Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Economic Profitability of Nile Tilapia ( Oreochromis niloticus Linnaeus 1757) in Semi Flow through Culture System

Tilapia is one of the most productive and internationally traded food fish in the world. The production of farmed tilapia is among the fastest expanding food sectors in the world. Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) is the most cultured freshwater species among the farmed tilapia and contributes about 71% of the world total tilapia production. In Nigeria, Tilapia culture is a promising aquaculture business. In this study, we estimated the economic profitability of small-scale production of O. niloticus in semi flow-through system at three stocking density using the profitability index and the viability index. The economic profit indices measured were Gross profit, profit index and incidence of cost while the viability index was benefit/cost ratio. These were computed from the record kept during the experiment, which included stocking densities, type of feed used, labour cost, and other input cost. The results of the experiment suggested that fish fed Multi-feed were more profitable than those feed NIOMR feed. The results generated can guide farmers to develop standard farm enterprises and business plans.
Analysis of local institutions capacity to implement development plans and programs in Gamo Gofa Zone of Southern Ethiopia

The study argues poverty in Ethiopia is the function of incapable local institutions. It measures the existing capacities and challenges of the local institutions to translate development plans to action in the study area. For data acquisition, pre-tested structured questionnaires were administered to 100 randomly selected civil servants in ten local institutions. The study has found that the local institutions had neither development plans which match with the local conditions nor the necessary human, financial, physical and technological capacities to execute the consecutive development plans. In addition, the development plans of the local institutions were not supported by the necessary modern technologies. Hence, the local institutions failed to translate the subsequent development plans to action keeping the country poor with sluggish micro development record. The study calls for the federal government and international agencies to strengthen the capacities of the institutions to stimulate the local economy.
Intra-Industry Trade in Machinery and Transport Equipment: Malaysia and its Trading Partners

Intra-industry trade (IIT) has become prominent across Asia including Malaysia due to the greater influence of globalization in international trade and rapid economic growth. The growth of IIT occurred because of its characteristics which could result in gains from trade through better exploitation of economies of scale and product differentiation as well as enhance innovation. Since IIT is important in increasing the growth of an economy through trade earnings trade, therefore there is a need to study the determinants of IIT in Malaysia. This study is focused on the manufacturing sector especially the machinery and transport equipment (SITC 7) from 1994 to 2014. IIT is calculated by using the Grubel Lloyd (GL) index. Panel data is utilized in performing panel cointegration and panel Granger causality tests. The Hausman specification test shows that the fixed effect least square dummy variable (LSDV) model is better than the random effects model. These tests were used to determine the relationship between the levels of IIT and its determinants namely differences in per capita GDP, foreign direct investment, geographical distance and technological advancement. The results show that the variables are cointegrated in the long run, in addition to the existence of short run relationships between intra-industry trade with differences in per capita GDP and foreign direct investment. © 2016 Published by Future Academy www.FutureAcademy. org.uk
Characterization of rockfalls from seismic signal: Insights from laboratory experiments

The seismic signals generated by rockfalls can provide information on their dynamics and location. However, the lack of field observations makes it difficult to establish clear relationships between the characteristics of the signal and the source. In this study, scaling laws are derived from analytical impact models to relate the mass and the speed of an individual impactor to the radiated elastic energy and the frequency content of the emitted seismic signal. It appears that the radiated elastic energy and frequencies decrease when the impact is viscoelastic or elastoplastic compared to the case of an elastic impact. The scaling laws are validated with laboratory experiments of impacts of beads and gravels on smooth thin plates and rough thick blocks. Regardless of the involved materials, the masses and speeds of the impactors are retrieved from seismic measurements within a factor of 3. A quantitative energy budget of the impacts is established. On smooth thin plates, the lost energy is either radiated in elastic waves or dissipated in viscoelasticity when the impactor is large or small with respect to the plate thickness, respectively. In contrast, on rough thick blocks, the elastic energy radiation represents less than 5% of the lost energy. Most of the energy is lost in plastic deformation or rotation modes of the bead owing to surface roughness. Finally, we estimate the elastic energy radiated during field scale rockfalls experiments. This energy is shown to be proportional to the boulder mass, in agreement with the theoretical scaling laws.
Concepts of a higher hierarchical level require more dual situated learning events for conceptual change: A study of air pressure and buoyancy

