Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Laboratory Instruction on Science Achievement and Attitude toward Science among Ninth Grade Students across Gender Differences.

This study investigated the use of a hands-on laboratory program as a means of improving attitude toward science and increasing achievement levels in science knowledge among students in a ninth grade physical science course. Using a posttest-only control group design, a curriculum referenced objective final examination was used to measure student achievement in science knowledge, and a post-test Q sort survey was used to measure attitude toward science. A t test compared the treatment and control groups differences in achievement and in attitude toward science. ANCOVA was used to determine the effect of the laboratory treatment on the dependent achievement variable with attitude toward science as the co-variable. The findings showed that: (a) students who had regular laboratory instruction scored significantly higher (p<.05) on the objective examination of achievement in science knowledge than students who had no laboratory experiences; (b) female students who had regular laboratory instruction scored significantly higher (p<.05) on the objective examination of achievement in science knowledge than female students who had no laboratory experiences; (c) female and male students within the treatment group did not differ significantly on the objective examination of achievement in science knowledge. This study recommends that science instruction include a regular laboratory experience as a demonstrated viable and effective instructional method for science teachers. This model of science instruction has been shown to be effective with all students of diverse backgrounds, especially females, who live within large, urban centers. (Contains 30 references.) (Author/YDS) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document.
The influence of entrepreneur orientation and government role toward batik SMES performance in the Pacitan

This research has aim to determine the effect of entrepreneur orientation on performance of existing businesses in SMEs Batik Pacitan District and the government role as mediating variable. Questionnaire was used to collect data and this research called explanatory quantitative research. The sample is the amount of 40 respondents in the Pacitan that is work in the Batik SMEs. To analyse the data used Warp PLS. This research gives correlation evidence between entrepreneur orientation and business performance. The R square score in the amount of 0.64, that means regression model able to explain 64% the effect of government role to the entrepreneur orientation toward business performance and the 36% for the rest will be explained by other varible that exclude this research. Based on that result, the goverment should pay attention to the entrepreneur and give contribution to them for expand SMEs because it will give feedback to the government for example increase per capita income, opening job vacancy, and reduce unemployment.
Relative importance of interlinked mangroves and seagrass beds as feeding habitats for juvenile reef fish on a Caribbean island

Mangroves and seagrass beds are important daytime shelter habitats for juvenile Caribbean reef fish species, but little is known about their relative importance as feeding grounds. In the present study, we tested the degree to which these 2 habitats are used as a feeding ground for 4 nocturnally active fish species on Curacao, Netherlands Antilles. Stable isotope analysis was used as a technique to distinguish between feeding in mangroves and seagrass beds. Individuals of the 4 species which were sheltering during the daytime in permanently inundated fringing mangroves subject to low tidal exchange showed a stable carbon isotope signature indicative of a mixed diet composed of crustaceans from mangroves as well as seagrass beds, with the contribution from mangrove food items lying between 57 and 92%. However, individuals of the same species sheltering on adjacent (<50 m distance) seagrass beds during the daytime showed a carbon signature indicative of almost exclusive feeding on seagrass beds. This indicates that 2 different subpopulations probably exist for the 4 species studied: a population of fishes sheltering in mangroves during the daytime and feeding primarily in the mangroves and secondarily in the seagrass beds at night, and a population of fishes of the same species sheltering in adjacent seagrass beds during the daytime and feeding primarily in seagrass beds at night.
SERUM MAGNESIUM LEVELS DERANGEMENTS IN PATIENTS WITH CHRONIC OBSTRUCTIVE PULMONARY DISEASE (COPD).

