learning achievement was still relatively low today so that it could affect problems in student psychology. Factors that affected learning achievement were self efficacy. The purpose of this study was to prove the correlation between self efficacy and learning achievement in Elementary School 1 Krian Sidoarjo District. The design of this study was correlational with a cross sectional approach. The population was all 6th grade elementary school students as many as 54 students which used total sampling techniques and sample 54 respondent . The independent variable was self efficacy and the dependent variable was learning achievement. Data was taken using questionnaires. The results showed that 28 people (100%) of the 54 respondents, most of them had high self efficacy and satisfying learning achievement. This showed that H1 was accepted which meant that there was a correlation between self efficacy and learning achievement in Elementary School 1 Krian, Sidoarjo District. A good self-efficacy from oneself could affect his learning achievement. People who had high beliefs with their abilities tended to succeed, while people who had low beliefs with their abilities tended to fail.
Performance of Simple and Fast Sliding Window Detectors for Spectrum Sensing in Radar Bands

The recently-proposed sliding Gershgorin radii and centers ratio (SGRCR) detector makes use of multiple sensing rounds applying a short window that slides over the full sensing interval, being adequate for detecting short duration signals, like those emitted by pulse radar systems. This articles proposes the sliding Gini index detector (SGID) as a variation of the SGRCR and compares the performances of both in the context of cooperative spectrum sensing for cognitive radio applications in radar bands. These detectors have approximately the same computational complexity, but the SGID can outperform the SGRCR in most of the system parameterizations and scenarios. Keywords— Cognitive radio, cooperative spectrum sensing, GID, GRCR, pulse radar, SGID, SGRCR, sliding window.
Start-up Subsidies: Does the Policy Instrument Matter?

Abstract New knowledge-intensive firms contribute to innovation, competition, and employment growth, but externalities like knowledge spillovers can prevent entrepreneurs from appropriating the full returns from their investments. In addition, uncertainty and information asymmetry pose challenges for financing. Public policy programs therefore aim to support start-ups. This study evaluates the effects of participation in such programs on the performance of start-ups in high-tech and knowledge-intensive sectors that were founded in Germany between 2005 and 2012. Distinguishing between grants and subsidized loans and after matching recipients and non-recipients based on a broad set of founder and company characteristics, we find that both grants and subsidized loans facilitate tangible investment, employment and revenue growth. Grants are, however, better suited to increasing R&D investments than loans are. Combined with grants, subsidized loans facilitate turning research results into marketable products by means of investments in tangible assets. Start-ups that participate in both types of programs outperform grant-only recipients in terms of innovation performance, employment and future revenues. Finally, program participation does not crowd out private venture capital.
Links between Depression and Fixed Versus Growth

Being labeled “hardworking” in childhood by various sources subsequently reduced the risk of several depression symptoms and increased self-esteem in undergraduates, while being labeled “smart” only reduced two depression symptoms and did not elevate self-esteem. Those with a history of being labeled either “smart” or “hardworking” generally reported that this increased both their confidence and academic risk-taking. Women who reported being labeled “smart” as children were more likely than similarly labeled men to report that the label increased their academic risk-taking. Of those who reported being labeled “hardworking,” males were more likely to report that being labeled “hardworking” increased their confidence. Overall, females were more likely to report being labeled “hardworking. ” An independent samples t-test comparing individuals with a history of being labeled “smart” and those labeled without such a history revealed a significant difference in likelihood of taking difficult courses in college. This challenges Dweck’s theory that being labeled “smart” discourages academic risk-taking. Furthermore, those who believed being labeled “smart” increased their academic risk-taking had lower scores on the beck depression inventory-II. These findings support the potential mental health value of fostering a growth mindset in children.
REMOVAL AND RECOVERY OF PHENOL FROM INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATERS ARTUN SUKAN