This article examines the process of students' conceptual changes in respect of air pressure and buoyancy as a result of instructing with the Dual Situated Learning Model. The dual situated learning events of this model were designed according to the students' ontological viewpoint on the science concepts as well as on the nature of these concepts. Results demonstrated that the notion of buoyancy required more dual situated learning events for conceptual change to occur than that for air pressure. Instead of attributing the difficulty involved in conceptual change to the mismatch of ontological category of the concepts, the author proposes that the hierarchical level of the scientific concepts would determine how easy or difficult it is to bring out a conceptual change. Concepts of higher hierarchical level subsume more essential underlying concepts, thus making it more difficult for conceptual changes to occur.
Mobile Healthcare Adoption among Patients in a Developing Country Environment: Exploring the Influence of Age and Gender Differences

This research was motivated by two considerations: (1) Mobile-based technologies have the potential to improve the delivery process of healthcare services, and (2) limited research has been implemented worldwide to focus on patients’ perceptions towards the adoption of mobile healthcare, particularly in developing country environment. This research proposes an extended TAM model as a research framework to better understand the adoption process of mobile healthcare among patients. To serve the objectives of this study, a paper questionnaire was employed to collect data. Previously validated set of measurement items were used to develop the survey instrument. The proposed research model was validated using the PLS-SEM approach (WarpPLS 4.0) with a sample of 366 respondents. The results of the current study have provided adequate statistical support for the extended TAM model. With the exception of cost, all external variables incorporated in this model (including perceived ease of use, perceived usefulness, social influence, trust, and security/privacy) are found influential in shaping the patients’ perceptions towards the adoption of mobile-healthcare technology. In addition, the current study demonstrates that demographic variables of age and gender have considerable moderating influence on the adoption of mobile technologies in healthcare systems in Jordan. The current research model can serve as a blueprint for future expansion of research in this vital field of study. Theoretical contributions, practical implications and future research directions of the study are also addressed.
Making meaning in the presence of sub-threshold psychotic symptoms: An investigation of metacognitive capacity in psychometric schizotypy

Davis, Beshaun J. M.S., Purdue University, May 2016. Making Meaning in the Presence of Sub-threshold Psychotic Symptoms: An Investigation of Metacognitive Capacity in Psychometric Schizotypy. Major Professor: Kyle S. Minor. Schizophrenia is a complex and debilitating mental disorder characterized by a myriad of symptoms that affect multiple aspects of functioning. Metacognition, or the ability to form complex notions of oneself and others, has been evidenced to be deficient in schizophrenia. As such, one burgeoning line of research has sought to elucidate the role of metacognitive capacity on functional outcome across the schizophrenia spectrum. Although there is a substantial body of evidence about the role of metacognition in clinical manifestations of the disorder, few studies to date have explored whether similar deficits can be seen in individuals at risk for schizophrenia. One such at risk group is that of schizotypy wherein individuals demonstrate attenuated trait-like characteristics resembling less severe versions of those seen in psychosis. The aim of the current study was to investigate metacognitive capacities in this group. To that end, 67 participants were recruited (schizotypy= 34, control= 33) and two primary hypotheses were developed: 1) Individuals with schizotypy will exhibit significantly worse metacognition than a non-schizotypy group; and 2) Metacognition will account for additional variance above and beyond social cognition in predicting social functioning. Contrary to our hypotheses, group differences a metacognition and its subdomains were not significant.
A COMPARATIVE GENERAL EQUILIBRIUM ANALYSIS OF THE ESTONIAN LABOUR MARKET

This paper analyses the impact of several tax-benefit reforms on the employment of different skill groups under various wage formation systems. We adapt a general equilibrium model initially developed for the Finnish economy by Alho (2006), combining it with elements from Bovenberg et al. (2000) and Hinnosaar (2004a, b). Policy simulations demonstrate the importance of wage setting for the outcome. In the case of Estonia, market determined wages outperform bargained wages, which could imply an important difference between the EU-15 countries and the new member states in general. Additionally, the labour supply of the low-skilled is most effectively increased by lowering the marginal income tax rate, which combined with strategies increasing the overall employment, could potentially improve the labour market position of those with lower skills.
Formal Employment and Organized Crime: Regression Discontinuity Evidence from Colombia

Safety net programs, common in settings with high informality like Latin America, often use a means test to establish eligibility. We ask: in settings in which organized crime provides lucrative opportunities in the informal market, will discouraging formal employment via benefits eligibility criteria increase criminal enterprise activity? We link administrative socioeconomic microdata with the universe of arrests in Medellín over a decade, and exploit exogenous variation in formal-sector employment around a socioeconomic-score cutoff, below which individuals receive generous benefits if not formally employed. Regression discontinuity estimates confirm this policy reduced formal-sector employment and generated a corresponding increase in arrests associated with organized crime. We do not find increases for crimes unlikely to be associated with organized entities, such as crimes of impulse or opportunity. Effects on arrests are strongest in neighborhoods where organized crime is most prevalent.
Noise in Olive Mills, the Case of Jordan: Actual Measurements & Reduction Proposition