Background; chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) leads to significant morbidity and poor quality of life among patients. This study was conducted to evaluate serum magnesium levels among patients with COPD as there is no such study done in Pakistan on this topic. Material and Methods; A total of 137 patients presenting with COPD were registered from Department of medicine, Nishtar Hospital, Multan in this cross-sectional study from June 2016 to June 2017. Once registered in the study, all the relevant baseline investigations were done. Venous blood sample was taken (3 ml) and sent to central laboratory of Nishtar Hospital Multan, for serum Mg levels. Statistical analysis was performed by entering all the data in SPSS version 20. Results; Of these 137 study cases, 84 (61.3%) were male patients while 53 (38.7%) were female patients. Mean age of our study cases was 56.79 ± 4.81 years. Of these 137 study cases, 41 (29.9%) were from rural areas while 96 (70.1%) were from urban areas and 109 (79.6%) were poor. Diabetes was present in 28 (20.4%) and hypertension in 56 (40.9%) our patients. Mean height of our patients was 152.24 ± 10.87 centimeters while mean weight of our study cases was 66.41 ± 7.23 kilograms and mean body mass index was 24.87 ± 4.13 kg/m 2 . Our study results reported 66 (48.2 %) were normal weight, 41 (29.9 %) were overweight and 30 (21.9 %) were obese. Smoking was noted in 53 (38.7 %) of our study cases. Mean duration of illness was 30.81 ± 14.74 months and 112 (81.8%) had disease duration more than 18 months. Mean serum magnesium level of our patients was 1.52 ± 0.54 meq/liter (Range; 1.15 meq/liter to 2.75 meq/liter) and hypomagnesemia was present in 50 (36.5 %) patients. Conclusion; Frequency of hypomagnsemia among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease was very high in our study. Hypomagnesemia was significantly associated with male gender, increasing age, poor socioeconomic status, diabetes, hypertension, smoking and prolonged disease duration. Clinicians treating such patients should monitor their serum magnesium levels on regular basis to improve their prognosis and to decrease disease morbidity. Keywords; Chronic Obstructive pulmonary disease, hypomagnesemia, frequency.
Expression of Molecular Markers in Tumours of Patients with Breast Cancer

The expression of transcription factor NF-κB (p50 and p65), ER, PR, Her2/neu, Ki-67, p53, Bcl-2 and E-cadherin in tumor tissue of 132 patients with breast cancer was investigated by immunohistochemistry. As a result of researches the correlation between Grade and expression of ER, PR, Bcl-2, Ki-67 and p65-subunit of NF-κB was defined. The level of proliferation was correlated with ER, PR, Bcl-2, p53 and Her2/neu expression. Also the correlation between some of investigated markers was found. Thus, high level of NF-κB nuclear expression was associated with Her2/neu hyperexpression and negative status of ER, PR and Bcl-2. These data may indicate poor prognosis and resistance to chemotherapy in breast cancer patients with activated NF-κB, but it requires further research and retrospective analysis of large number of patients.
Occurrence of Harmonia axyridis (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) in field crops

The Multicoloured Asian Ladybird, Harmonia axyridis Pallas (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae) is known to thrive principally in shrubby and arboreal habitats. This study focuses on the occurrence of this exotic species and its seasonal abundance in various field crops. The abundance of adults, larvae and pupae of H. axyridis was evaluated over a three-year period, from 2009 to 2011, in four important agronomical crops (wheat, corn, broad bean and potato) in Belgium. From May to September, 48 1-m² quadrats were visually inspected in each of the fields sampled on several farms every seven days. H. axyridis colonized and reproduced in all of the four crops studied, with the largest numbers recorded in corn and broad bean crops. Larvae and adults of H. axyridis were recorded mainly in corn and to a much less extent in wheat and potato crops. From 2009 to 2011, the mean weekly abundance of H. ayxridis remained constant except in corn crops, where the recorded densities of all the immature stages and adults were higher in 2011 than in 2009. The population dynamics of aphids and H. axyridis are well described by a symmetric logistic function (S-shape) of cumu- lative population size. H. axyridis was not always recorded where aphids were abundant, e.g. aphids were abundant on wheat where no H. axyridis were recorded. H. axyridis start reproducing after the peak in aphid population, suggesting that H. axyridis is able to complete its development by feeding on alternative prey such as larvae and pupae of the same and other species of ladybird and other aphidophagous species. H. axyridis is often considered to be bivoltine but it only completes one generation per year in field crops. The second generation generally develops late in the season in other habitats.
Application of plant based extracts for the control the green pitscale insect (Asterolicanium phoenicis Rao.) with yieldenhancement on date palm

