Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Student Entrepreneurial Leaders: Challenges and Competencies of Leading University Entrepreneurship Programs

Leading entrepreneurial activities is associated with various uncertainties, complexities, and challenges. However, there has been little discussion on the literature about the specific competencies that enable entrepreneurial leaders to successfully cope with the difficulties and effectively lead their entrepreneurial venturing. The main purpose of this study was to illuminate the challenges and competencies of student entrepreneurial leaders in leading university entrepreneurship programs. Fourteen undergraduate student entrepreneurial leaders defined as having been successfully leading university entrepreneurship clubs and activities for at least two semesters were purposefully selected as the participants. Analysis of semi-structured interviews revealed three critical challenges of student entrepreneurial leaders including their group members’ lack of interest and commitment in entrepreneurial activities, confidence in their entrepreneurial abilities, and differences in their cultural backgrounds. Furthermore, to successfully deal with the challenges, the students were competent in creating a caring interpersonal relationship and teamwork, enabling task delegation, and building confidence of their group members. Implications of the findings for entrepreneurial leadership practice, education, and research and areas for further research are discussed.
Value Creation in Strategic M&A: How to make your Growth Strategy Value-creating?

Strategic M&As mean focus on growth (e.g. revenue growth) and aim to enhance the firm's competitive position. The academic literature reports, however, an extremely high failure rate of strategic M&As â€“ their outcomes are very difficult to forecast and they are extremely risky. Complexity increases even further, if we add the international perspective. At the same time, the empirical evidence states that M&As contribute to one third of average corporate growth rate. So, how can we make them value-creating? Combining market abnormal returns and fundamental company analysis, this study explains which factors and features of firms are relevant for the evaluation of acquirersâ€™ performance and how they are linked together. Furthermore, compared to the simple market-based studies and single accounting measures analysis, it includes additional â€“ strategic - perspective and provides real examples of the value-creating and value-destroying transactions, explaining the strategy behind its success or failure. Therefore, it suggests a new approach for planning an acquisition and makes forecasting of the future payoffs by decision-makers possible from the early stage.
A Dataset and Benchmark for Large-Scale Multi-Modal Face Anti-Spoofing

Face anti-spoofing is essential to prevent face recognition systems from a security breach. Much of the progresses have been made by the availability of face anti-spoofing benchmark datasets in recent years. However, existing face anti-spoofing benchmarks have limited number of subjects (≤170) and modalities (≤2), which hinder the further development of the academic community. To facilitate face anti-spoofing research, we introduce a large-scale multi-modal dataset, namely CASIA-SURF, which is the largest publicly available dataset for face anti-spoofing in terms of both subjects and visual modalities. Specifically, it consists of 1,000 subjects with 21,000 videos and each sample has 3 modalities (i.e., RGB, Depth and IR). We also provide a measurement set, evaluation protocol and training/validation/testing subsets, developing a new benchmark for face anti-spoofing. Moreover, we present a new multi-modal fusion method as baseline, which performs feature re-weighting to select the more informative channel features while suppressing the less useful ones for each modal. Extensive experiments have been conducted on the proposed dataset to verify its significance and generalization capability. The dataset is available at https://sites.google. com/qq.com/chalearnfacespoofingattackdete/.
Modelling global-scale climate impacts of the late Miocene Messinian Salinity Crisis

Abstract. Late Miocene tectonic changes in Mediterranean–Atlantic connectivity and climatic changes caused Mediterranean salinity to fluctuate dramatically, including a ten-fold increase and near-freshening. Recent proxy- and model-based evidence suggests that at times during this Messinian Salinity Crisis (MSC, 5.96–5.33 Ma), highly saline and highly fresh Mediterranean water flowed into the North Atlantic Ocean, whilst at others, no Mediterranean Outflow Water (MOW) reached the Atlantic. By running extreme, sensitivity-type experiments with a fully coupled ocean–atmosphere general circulation model, we investigate the potential of these various MSC MOW scenarios to impact global-scale climate. The simulations suggest that although the effect remains relatively small, MOW had a greater influence on North Atlantic Ocean circulation and climate than it does today. We also find that depending on the presence, strength and salinity of MOW, the MSC could have been capable of cooling mid–high northern latitudes by a few degrees, with the greatest cooling taking place in the Labrador, Greenland–Iceland–Norwegian and Barents seas. With hypersaline MOW, a component of North Atlantic Deep Water formation shifts to the Mediterranean, strengthening the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) south of 35° N by 1.5–6 Sv. With hyposaline MOW, AMOC completely shuts down, inducing a bipolar climate anomaly with strong cooling in the north (mainly −1 to −3 °C, but up to −8 °C) and weaker warming in the south (up to +0.5 to +2.7 °C). These simulations identify key target regions and climate variables for future proxy reconstructions to provide the best and most robust test cases for (a) assessing Messinian model performance, (b) evaluating Mediterranean–Atlantic connectivity during the MSC and (c) establishing whether or not the MSC could ever have affected global-scale climate.
Language of Instruction and Ethnic Disparities in School Success.

