Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Trends in Intense Precipitation in the Climate Record

Observed changes in intense precipitation (e.g., the frequency of very heavy precipitation or the upper 0.3% of daily precipitation events) have been analyzed for over half of the land area of the globe. These changes have been linked to changes in intense precipitation for three transient climate model simulations, all with greenhouse gas concentrations increasing during the twentieth and twenty-first centuries and doubling in the later part of the twenty-first century. It was found that both the empirical evidence from the period of instrumental observations and model projections of a greenhouse-enriched atmosphere indicate an increasing probability of intense precipitation events for many extratropical regions including the United States. Although there can be ambiguity as to the impact of more frequent heavy precipitation events, the thresholds of the definitions of these events were raised here, such that they are likely to be disruptive. Unfortunately, reliable assertions of very heavy and extreme precipitation changes are possible only for regions with dense networks due to the small radius of correlation for many intense precipitation events.
Student-led development and evaluation of a community pharmacy-based cardiovascular risk assessment

Robert Gordon University’s key strength is employability (reflecting close liaison with the professions) and courses must therefore offer opportunities for work-based learning, which can be challenging in the current financial climate. This is a particular problem for Pharmacy: opportunities for placement are extremely limited and tend to be focused on the later years of the course. This ‘late and limited’ exposure to practice is thought to be responsible for significant failures in the ability of students and newly-qualified pharmacists to take their knowledge of science and medicines and apply it in the context of solving clinical problems. Furthermore, a lack of engagement with practice makes it difficult for the theoretical learning (especially the underpinning science) to be effectively contextualised, leading to an artificial segregation of the science and practice sections of the course. While pharmacists must be technically capable, success depends on a broader range of non-technical skills, including communication and empathy as well the ability to deal with the unexpected. Simulation is used as a partial alternative to the practice environment, but there are often vast differences between these highly-managed scenarios and the real situations encountered in practice. Since there is no ‘ideal’ setting for a pharmacist, students should be educated and trained with an understanding, at the forefront of their minds, of human factors - something which challenges existing course design. Teaching and learning activities must allow students to explore the differences between the ‘ideal’ and ‘real’ clinical environments and to recognise when deviations from the ideal are likely to affect patient safety. This paper discusses a piece of action research by MPharm undergraduate students, exploring ways in which such activities may be developed. These new activities are based upon an existing cardiovascular risk assessment, currently used to deliver scientific theory and develop technical skills, and involving the identification of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors and the use of these to calculate the ten-year risk of cardiovascular disease. The approach involved the building of two simulated scenarios, one representing an ‘ideal’ risk assessment and the other reflecting adverse outcomes arising as a result of practice-based problems. Developing the simulations required an in-depth analysis of factors contributing to outcomes, and a combination of interviews with healthcare professionals and peer-peer focus groups were used to explore this. This paper discusses the challenges and learning points arising from this work, as well as an evaluation of the ways in which the work was used to enhance teaching in the academic session 2013-14.
Acute Effects of PNF Stretching on Maximum Voluntary Contraction in Men

Abstract This study aimed to investigate the influence of PNF stretching on the peak torque (PT) isokinetic leg extension PT at 60° and 180°s-1 in the stretched and unstretched limbs. Twelve college male athletes who were enrolled in a fitness class volunteered to participate in the study. Pre and post PNF stretching exercises isokinetic PT for extension and flexion of the dominant and non-dominant limbs were measured. There was a decrease in the PT for both extension and flexion between the pre- and post-stretching conditions. The reductions in PT experienced in the present study tentatively support the hypothesis that stretching may change the length-tension association.
Repetitive strain injury (rsi) among computer users: a case study In telecommunication company

Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI) is the most common occupational injury faced by computer users. Computer users faced higher possibility of getting RSI due to their prolonged working time and static posture. The three main objectives of this study are, first: to identify the prevalence of RSI among computer users; second, to investigate and determine the RSI risk factors; and third to analyze the association between RSI risk factors and the prevalence of RSI among computer users at a Telecommunication Company X. A total of 100 respondents were selected based on their daily exposure to computer usage of more than 4 hours. Nordic modified questionnaire was used to gather respondents’ sociodemographic data, job’s information, physical risk exposure, physical symptoms and their awareness level towards RSI. Body Parts Symptoms Survey (BPSS) form were also used to identify the body parts exposed to the RSI risk among computer users. The data was analysed using Statistic Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22. Study results showed that the 41% of computer users in Telecommunication Company X felt tired at the upper-back near the neck and 38% at the shoulder region. In conclusion, the prevalence of RSI among computer users is high at upper back near the neck and at the shoulder region. There is a significant association between risk factors of RSI and the prevalence of RSI among the computer users at Telecommunication Company X.
Florence “ Sustainability of Well-Being International Forum ” . 2015 : Food for Sustainability and not just food , FlorenceSWIF 2015 Closing the Attitude-Behaviour Gap : The case of Solidarity Purchase Groups

