Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Social Preferences of Translocated Giraffes (Giraffa Camelopardalis Giraffa) in Senegal: Evidence for Friendship Among Females?

Abstract Giraffe social behaviour and relationships are currently in the period of scientific renaissance, changing the former ideas of nonexisting social bonds into understanding of complex social structures of giraffe herds. Different giraffe subspecies have been studied in the wild and only one was subject of detailed study in captivity. Our study focused on the neglected Cape giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis giraffa). We investigated the social preferences of 28 introduced giraffes in semi-captivity in Bandia reserve, Senegal. Our aim was to assess the group size of Cape giraffes outside their native range and describe their social relationships. Mean group size in Bandia was 7.22 ± 4.06 (range 2-17). The dyads were classified according to strength of relationship (weak, medium, strong) using the association index. We reported weak and medium relationships in all types of dyads except female-juvenile. The strongest bond was found in mother-calf dyads. Three of 21 possible female dyads also demonstrated strong relationships. Those three dyads included six of seven adult females, which we labelled as friends. Females associated more frequently with calves of their friends then with calves of non-friend females. The strength of the relationship between calves depended on the strength of relationship between their mothers. We concluded that Cape giraffes in new environment have shown similar group size and nonrandom preference for conspecifics as shown in wild and captive studies. The research was supported by CIGA 20135010, CIGA 2134217, IGA FTZ 20135123, ESF/MŠMT CZ.1. 07/2.3. 00/30.0040.
Structural Change in West Africa: A Tale of Gain and Loss

Economic growth in Benin, Burkina Faso, and Cote d'Ivoire occurred in tandem with a rapid exodus of labor out of agriculture. This paper investigates the contribution (or lack thereof) of within- and between-sector productivity changes to overall productivity growth and output per capita growth since 2000. Productivity growth was relatively significant in Burkina Faso, modest in Benin, and in the negative territory in Cote d'Ivoire. The results show that static structural change drove growth in Burkina Faso and Benin, although it was partly offset by a dynamic loss in Benin. However, structural change made a smaller contribution in Cote d'Ivoire. Within-sector productivity loss generally held back growth. The pattern of structural change observed in Benin, Burkina Faso, and Cote d'Ivoire starkly contrasts with that of Asia, where within-sector productivity gains were preponderant and dynamic structural change was the norm rather than the exception. The bulk of Benin, Burkina Faso, and Cote d'Ivoire's displaced agricultural workers moved into still-low productivity service activities, as is typical of the African sample.
Discontent and Activism Among Mothers Who Blog While Raising Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders

The purpose of this ongoing study is to identify and classify expectations, feelings, and perceptions of mothers who blogged about their experience as primary caregivers of children with autism spectrum disorders (asds). What emerged is a subset of data that included expressions of discontent directed at educational, health and social institutions. These challenges emerged as expressions of discontent, reactions from structures of domination in their attempt to sustain the imbalance, and reactions of activism among the mothers. Discontent emerged in mothers when school staff assigned them to restricted social roles which stigmatized them as disease causing agents. The mothers interpretation of professional reactions to maternal resistance varied from welcoming input to enforcing a top-down power imbalance weighted toward professionals and marked with mother blame. These mothers shaped social reform through their activism designed to address their collective discontent in order to bring about transformations that match mothers ideal systems. The mothering experiences of the women whose blogs were analyzed for this study provide an insight into the nature of the “other world” they seek and into their attempts to bring about that world on behalf of their child.
Weed flora dynamics and growth response of green gram (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek) under varied agri-horti system and weed management practices