REMOVAL AND RECOVERY OF PHENOL FROM INDUSTRIAL WASTEWATERS SUKAN, Artun MSc in Chemical Engineering Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Erden ALPAY August 2011, 72 pages As a pure substance, phenol due to its disinfectant, germicidal, local anesthetic and peptizing properties, is used in many fields. Its largest use (35%) is in the production of phenolic resins like phenol–formaldehyde resins. Aqueous solutions of phenol are produced as a waste of these industries and are discharged into the environment. Therefore, elevated concentrations of phenol may be found in air or water due to industrial discharge or use of phenolic products. The aim of this thesis was to compare two different existing approaches to phenol removal/recovery from low-phenol-content (up to 5%) industrial wastewaters. For this purpose, two different separation and recovery methods have been investigated on the waste water of a industrial company. One is classical recovery method, combination of extraction and distillation method, the other is enzymatic removal and recovery. The combined process was evaluated in pilot scale and the operational conditions were calculated. In the biological approach, two different enzymes namely, Laccase and Peroxidase were investigated according to their phenol removal capacities. The enzymatic reaction conditions were optimized using Response Surface Methodology (RSM).
SLEEP QUALITY AND CHRONOTYPE OF PORTUGUESE SCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN

Is the perception of school-aged children and paren ts about the children’s sleep quality and chronotyp e consistent with their real sleep quality and effect ive chronotype? Research Questions : • Do children's sleep perceptions and chronotype diff r from real sleep quality and chronotype? • Are there differences in sleep quality between gend ers? • What will be the effective quality of sleep and chr onotype? Purpose of the study: To examine the perceptions of children and parents about the children’s sleep quality and chronotype and compare them with effective sleep qu ality and chronotype. To study sleep quality and chronotype considering g ender. To analyse the perceptions of Portuguese parents ab out children’s sleep in a migrant context. Research methods : Cross-sectional study, quantitative methodology. The data from three questionnaires were analysed with regard to the three study aims: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (n=1109 children), the Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnair e (CSHQ) (n=883 parents), and the Children's Chronotype Questionnaire (CCTQ) (n=58 parents, Port uguese emigrants in Luxembourg). The samples were collected from 8 Portuguese schools and 2 Luxe mbourg schools. http://dx.doi. org/ Corresponding Author: Selection and peer-review under responsibility of t he Organizing Committee of the conference eISSN: 2357-1330 Results: The PSQI showed high sleep quality, which contrad icts the results for CSHQ. Children from state schools (n=538) revealed higher diurnal dysfunction levels compared to the children from private schools (n=571). Females showed best sleep lat ncy and duration. The CSHQ presented general negative sleep quality. The CCTQ demonstrated that parents’ perceptions did not fit with the effective children’s chronotype. Conclusions: The children's perception showed a well-balanced sleep quality but the results revealed a high incidence of sleep disturbance. The re were no statistical differences for gender. Portuguese emigrant parents revealed low awareness of their children’s chronotype and there was significant contrast between parents’ perceptions a nd the real chronotype of children. © 2017 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcadem y.org. UK
Students ’ Conceptions of Mathematical Symbols and Expressions

Undergraduate mathematics instructors often report that students make careless errors or have not previously learned key mathematical ideas and strategies. The purpose of this study is to explore evidence of an alternative explanation that at least some of these “errors” may result from students’ application of conceptions developed in the narrower contexts of their earlier learning. Analysis of formal printed lecture notes, student work and questionnaire responses is performed. Data collected from two Australia Universities’ first year mathematics students are reported in this paper that explores respondents’ conceptions related to symbolic mathematical expressions in different contexts by using the survey research design. The data were analysed through two lenses in order to both identify likely supportive and problematic conceptions and also distill the aspects of symbolic expressions contributing to this classification. The findings show that students’ errors patterns are associated to problematic conceptions that might arise from contexts previously encountered by students. More than 50% of the recorded errors related to ssssss−1(xx) by University 1 students are linked to problematic conceptions. This study is significant because it shows that it is important to explicitly address such potentially problematic conceptions in order to help students bridge the transition between contexts and this may be done through lecture notes.
INFLUENCE OF SPECIAL EDUCATORS AND REHABILITATORS' WORK IN REGULAR SCHOOL ON PEER RELATIONSHIP AMONG STUDENTS WITH DELAYED COGNITIVE DEVELOPMENT Milena NIKOUC, Medina VANTIC- TANJIC, Alma DIZDAREVIC