Starting from the results of a research project on Solidarity Purchase Groups (Gruppi di Acquisto Solidale GAS) in Italy, the paper discusses how, within consumer groups, for the very reason of their horizontal organisation which encourages learning amongst peers, the conditions are created to overcome the so-called ‘attitude-behaviour gap’ in ethical consumption. The analysis shows how after joining a solidarity consumer group and experimenting this kind of shared economic practice, people not only change their consumption but they also feel more collaborative and trustful towards others, more interested in politics and have an increased sense of social effectiveness. © 2015 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. Peer-review under responsibility of Fondazione Simone Cesaretti.
The Role of Critical Thinking in Science Education

This review aims to respond various questions regarding the role of Critical Thinking in Science Education from aspects concerning the importance or relevance of critical thinking in science education, the situation in the classroom and curriculum, and the conception of critical thinking and fostering in science education. This review is specially addressed to educational contexts (teachers) where Critical thinking has had a very few presence in Science Education, particularly in the classroom. The findings and discussion of this review explain the relevance and strong relationship between Critical thinking and science education. Nevertheless, problems were found when implementing critical thinking in the science classroom. One of these problems related to the lack of clarity for applying Critical thinking classroom techniques in science subjects. Though, its nominal (not practical) presence and recognition in science curricula, as well as in curricula in general, is not a problem. There are practical Critical thinking-related strategies that can be applied in science classrooms to improve science education results and critical thinking dispositions on students, one of these is ‘questioning’, regarded among the most powerful tools. Keywords : Critical Thinking, Questioning, Critical questioning, Science, Science Education.
Methods for estimating the accuracy of per-pixel, per-parcel and expert visual classification of high resolution optical satellite imagery

We describe methods for collecting appropriate quantities and types of reference data for validating classifications of high resolution satellite data. We use the example of collecting reference data to test classifications of 1m spatial resolution IKONOS data for an open woodland savanna in Central America. Reference data was collected in the field by GPS survey to ensure the purity and representativeness of the ground areas and a precise matching between the ground data and the corresponding image pixels. The image is then classified by three methods: by automatic per-pixel maximum-likelihood (ML), by automatic per- parcel nearest neighbour and by a visual classification by experienced image interpreters. We find that the per-parcel classifier achieves higher accuracy than the per-pixel ML classifier for all the required land cover classes. The overall accuracy for the per-parcel classifier is 82% (producer accuracy range: 47-95%, k=0.73) compared to 57% (range: 36-70%, k=0.5) for ML. The classification by expert visual interpretation yields an overall accuracy of 96% (range: 89-100%, k=0.95). The per-parcel classification exceeded the minimum accuracy requirement of 70% for two of five required land cover classes and approached the target of 85% suggested for the overall accuracy required in natural resource mapping. We conclude that a per-parcel classifier can achieve an acceptable standard of accuracy for some of the savanna land cover classes, but that further work is needed to improve the classification of smaller groups trees and sparse woodlands. Since visual classification is still commonly used in developing countries for classifying imagery and in some cases is the desired output that an automated classifier seeks to reproduce, we developed a means to measure the stability or reliability of a visual classification. We estimate the average accuracy of a series of manual, visual classifications of the same image by different interpreters, by comparing each to the agreed 'master' classification by an expert interpreter. The result shows which map features are frequently classified correctly (or not) by different interpreters and according to their level of expertise. This information allows further training to focus on these classes.
Clustering Shoppers by Mall Experience for Emerging Indian City