A field study was carried out at Alghaba Agricultural Scheme, Northern State, Sudan, to investigate the effects of the powder of argel (Solenostemma argel Del. Hyne.) and usher (Calotropis procera Ait.) on adult females of the green pit scale insect (Asterolicanium phoenicis Rao.), in addition to their effects on date palm production. The powder of each plants was applied under three doses (100 g. powder/ tree as a soil dressing, 100 g. powder /10 Liter water/ tree for spraying and 100 g. powder as a soil dressing + 100 g. powder /10 Liter water for spraying/ tree). The synthetic insecticide Actara 25 W.G. Thimethoxam (Neonicotinoid) was used as a standard insecticide. All treatments of the study gave higher percentages of mortality of adult females compared to untreated control up to the 8 th week after application. The mortality percentages of adult females ranged between 40 to 66% and 31 to 41% for argel and usher plants based extracts, respectively. According to the results of this study, argel and usher application in soil (100g. powder / tree) should be recommended as an effective treatment to control the green date palm pit scale insect. Also, the results showed that these plant -based extracts have a positive effect on date palm yield.
Research trends in European forest fuel supply chains: a review of the last ten years (2007-2017) - Part One: Harvesting and storage.

Forest fuel is a renewable source with the potential to substitute fossil fuels in several application fields, such as reducing greenhouse gas emissions and supporting rural areas by fostering income and jobs. Contribution margins in fuelwood supply are small and ensuring supply chain efficiency plays a crucial role in delivering high quality products at competitive costs. This paper provides a review of research trends related to this issue in the field of harvesting and storing fuelwood and the impact of recent technology during the last decade. Whereas the basic suitability of supply chains and machines was research’s main priority 20 years ago, the focus shifted to improving the efficiency of machines appropriate for harvesting fuelwood during recent years. Significant increase of productivity could be achieved by introducing fuelwood harvesting heads for processing whole trees to bunches convenient for forwarding (»multi-tree handling«), and adapted working techniques (»boom-corridor thinning«) were developed. Development of compaction measures for bulky raw materials, like logging residues, applied during or before processing and forwarding, culminated in dedicated machines (»bundle-harvester«). Improving the final product quality by appropriate storage practices was emphasised. The phrase »moisture content management« voiced the urgent need for prompt monitoring of fuelwood drying behaviour, which was answered by research in the form of meteorological data based drying models. Among the treatments applied before and during storage, covering has evolved as the most suitable measure. Furthermore, research advocated for greater attention to dry matter losses during storage and the development of basic energy density.
Effects of a semi-intensive raising system on growth performance, carcass traits and meat quality of broiler chicks

Abstract The present study was carried out to compare the growth performance and carcass yield of broiler chickens reared in semi-intensive and conventional systems (Ross 308, n=120). Chickens were raised in a pen on wooden shavings for 21 days. On day 21 of age, chicks were assigned to 2 treatments (indoor treatment and semi-intensive treatment). The experiment was conducted at until 6 weeks of age. Production system has a significant effect on wing (P less than 0.05) and heart weight (P less than 0.01), but has no any effect on final body weight, hot or cold carcass weight, thigh, breast, back and neck, gizzard, liver and abdominal fat weights (P>0.05). The final body weight, hot and cold carcass weight, thigh, wings and heart weights were affected by sex of birds (p less than 0.05) while breast, back, liver, gizzard and abdominal fat were not affected by sex (P>0.05). The nutrient level of carcass parts was not influenced by production system or sex (P>0.05). In our study, breast of birds reared under semi-intensive system had significantly lower ‘L’ (P less than 0.05), higher ‘a’ statistically different (P less than 0.01); while ‘b’ value was significantly (P less than 0.01) higher in skin of semi-intensive reared birds
Trophic dynamics in a relatively pristine subtropical fringing mangrove community