I E.uII. Ielrt I P.QE I PSYCHOSOCIAL INFLUENCE OF HEARING IMPAIRMENT ON THE INTERPERSONAL BEHAVIOR OF YOUTHS WITH HEARING IMPAIRMENT IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA Osisanya A YO, Adeniyi Sam OLUFEMI, Udoh Godwin GREGORY Abstract I E.uII. Ielrt I P.QE II E.uII. Ielrt I P.QE I
Repository Profiling Shoulder Strength in Competitive Surfers

The shoulder region has the highest incidence of acute injuries in the sport of surfing. Little is known about the strength profile at the shoulder in a surfing cohort. The primary aim of this study was to establish the reliability of a rotator cuff strength testing procedure for surfers with a secondary aim of providing a profile of internal and external rotation strength in a competitive surfing cohort. Shoulder internal rotation and external rotation isometric strength was measured using a hand-held dynamometer in 13 competitive surfers. Intra-class coefficient values ranged from 0.97 to 0.98 for intra-rater reliability and were lower for inter-rater reliability ranging from 0.80 to 0.91. Internal rotation strength was greater than external rotation strength bilaterally (dominant, p = 0.007, non-dominant, p < 0.001). No differences (p < 0.79) were found in internal rotation strength between the dominant and non-dominant arms. External rotation strength was weaker on the non-dominant arm compared with the dominant arm (p < 0.02). The non-dominant arm external rotation to internal rotation ratio (0.82 ± 0.15) was lower (p = 0.025) than the dominant arm (0.88 ± 0.14). The current procedure is reliable with the same clinician, and results indicate musculature asymmetry specific to the external rotators.
1 Biased Policy Professionals

Although the decisions of policy professionals are often more consequential than those of individuals in their private capacity, there is a dearth of studies on the biases of policy professionals: those who prepare and implement policy on behalf of elected politicians. Experiments conducted on a novel subject pool of development policy professionals (public servants of the World Bank and the Department for International Development in the UK) show that policy professionals are indeed subject to decision making traps, including the effects of framing outcomes as losses or gains, and most strikingly, confirmation bias driven by ideological predisposition, despite having an explicit mission to promote evidence-informed and impartial decision making. These findings should worry policy professionals and their principals in governments and large organizations, as well as citizens themselves. A further experiment, in which policy professionals engage in discussion, shows that deliberation may be able to mitigate the effects of some of these biases. JEL classification codes: C90, H83, Z18
Experimental and Analytical Study of new Proposed Semi-rigid Concrete Bam-to-Column Connection

A new semi-rigid concrete beam-to-column connection is proposed and its performance is investigated through experimental and analytical studies. In this connection, the beam dose not directly connect to column but it is connected with torsional link member. This scissor mechanism allows the beam to make rotation with respect to column. Moreover, the strengthened connections are also suggested to support higher levels of lateral deformations for structures located in high risk seismic areas. The connections behavior under cyclic loads has been studied experimentally using three types of specimens; i) basic specimen, ii) strengthened specimen with Carbon Fiber Reinforced Polymer (CFRP) wrapping, iii) strengthened specimen with steel core reinforcing. The results showed that for low levels of deformations, the basic connection exhibited acceptable performance but for higher levels of rotation, the strengthened specimens had significant merits in ductility and nonlinear characteristics. Beside the experimental tests, the numerical model of connection was constructed using ABAQUS program. The accuracy of modeling was verified through experimental results. To investigate the effect of using proposed semi-rigid connection in seismic demands of concrete structures, two rigid and semi-rigid three-story frames were modeled in OpenSees. Several non-linear dynamic analyses were carried on models and the different global and local demands were compared. The results showed that in low-rise or non-sway buildings in which the lateral displacements are not very considerable, semi-rigid connections can lead to smaller seismic loads and consequently the economical and optimal design. Review History: Received: 16 September 2018 Revised: 30 October 2018 Accepted: 31 October 2018 Available Online: 15 November 2018
Strategic asset allocation for pension plans

