Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Black Carbon and Ozone Variability at the Kathmandu Valley and at the Southern Himalayas: A Comparison between a “Hot Spot” and a Downwind High-Altitude Site

Several studies have reported the transport of short-lived climate forcers/pollutants (SLCF/P) from the highly polluted areas in southern Asia (e.g., the Indo-Gangetic Plain and the Himalayan foothills) to the Himalayas, with significant implications for the global and regional climate, crop yields, and human health. In this work, we perform a comparison of nearly three years (February 2013–October 2015) of simultaneous black carbon (BC) and surface ozone (O3) measurements at two sites in Nepal, viz., Paknajol (1380 m a.s.l.), in the Kathmandu Valley, and the WMO/GAW global station Nepal Climate Observatory-Pyramid (NCO-P, 5079 m a.s.l.), near the base camp of Mt. Everest. The two sites are only 150 km apart and are characterized by different situations: While the Kathmandu Valley is one of the regional urban “hot spots” for concerns related to air pollution, NCO-P is representative of the background conditions of the high Himalayas and the free troposphere. Therefore, the possible role played by emissions occurring in the planetary boundary layer (PBL) of the Kathmandu Valley in influencing the variability in SLCF/P at NCO-P was investigated. BC and O3 concentrations at NCO-P showed a linear correlation with the modeled PBL height over the Kathmandu urban area, providing evidence that the anthropogenic emissions occurring within the Kathmandu PBL could affect the variability in BC and O3 at NCO-P. Furthermore, when introducing an additional constraint into the analysis (viz., back-trajectories), we show that on days when air mass transport between the two measurement sites was observed (10% of the period), at least 22% and 16% of BC and O3 variability at NCO-P can be explained by concurrent variability in SLCF/P over the Kathmandu Valley.
The Characteristics of a Good Mathematics Teacher in Terms of Students, Mathematics Teachers, and School Administrators

This qualitative research aims to examine the opinions of school administrators, teachers, and middle school students about what makes a good mathematics teacher. Interviews were conducted with thirty-five participants: ten school administrators, ten mathematics teachers, and fifteen middle school students. A semi-structured interview form consisting of three questions was used. According to the results obtained, students, teachers, and school administrators agreed that a good mathematics teacher should know how to teach mathematics. The students assessed a good mathematics teacher as someone who not only explains mathematics well, but also takes into account the positive teacher-student relationship. They also expressed that they learn better when the mathematics teacher teaches mathematics by relating it to real life and prepares concrete examples like pictures and graphics. Mathematics teachers defined a good mathematics teacher in terms of knowledge of mathematics, knowledge of mathematics teaching methods, and affective features. According to school administrators, on the other hand, a good mathematics teacher should have mathematics teaching ability; develop himself/herself professionally; communicate with students, colleagues and parents effectively; and obey the rules of institution.
Driving Urban Economic Growth – Evidence from Transition Economies

Input availability, quality of institutions and scale economies make a key contribution to the economy in terms of employment and growth. More recent studies explaining variability in urban economic growth have shifted their focus to urban areas of the developed and developing world with a very scarce research on urban growth drivers in transition economies. We attempt to bridge this gap and investigate variation in GDP per capita growth rates across 98 cities in European Eastern Neighbourhood during 1995-2008, utilizing a unique dataset and employing the System Generalised Method of Moments technique. More specifically, dynamic panel data study is undertaken to shed some light on the role of inputs, institutions, socio-economic and spatial characteristics of cities on urban economic growth. Not only do the results now provide consistent estimates of parameters, but they also support relevant theoretical insights. Our key findings suggest that differences in urban economic growth are largely explained by size of the local government, level of poverty and quality of institutions, such as property rights protection and freedom of doing business. There is also some evidence of `high unemployment – high GDP per capita trap’ and ‘high employment migration - low GDP per capita trap’ in FSU cities to be further investigated.
Coxeter groups and their quotients arising from cluster algebras

In a recent paper, Barot and Marsh presented an explicit construction of presentation of a finite Weyl group by any seed of corresponding cluster algebra, i.e. by any diagram mutation-equivalent to an orientation of a Dynkin diagram with given Weyl group. Extending their construction to the affine case, we obtain presentations for all affine Coxeter groups. Furthermore, we generalize the construction to the settings of diagrams arising from unpunctured triangulated surfaces and orbifolds, which leads to presentations of corresponding groups as quotients of numerous distinct Coxeter groups.
A remarkably well-preserved terrestrial isopod (Peracarida: Isopoda: Armadillidiidae) from the upper Oligocene of Hungary, with remarks on the oniscidean taphonomy