Mangroves provide important habitats for many species throughout the tropics and sub- tropics. But the direct contribution of mangrove productivity to associated food webs through trophic interactions varies depending on site-specific context. We used stable isotopes to examine trophic structure among major habitat types associated with 2 fringing mangrove areas in Shark Bay, West- ern Australia, a nearly pristine ecosystem. The only mangrove species, Avicennia marina, had a dis- tinctive δ 13 C isotopic value, which allowed direct testing of the hypothesis that consumers relied on mangrove-derived production. We found little evidence to support this hypothesis in isotope values of invertebrates or fish from 4 different feeding guilds. Within the species of fish we were able to sam- ple, variation in δ 13 C and δ 15 N stable isotope values occurred over spatial scales of hundreds of meters. Some of this variation is consistent with the spatial mosaics of seagrass, sand flat and man- grove habitats available to fish. In a nearly pristine system, fish captured in mangrove systems show fine scale variability in stable isotope values, but we found no indication that mangrove productivity directly supported local fish populations through the trophic web.
Arms winding around a meddy seen in seismic reflection data close to the Morocco coastline

The North Atlantic temperature and salinity distributions are strongly influenced by the existence of Mediterranean eddies (meddies) which significantly contribute to the transport of the warm and salty Mediterranean Water along different pathways. The most common pathways are observed to be North and West of the Canary Current. However, a 2011 seismic reflection cruise conducted by BGR and Ifremer near the North–Western African margin of Morocco, MIRROR Leg 2, revealed the presence of a meddy south of the Azores front and very close to the Morocco coastline. This unusual location of a strong Mediterranean Water anomaly is confirmed by other data. Moreover, meddies are long‐lived structures whose dynamics and dissipation are not yet completely understood. Recently, theoretical studies have revealed critical‐level baroclinic instabilities of compact, lens‐like vortices. This theory supports the slow growth of azimuthal eigenmodes along critical surfaces which leads to the formation of arms winding around the vortex developing sharp internal fronts. These structures are very thin and spatially intermittent and are identified for the first time in a seismic dataset; this is made possible by the length of seismic sections at high lateral resolution.
Entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and small business performance: the mediating effect of entrepreneurial mindset and openness to experience

Small business performance is a key concern around the globe as small businesses play a vital role in fostering economic growth and development. Despite the increasing research on enhancing small business performance, most small businesses still fail within the first three years of operations. As such, unearthing the underlying aspects on how several factors affect small business performance continues to be an important research agenda. This study focuses on examining the mediating effect of entrepreneurial mindset and openness to experience on the relationship between entrepreneurial self-efficacy (ESE) and small business performance. The empirical findings indicate that both entrepreneurial mindset and openness to experience fully mediate the ESE-performance relationship. These findings act as an enrichment of our current understanding of the ESE-performance relationship. The study culminates by providing both theoretical and practical implications for entrepreneurship theory and practice.
Teaching Social Work Values and Ethics Online

During the academic year 2004-2005, SWK 4500 Social Work Values and Ethics was taught both in a face-to-face format and on Blackboard. In the Blackboard class, n = 23; while in the face-to-face class, n = 16. The professor, content and syllabi for both courses were identical. Most importantly, both classes took the identical final exam on Blackboard. An unmatched t-test indicated that there was a significant difference between exam scores [t = 2.42; df =18; p < . 026]. An item analysis of the exam uncovered that the Blackboard students were troubled with the test items especially addressing the application of abstract ethical concepts to practice situations. Separate factor analyses for the two groups found that the performance of face-to-face students differed primarily on the understanding of ethical theory while Blackboard students were widely divided by their knowledge for ethical theory as well as applying ethics to practice situations. Thus, the factor analysis supported the t-test results. The final was the only test given and there were no differences for any other class assignments.
Stock Market Returns, Volatility and Volatility Persistence: Evidence from Emerging Markets

