Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Earning Management in Jordanian public Shareholding Service Companies and Influential Factors

This study aimed to examine the effect of several factors; company’s size represented by total assets, return on assets, return on equity, earning per share, financial leverage, book value to price ratio, independent direct board and the audit committee size on companies earning management, the sample consists of (58) Jordanian service companies listed on Amman Stock Exchange(ASE) in 2012, to achieve the aim of the study a multiple regression model which included many independent variables and the earning management level as the dependent variable. The results of the study indicated that Jordanian service companies practice earning management by level (26.2%), which is a high percentage with varied levels between companies. It was found that transportation sector ranked first in earning management practices (52.4%) while health care sector ranked last in earning management practices (14.2%). Multiple regression analysis indicated a positive correlation between company’s size, financial leverage and earning management practices. A negative significant correlation was found between directors' board autonomy and company’s earning management practices. No significant correlation was found between return on assets, return on equity, earning per share, book value to price ratio and company’s earning management practices Keywords: Earning management, Company size , Financial performance.
Control of cracking in R.C. Structures: Numerical simulation of a squat shear wall

In this paper the behavior of a squat shear wall subjected to monotonic shear loading is investigated. The study fits into the experimental program driven by CEOS.fr on modeling of the behavior of the tested mocks-ups (monotonic and cycling loading-under prevented or free shrinkage). The shear wall has been analyzed with nonlinear finite element analyses carried out with the finite element code DIANA and numerical results have been compared with the experimental results presented during the Concrack2 Benchmark Workshop that has been held in Paris in 2011. The design shear resistance of the shear wall has been also evaluated with analytical and numerical procedures according to the new Model Code 2010 prescriptions. The analytical calculations, which have been carried out with a strut and tie model, have been compared with numerical results from nonlinear finite element analyses.
Zinc alleviates salt stress and increases antioxidant enzyme activity in the leaves of pistachio (Pistacia vera L. 'Badami') seedlings.

The mechanism(s) by which Zn alleviates NaCl stress was investigated in Pistacia vera L. 'Badami'. Pistachio seedlings were treated with 0, 800, 1600, 2400, and 3200 mg of NaCl kg-1 of soil, along with Zn (0, 5, 10, and 20 mg kg-1 of soil). NaCl stress induced high oxidative stress, increasing lipid peroxidation, electrolyte leakage, and lipoxygenase (LOX, E.C. 1.13.11.12) activity to high levels. Zn supplement efficiently reduced all these adverse effects of salt stress. However, there were no significant differences among the above parameters in plants treated with Zn only. NaCl stress significantly increased the activity of antioxidant enzymes. The activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase [SOD, E.C. 1.15.1.1], catalase [CAT, E.C. 1.11.1.6]. and ascorbate peroxidase [APX, E.C. 1.11.1.11]) increased significantly in NaCl + Zn-treated plants, as compared with those treated with either NaCl or Zn alone. These results support the positive effects of Zn on antioxidant enzyme activity scavenging the reactive oxygen species produced in response to salt stress. Zinc treatment caused a significant increase in the amount of phenolics and in ascorbic acid content, as compared with salt treatment alone. Zinc treatment alone did not result in very high antioxidant enzyme activity in non-stressed plants.
Germination Response of Legume Seeds Subjected to Moist and Dry Heat

Prescribed burning is used in southeastern USA to promote growth of legu- minous plants which produce seed important as quail food. These seed are characterized by a hard seed coat and the ability to remain dormant but viable for a long time. This study was conducted to determine the effect of heat on germination of seed from several of these legume species. Seeds of 18 species and two varieties were subjected to moist and dry heat treatment. Moist heat increased germination in eight species and two varieties, and dry heat increased germination in seven species and two varieties. agement practice in the southeastern United States, particularly in the Coastal Plain area, where millions of acres of forested land are burned annually for purposes of fuel reduction, slash disposal, seedbed preparation, and improving cattle forage and wild- life habitat. Burning for any of these reasons usually accomplishes some of the others, although vegetative changes which follow forest fire may affect the habi- tat of various species of wildlife either beneficially or detrimentally. Much of the flora and fauna of the Coastal Plains evolved in the presence of frequent burning and their species are referred to as fire species. The under-
Effect of Immediate Feedback on the Mathematics Achievement of Low Achieving Senior Secondary School Students

