Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Investigation of electrolysis process performance by graphite electrodes for de-colorization of phenolphthalein and phenol red from aqueous solution.

This study elucidates the de-colorization of phenolphthalein and phenol red from aqueous solution through electrochemical oxidation technique. An electrochemical reactor had 1 liter volume that used 2 graphite electrodes. Effect of electric power voltage, inter electrode distance and electrolyte concentration was investigated in this system. It was found that the optimum conditions for completely removal of phenolphthalein was at voltage of 48 V, retention time of 9 minutes, distance between the electrode of 5 cm, and the salt concentration of 1.5 g/l. Also completely removal of phenol red was at voltage of 48 V, retention time of 8 minutes, distance between the electrode of 5 cm, and the salt concentration of 2 g/l. Phenol red and phenolphthalein COD removal efficiency was 85 and 80 percent respectively. The results suggest that the electrolysis process is an effective way to removal of phenolphthalein and phenol red color from effluent, because of it can completely remove the color in a short time.
L1 Transfer in the Production of Fricatives and Stops by Pattani-Malay Learners of English in Thailand

This study investigated the English fricative and stop pronunciation errors produced by Pattani-Malay learners of English. The participants, speaking L1 Malay, were recruited from fifth and sixth graders at Thamwittaya Mulniti School, Yala province, Thailand. The major research instruments used to examine the errors were the word list reading task and the sentence reading task. The findings of this research demonstrate that Pattani-Malay learners of English seemed to have difficulty in producing errors in some specific English fricative sounds in particular positions. The medial voiced labiodental fricative /v/ and the medial voiced interdental fricative /ð/ were apparently the most problematic. The errors in pronouncing the voiced labiodental fricative /v/ and the voiced interdental fricative /ð/ in the initial and final positions were ranked second, followed by the final voiced palato-alveolar fricative /? / errors and the final voiceless interdental fricative /? / errors respectively. The results revealed that the learner’s problems in pronouncing English fricatives and stops are mainly attributed to first language transfer.
Effects of Classroom Activities on Affective State—A Comparison of Third and Fifth Graders

We analysed the influence of classroom activities on children’s affective states. Children perform many different activities in the course of an ordinary school day, some of which may trigger changes in their affective state and thus in the availability of their cognitive resources and their degree of motivation. To observe the effects of two such activities (listening to a text and performing a dictation) on affective state, according to grade, we asked 39 third graders and 40 fifth graders to specify their affective state at several points in the day. Results showed that this state varied from one activity to another, and was also dependent on grade level. Third graders differed from fifth graders in the feelings elicited by the activities. The possible implications of these findings for the field of educational psychology and children’s academic performance are discussed.
Glycerin and cashew and castor oils in the diets for bulls in finished in feed lot: ingestive behavior

Este estudo foi realizado para avaliar a substituicao parcial do milho (15% da MS total da dieta) e adicao de oleos de caju e mamona sobre o comportamento ingestivo de Nelore machos, confinados. Trinta bovinos de 24 ± 2 meses de idade e 400 ± 34 kg de peso corporal foram usados. Os animais foram distribuidos em um modelo estatistico inteiramente casualizado (10 animais por tratamento) e estabulados em baias coletivas. As dietas experimentais foram: Controle – CON; Glicerina – GLI e GOF – Glicerina + oleos funcionais. As escalas de observacoes nao influenciaram o tempo de ingestao, ruminacao e ocio, assim como o numero total de mastigacao; entretanto, o numero de periodo e o tempo de periodo de cada atividade diferiram entre os tempos de escalas. Nao houve diferenca para os turnos de observacoes e numero de observacoes por turno para as variaveis analisadas. A inclusao de glicerina na dieta reduziu o tempo de ruminacao e aumentou o tempo de ocio. O numero de periodo tanto de ingestao como de ocio, e o tempo de ocio diferiram entre as dietas. No entanto, o numero de periodo de ruminacao, tempo de ingestao e periodo de ruminacao foi similar entre as dietas. A inclusao de glicerina e oleos funcionais na dieta aumentou o numero de bolos ruminados por dia, numero de mastigacao por dia e tempo total de mastigacao dos bovinos.
The Global Arms Trade Network