This study explores the strategic asset allocation for pension plans. I develop an Asset-Liability Management (ALM) model in a multiperiod framework. I discover that pension plans must heavily invest in bonds, real estate and hedge funds. This finding is strongly in contrast to current investment decisions in practice that allocate high percentage in stocks and very little in real estate and hedge funds. To demonstrate the appropriateness of the ALM model, I compare this approach to three alternative models (two Markowitz and a naïve model) by applying a funding ratio return analysis and a Sharpe ratio comparison over a three years out-of-sample period. I find that ALM is the most adequate solution because it yields constant moderate risk-adjusted return and it significantly reduces the funding ratio volatility. These characteristics allow pension plans to guarantee the payment of current and future obligations on a continuing basis avoiding drastic variations of the funding ratio. Conversely, I find that alternative models and current investment decisions in practice highly expose pension plans to mismatch risk.
Regional Meso-scale Habitat Models for Environmental Flows Assessment

Modelling channel hydromorphology is needed in order to evaluate how much habitat is available for selected fauna under specific environmental conditions, and consequently to assist decision makers in planning options for regulated river management. Meso-scale habitat modelling methods offer advantages over the traditional physical habitat evaluation, involving a larger range of habitat variables, allowing longer length of surveyed rivers and enabling understanding of fish behavior at larger spatial scale. In this study a bottom-up methodology was defined for the ecological discharge evaluation in Piedmont region (NW Italy). Within the regional study domain, 25 reference catchments not affected by water abstractions or other human impacts were chosen for the definition of environmental flows requirements at regional scale. For each stream a representative reach was chosen and fish data were obtained by sampling every single functional habitat (i.e. meso-habitat) within the site, keeping separated each area by using nets. The fish habitat suitability criteria was obtained for seven different species from the observation of habitat use by a selected organism described with a multivariate relationship between habitat characteristics and fish presence. Habitat type, mean slope, cover, biotic choriotop and substrate, stream depth and velocity, water pH, temperature and percentage of dissolved oxygen were collected for each sampled area and considered as independent variables. According to the MesoHABSIM method, we performed a logistic regression model with the AIC selection criteria (Akaike’s Information Criterion) to build the biological models identifying the habitat characteristics mostly used by a target fish. For each stream we predicted changes in habitat area over a range of discharges by building the habitat-flow rating curves. Finally, in order to define a regional criteria needed to fulfill environmental flow requirements, we split the study domain according to the regression tree classification criterion defining homogenous sub-regions distinct on both environmental flows and catchment/reach characteristics.
Two levels of the inspired oxygen fraction in propofol-anesthetized dogs with high intracranial pressure : cardiopulmonary function

In the initial stage of traumatic brain injury, the use of 1.0 inspired oxygen fraction (FiO2) is indicated. However, high FiO2 has been correlated with atelectasis. Thus, the effects of FiO2 = 1.0 and FiO2 = 0.6 on the cardiopulmonary function in propofol-anesthetized dogs with high intracranial pressure (ICP) were evaluated. Eight dogs were anesthetized on two occasions, receiving, during controlled ventilation, an FiO2 = 1 (G100) or an FiO2 = 0.6 (G60). Propofol was used for induction (10mg.kg -1 ) followed by a continuous rate infusion (0.6mg.kg -1 .minute -1 ). An increase in the ICP was induced by temporary obliteration of the right jugular vein (OJv) 50 minutes after induction of anesthesia. The measurement was taken twenty minutes after OJv (T0) and then at 15-minute intervals (T15 to T60). Alveolar oxygen partial pressure in G60 was lower than in G100 during the whole procedure. Alveolar-arterial oxygen gradient in G100 was greater than in G60 at T0 and at T60. No differences were observed for arterial oxygen partial pressure/inspired oxygen fraction ratio, arterial-to-alveolar oxygen pressure ratio, respiratory index, venous admixture, oxygen delivery, oxygen consumption, oxygen extraction, heart rate, mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary arterial occlusion pressure, cardiac index, stroke index and systemic vascular resistance index. In G100, mean arterial pressure at T0 was higher than at T45. In dogs with high ICP, the cardiopulmonary function was not influenced by the different FiO2 used.