Horizontal expansion of pulse production can be achieved by introduction of short duration pulse crop like, green gram (Vigna radiata (L.) R. Wilczek) under agri-horti system. Response of green gram under different agri-horti system and weed management practices is lacking. Therefore, an agronomic trial was conducted during monsoon season of 2011 at Agricultural Research Farm, Rajeev Gandhi South Campus, Banaras Hindu University, Barkachha, Mirzapur, Uttar Pradesh, in split plot design, consisting of three agri-horti systems [guava, custard apple and open field] in main plots and six weed management practices [pendimethalin 1000 g/ha (PE), imazethapyr 125 and 200 g/ha (PoE), 1-HW (20 DAS), 2-HW (15 and 30 DAS) and weedy check] were assigned to sub plots and replicated thrice. Green gram variety â€˜Samratâ€™ was sown as per standard agronomic package of practices on August 5, 2011 in open field as well as within the alleys of, 5-year old, guava and custard apple agri-horti system. Agri-horti systems, did not significantly (P<0.05) affect the growth, yield attributes, yield and nutrient content in green gram. The weed management practices significantly affected the CGR, RGR and yield of green gram. Application of imazethapyr 200 g/ha recorded 79.08% reduction in weed biomass and 11.38% lower seed yield as compared to weedy check and 2-HW (15 and 30 DAS), respectively. 2-hand weeding effectively reduced weed biomass (88.07%) and showed highest yield (888.79 kg/ha), and CGR (13.61 g/day) followed by imazethapyr 200g/ha yield (787.66 kg/ha) and CGR (13.14 g/day).
Towards a static pushover approximation of peak floor accelerations

The potential basis of a simplified methodology for estimating the inelastic peak floor acceleration demand (PFA) of multi-story buildings subjected to seismic excitation is explored. Inelastic single-degree-offreedom (SDOF) oscillators are used to find a relation between the lateral strength and the inelastic acceleration demand. Effects of positive as well as negative post yielding stiffness and different damping types are assessed. Using regression analysis, a simplified approach is proposed to estimate inelastic acceleration demands for use within a probabilistic framework. Based on a fundamental mode approximation an existing approach for predicting elastic PFA demands is extended to inelastic multi-story structures. Pros and cons of this methodology are discussed, and further developments are recommended.
L G ] 4 J un 2 01 9 Exact Combinatorial Optimization with Graph Convolutional Neural Networks

Combinatorial optimization problems are typically tackled by the branch-andbound paradigm. We propose a new graph convolutional neural network model for learning branch-and-bound variable selection policies, which leverages the natural variable-constraint bipartite graph representation of mixed-integer linear programs. We train our model via imitation learning from the strong branching expert rule, and demonstrate on a series of hard problems that our approach produces policies that improve upon state-of-the-art machine-learning methods for branching and generalize to instances significantly larger than seen during training. Moreover, we improve for the first time over expert-designed branching rules implemented in a state-of-the-art solver on large problems. Code for reproducing all the experiments can be found at https://github.com/ds4dm/learn2branch.
Best Practices in School-Based Problem-Solving Consultation : Applications in Prevention and Intervention Systems

Consultation continues to be a major approach for providing mental health and educational services to children and adolescents, and behavioral consultation has been identified as a practice guideline for problem solving and the delivery of evidence-based interventions (Frank & Kratochwill, in press; White & Kratochwill, 2008). Traditionally, consultation was recognized as the most preferred and satisfying function of school psychologists (Gutkin & Curtis, 1999; Sheridan & Walker, 1999; Sheridan, Welch, & Orme, 1996), and it has become a major part of response to intervention (RTI; Kratochwill, Clements, & Kalymon, 2007). Consultation’s linkage to RTI is particularly important in that consultation can play a major role in the problem-solving process needed for the provision of prevention services. The purpose of this chapter is to review some of the fundamental features of school psychologists’ problem-solving consultation and its relationship to prevention and intervention and to multitiered services in particular. The content and practice recommendations in this chapter fall under the Consultation and Collaboration domain in the National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) Model for Comprehensive and Integrated School Psychological Services (NASP, 2010). The consultation and collaboration practices related to the model that are addressed in the chapter include engaging in a consultative problem-solving process; addressing needs at the individual, family, and systems levels; and applying psychological and educational principles.
The information content of the cash flow statement : an empirical investigation