We use a unique data set on international arms trade 1950-2007 to characterise patterns in global arms trade. We are ultimately interested in whether arms trade can serve as a useful measure of the strength of international relations. Using tools from social network theory, we are able to identify networks in arms trade and study their evolution over time.
Community structure of spiders in coastal habitats of a Mediterranean delta region (Nestos Delta, NE Greece)

Habitat zonation and ecology of spider assemblages have been poorly studied in Mediterranean ecosystems. A first analysis of spider assemblages in coastal habitats in the east Mediterranean area is presented. The study area is the 250 km² Nestos Delta, located in East Macedonia in the North-East of Greece. Spiders were caught in pitfall traps at 17 sites from the beginning of April to the end of June 2004. Nonparametric estimators were used to determine species richness and alpha diversity. Ordination analysis (redundancy analysis) indicated four clearly separable spider species groups (salt meadows, dunes, mea-dows and floodplain forests), along a soil salinity and moisture gradient. Based on these results we discuss the habitat preferences of these spiders and include the first ecological data on several species.
Bark Beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytidae) Associated with Pinus brutia and Cupressus sempervirens in Northern Cyprus

Observations on biology and damage caused by bark beetles (Coleoptera: Curculionidae: Scolytidae) associated with Pinus brutia and Cupressus sempervirens , two conifers indigenous to northern Cyprus, done between December 2000 and August 2003 are reported. Insect life stages, breeding galleries and/ or damage caused by six species were detected: Orthotomicus erosus (Wollaston), Pityogenes calcaratus (Eichoff), P. pennidens (Reitter), Tomicus destruens (Wollaston) and T. minor (Hartig) on Pinus brutia and Phloeosinus armatus Reitter on Cupressus sempervirens . The most damaging species detected was Tomicus destruens , which was killing pines in groups of up to 30 trees. Other species typically killed single trees, small groups of 2-3 trees or confined their attacks to recently downed trees or storm-damaged material. Data
Socio-economic demography of waste workers on Lagos dumpsites: analysis of gender differences

This paper examines the socioeconomic activities of solid waste workers at five dump sites in Lagos, Nigeria. It draws on doctoral fieldwork which adopts a feminist approach using the mixed methods of participant observation, questionnaire survey and interviews. The survey included questions on age, gender, education, marital status, and years on the job, ethnicity, working hours, income, and family data, such as number of children and other family income earners. The findings revealed the impact of gender on livelihood strategies. Age, marital status, religion, ethnic origin, working hours and income are some of the characteristics which were found to differ by gender among waste workers. In terms of earning capacity, the average mean income of all the workers was greater than the minimum wage as at the time of the study. This paper calls for an inclusive policy design which integrates the informal waste sector, bridges gender differences and also promotes sustainable development.
Founder’s Syndrome and Firm Performance of Small and Medium Scale Enterprises in Nigeria

Introduction: Founder’s syndromes have become a significant issue in SMEs performance. This study examined the impact of founder’s syndrome on firm performance of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria. Method: The study employed simple random sampling technique using Partial Least Square (PLS) to analyze the data obtained from structured questionnaires. The study used total population of 4663 SMEs and derived a sample of 357 questionnaires obtained from National Association of Small Scale Industrialist (NASSI), Kano chapter. The exogenous variable of the study was founder’s syndrome and endogenous variable was firm financial performance. Results: The finding revealed that founder’s syndrome is significantly related to performance of small and medium scale enterprises in Nigeria. Discussion: Findings can be of help to policy makers, management of SMEs and practitioners to consider the effect of Founder’s syndrome on their performance. Moreover, the results indicated the suitability of the PLS in statistical analysis and also contributed to better understanding of SMEs in Kano which hitherto has not been tested. Implications for research and practice and future recommendations are discussed. Keywords: Values founder’s syndrome, Firm performance, SMEs
Arabian oryx reintroduction in Oman: successes and setbacks