This study is concerned mainly with high noise produced by automated olive mills and its negative impact on human health. This study looks at what caused this problem such as the application of building codes concerning user exposure to noise and protective measures for workers. Long working period exposure to high noise, particularly mill workers, causes health and ear illness. Noise levels are measured in several olive mills in Jordan, recorded data was analyzed and findings indicated that noise level is higher than the maximum noise limits allowed by the Jordanian code. This study concludes design solutions and legislative procedures to improve noise control in olive mills.
Polyglutamine ataxias: From Clinical and Molecular Features to Current Therapeutic Strategies

Spinocerebellar ataxias are a large group of heterogeneous diseases that all involve selective neuronal degeneration and accompanied cerebellar ataxia. These diseases can be further broken down into discrete groups according to their underlying molecular genetic cause. The most common are the polyglutamine ataxias, of which there are six; Spinocerebellar ataxia type 1, 2, 3, 6, 7 and 17. These diseases are characterised by a pathological expanded cytosine–adenine–guanine (CAG) repeat sequence, in the protein coding region of a given gene. Common clinical features include lack of coordination and gait ataxia, speech and swallowing difficulties, as well as impaired hand and motor functions. The polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxias are typically late onset diseases that are progressive in nature and often lead to premature death, for which there is currently no known cure or effective treatment strategy. Although caused by the same molecular mechanism, the causative gene and associated protein differ for each disease. The exact mechanism by which disease pathogenesis is caused remains elusive. However, the variable (CAG)n repeats are codons that may be translated to an expanded glutamine tract, leading to conformational changes in the protein, giving it a toxic gain of function. Several pathogenic pathways have been implicated in polyglutamine spinocerebellar ataxia diseases, such as the hallmark feature of neuronal nuclear inclusions, protein misfolding and aggregation, as well as transcriptional dysregulation. These pathways are attractive avenues for potential therapeutic interventions, as the potential to treat more than one disease exists. Research is ongoing, and several promising therapies are currently underway in an attempt to provide relief for this devastating class of diseases.
On Hardy spaces in complex ellipsoids

A fundamental tool in the study of holomorphic functions of one complex variable is the Cauchy integral formula. Hence when studying holomorphic functions in a domain fl. C C one wants a suitable generalisation of the Cauchy integral. One possible choice is the Szego projection 5', i.e. the L^^) orthogonal projection on the space of (boundary values of) holomorphic functions. However, except for a few special domains, the kernel of S have no explicit expression. Thus to understand the mapping properties of the Szego operator one has to estimate its kernel. For strictly pseudoconvex domains such estimates were obtained by Fefferman, [F].
Variations of the ionospheric TEC using simultaneous measurements from the China Crustal Movement Observation Network

Abstract. Variations of the ionospheric Total Electron Content (TEC) over China are investigated using the TEC data obtained from China Crustal Movement Observation Network in the year 2004. The results show a single-peak occurred in post-noon for the diurnal variation and two peaks exit around two equinox points, respectively, for the seasonal variation. Overall, the values of TEC increased from the north to the south of China. There were small but clear longitudinal differences in both sides of the longitudes with zero magnetic declination. The intensity of the day-to-day variation of TEC was not a monotonic change along the latitudes. It was usually weaker in the middle of China than that in the north or south. Comparing with the maximum F-layer electron density (NmF2) derived from the ionosonde stations in China, it is found that the day-to-day variation of TEC was less significant than that of NmF2, and that the northern crest of the equatorial anomaly identified from the NmF2 data can reach Guangzhou-region. While, the TEC crest was hardly observed in the same location. This is probably caused by the tilt of topside ionosphere near the northern anomaly crest region at lower latitudes.
Heterosis in relation to molecular diversity in pigeonpea [Cajanus cajan (L.) Millsp.]