The general objective of the present study is to investigate and assess the information content of cash flow disclosures as required by the AASB 1026 "Statement of Cash Flows". The information content is measured in terms of the degree of the relationship between cash flow variables and security returns. In examining the information content of cash flows, two objectives are then developed: to investigate the ability of the cash flow component in predicting future cash flows, and to compare the ability of cash flows and earnings in predicting future cash flows.
Evaluation of agronomic and sensory characteristics of the popcorn kernel

This research encompassed a total of 12 popcorn hybrids planted according to the RCBD in three replicates in Zemun Polje in 2016. The following traits were analyzed: grain yield (t/ha), kernel size, 1000 kernel weight, popping volume, percentage of unpopped kernels, and sensory characteristics (the appearance, taste, smell, tenderness, crispness, adhesiveness to the teeth, presence of pericarp and overall taste acceptability of popcorns). The analysis of variance showed significant differences between the popcorn hybrids with regard to the traits analyzed. The grain yield ranged from 4.78 t/ha (ZP 644/1k) to 7.38 t/ha (ZP 557/1k). The lowest popping volume was noticed in ZP 501k (28 cm/g), whereas the highest popping volume was found in the lower-yielding hybrid ZP 544/1k (40.17 cm/g). The percentage of unpopped kernels was very low and it ranged from 0.66% to 4.57%. The analysis of sensory characteristics of popcorns also showed differences between 12 popcorn hybrids. Key word: popcorn hybrids, popping volume, grain yield, sensory characteristics.
Critical Review: Among preschool and school-aged students, do mindfulness practices lead to improvements in executive functioning and self-regulation?

This critical review examines the evidence on mindfulness-based classroom interventions and the effect on students’ executive functioning and self-regulatory behaviour. A literature search yielded eight relevant studies, four of which used a randomized clinical trial design and the remaining four used a quasi-experimental design. Overall, the evidence gathered in this review provides support for using mindfulness practices with students. Recommendations for future research and implications for clinical practice are discussed.
Estimating the Extent of CITES Noncompliance among Traders and End‐Consumers; Lessons from the Global Orchid Trade

The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Flora and Fauna (CITES) regulates trade in over 35,000 species, over 70% of which are orchids. To investigate rule‐breaking behavior among traders and buyers in a specific international wildlife trading community, we used direct questions (DQs) and the unmatched count technique (UCT) to survey the orchid growing community about CITES compliance and their knowledge and opinions of the rules. In DQ, 9.9% had smuggled, 4.8% had laundered, and 10.8% had been sent orchids from online purchases without paperwork; UCT estimates did not differ significantly. Growers with greater knowledge of CITES rules were more likely to break them, and there were widespread negative views of CITES among respondents. We recommend targeted enforcement focusing on both online trade and at the point of import, coupled with efforts to encourage traders and end‐consumers to engage with discussions on CITES rule implementation
Influence of duration and intensity of warm-up sessions on the performance among short distance swimmers

It is well established that warm-up sessions are very important and essential part of every swimming competition. There is much evidence which tells how strong the influence of these sessions on swimming performance is. Although there are many suggestions about content of warm-up sessions in swimming, their duration and intensity, there are no clear conclusions about all segments of warm-up. Because of that many researchers tried to reveal how good warm-up sessions should look like. In this study 8 male and 4 female competitive swimmers aged 19 to 26 were tested. They were asked to swim three different warm-up sessions followed by 100 meters performance with maximal intensity. Before trial number 1 they performed long duration warmup session, before trial 2 short duration warm-up session and before trial 3 they were asked to perform warm-up session with high intensity. The recovery time between each warm-up session and the performance was 5 minutes and during these 5 minutes. ANOVA with Repeated Measures was used to test the differences in the performance that swimmers achieved after three different warm up sessions. Statistical significance was set at p<0.05. The results showed that there was not significant difference in the performance after long duration and short duration warm-up sessions (p=1). On the other hand the difference in the performance on the trial 1 and trial 3 was significant (p=.02). Furthermore, the difference between trial 2 and trial 3 was significant as well (p=.03). Duration of the warm up session did not have significant influence on the performance. On the other hand, the results showed that the intensity of the warm-up has big influence on the performance. High intense warm-up without appropriate recover can cause drop in the result. More research needs to be done on this topic with many different conditions.
Structure, Potentiometric and Thermodynamic Studies of N-Acryloyl-4-amino salicylic acid and Its Metal Complexes in Monomeric and Polymeric Forms