Abstract The return of the Arabian oryx Oryx leucoryx to Oman symbolized the success of a new approach to species conservation and established reintroduction as a conservation tool. Ten years after the species had been exterminated in the wild by poaching, the first 10 founder oryx, descendants of the ′World Herd′, were reintroduced to the desert in central Oman in January 1982. A second release followed in 1984 and the population grew slowly through a 3-year drought that was broken by rain in June 1986. Further years of good rainfall and more founders meant that by April 1990 there were over 100 oryx in the wild, independent of supplementary feed and water, and using a range of over 11,000 sq km. At that time a new monitoring programme was implemented that allowed the transition from individual- to population-based monitoring and management. The population continued to grow and by October 1995 numbered approximately 280 in the wild (of which 22 were surviving founders) and used over 16,000 sq km of the Arabian Oryx Sanctuary. However, in February 1996 poaching resumed and oryx were captured for sale as live animals outside the country. Despite the poaching the population continued to increase and by October 1996 was estimated to be just over 400. However, poaching intensified and continued through late 1996 and 1997. By September 1998 it had reduced the wild population to an estimated 138 animals, of which just 28 were females. The wild population was no longer considered viable and action was taken to rescue some of the remaining animals from the wild to form a captive herd.
Evaluation of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission programme at a primary health care centre in South Africa

Aim: To evaluate the effectiveness of the prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) of the HIV programme at Levai Mbatha Community Health Centre (CHC), Evaton, South Africa. Methods: A retrospective analysis of HIV-infected mother–infant pairs was conducted between 1 August 2009 and 31 July 2010. The infants’ HIV status was determined using HIV-specific qualitative DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Demographic characteristics, mode of mother to child transmission (MTCT), choice of infant feeding, mode of delivery and CD4 count were included. Results: Of the 206 mothers, 10 infants had positive DNA PCR results at 6 weeks. The MTCT rate was 4.9%. The mean age of HIV-infected mothers was 28 years (SD 5.7, range 16–42 years). Overall, 74.2% (152) of HIV-positive mothers received dual therapy and 28.8% (53) were on HAART alone. Mothers with CD4 count < 200cells/μl (OR = 0.09 [CI, 0.01–0.75]; p = 0.026) and lack of prophylaxis during labour (OR = 9.50 [CI, 1.59–56.66]; p = 0.013) were identified as significant risk factors associated with MTCT. Conclusions: The PMTCT programme at Levai Mbatha CHC is effective in reducing the MTCT of HIV. Lack of ART prophylaxis and low CD4 count were the significant determinants of MTCT in the study.
Neutral atom imaging of the magnetospheric cusps

[1] The magnetospheric cusps separate closed dayside magnetospheric field lines from open field lines of the magnetotail mantle and lobes. All magnetospheric field lines that map to the magnetopause also pass through the cusp regions. Thus whenever magnetic reconnection occurs at the magnetopause, magnetosheath plasma can enter one or both of the cusp regions and charge exchange with the geocorona. The resulting energetic neutral atoms (ENAs) resulting from this charge exchange process propagate away from the cusps and are observed remotely by the Interstellar Boundary Explorer (IBEX). The asymmetry of the ENA intensities between the northern and southern cusps are strongly dependent upon the Earth's dipole tilt angle and are consistent with in situ cusp observations. These asymmetric fluxes in the cusp regions are suggested to be explained by the regions at the magnetopause where magnetic reconnection is expected.
Ageing Behaviour of Spray Cast Al-Zn-Mg-Cu Alloys