In Quebec’s French-language secondary schools, youth originating from South Asia have the highest dropout rate among all immigrant-origin students, whereas in the English sector, their coethnic peers have a more positive academic profile than third-plus-generation students. Using quantitative data, this paper aims to understand the difference in school performance between these two groups. Firstly, we examine their performance through three indicators: school delay, graduation, and dropout rates. Secondly, we contrast their profile through nine characteristics. Finally, we discuss the influence of each group’s characteristics on graduation. The results reveal that the difference in performance is largely due to the characteristics of the French-sector students. The English-sector students’ success is not significantly related to having English as mother tongue or as language spoken at home.
Treatment of Tannery Effluent by Locally Available Commercial Grade Lime

The treatment of tannery effluent was carried out based on the locally available commercial grade lime. Collected tannery effluent was acidic (pH 3.94) in nature with total chromium content, chemical oxygen demand (COD), total suspended solids (TSS), total dissolved solids (TDS) and the conductivity at 30°C were 987 mg/L, 3175.32 mg O 2 /L, 22915 mg/L, 13360 mg/L and 60.7 mS/cm, respectively. The effluent was treated by chemical precipitation method and the dependency on pH in the treatment was investigated by altering the pH from 6.0 to 11.0 by the gradual addition of lime slurry. The treated effluents were characterized primarily in terms of COD and conductivity and we obtained lowest COD (345 mg O 2 /L) and conductivity (21.4 mS/cm at 30°C) values at pH 9. Then a large scale treatment was carried out with 20.0 L of the effluent in the same experimental condition at pH 9 and the removal of chromium, COD, TSS, TDS and conductivity (at 30°C) were achieved up to 99.79, 60.99, 97.22, 98.27 and 41.85%, respectively. Chloride concentration was also measured before and after treatment but no significant change was observed. © 2013 JSR Publications. ISSN: 2070-0237 (Print); 2070-0245 (Online). All rights reserved. doi: http://dx.doi. org/10.3329/jsr.v5i1. 12557 J. Sci. Res. 5 (1), 143-150 (2013)
Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds from a Swine Shed

The concentrations and chemical compositions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including volatile fatty acids, phenols, indoles, aldehydes, and ketones, which are the main organic compounds generated by swine, were investigated in July and October 2016 and January 2017. In addition, the emission rates and annual emissions of these components from the swine shed were estimated. The concentrations of VOCs in the swine shed averaged 511.3 μg m−3 in summer, 315.5 μg m−3 in fall and 218.6 μg m−3 in winter. Acetone, acetic acid, propionic acid, and butyric acid were the predominant components of the VOCs, accounting for 80–88% of the total VOCs. The hourly variations of VOC concentrations in the swine shed in fall and winter suggest that the VOC concentrations were related to the ventilation rate of the swine shed, the activity of the swine, and the temperature in the swine shed. Accordingly, the emission rates of VOCs from the swine shed were 1-2×103 μg (h kg-swine)−1.
Decentralization, spending efficiency and pro-poor outcomes in Morocco

This paper studies how decentralization affects poverty, vulnerability, and inequality in Morocco, in the context of ongoing regionalization reforms. We use different non-parametric approaches to assess spending efficiency of Moroccan municipalities and regions over the period 2005-2009. The results indicate that the efficiency of spending in improving pro-poor outcomes is dependent on the fiscal autonomy of subnational governments. While the impact of transfer dependency is not statistically significant, more granular data show that formula-based (unconditional) transfers significantly improve spending efficiency when the opposite is true for ad-hoc (conditional) transfers. Furthermore, we investigate the impact of political decentralization and find that local spending is less efficient in regions where municipal governments have a greater responsibility for spending compared to the regional government. This finding also holds in more fragmented regions with a high number of municipalities. Finally, we test whether there is an electoral budget cycle in Morocco and find that spending efficiency decreases the year of local elections, but increases with the level of education of elected officials.
The optically bright post-AGB population of the LMC

Abstract The detected variety in chemistry and circumstellar shell morphology of the limited sample of Galactic post-AGB stars is so large, that there is no consensus yet on how individual objects are linked by evolutionary channels. The evaluation is complicated by the fact that the distances and hence luminosities of these objects are poorly known. In this contribution we report on our project to overcome this problem by focusing on a significant sample of post-AGB stars with known distances: those in the LMC. Via cross-correlation of the infrared SAGE-SPITZER catalogue with optical catalogues we selected a sample of 322 LMC post-AGB candidates based on their position in the various colour-colour diagrams. We determined the fundamental properties of 82 of them, using low resolution optical spectra that we obtained at Siding Spring and SAAO. We selected a subsample to be studied at high spectral resolution in order to obtain accurate abundances of a wide range of species. This will allow us to connect the theoretical predictions with the obtained surface chemistry at a given luminosity and metallicity. By this, we want to constrain important structure parameters of the evolutionary models. Preliminary results of the selection process are presented.
Determinants of Modes of Delivery: A Hospital based Retrospective Study in Kenya