This study investigated the effect of immediate feedback on the mathematics achievement of low achieving senior secondary school students in Owerri educational zone II of Imo State, Nigeria. The influence of gender on mathematics achievement was also explored. The interaction effect of immediate feedback and gender on mathematics achievement was examined. Three research questions and three null hypotheses guided the study. The design of the study was a quasi- experimental non equivalent pretest–posttest control group design involving one experimental group and one control group. The population of the study was made up of 2,314 low achieving SSII students. The sample size consisted of 145 identified low mathematics achieving students drawn from two schools. The two schools were randomly assigned to experimental and control groups. One research instrument: Mathematics Achievement Test (MAT). The instrument was validated by experts and used for data collection after the instruments was trial tested and found reliable using Kuder Richardson (KR20). Mean and standard deviation were used to answer the research questions while analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to test the hypotheses. The study revealed that instructing low achieving students using immediate feedback strategy has a significant effect on their mathematics achievement. There is no significant difference in the mean mathematics achievement scores of male and female low achieving students exposed to immediate feedback strategy. The interaction effect of immediate feedback and gender on mathematics achievement of low achieving students was not statistically significant. The interaction effect of immediate feedback and gender on mathematics achievement of low achieving students was not significant. Based on these findings, conclusions were drawn and the educational implications were also discussed. It was recommended that students should be exposed to immediate feedback during mathematics teaching and learning interactions, so that they will participate actively and achieve highly. Immediate feedback strategy will enable low achieving students to learn, retain and recall concepts, ideas and principles. Immediate feedback should be incorporated into teacher education programmes to educate the prospective teachers on how to use the strategy.
Tackling Social Exclusion in the European Union? The Limits to the New Orthodoxy of Local Partnership

This article is based on recent transnational research on partnership-based initiatives to promote local development and regeneration and combat social exclusion in the EU. The increasing reliance on partnership as the basis for local policy initiatives is first situated in the context of contemporary debates about social exclusion. The main part of the article then draws on the literatures on local governance and urban regime theory to examine three issues critical to the impact of the 'new orthodoxy' of local partnership: the capacity of partnerships as interorganizational forms of local governance; their inclusiveness; and the extent of outcomes which can be attributed to partnership as a distinctive mode of local governance. On all three issues, the evidence points to the limited claims that can be made for most local partnerships as 'inclusion coalitions' capable of effectively tackling social exclusion, and suggests that structural features of the currently dominant version of partnership entrench a model of elite rather than inclusive governance. Local partnership is associated with weak rather than strong discourses of social exclusion and inclusion, and its significance lies as much as anything in the way in which the practice of partnership tends to foreclose the sphere of debate and action, excluding more radical options. Copyright Joint Editors and Blackwell Publishers Ltd 2000.
Subgeneric diversity of Brasilonema (Cyanobacteria, Scytonemataceae)

The recently described scytonematoid cyanobacterial genus Brasilonema is known mainly from tropical and subtropical rain forests (Mata Atlântica) of southeastern Brazil, where it occurs in aerophytic wooden, stony and iron substrates. This genus was defined according to both molecular and morphological criteria. The type species B. bromeliae was described from the specialized habitat: it grows in phytothelmes, epiphytic on both living and died leaves within the rosettes of large bromeliad plants slightly above or in the zone of the water level. The genus Brasilonema is evidently widely distributed in coastal forests of Sao Paulo State, where it occurs also in remarkable diversity. According to our results, this genus currently comprises seven taxa, which are distinct by different morphology and ecological characteristics.
The Impact of Prior Victimization and Socio-Economic Status on People’s Crime-Reporting Behavior

The purpose of this study is to determine whether or not prior victimizat ion, along with socio-economic status affect people's willingness to report crimes to authorities. This study is limited to addressing the effect of prior v ictimization on willingness to report crimes by 1) the type of victimizat ion (i.e., being a v ictim of property crimes or a victim o f crimes against persons), 2) being a vict im of a crime, regardless of the type of crime versus not being a victim, and 3) the difference in crime-report ing variation between the two. The findings of this research study are based on the analyses of the data that have been collected through a self-admin istered survey questionnaire distributed to 531 undergraduate university students. Overall, the findings that emerged fro m this study suggest that prior victimizat ion cannot be considered a good predictor of crime -reporting behavior.
Evolutionary history of Balaenidae

The living species ofthe family Balaenidaeare experiencing a very high extinctionrisk. Knowledge of theirevolutionary history maybe helpful in conservationstrategies. In this paper a review and osteological diagnoses for the genera and species of the Balaenidae is given. Also palaeoecological features are determined, like the evolution of a large body size, changes in species composition and changes in the choice of reproductive sites over the last five million
Rhizosphere microflora of noni (Morinda citrifolia) as influenced by organic manures and drip irrigation

An experiment was conducted at Horticultural College and Research Institute, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, Periyakulam to elucidate the effect of different irrigation regimes and organic manures on rhizosphere microbial population of noni (Morinda citrifolia). The trial was carried out in split plot design with irrigation regimes on main plot (four levels) and organic manures on sub plot (eight levels) with two replications. Among the different treatment combinations, M2S4 (100% WRc through drip irrigation + 50% farmyard manure + 50% vermicompost) registered the highest rhizosphere bacteria, fungi, actinomycetes, Azotobacter, Azospirillum and phosphobacteria population. The same treatment also recorded the highest score for organic matter decomposition. The rhizosphere microflora activity and organic matter decomposition was found to be the lowest in M4S7 (check basin method of irrigation + 100% recommended dose of NPK through inorganic fertilizers).
Experiential In-Service Teachers' Training for the Pilot of the New Geography Curriculum in Greece: A Different Experience with Tangible Results.