Three 7xxx series aluminium SS70, N707 and 7075 alloys containing copper, zinc and magnesium were spray deposited using rapid solidification. Ageing of the 7075 alloy resulted in a peak hardnesses of 147, 186 and 191 MPa after 2, 24 and 48 h at temperatures of 175oC, 130oC and 120oC respectively. The other two alloys, SS70 and N707, were aged at 120oC, and both reached peak hardness after 24 h; SS70 had a peak hardness of 229 MPa and N707 of 228 MPa. A double ageing treatment at 105oC for 5 h then at 175oC for 1 h significantly increased the peak hardness to 185.6 MPa compared to a single stage of ageing at the higher temperatures in the 7075 alloy. TEM analysis of aged specimens revealed two types of precipitate that contributed to age hardening: h' and h (MgZn2).
THE ANALYSIS OF DIAGNOSTIC ASSESSMENT RESULT IN PISA MATHEMATICAL LITERACY BASED ON STUDENTS SELF-EFFICACY IN RME LEARNING

This research aimed to test RME learning with an effective scientific approach to improving mathematical literacy and self-efficacy, obtaining an overview of the mathematical literacy diagnostic assessment results that has high, medium and low self-efficacy as well as student difficulties in learning RME with a scientific approach. This research using mix method concurrent embedded with the subject of research is students class VIII. The research begins with a mathematical literacy diagnostic assessment and self-efficacy inventory then performed RME learning in experimental class and conventional learning in control class. Quantitative analysis was conducted to test the effectiveness of learning and deepened with the interview as a qualitative analysis. Learning RME with a scientific approach effective is marked by the achievement of classical completeness, the proportion of students' mathematical literacy, self-efficacy and the difference in pre-post students’ mathematical literacy on RME learning better than conventional learning. The results of students’ mathematical literacy diagnostic assessment fit the criteria of self-efficacy students except for medium mathematical literacy that having high self-efficacy. Student difficulties in RME learning with the scientific approach are based on the results of mathematical literacy diagnostic assessment, namely language skills problem, the capacity to understand, create strategies, and create the algorithm.
Aging, Immigration and the Welfare State in Austria: Final Report ; Study on behalf of the OeNB

Abstract: Demographic changes are increasingly putting pressure on the financing of European welfare states. The increase in life expectancy and decrease in fertility lead to an overall population aging. Unchanged retirement behavior would lead to an increasing deficit in the financing of social insurances, including retirement pensions and medical care. As migrants are on average younger, more immigration could help reduce the age dependency ratio and improve the financing of social insurances. Several studies have quantified the effect of migration on the financing of the welfare state and evaluated pension reforms, but none considers endogenous retirement decisions. Yet, households adjust their behavior after policy reforms. This study is the first general equilibrium analysis of the effect of migration and aging on social security financing and of pension reforms with endogenous retirement decisions. It finds a small to moderate positive effect of migration in Austria and that medical care has an increasing role in the deficit of social security financing. The study finds that taking constant retirement age overestimates the benefit of migration. It also evaluates labor market impacts, including endogenous human capital accumulation. ;
Credit Constraints and the Extensive Margins of Exports: First Evidence for German Manufacturing

Abstract This paper uses a unique newly constructed data set to investigate for the first time the link between credit constraints and the extensive margins of exports in Germany, one of the leading actors on the international market for goods. In line with theoretical considerations and comparable results reported for a small number of other countries the author reports a negative impact of credit constraints on both the number of goods exported and the number of export destination countries that is both statistically highly significant and large from an economic point of view.
Perceived Impact of Divorce and Geographical Separation of Couples on Bullying Behaviour of In- School Adolescents in Nigeria