This was a retrospective case-control study of the determinants of choice of mode of deliveries at PCEA Kikuyu Hospital, Kenya. The aim of the study was to investigate the prevalence of SVD and caesarean deliveries and to determine the factors predictive of each mode of delivery. Data was analysed using SPSS 20.0. Descriptive analysis involving frequencies and percentages was employed as well as ANOVA test at 95% CI. The study has shown that 65.1% of women who delivered at PCEA Kikuyu hospital had Spontaneous vaginal deliveries (SVD), 7.71% elective caesarean deliveries while 26.78% had emergency caesarean deliveries. Parity, gravidity, employment status, previous modes of delivery and gestation age were found to be predictive of the modes of delivery (p<0.05). The study recommends that the hospital administrators and policy makers at the national and county levels should lay adequate plans for public awareness on the outcomes of modes of delivery based on the established rising rates of C/S deliveries. Finally, there is need for further research in other hospitals in different settings in order to ascertain the outcomes of different modes of delivery.
Different inertial properties between static and dynamic rowing ergometers cause acute adaptations in coordination patterns

Abstract With ergometers being frequently used in training programmes of rowers, consensus is needed to identify which design most closely reproduces the biomechanics of on-water rowing. Discussion exists about the movement allowed to the stretcher, with static designs fixating it, while dynamic models allowing displacement. To investigate how this affects muscular and kinematic coordination patterns, a group of nine male rowers were analysed whilst exercising on three ergometer designs, a static ergometer and two dynamic versions. 3D motion analysis was applied to measure displacement of body segments, joint angles and angular velocities. Electromyography was used to record activation patterns of major muscles. All participants were measured on all three ergometer designs; data were analysed using repeated measures ANOVA. Duration of the stroke phase turned out to be longer on the static ergometer and tibialis anterior and biceps femoris coordination patterns differed between static and dynamic ergometers. Kinematic data showed a more squatted posture at the end of recovery on the static ergometer. These differences were interpreted as distorted movement coordination resulting from the more inert moving mass on the static ergometer.
Soil drought decreases water-use of pine and spruce but not of larch in a dry inner alpine valley Bodentrockenheit in einem inner-alpinen Trockental verringert den Wasserverbrauch von Kiefer und Fichte, aber nicht von Lärche

The study quantified the effect of soil water availability on sap flow density (Qs) of Pinus sylvestris, Picea abies and Larix decidua in a dry inner alpine valley, Tyrol, Austria. To reduce soil water availability we installed a transparent roof construction above the forest floor around 10 trees (6 P. sylvestris, 3 P. abies and 1 L. decidua). Eleven other trees (5 P. sylvestris, 3 P. abies and 3 L. decidua) served as controls in the absence of any manipulation. Roofing reduced soil water availability, while soil temperature was not affected. Sap flow density and environmental parameters were monitored throughout two growing seasons. In P. sylvestris and P. abies withholding precipitation caused Qs to decrease by 30 and 19%, respectively below levels in control trees, while no effect of limited soil water availability was detected on Qs in L. decidua. Hardly affected were leaf-level net CO2 uptake rate and stomatal conductance for water vapor. We conclude that the water-saving strategy of P. sylvestris and Seite 2 R. Schuster, W. Oberhuber, A. Gruber, G. Wieser P. abies may be a selective advantage to tolerate future increasing aridity in dry inner alpine valleys, while increasing aridity may be critical for L. decidua if aridity will increase in future.
A Review of Indicators of Healthy Agricultural Soils with Pea Footrot Disease Suppression Potentials

The quality of a soil is often viewed in relation to its ability to suppress plant disease and enhance agricultural productivity. A soil is considered suppressive when, in spite of favourable conditions for disease incidence and development, a pathogen cannot become established, or establishes but produces no disease, or establishes and produces disease for a short time and then declines. The interplay of biotic and abiotic factors has long been known to assert disease suppressive capabilities or otherwise. However, the multi-functionality of soil makes the identification of a single property as a general indicator of soil health an uphill task. In this paper, therefore, some indicators of soil health important to agriculture are reviewed with emphasis on pea footrot disease suppression potentials. Findings show that footrot disease due to Nectria haematococca (anamorph Fusarium solani f.sp pisi) is a globally, economically important disease of peas, and an initial inoculum density of ? 100 pathogenic forms of N. haematococca cells would produce an appreciable level of pea footrot disease depending on the relative amount of phosphorus, carbon and nitrogen present in soil. It would be desirable to confirm pea footrot disease models obtained from pot experiments with results from field experiments.
A comparison of nonparametric efficiency estimators: DEA, FDH, DEAC, FDHC, order-m and quantile