Τhe aim of this paper is to present the design and the results of the In-service Elementary Teacher (IET) training seminars, in Geography for primary education, during the pilot of the New Geography Curriculum (NGC) in Greek schools, the school year 2011-2012. The design of this training was based on the documented needs of teachers for training in a practical and experiential way and to meet with teamwork. Teachers, who participated in these training sessions, reviewed positively the experiential nature of the training courses, created 36 new Geography lesson plans on a voluntary basis, and most of them incorporated tools and teaching methods they had experienced in the seminars. These results could provide guidance for a successful in-service teacher training course in all subjects and not just for Geography.
Financial Management Practices in Religious Organizations: An Empirical Evidence of Mosque in Malaysia

Within Muslim community, mosque is place for congregation, a centre of excellence for knowledge, economic pursuit and community services, giving religious instruction and political discussions. Mosque plays a crucial role in various aspects of Muslim life. It has great potential to ensure that the welfare of nearby society is well-taken care. In order to achieve the said objective, mosques should have a strong financial performance. This study adopts a cross sectional data analysis to examine factor contributes to mosque financial performance. Subsequently, this study examines the effects of mosque financial performance on its quality of programme. Result of regression analysis revealed that good internal control and active involvement of mosque committees in fund raising activities enhance mosque financial performance. This study also discovered that strong financial performance facilitates the mosque to conduct more quality and quantity program. The finding should provide awareness to mosque committee member on the need to create an effective internal control strategy to improve financial performance. Next, mosque needs to recognize the importance of fundraising activity. Finally, all mosques need to invite committee members who have some financial institution background to discuss the management strategy for improving its financial performance and in turns it quantity and quality of programs outcome.
Secular trend of the equilibrium-line altitude on the western side of the southern Andes, derived from radiosonde and surface observations

Abstract The altitude of the 0°C isotherm obtained from radiosonde data of the aerological Chilean stations Antofagasta, Quintero/Santo Domingo, Puerto Montt and Punta Arenas are analyzed, along with surface temperature and precipitation records from nearby stations. The strong effect of the 1976/77 climate shift due to a change in the Pacific Decadal Oscillation is evident in the temperature and precipitation data. The data are used as input for an empirical model which reconstructs annually the equilibrium-line altitude (ELA) for the last 49 years on the western side of the southern Andes. The model takes air temperature, precipitation and altitude as the main parameters, and was first developed by Fox (1993) and applied by Condom and others (2007). From the radiosonde data, a significant positive trend of the 0°C isotherm has occurred in the northern, central and southern regions, indicating an ELA rise due to regional warming. General glacier retreat, ice thinning and negative mass balance observed during the past few decades in virtually all the Chilean Andes concur with the observed ELA reconstruction. In the Punta Arenas radiosonde record there is slight evidence for precipitation increase but no evidence for significant warming in the past few decades. This results in a slight lowering of the ELA according to the model reconstruction, which does not agree with the strong and increased glacier retreat observed in recent decades in Patagonia.
Hydrogenated amorphous silicon oxide containing a microcrystalline silicon phase and usage as an intermediate reflector in thin-film silicon solar cells

To further improve the stability of amorphous/microcrystalline silicon (a-Si:H/μc-Si:H) tandem solar cells, it is important to reduce the thickness of the a-Si:H top cell. This can be achieved by introduction of an intermediate reflector between the a-Si:H top and the μc-Si:H bottom cell which reflects light back into the a-Si:H cell and thus, increases its photocurrent at possibly reduced thickness. Microcrystalline silicon oxide (μc-SiOx:H) is used for this purpose and the trade-off between the material’s optical, electrical and structural properties is studied in detail. The material is prepared with plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition from gas mixtures of silane, carbon dioxide and hydrogen. Phosphorus doping is used to make the material highly conductive n-type. Intermediate reflectors with different optical and electrical properties are then built into tandem solar cells as part of the inner n/p-recombination junction. The quantum efficiency and the reflectance of these solar cells are evaluat.
BASICS OF QUALITATIVE THEORY OF LINEAR FRACTIONAL DIFFERENCE EQUATIONS

