Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
In vitro acaricidal activity of crude extracts of Schinus molle (L.) leaves against field population of Bophilus decoloratus and Rhipicephalus pulchellus ticks

Plant products are a rich source of bioactive organic chemicals and offer an advantage over synthetic pesticides as these are less toxic, less prone to development of resistance and easily biodegradable. The present study aimed at screening the acaricidal potential of crude methanolic and aqueous extracts of Schinus molle (L.) leaves on the adult Bophilus decoloratus and Rhipicephalus pulchellus cattle ticks, using in vitro immersion method. Freshly collected adult ticks were exposed to three graded concentrations of the crude extracts; 1% (1g/100ml), 2% (1g/50ml), and 4% (1g/25ml) for 24 h and mortality rates were recorded post exposure for each concentration every 3 h. Diazinon (0.2%) and distilled water were used as positive and negative controls respectively. Acaricidal activities of each concentration were measured by mean number of ticks died and antiparasitic efficacy (%) relative to the negative control. Analysis result indicated that highest (4%) and middle (2%) concentrations of both extracts caused a statistically significant (P<0.05) killing effect on R. pulchellus and B. decoloratus for most of the observation hours as compared to the extract unloaded in vitro groups. The relative antiparasitic efficacy (%) was highest for 4% concentration of both extracts (100%). The standard acaricide failed to completely eliminate the parasites after 24 h of exposure although it showed a slightly better effect against B. decoloratus (96.7%) compared to R. pulchellus (93.3%). Put together, this finding showed that the crude extracts of the plant have promising acaricidal properties and warrant further investigation. Key words: Acaricidal, crude extracts, Boophilus decoloratus, Rhipicephalus pulchellus, Schinus molle.
Branding, legitimation and the power of museums: The case of the

Museums and cultural developments are on the rise in the Gulf region. The United Arab Emirates is home to some of the most ambitious and extravagant museum projects in the world. In this article, I consider the example of the Louvre Abu Dhabi, exploring some of its underlying dynamics and context. I focus mainly on the relationship between branding and legitimation while placing my analysis within a wider critical debate, which includes discussions on the link between museums and identity, the legitimizing role of architecture, and the various contentious concerns and controversies surrounding the Louvre Abu Dhabi project. I conclude that the United Arab Emirates and other neighbouring countries have an excellent opportunity for innovation in the cultural field if they are willing to critically and ethically found their cultural developments on an ethos of inclusivity, openness, experimentation, non-exploitation and curatorial courage.
Emotional Intelligence and job performance: Evidence from railroad industry

Article history: Received January 20, 2014 Accepted 5 July 2014 Available online July 14 2014 This paper presents an empirical investigation to study the relationship between emotional intelligence and job performance in railroad industry. The study uses two questionnaires, one for measuring emotional intelligence adopted from Salovey and Mayer (1989) [Salovey, P., & Mayer, J. D. (1989). Emotional intelligence. Imagination, Cognition and Personality, 9(3), 185211. ] and the other one for measuring job performance. The study selects 300 full time employees who work for railroad industry in city of Tehran, Iran, distributes two questionnaires among the employees and managed to collect all filled ones. Using Spearman correlation, the study has determined a positive and meaningful relationship between emotional intelligence and job performance (r = 0.796, Sig. = 0.000). In addition, there were positive and meaningful relationships between four components of emotional intelligence, namely consciousness (r = 0.642, Sig. = 0.000), self-regulation (r = 0.41, Sig. = 0.000), self-awareness ( r = 0.552, Sig. = 0.000) and social skills (r = 0.524, Sig. = 0.000). © 2014 Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Evaluating the Construct Validity of the Kidscreen-52 Quality of Life Questionnaire within a South African Context

The absence of a suitable measure to assess the health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of children and adolescents in South Africa, led to the use of the KIDSCREEN-52 questionnaire, which was developed and standardised in Europe. The current study is part of a broader study conducted in the Western Cape, which used the KIDSCREEN-52 to explore the influence of exposure to community violence on the subjective HRQoL of a sample of South African adolescents. This study aimed to investigate the reliability and construct validity of the KIDSCREEN-52 in a South African context. The broader study employed stratified interval criterion sampling to select 565 Grade 9 learners, aged 14–18. Participants were selected from six public schools in areas specified by the South African government as comprising key nodal areas in terms of crime in the Western Cape. The dataset for the current study comprised all participants (N = 565) of the primary study. As the initial step in validation of the KIDSCREEN-52 in South Africa, the current study examined its factor structure by means of exploratory factor analysis, using principal component analysis with oblimin rotations. It also assessed the internal consistency reliability of each of the scales, using Cronbach's alpha. Exploratory factor analysis extracted 10 factors as identified by previous studies, with some deviation in the loadings of the last three factors. Items of two scales (“Feelings” and “About Yourself”) divided into three scales, and “Bullying” items were not sufficiently presented in the factor solution. Internal consistency of the measure was shown to be acceptable to good, with Cronbach's alpha values ranging from 0.76 to 0.81 for the 10 scales.
Public Sector Reform, E-Government and the Search for Excellence in Africa: Experiences from Uganda