In this paper we compare six nonparametric estimators for technical efficiency and use them to evaluate the efficiency of the banking sector in Brazil. The estimators considered are data envelopment analysis (DEA), free disposal hull (FDH), bias corrected FDH (FDHC), bias corrected DEA (DEAC), order-m and alpha-conditional quantile. Their theoretical properties are discussed and their implementation is illustrated using a sample of 184 Brazilian banks that extends from 1995 to 2004. The results indicate that these estimators can lead to significant discrepancy in estimated efficiency scores. Order-m and alpha-conditional quantile estimators have proven to be useful tools in identifying extreme values and are shown to be rather robust relative to DEA and FDH. Bias correction for both DEA and FDH was problematic, producing significant changes in firms rankings and estimated efficiencies.
Moving Beyond "Does Active Learning Work?" with the Engineering Learning Observation Protocol (ELCOT)

Megan Sanders is the Senior Assessment Associate at the Trefny Innovative Instruction Center at the Colorado School of Mines. Before joining Mines, Megan worked at the Eberly Center for Teaching Excellence and Instructional Innovation at Carnegie Mellon University, where her role focused on supporting instructors in conducting research about student outcomes in their courses. Megan’s disciplinary background is in educational psychology. She earned her PhD from the Ohio State University, and her research focused on the idea of relevance in higher education—how we define it, how students perceive it, and how to measure it—an interest that continues to inform her work.
A simple construction of the continuum parabolic Anderson model on R 2

We propose a simple construction of the solution to the continuum parabolic Anderson model on R 2 which does not rely on any elaborate arguments and makes exten-sive use of the linearity of the equation. A logarithmic renormalisation is required to counterbalance the divergent product appearing in the equation. Furthermore, we use time-dependent weights in our spaces of distributions in order to construct the solution on the unbounded space R 2
Proposed Coal Power Plants and Coal-To-Liquids Plants: Which Ones Survive and Why?

The increase of oil and natural gas prices since the year 2000 stimulated the planning and construction of new coal-fired electricity generating plants and coal-to-liquids plants in the US. However, a large number of these projects have been canceled or abandoned since 2007. Using a set of 145 proposed coal power plants and 25 coal-to- liquids plants, we examine the main determinants that influence the decision to abandon a project or to proceed with it. In case of coal power plants, the number of searches performed on Google relating to coal power plants and the prices of alternative fuels for electricity generation are the main factors. As for coal-to-liquids plants, the political affiliation of the state governor is the most important factor across several model specifications. An out-of-sample exercise confirms these findings. These results hold also with robustness checks considering alternative Google search keywords and the potential effects of the recession in the years 2008-2009.
Longitudinal distortion of coronary stent in the Left Main Stem : A cautionary tale

We describe a patient with triple-vessel coronary aretry disease who underwent PCI to the LMS and LAD with 2-overlapping Xience stents. An attempt to do PCI to the calcified LCx ended up with a major complication due to the difficulty in delivering a Resolute Integrity stent to the target lesion (of the LCx). The Resolute Integrity stent became entrapped in the LMS due to the longitudinal distortion of the previously placed Xience stent. This is an interesting case – firstly as longitudinal distortion with Xience stents is seldom reported and secondly, this highlights the importance of fastidious attention to detail to ensure that if longitudinal distortion occurs, it is noted and dealt with by further stent post-dilatation before passage of additional equipment.
Large Shareholders, Payout Policy and Agency Problems inMalaysian Companies

This study investigates the effect of large shareholders on the magnitude of payout ratio. The analysis revealed that the higher the largest shareholding, the higher the payout ratio of the company. Furthermore, this paper found that the presence of a substantial second largest shareholder has a significant and positive impact on the payout ratio of Malaysian companies. However, different types of the large shareholder have no statistically significant influence on the magnitude of payout ratio. This study enhances the understanding of payout policy based on agency perspectives and provides evidence from an Asian country.
Evaluation Forecasting Method of Farmers Terms of Trade Indonesian Agriculture

The agricultural sector is still the most highly employed sector. One indicator that can be used to measure success in the agricultural sector is Farmers Terms of Trade that is usually called Nilai Tukar Petani (NTP) in Indonesia. NTP is an indicator that can be used to measure purchasing power of farmers. NTP data is currently released at the beginning of every month based on the previous month's data condition. If NTP data can be predicted earlier, the government can take the right policy in advance. Some methods were used for forecasting data. In this research, we proposed NN, SVM and Multiple Linear Regression methods to forecast NTP. We conclude that Multiple Linear Regression is the best method to forecast NTP with RMSE 0.0009.