Pigeonpea is the only grain legume crop where hybrid vigour has been exploited commercially. For sustaining this technology, it is imperative that information about the genetic nature of hybrid vigour is generated and new high-yielding hybrids are bred at regular intervals. In this context, a set of genetic materials, consisting 19 hybrids, their parents and F2 bulks was studied. Only four hybrids expressed significant heterosis over mid-parent; and of these, two were found to be significantly superior to their respective better parent also. The hybrid between ICPA 2209 and ICPL 20108 was the best with respect to heterobeltiosis (55.9%**) and relative heterosis (60.5%**). The studies also showed that both additive as well as non-additive genetic variation played a key role in the manifestation of hybrid vigour. Based on the molecular diversity of the parents, two heterotic groups were formed in A-lines, while three heterotic groups were formed in the Rlines. The results showed that in this material high heterosis was not necessarily related to their molecular diversity.
Teleconnections of soil moisture and rainfall during the 1993 midwest summer flood

Here, we investigate the role of spring soil moisture distribution during the 1993 summer flood in North America. A series of idealized numerical experiments are performed using a regional climate model with different soil moisture conditions. It is concluded that the abnormally dry conditions in the Southwest may be partially responsible for the meridional location of the intense flooding in the Upper Midwest. Furthermore, the abnormally wet soil moisture conditions in the Midwest are likely to be partially responsible for the flood's persistence and large magnitude, but not for its spatial location. These impacts are initiated via processes involving the local energy and water budgets and then propagated to the surrounding regions through the large scale dynamics. Depending on the location, soil moisture anomalies over relatively small regions can significantly alter rainfall both locally and in surrounding regions.
Effects of pregnancy on olfaction

In this review, we aimed to report the effects of pregnancy on olfaction function of the women. Since estrogen and progesterone levels change in specific physiological conditions, pregnancy and postmenopausal period exert an effect on the capability to sense and identify smells. Nasal stuffiness increased during pregnancy. 66.6% of the pregnant women were suffering olfactory dysfunction in the second trimester; while 95.8% in the first and third trimesters. Olfactory function was lessened following birth and throughout the first 6-12 weeks; however, it seemed to improve entirely. In pregnant women, olfactory dysfunction was observed in all trimesters; while it was less in the second trimester and high in the first and third trimesters. The smell abnormalities were almost absent at postpartum period. As olfactory functions improved after delivery of the baby, olfactory changes during pregnancy may be accepted as physiological changes which were observed in many pregnant women.
CEO Succession, Investor Expectations, and Real Earnings Management

Recently, U.S. firms are switching CEO at the fastest pace and these events often cause severe stock market volatility on the uncertainty of the firm’s future performance. This study investigates whether inverse market reaction on CEO succession will induce earnings management of new CEOs in order to protect their reputational and career prospects. From a sample of 2,418 firm-years during the post-SOX period of 2003 to 2012 by applying the regression analysis, we investigate two associations of real earnings management (REM) with CEO successions and with its market reaction respectively. Our results suggest new CEOs are more careful when manipulate earnings through REM activities. However, REM is negatively associated with market expectations on CEO successions, implying new CEOs may utilize REM to reverse the first bad impressions held by investors. We provide a new perspective with regard to market reactions to CEO successions, by examining how and why new CEOs may choose to manipulate earnings.
Exploring the Efficacy of Student Response System in a Sub-Saharan African Country: A Sociocultural Perspective

The student response system (SRS) is marketed as a reliable tool for improving students’ academic attainment. However, findings to the question of whether or not the SRS does improve the learning outcomes of ESL [English as a Second Language] learners in primary education are not well documented in the research literature. Despite the wide use of English as the medium of communication and instruction in many Anglophone countries such as Nigeria, a teacher’s ability to actively engage all students in the classroom is challenging and relatively difficult. Learners’ poor performance in school subjects, as well as national examinations conducted by bodies such as the West African Examination Council (W.A.E.C.) and the National Examination Council (N.E.C.O.) has been attributed to teachers’ reliance on, and use of, the traditional lecture method which deprives students of the necessary interaction, active engagement and dialogic communication that could promote improved learning outcomes. The adoption, as well as the use, of SRS in schools to enhance teaching and learning is yet to be a reality in Nigeria. Researchers argue that, for learners to experience improved academic attainment, they must possess a reasonable degree of communicative competence in the language of instruction. Moreover, language is best learnt when student learners are given the opportunity to interact in the class with a view of exploring the environmental artifacts to interactively use the target language in real life situations.
The Ends of Deliberation: Meta‐consensus and Inter‐subjective Rationality as Ideal Outcomes

Normative deliberative theory has contributed much to an understanding of ideal procedural standards, but there is considerable uncertainty regarding the appropriate nature of desired deliberative outcomes. In this paper we identify two inter-related concepts of meta-consensus and inter-subjective rationality as outcomes that an authentic deliberative process ought to produce. Importantly, these deliberative ends are consistent with ideal deliberative procedure. They are also empirically tractable, where preference transformation can be described in terms of underlying values, and judgments. Methods for assessing deliberative ends are provided and demonstrated using a case study.