India is undergoing drastic transformation in its organised retail sector. Followed by Tier 1 cities, Tier 2 cities are also witnessing an upsurge in retail malls, owing to the burgeoning middle class, growing income levels and a more accommodative attitude towards modern shopping formats. However, due to increased competition and relatively lower population in these cities, the malls are ending up eating each other's footfalls. Therefore, it is highly imperative for mall managers to ascertain features that would differentiate them from their competitors. The objective of this study is to segment and profile shoppers based on their orientation towards different factors associated with an organised retail using hierarchical and non-hierarchical clustering techniques. Two segments were identified through the analysis. Each segment was profiled in terms of mall attractiveness characteristics, demographics and behavioural factors. Results of both hierarchical and k-means cluster analysis suggests two prominent groups among shoppers, namely relatively higher aged service class people and young students. Constituents of these segments also reveal distinct patterns. The younger segment pays more importance to variables like mall events and promotional schemes being organised by malls and/ or retailers. There is less impact of these variables on aged service class segment. This study is a useful contribution to the existing body of knowledge on management of shopping malls in India and is unique in terms of its focus on consumers' in tier two Indian cities like Raipur. This enables retail managers to prepare suitable retailing policies and strategies to cater to each segment. Sanjeev Prashar et al. 54 Findings of this research may be used, as guidelines for the development of strategic framework by retail mall managers in catering to their target segments.
Work time demands, work time control and supervisor support in the Australian construction industry

Purpose – This research aims to explore the relationship between work time demands, work time control and supervisor support in the Australian construction industry.Design/methodology/approach – A survey was undertaken with waged and salaried construction workers in two construction organizations (n=261). Findings – Work time demands were positively correlated with time‐ and strain‐based work interference with family life (WIF) but inversely correlated with time‐ and strain‐based family interference with work (FIW). Work‐family enrichment was inversely correlated with work time demands and positively correlated with both work time control and social support from one's supervisor. Respondents with high work time demands and low work time control (or low supervisor support) reported the highest levels of time‐ and strain‐based WIF. The lowest levels of WIF were reported by respondents in low work time demands and high work time control (or high supervisor support) jobs classifications. However, jobs high in .
Intention of Sharing Travel Experiences on Social Media: Motivations and the Moderating Effect of Face Orientation

As the application of social media in tourism growing rapidly, shared contents on social media are recognized as an important information resource for tourists and tourism suppliers. This study investigates the roles of intrinsic and extrinsic motivations in order to explain travel experience sharing behaviour on social media. Moreover, this study examines the moderating effect of face orientation on the relationship between the sharing motivation and the sharing intention under Chinese cultural context. Our data were collected through an online survey and the research model was tested with 353 respondents who were social media users. The results indicate that PFO is observed to negatively moderate the relationship between intrinsic as well as extrinsic motivations and sharing intention respectively, while the moderating effect of AFO is significant on neither. Our findings extend prior literatures, and offer a theoretic guidance to tourism industry on how to improve business through social media.
Exogenous nitric oxide alleviates iron-deficiency chlorosis in peanut growing on calcareous soil

Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide (NO) donor, was added into controlled release fertilizer (CRF) or sprayed on leaves to supply NO on iron deficiency stress in peanut (Arachis hypogaea Linn) plants growing on calcareous soils. Iron deficiency reduced plant growth and chlorophyll content. NO improved plant growth and alleviated leaf interveinal chlorosis, and increased the activity of root FeIII reductase and the concentration of available iron in cultured soil, suggesting that NO action could be related to iron availability to the plant. The actual photochemical efficiency (ΦPSII) and photochemical maximum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm) were increased, and minimum fluorescence yield (Fo) was decreased under NO-treated condition, which supported the protective effect of NO on photosystem II (PSII) in peanut leaves. NO increased the activities of antioxidant enzymes, and reduced malondialdehyde (MDA) accumulation. These results suggest that exogenous NO could alleviate iron deficiency induced chlorosis of peanut plants growing on calcareous soil
PERFORMANCE AND HEAMATOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF BROILER CHICKS GIVEN DIFFERENT LEVELS OF DRIED LEMON GRASS (CYMBOPOGON CITRATUS) AND GARLIC (ALLIUM SATIVUM) EXTRACT

A 49 day feeding trial was carried out to determine the effect of lemon grass garlic extracts (CLGE) on the performance and hematological parameters of broiler chickens. Two hundred and fifty (250), day old 308 broiler chicks of mixed sex was purchased and were randomly assigned to five treatment, each treatment was replicated 5 times consisting of 10 birds each in a completely randomized design. Birds in treatment 1 was given 0.025g/liter of Neomycin, Treatment 2, 3, 4 and 5 were given aqueous lemon grass-garlic extracts at 3.0ml, 6.0ml, 9.0ml and 12.0ml/liter respectively. Clean feed and water offered ad libitum. Results showed that CLGE had significant (p<0.05) effect on final body weight, body weight gain, daily weight gain and feed conversion ratio of the birds. Birds in T5 recorded significantly (p<0.05) higher body weight gain and superior feed conversion ratio than the control given 0.025 g/liter Neomycin. There was also a significant (p<0.05) difference in the mortality recorded, T1 had the highest mortality of 12%, none was recorded in T2, T3, T4 and T5. Data on hematological indices (PCV, Hb, RBC, MCV, MCH, MCHC and WBC) revealed that CLGE significantly (p<0.05) influenced all the parameters assessed. It was concluded that CLGE can be included up to 12ml/liters in broiler chicken since it resulted in improved weight, feed conversion ratio without any deleterious effect on the health and performance of the animal.
Effect of ethyl acetate crude extract of Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae IBRL OS-64 against oral cavity bacteria with emphasis on Streptococcus mutans

Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus agalactiae have been reported in human oral diseases including caries and periodontitis. Thus, the present study was performed to investigate the effect of ethyl acetate crude extract of Lasiodiplodia pseudotheobromae IBRL OS-64, an endophytic fungus isolated from Ocimum sanctum leaf against S. mutans and S. agalactiae. Disk diffusion and broth microdilution assays were used to determine the antimicrobial activities with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) values. Meanwhile, the microscopic analysis was used to study the structural degeneration of bacterial cells. The fungal crude extracts demonstrated favorable antibacterial activity toward both test bacteria and produced an inhibition zone ranging from 16.0 to 21.2 mm. The MIC and MBC values of the fungal crude extract toward S. mutans and S. agalactiae were determined and the results showed that the MIC and MBC values were in the range of 125–500 μg/ml and 125–1,000 μg/ml, respectively. The time-kill study suggested that the ethyl acetate crude extract possessed bactericidal effect with concentration and time-dependent. Structural degeneration studies revealed the major abnormalities occurred to S. mutans cells after treated with the fungal crude extract where completed alterations of their morphology with the formation of cavities and collapsed cells beyond repair occurred. Therefore, the current study suggested the ethyl acetate crude extract of L. pseudotheobromae IBRL OS-64 could be an effective antibacterial agent to treat oral cavity bacteria.
Tilted Bianchi Type VI0 Cosmological Model in Saez and Ballester Scalar Tensor Theory of Gravitation

Tilted Bianchi type VI0 cosmological model is investigated in a new scalar tensor theory of gravitation pro-posed by Saez and Ballester (Physics Letters A 113:467, 1986). Exact solutions to the field equations are derived when the metric potentials are functions of cosmic time only. Some physical and geometrical proper-ties of the solutions are also discussed.
Net Stable Funding Ratio and Commercial Banks Profitability

The impact of the new liquidity framework proposed under Basel III, namely the net stable funding ratio (NSFR) on commercial banks profitability is analysed in this study. Using panel data of eight Malaysian commercial banks for the period 2005-2011, the results show that this new liquidity ratio is an important factor in affecting the sample banks’ profitability. The ability of banks in managing the stability of their funding sources as well as liquidity of its assets is an advantage to them and is translated into higher profitability. In addition, this study also confirms finding of previous studies that relates bank-specific determinants and profitability.
Feeding high-moisture corn grain silage to broilers fed alternative diets and maintained at different environmental temperatures

The effects of the dietary substitution of dry corn by high-moisture corn grain silage (HMCGS) were evaluated on the performance, nutrient digestibility and serum biochemical parameters of broilers reared in an alternative production system and submitted to different environmental temperatures. A total of 288 one-day-old male Cobb chicks were distributed according to a randomized block design in a 3x4 factorial arrangement: three environmental temperatures (hot, thermoneutral or cold) and four levels of HMCGS in substitution of dry corn (0%, 20%, 40% or 60%). The acid analysis showed that the evaluated HMCGS contained average percentage values of ethanol, lactic acid, and acetic acid (expressed in 100% of dry matter) of 0.7690, 2.7320 and 0.0249%, respectively. Propionic and butyric acids were not detected. Dry corn and HMCGS presented pH values of 5.8 and 3.3, respectively. The inclusion of HMCGS reduced dietary pH, as shown by the values of 5.7, 5.4, 5.1 and 4.8 recorded for the diets containing 0%, 20%, 40% and 60% of HMCGS, respectively. There was no significant interaction between diets and environmental temperature. HMCGS may replace up to 40% dry corn in broiler diets when performance, triglyceride levels, and HDL-cholesterol ratio is considered, and up to 60% when nutrient digestibility is evaluated. High environmental temperature impairs broiler performance, nutrient digestibility, and serum biochemistry, demonstrating the influence of environmental temperature on broiler metabolism and performance.