The traditional portrait of many governments worldwide, synonymous with a massive bureaucratic machinery operating inefficiently, unresponsively and at high cost, is gradually fading. Over the past two or so decades, Sub-Saharan African countries, have witnessed wide-ranging Public Sector reforms often in search of effective and efficient systems of government. One such reform came in the form of ICT. Driven by the belief that e-government is one of the key motors to achieve significant leaps needed for reform, governments are taking wide-ranging initiatives to work better. This paper therefore analyzes trends in Public Sector reform that lead to contemporary e-government practice, highlighting experiences from an African country. The Ugandan e-government experience confirms that as a tool of Public Sector reform, e-government presents avenues of opportunities for African countries - though not so much as a solution but rather, as an enabler.
Parents' perception of their children's participation in physical activity

This paper describes parents' survey and interview responses about their children's participation in physical activity which were collected for the second part of a three phase project funded by the Commonwealth Department of Health and Family Services: Health Advancement Project through the auspices of ACHPER. In the first phase of the project, an extensive data base was compiled on children's participation in physical activity; the second phase investigated parents' and teachers' perceptions of their children's and students' participation in physical activity. The third phase, which is now underway, will use the first two phases to develop a set of resources with which to advocate for policy, programs and educational strategies to serve the needs of young people in Australia most effectively in relation to physical activity.
Resources in NPD: An Investigation of Resource Capabilities

In this paper we examine the role of resources in improving new product process outcomes. We propose amodel where resource flexibility and augmentation serve as mechanisms to identify and accumulate resourcesthat increase the firm’s ability to respond to opportunities and challenges in the new product developmentprocess. Important to the development of this resource base is the need to also leverage accumulated resources.Thus, the model is further developed to incorporate the role of resource leveraging as a moderator to theresource base and performance link. Using a cross-industry sample, a series of hypotheses are tested to evaluatethe moderating role of resource leveraging on the link between a firm’s resource base and its performance.Results suggest that resource flexibility and augmentation improves new product outcomes, and that resourceleveraging can lead to enhanced performance.
Convex minorants of random walks and Lévy processes

This article provides an overview of recent work on descriptions and properties of the Convex minorants of random walks and Levy processes, which summarize and extend the literature on these subjects. The results surveyed include point process descriptions of the convex minorant of random walks and Levy processes on a fixed finite interval, up to an independent exponential time, and in the infinite horizon case. These descriptions follow from the invariance of these processes under an adequate path transformation. In the case of Brownian motion, we note how further special properties of this process, including time-inversion, imply a sequential description for the convex minorant of the Brownian meander.
Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Activity of the Essential Oil of Pulicaria Inuloides

In order to evaluate the potential of medicinal effects of the popular edible Pulicaria inuloides Yemen, the methanol, ethanol and diethyl ether extracts from leaves of Pulicaria inuloides were analyzed for their antioxidant properties. The major components of the oil of P. inuloides were 2-Cyclohexen-1-one, 2-methyl-5-(1-methyl (56.8%), Benzene, methyl- (21.7%), Z.citol 2.00. The total phenol, flavonoid, contents of sample were measured by Folin Ciocalteu and Alcl3 assays. Results showed that methanol extract from leaves of Pulicaria inuloides has more contents of total phenols and total flavonoid (91.2 ± 09.5, 89.9± 0.61 and 64.9±07. mg(GAE)/g respectively) and the level of total tannin and total anthocyanins contents were not identical in the extracts. Results from antioxidant activity assays showed that methanol in DPPH radical scavenging, B-carotene bleaching assays and metal-chelation is more active than diethyl ether extract. This study suggested that the differences of the potency of the antioxidant activity may be explained by the differences in the polyphenol and flavonoid levels.
Leader-Member Exchange and Relational Quality in a Singapore Public Sector Organization Ms

An objective of Singapore’s on-going public sector reform (PS21) requires agencies to focus on getting the best out of its employees. One way of doing this is by creating a positive leadermember exchange (LMX) relationship, enabling supervisors to motivate their subordinates towards the development of organizational citizenship behaviours (OCB). This paper reports the extent of LMX and relational quality in a public sector agency experiencing PS21 reform and high staff turnover. In addition, we examined the effects of organisational justice perceptions and job satisfaction towards a subordinates’ OCB. A path model was developed to examine the relationships between LMX, organisational justice, job satisfaction and OCB and tested by applying LMX theory. The path analysis results showed that LMX mediates the relationship between organisational justice perceptions and OCB. The results also showed that one’s job satisfaction led to higher level of OCB. The study findings have implications for theory and practice which are presented in the discussion section.
Sums over Topological Sectors and Quantization of Fayet-Iliopoulos Parameters