There has been increasing incidence of violent behavior among adolescents the world over and Nigeria in particular. How to contend with violence in Nigerian schools is one of the greatest challenges facing the present administration in Nigeria. It is against this background that the researcher took interest to conduct study on some of its probable predictors. This may help in providing prevention and remediation strategies. This study investigated the perceived impact of divorce and geographical separation of couples on bullying behavior of in-school adolescents. Survey design carried Expo facto was adopted. 368 in-school adolescents who fell under divorce and geographically separated couples constituted the sample. Two research instruments namely: Parents Habitation Questionnaire (PHQ) and Bullying Behavior Questionnaire (BBQ) were used for the collection of data. Binomial test of proportion and average Mode value were used to answer the research questions while t-test was used to test the hypothesis at 0.01 level of significance. Among the major findings is that divorce is strongly perceived to be affecting bullying behavior of in-school adolescents. Therefore, the results of this study would be beneficial to parents, teachers and policy makers in education. Parents and teachers would be enabled through the results of this study to access information on appropriate intervention strategies to adopt for the prevention and management of adolescents' bullying behavior. Attempt to decrease the incidence of peer-bullying through policy and practice would help to create a conducive school learning environment. Among the recommendations is that parents should spend more quality time with their children.
Making sense of censuses and dealing with missing data: trends in pup counts of Cape fur seal Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus for the period 1972–2004

Trends in the population of Cape fur seals Arctocephalus pusillus pusillus were estimated from counts of pups on aerial photographs of colonies taken between 1972 and 2004 to determine trends in the overall population and subpopulations. Incomplete coverage resulted in missing data in some years. Various methods of determining proxy values for missing data were assessed, and it was concluded that different methods were applicable to Namibian and South African colonies. This reflected variation in trends of pup counts between the countries, which was associated with differences in productivity between the southern and northern Benguela ecosystems. In Namibia, temporal changes in pup numbers were non-linear in some years and there was correspondence in fluctuations at most colonies. This appeared to be on account of an effect of periodic, wide-scale prey shortages that reduced birth rates. There was a northward shift in the distribution of seals in the northern Benguela system. In South Africa, pup counts were much less variable between years, probably on account of a relative stability of food supply. A linear approach was therefore suitable for determining proxy values for missing data at South African colonies. Pup counts suggest that there has been little change in the overall population of the Cape fur seals since 1993, when it was estimated at about two million animals.
Identification of overcomplete dictionaries and their application in distributed classification problems

OF THE THESIS Identification of overcomplete dictionaries and their application in distributed classification problems by Zahra Shakeri Thesis Director: Prof. Waheed U. Bajwa The work presented in this thesis aims to study the conditions essential for reliable dictionary recovery based on the maximal response criterion and exploit the application of dictionary learning in classification of distributed data. The first part of this thesis revisits the problem of recovery of an overcomplete dictionary in a local neighborhood from training samples using the so-called maximal response criterion. While it is known in the literature that the maximal response criterion can be used for asymptotic exact recovery of a dictionary in a local neighborhood, those results do not allow for linear (in the ambient dimension) scaling of sparsity levels in signal representations. The first contribution in this work is introducing a new condition for the sparse representation of signals and leveraging a new proof technique to establish that maximal response criterion can in fact handle linear sparsity (modulo a logarithmic factor) of signal representations. While the focus of this work is on asymptotic exact recovery, the same ideas can be used in a straightforward manner to strengthen the original maximal response criterion-based results involving noisy observations and finite number of training samples. The second part of this thesis addresses the problem of collaborative training of nonlinear classifiers using big, distributed training data. The proposed supervised learning
Effects of Demographic Characteristics, Educational Background, and Supporting Factors on ICT Readiness of Technical and Vocational Teachers in Malaysia

The aim of this study was to examine ICT readiness and the effects of demographic characteristics, educational background, and support factors on the ICT readiness of technical and vocational teachers in Malaysia. The questionnaire was administered to 329 technical and vocational teachers who are teaching engineering subjects in Malaysian technical and vocational schools. The questionnaire consisted of items related to ICT knowledge, ICT skills, and attitudes toward ICT. The findings in this study indicated that the teachers’ ICT knowledge was above average, the teachers’ ICT skills were at a moderate level, and their attitudes toward ICT were positive. There was a significant effect of gender on teachers’ ICT readiness in terms of ICT knowledge, ICT skills, and attitudes. No significant effect of teachers’ educational background and support factors on teachers’ overall ICT readiness was discovered.