This paper examines the relationship between stock market returns and volatility and extends to measure the degree of persistence in volatility over the period from 1990 through 2002 for selected emerging markets. Using GARCH in mean, Exponential GARCH and by incorporating sudden change in volatility effect in the GARCH/E-GARCH models, the relationship between stock returns and variance was tested. Empirical evidence suggests that contemporaneous returns and volatilities for the majority of the markets are significantly and positively correlated. The volatility proves to be persistent across countries. To account for sudden change in variance, the Iterative Cumulative Sums of Squares (ICSS) are used to identify the points of shifts in volatility. ICSS results are significant, come in accordance with the identified points and confirm that the events and news cause shifts in volatility of stock returns. JEL Specification: G15, G14.
Identification of viral and phytoplasmal agents responsible for diseases affecting plants of Thalictrum L. in Lithuania

Thalictrum plants exhibiting symptoms characteristic of viral and phytoplasmal diseases were collected at botanical gardens and different floriculture farms in Lithuania. Viral disease was expressed by leaf curling, pinpoint light green spotting and malformation. The causal agent of viral disease, Tomato ringspot nepovirus was isolated and identified by the methods of test-plants and transmission electron microscopy. Phytoplasmal symptoms included general stunting of plants, proliferation and flower distortion. Amplification of phytoplasmal 16SrRNA gene sequence in polymerase chain reactions (PCRs) containing phytoplasma universal primer pairs P1/P7, R16F2n/R16R2 and template DNA extracted from diseased plants, confirmed that the plants were infected by phytoplasma. The 1,2 kbp rDNA product was subjected to single enzyme digestions with 9 restriction endonucleases. RFLP analysis revealed that the Thalictrum plants were infected by a phytoplasma belonging to group 16SrI (aster yellows phytoplasma group), subgroup L. This work was the first investigation of viral and phytoplasmal diseases of Thalictrum plants and identification of their causal agents. Thalictrum is the new host-plant of Tomato ringspot nepovirus (ToRSV) and subgroup 16Sr I–L of phytoplasmas.
Seven Barriers to Customer Equity Management

The article reviews the evolution from brand-centered marketing to customer-centered marketing and the beginnings of a focus on viewing the customer as an asset. It illustrates the practice by describing the use of a loyalty program to identify and respond to high-potential customers in the market for business-class hotels. Next, it considers seven challenges that impede wider adoption of customer equity management and concludes with a schematic model of customer-centered marketing management.
Individual reproductive success and clutch-size of a population of the semi-aquatic snake Natrix tessellata from central Italy : are smaller males and larger females advantaged ?

Le succes de la formation des couples et de la reproduction de Natrix tessellata, serpent semi-aquatique, a ete etudie dans le centre de l'Italie. Le succes des appariements a ete etabli en suivant par radiopistage 10 mâles et 12 femelles durant la periode d'accouplement et en comptant combien chaque individu avait de partenaires sexuels en fonction de sa taille corporelle (longueur museauanus). Les femelles etaient significativement plus grandes que les mâles. Deux patrons opposes de succes individuel ont ete mis en evidence dans la population : un succes d'appariement plus grand pour les plus petits mâles et pour les plus grandes femelles. De fait, chez les mâles, il y avait une relation significative entre la taille du mâle et le nombre de femelles avec lesquelles il s'accouplait tandis que les plus grandes femelles etaient courtisees et s'accouplaient avec un plus grand nombre de mâles. La taille maternelle etait positivement liee au nombre d'œufs pondus.
Residential Mobility and Youth Well-Being: Research, Policy, and Practice Issues

Despite an extensive body of sociological work suggesting that residential mobility reduces child well-being, the subject of relocation has been largely overlooked in social workand social welfare literature. Recent social policies threaten to increase the incidence of moving among low-income families in the United States. This paper reviews theoretical and empirical literature in this area and finds evidence that residential mobility reduces children's academic functioning, and may negatively affect other aspects of child well-being. These effects are especially strong for poor children from single parent families, making this issue of particular relevance for social work. The authors suggest implications for future research, propose policies to increase residential stability, and provide directions for social work practice with mobile children