N-Acryloyl-4-aminosalicylic acid (AAS) was synthesized and characterized using different spectroscopic techniques. The geometrical structures of the ligand are carried out by HF method with 3-21G basis set. The proton-ligand dissociation constants of AAS and its metal stability constants with (Mn2+, Co2+, Ni2+ and Cu2+) have been determined potentiometrically in monomeric and polymeric forms using 2,2’-azobisisobutyronitrile as initiator. The potentiometric studies were carried out in 0.1 M (KCl) and 20% (by volume) ethanol-water mixture. The effect of temperature was studied at (298, 308 and 318 K) and the corresponding thermodynamic parameters (ΔG, ΔH and ΔS) were derived and discussed. The dissociation process is non-spontaneous, endothermic and entropically unfavorable. The formation of the metal complexes has been found to be spontaneous, endothermic and entropically favorable.
Value Added Tax as a Tool for National Development in Ethiopia

Ethiopia aspires to be a middle income country by 2020. And to meet such aspiration, sufficient amount of revenue is required for the purpose of social, economic and political development. Ever since 2002, the Ethiopian governments have tended to continue its taxing reform package with targets for attaining such outlined issues. To that extent, replacement of the outdated sales tax that operated for about four decades with that of Value added tax (VAT) is one of the main pillars and land mark of such reform. This paper therefore discusses how VAT becomes a tool for national development in Ethiopian context from its adoptions (2003) to 2012. Consequently,the OLS method is applied to investigate the relationship between VAT and national development in terms of GDP. In doing so, the annual quantitative time seriessecondary data sourced from the Ethiopian Revenue and Custom Authority (ERCA), Ministry of Finance and Economic Development (MOFED), and Ethiopian Economic Associations (EEA) was employed. This research work is both descriptive and inferential in nature that analyzed by both SPSS statistical package version 20.0 and Stata/SE version 11.0. The descriptive finding revealed that,after the adoptions of VAT, the GDP growth rate alarmingly increased and reached about 21.9% on average and the average ratio of VAT revenue to that of GDP was 2.95%, while the growth rates of VAT itself was 66.27% on average. In addition to that, the OLS findings showed as the Ethiopian National development is significantly influenced by the VAT revenue with ? 1 of 23.500. So, the study concluded that VAT revenue plays an energetic role for the national development of Ethiopia and it enables to succeed the current growth and transformation plan (GTP) of the country.Therefore the paper recommends that the Ethiopian government should make a full-fledged effort to efficiently collect and effectively utilize such tax revenue through closing the door to corruptions and creating harmonized cooperation’s at different levels which can be possible through making the VAT administrations more fashionable than ever before. Keywords: Value Added Tax (VAT), National Development, Gross Domestic Products (GDP), Ethiopia
Determinants of farmers' participation in horticulture-based extension programs in Iran: application of the Theory of Planned Behavior.