In this paper we discuss quantization of the Fayet-Iliopoulos parameter in supergravity theories with altered nonperturbative sectors, which were recently used to argue a fractional quantization condition. Nonlinear sigma models with altered nonperturbative sectors are the same as nonlinear sigma models on special stacks known as gerbes. After reviewing the existing results on such theories in two dimensions, we discuss examples of gerby moduli `spaces' appearing in four-dimensional field theory and string compactifications, and the effect of various dualities. We discuss global topological defects arising when a field or string theory moduli space has a gerbe structure. We also outline how to generalize results of Bagger-Witten and more recent authors on quantization issues in supergravities from smooth manifolds to smooth moduli stacks, focusing particular attention on stacks that have gerbe structures.
Mineralization of soluble P fertilizers and insoluble rock phosphate in response to phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and poultry manure and their effect on the growth and P utilization efficiency of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.)

Abstract. The ability of soil microorganisms and organic manure to convert insoluble phosphorus (P) to an accessible form offers a biological rescue system for improving P utilization efficiency in soil–plant systems. Our objective was to examine the P mineralization potential of two soluble P fertilizers (SPF), i.e., single superphosphate (SSP) and diammonium phosphate (DAP), and of insoluble rock phosphate (RP) with and without phosphate-solubilizing bacteria (PSB) and poultry manure (PM) and their subsequent effect on the growth, yield and P utilization efficiency (PUE) of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.). An incubation study was carried out on a loam (slightly alkaline) soil with 12 treatments: T0 – control; T1 – RP; T2 – SSP; T3 – DAP; T4 – PM; T5 – 1/2 RP+1/2 SSP; T6 – 1/2 RP+1/2 DAP; T7 – 1/2 RP+1/2 PM; T8 – RP+PSB; T9 – 1/2 RP+1/2 SSP+PSB; T10 – 1/2 RP+1/2 DAP+PSB; and T11 – 1/2 RP+1/2 PM+PSB. Phosphorus mineralization was measured by analyzing extractable P from the amended soil incubated under controlled conditions at 25 °C for periods of 0, 5, 15, 25, 35 and 60 days. A complementary greenhouse experiment was conducted in pots with chilli (Capsicum annuum L.) as a test crop. Growth, yield, P uptake and PUE of the chilli was determined during the study. Results indicated that P mineralization in soil amended with RP was 6.0–11.5 mg kg−1, while both soluble P fertilizers resulted in 68–73 mg P kg−1 at day 0, which decreased by 79–82 % at the end of incubation. The integrated use of PSB and PM with RP in T11 stimulated P mineralization by releasing a maximum of 25 mg P kg−1 that was maintained at high levels without any loss. Use of PSB decreased soil pH. In the greenhouse experiment, RP alone or RP+PSB did not have a significant impact on plant growth. However, the combined use of RP, PM and PSB in T11 resulted in similar growth, yield and P uptake of chilli as DAP. The PUE of applied P varied from 4 to 29 % and was higher in the treatments that included PSB. We conclude that the use of PSB and PM with insoluble RP or with soluble P fertilizers could be a promising approach to enhance P availability from both low-grade RP and SPF for crop production in intensive cropping systems.
Structural FECM: Cointegration in Large-Scale Structural FAVAR Models

Starting from the dynamic factor model for non-stationary data we derive the factor-augmented error correction model (FECM) and, by generalizing the Granger representation theorem, its moving-average representation. The latter is used for the identification of structural shocks and their propagation mechanism. Besides discussing contemporaneous restrictions along the lines of Bernanke et al. (2005), we show how to implement classical identification schemes based on long-run restrictions in the case of large panels. The importance of the error-correction mechanism for impulse response analysis is analysed by means of both empirical examples and simulation experiments. Our results show that the bias in estimated impulse responses in a FAVAR model is positively related to the strength of the error-correction mechanism and the cross-section dimension of the panel. We observe empirically in a large panel of US data that these features have a substantial effect on the responses of several variables to the identified real shock.
SMALL DIAMETER WAVEGUIDE FOR WIDEBAND ACOUSTIC EMISSION