This doctoral thesis concerns with the fractional calculus on discrete settings, namely in the frame of the so-called (q, h)-calculus and its special case h-calculus. First, foundations of the theory of linear fractional di erence equations in (q, h)-calculus are established. In particular, basic properties, such as existence, uniqueness and structure of solutions, are discussed and a discrete analogue of the Mittag-Le er function is introduced via eigenfunctions of a fractional di erence operator. Further, qualitative analysis of a scalar and vector test fractional di erence equation is performed in the frame of h-calculus. The results of stability and asymptotic analysis enable us to specify the connection to other mathematical disciplines, such as continuous fractional calculus, Volterra di erence equations and numerical analysis. Finally, a possible generalization of the fractional calculus to more general settings is outlined. Klí£ová slova zlomkový kalkulus £asové 2kály zlomková diferen£ní rovnice Riemann·v-Liouville·v diferen£ní operátor stabilita asymptotické chování diskrétní Mittag-Le erova funkce Volterrova diferen£ní rovnice Laplaceova transformace
Enhanced Tolerance to Cadmium in Bacterial-Fungal Co-Cultures as a Strategy for Metal Biorecovery from e-Waste

We investigated a microbe-based approach to be used for the biorecovery of valuable metals from e-waste. E-waste is a heterogeneous matrix at the microbial scale. Therefore, this study aims at taking advantage of bacterial-fungal (BF) interactions in order to mobilize and immobilize a selected metal present in e-waste. We used cadmium (Cd) and a selection of Cd-tolerant microorganisms from our culture collection or isolated from a naturally cadmium-contaminated soil. Several experiments were designed in order to use the synergistic bioremediation capabilities of BF couples to mobilize and immobilize Cd from a culture medium. Initial results showed that the selected synergistic BF couples are more tolerant to Cd concentrations than the organisms alone. However, setting the conditions leading to effective immobilization of this toxic metal still need further work. Using microbial consortia rather than single species represents an innovative alternative to traditional bioremediation approaches for the development of new biotechnological approaches in urban mining.
Diversity of zooplankton in a tropical floodplain lake of the Brahmaputra river basin, Assam (Northeast India)

The zooplankton diversity of a floodplain lake of the Brahmaputra river basin of lower Assam is analyzed on the bases of net plankton samples collected from the littoral (station 1) and semi-limnetic (station 2) regions during January- December 2010. The species-rich zooplankton (143 species) hypothesized environmental heterogeneity of this wetland. They showed high monthly richness (81 ± 11 and 72 ± 11 species) and recorded 44.7-79.3% and 46.7-89.7% community similarities at two sampling stations, respectively. Zooplankton formed 55.5 ± 10.9 % and 63.9 ± 9.6 % of net plankton abundance. Rotifera > Cladocera mainly influenced their richness and density variations. Copepoda is a sub-dominant quantitative group while Mesocyclops spp. , Asplanchna priodonta, Chydorus sphaericus, Bosmina longirostris and Sinantherina socialis are relatively important taxa. High species diversity and low densities of majority of species are hypothesized to fine niche portioning amongst different species in combination with high micro- and macro-scale habitat heterogeneity. The zooplankton is characterized by high equitability and low dominance. Individual abiotic factors recorded limited influence on richness and abundance. Canonical correspondence analysis with ten abiotic factors explained 56.0 % and 55.8 % cumulative variance of zooplankton assemblages along axis 1 and 2. The CCA affirmed micro-environmental differences between the sampling stations.
Comparing Aggregate Stability Tests for Soil Physical Quality Indicators

Although there is not a sole satisfactory methodology that applies universally up to now, aggregate stability has been proposed as an indicator of soil physical quality (SPQ). Difficulties persist when comparison of aggregate stability from different procedures are performed. The objective of this study is to evaluate appropriate aggregate stability methods that enable to distinguish the SPQ condition of both temperate and tropical medium‐textured soils. Among different methods tested, results show that wet sieving using the well known fast wetting methods of Kemper & Rosenau and of Le Bissonnais rendered similar results in both environments. The mean weight diameter value of both methods for assessing aggregate stability can be considered as a dependable indicator of soil structure status for comparing soils. These aggregate stability methods are in correspondence with only one out of the eight SPQ indicators when entirely soils were used. It was concluded that the aggregate stability should be used judiciously and in concert with other indicators for an overall assessing of the SPQ condition. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Regional Economic Disparities in Australia

Australia`s remarkable economic performance during the 1990s has not resulted in a significant convergence of real per capita income, output, and employment levels across the country`s states and territories. This paper explores the role of certain economic rigidities that may have contributed to the lack of convergence, including rigidities in labor markets and in the structure of federal government transfers to households and subnational governments. The analysis suggests that the wage awards system has restricted the adjustment of real wages to productivity differentials, thus contributing to higher unemployment rates in some states. Federal government transfers to households also appear to have adversely affected work incentives in high unemployment states by limiting participation in the labor force.