This paper aims to discover the determinants of farmers’ participation in horticulture-based Education programs in the Western Azerbaijan province, Iran. Using the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB), the study also tries to make a comparison between participants and non-participants, who have achieved in this program. A sample of 231 farmers (137 participants and 94 non-participants) was selected based on a stratified random sampling method. Data gathering instrument was a questionnaire that its validity was approved by a group of experts and its reliability was confirmed by calculating Cronbach's alpha (α=0.71). The results showed that, there were significant differences between participants and non-participants in agricultural education programs in terms of all the TPB contexts. Additionally, the results of the regression analysis showed that attitude to how thinking and decision and subjective norms were the best determinants of farmers’ participation.
Phase equilibria in the H 2 O – CO 2 system between 250 – 330 K and 0 – 1 . 7 GPa : Stability of the CO 2 hydrates and H 2 O-ice VI at CO 2 saturation

Although carbon dioxide is of interest in planetary science, few studies have been devoted so far to the H2O–CO2 system at pressures and temperatures relevant to planetary interiors, especially of the icy moons of the giant planets. In this study, new sapphire and diamond anvil cell experiments were conducted in this binary system to constrain the stability of the CO2 hydrates and H2O-ice VI at CO2 saturation in the 250–330 K and 0–1.7 GPa temperature and pressure ranges. Phases and equilibria were characterized by in situ Raman spectroscopy and optical monitoring. The equilibrium between the CO2 sI clathrate hydrate and the H2O-rich liquid phase was constrained over the entire pressure range of stability of the hydrate, up to 0.7–0.8 GPa, with results in agreement with previous studies at lower pressures. Above this pressure and below 1 GPa, our experiments confirmed the existence of the new CO2 high-pressure hydrate reported recently. Finally, the melting curve of the H2O-ice VI at CO2 saturation in the absence of CO2 hydrates was determined between 0.8 and 1.7 GPa. Using an available chemical potential model for H2O, a first assessment of the solubility of CO2 along the H2O-ice VI melting curve is given. Consistent with these new results and previous studies of the H2O–CO2 system, a P–T–X description of the binary system is proposed. The evolution with pressure of the Raman signatures of the two CO2 hydrates is detailed, and their stability is discussed in light of other clathrate hydrate-forming systems. 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Performance of rose cultivars under naturally ventilated polyhouse in hillzone

An investigation on performance of rose cultivars under naturally ventilated polyhouse (NVPH) in hill zone of Karnataka was carried out in College of Horticulture, Mudigere, Karnataka during 2014-15. The ten rose cultivars viz., Grand Gala, Noblesse, Corvetti, First Red, Gold Strike, Shakira, Arka Swadesh, Konfetti, Tineke and Tajmahal were used for the study. Among the cultivars studied, Grand Gala recorded maximum plant height (97.43 cm). The cv. Konfetti recorded maximum number of leaves per shoot (11.37). The Cv. Tajmahal recorded maximum number of leaves per plant and leaf area per plant (54.67 and 1272.23 cm, respectively). The Cv. Shakira (3.70) had maximum number of shoots per plant. In case of flower quality and yield attributes, highest stalk length (66.75 cm), stalk girth (0.96 cm) and flower bud diameter (3.91 cm) was recorded in the cv. Grand Gala. The Cv. Tineke recorded maximum flower diameter and number of petals per flower (8.68 cm and 37.37, respectively). The Cv. Tajmahal was found to be high yielder with respect to number of flowers per plant (3.58) and flowers per square meter (39.41).
Examining the Effects of Fair Value Measurements on Financial Reporting Quality and the Cost of Equity

This study examines whether the implementation of FASB Accounting Standards Codification on Fair Value Measurements (ASC 820-10) improves financial reporting quality and the cost of equity capital. ASC 820-10 was designed and implemented under the premise that it would improve financial reporting quality and comparability of fair value measurements in financial reports by requiring firms to disclose any activity within and between the three distinct fair value measurement levels. This study examines the annual and quarterly filings of firms with level 2 and level 3 fair value activity from 2007 through 2012. Results reveal that financial reporting quality increased as a result of ASC 820-10 adoption. Results signal to standard setters, investors and regulators that the increased mandatory disclosures around the measurement of unobservable inputs (i.e. level 3 securities) are value relevant and economically significant. This study extends the literature fair value relevance, information asymmetry and information precision in fair value measurements. Furthermore, this study provides increased evidence on the use of earnings forecasts generated by a cross sectional model as an acceptable alternative to analysts’ forecasts in implied cost of capital models.