The signals obtained from two wideband conical sensors were compared in the time, frequency and time/frequency domains. The signals were generated by pencil-lead breaks on the surface (out-of-plane) or close to the midplane of the edge (in-plane) of a large (1220 mm by 1525 mm) aluminum alloy plate (thickness of 3.1 mm). One sensor was coupled to the plate surface by vacuum grease at a propagation distance of 254 mm, and the other sensor was coupled with vacuum grease to the end of a nominal 300 mm or 400 mm long small-diameter waveguide. The other end of the waveguide was coupled to the plate surface by vacuum grease at a 254-mm propagation distance. The waveguides were either aluminum alloy (1.59-mm or 3.18-mm diameter) or brass (1.59-mm diameter). The goal was to determine how closely the waveguide sensor signal duplicated the signal obtained from the plate-mounted sensor. Results were considered in the light of group velocity diagrams for the aluminum plate and the aluminum rods. The sensor mounted on the 1.59-mm diameter aluminum waveguide provided a signal that closely duplicated the signal from the plate-mounted sensor.
Older people and local public transit: Mobility effects of accessibility improvements in Sweden

Several transportation factors concerning older and disabled people are under transition in Sweden at present. By the year 2010, the public transit system must be fully accessible for all passengers. The present survey studied older people, in order to assess the perceived travel opportunities. Questionnaires were sent to a sample of older citizens (75+) in three Swedish mid-sized municipalities. The general conclusions were that even though older people show appreciation of the existing travel opportunities, there was evidence for restricted mobility for some sub-groups of these older people, due to various perceived barriers. These groups have few optional modes, and despite various accessibility measures, special transportation services – the mandatory demand-responsive transport service – continues to provide crucial mobility. Hence, there is more to be done regarding accessibility and usability in public transit for older people. Further studies have to clarify reasons for bus travel cessation. Even larger efforts have to be put into accessibility improvements, in particular intermediate transit solutions in order to meet the regulations and policies.
Using hadron-in-jet data in a global analysis of $D^{*}$ fragmentation functions

We present a novel global QCD analysis of charged D*-meson fragmentation functions at next-to-leading order accuracy. This is achieved by making use of the available data for single-inclusive D*-meson production in electron-positron annihilation, hadron-hadron collisions, and, for the first time, in-jet fragmentation in proton-proton scattering. It is shown how to include all relevant processes efficiently and without approximations within the Mellin moment technique, specifically for the in-jet fragmentation cross section. The presented technical framework is generic and can be straightforwardly applied to future analyses of fragmentation functions for other hadron species, as soon as more in-jet fragmentation data become available. We choose to work within the zero mass variable flavor number scheme which is applicable for sufficiently high energies and transverse momenta. The obtained optimum set of parton-to-D* fragmentation functions is accompanied by Hessian uncertainty sets which allow one to propagate hadronization uncertainties to other processes of interest.
Scale Development of Taiwan Teacher's Sense of Organization Identification --From the Viewpoint of Workplace Spirituality

This study adopts workplace spirituality viewpoint to develop Teacher' Sense of Organizational Identification Scale. There are four procedures in process of developing the scale: 1. Literature analysis: In the past, people mainly developed Sense of Organizational Identification Scales by social identification theory or workplace spirituality. Sense of organization identification from scales of workplace spirituality is classified as the organization level, which content can be further divided as sense of goal connection, sense of identification with organization's values, and sense of organization care. Following literature analysis, draft of 18 items was proposed. 2. Reviewed by experts: After the initial draft of the 18 items were reviewed by four experts, one was deleted, one added, fourteen remaining the same, and three modified. 3. Exploratory Factor Analysis(EFA): The 18 items after reviewed by the experts were conducted EFA(N=235), and further divided into item analysis, factor analysis, and reliability analysis. In the first analysis, due to low loading of two items, we deleted them. After analyzed again, the reliability became acceptable. 4. Confirmatory Factor Analysis(CFA): We further investigated 332 teachers to confirm whether the Three Factor model's 16 items are stable. The result showed the initial model fits well. In addition, the initial model's basic fit does not "offends estimation," and the fit of the internal structure is acceptable(including the individual reliability, the composite reliability, the average variation extraction, and the construct discrimination analysis). Up to now, the Three Factor 16 items in the Teacher's Sense of Organizational Identification Scale was established, including sense of connection to organization's goal's(5 items), sense of connected to organization's goals(5 items), and sense of identification with organization's values(6 items). To conclude, the Sense of Organizational Identification Scale with three factor's 16 items has acceptable reliability for relative research.
The Resource Curse Hypothesis Revisited: Evidence from a Panel VAR

The objective of this paper is to revisit the resource curse hypothesis both within and between countries of different democratic footprint, based on a dynamic model that properly accounts for endogeneity issues. To achieve that, we apply a panel Vector Auto-Regressive (PVAR) approach along with panel impulse response functions to data on oil abundance variables, economic growth and several political institutional variables in 76 countries classified by different income groupings, level of development and oil importing or exporting status, over the period 1980-2012. Our results suggest that controlling for the quality of political institutions is important in rendering the resource course hypothesis significant. Doing so, the resource curse hypothesis is documented mainly for developing economies, net oil-exporters and medium-high income countries. Specifically, when economies from the aforementioned groups are characterised by weak quality of political institutions, then oil abundance is not growth-enhancing.