Isopods rank among the more successful and diverse peracaridan crustaceans, the clade of oniscidean isopods (pill-bugs and wood-lice) being one of the few pancrustacean groups to have successfully invaded terrestrial habitats. Yet, the majority of fossil occurrences of oniscidean isopods stem from amber deposits and only under very special circumstances are they preserved in marine settings; such an occurrence is recorded herein. A single, specifically indeterminate, specimen of Armadillidium from upper Oligocene strata at Eger (Hungary) is interpreted as a drowned individual that found itself trapped on a piece of driftwood or was caught by waves while walking on the seashore. The animal was preserved virtually intact and close to a natural posture. A near-perfect preservation of the isopod's cuticular surface indicates their potential to be preserved in marine siliciclastic settings under specific conditions. Matúš Hyžný. Comenius University, Faculty of Natural Sciences, Department of Geology and Palaeontology, Ilkovičova 6, 842 15 Bratislava, Slovakia; e-mail: hyzny.matus@gmail.com and Department of Geology and Palaeontology, Natural History Museum, Vienna, Burgring 7, 1010 Vienna, Austria Arpád Dávid. Debrecen University, Department of Mineralogy and Geology, Egyetemtér 1, 4032 Debrecen, Hungary
Assessment of creativity and innovation at a Saudi University

Article history: Received 17 December 2016 Received in revised form 1 April 2017 Accepted 2 April 2017 Fostering students’ creativity and innovation capabilities has always been at the heart of universities’ endeavor and engagement. Recognized as a constituting element of knowledge societies, creativity is now considered as a major topic in all fields of the educational systems. This study examines the relevant indicators of creativity and innovation for undergraduate students at the University of Hail and how these indicators can be used to develop creativity and innovation skills among Saudi students. The study is performed through the analysis of the results of a survey that was circulated to students during the occasion of the World Creativity and Innovation Week. The respondents’ sample includes 172 students from 10 colleges fairly well distributed among male and female students (40/60 %). Based on the data analysis of the survey, a strong link is perceived to exist between curriculum and creativity and innovation capabilities development. The results reveal that efforts are still needed to raise the awareness of students about the possibilities to enhance and assess their creativity and innovation skills at the university.
36. QUATERNARY MARINE AND CONTINENTAL PALEOENVIRONMENTS IN THE WESTERN MEDITERRANEAN (SITE 976, ALBORAN SEA): PALYNOLOGICAL EVIDENCE 1

A continuous record of both marine and continental paleoenvironments in the Western Mediterranean has been investigated on the same samples from the composite core of Ocean Drilling Project (ODP) Leg 161, Site 976. Palynological analyses (pollen, dinoflagellate cysts, and organic matter) document the continental and marine paleoenvironmental changes in the Alboran Sea Basin from the beginning of the Pleistocene to the Holocene. The marine and continental records have been correlated to climate and/or hydrological changes. The pollen record depicts the vegetation changes in southern Spain and in North Africa along the Pleistocene and Holocene. Variability in abundant and diversified dinoflagellate cyst assemblages permits us to identify climatic and hydrological variations of surface waters along the whole sequence. During the upper Pleistocene, eight climatic cycles are evidenced both in marine and continental paleoenvironments and correlated to the δ18O curve. Focus on the last 28 calendar ka (cal ka) exhibits the major climatic events of the last climatic cycle: Last Glacial Maximum, Oldest Dryas, Bolling/Allerod, Younger Dryas, and Holocene. Periods of enhanced productivity are evidenced between 19 and 17 cal ka and during the Younger Dryas.
Evaluation of a Special Education Professional Development Program

An earlier article in EJA (Piggot-Irvine 2008) reported on the background, methodology and overall results for an evaluation study of a special education teacher professional development project that involved action research (AR) or action learning (AL). The ‘Success Case study’ component that constituted the third phase of the evaluation is reported here. The Success Case studies confirmed the most significant outcome of the previous survey (Phase 1) and focus group (Phase 2), that is, an overwhelming willingness of staff and supporters to see students with special education needs excel. Additional distinctive elements emerged that were common to all Success Case schools and the most significant included that: projects were at a small-scale, manageable, level; the classic stages of AR and AL were followed, even though schools may not have been aware of these stages; data/evidence was used to examine both the current situation and outcomes; and ‘best practice’ and/or a relevant literature underpinned this examination.
Tramadol reduces testicular damage of ischemia-reperfusion rats

The main purpose of this study was to determine effect of tramadol administration on testis histology and oxidative stress experimental on testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury in male Wistar rats. Twenty-four male Wistar rats were randomly divided into four experimental groups. The Sham group (A): no medication was employed; abdominal cavity was opened but no ischemia-reperfusion-induced. The ischemia-reperfusion group (B): abdominal cavity was opened, testicular ischemia-reperfusion-induced without pre-medication. Ischemia-reperfusion +20 mg/kg tramadol group (C), animal orally administrated with Tramadol (20 mg/kg) for 1 week prior testicular ischemia-reperfusion. Ischemia-reperfusion +40 mg/kg tramadol group (D) was similar to group C, but the animals received 40 mg/kg tramadol instead of 20 mg/kg. In all experimental groups, animals were exposed to midline laparotomy with occlusion of the infrarenal aortic for 1 h ischemia by 24 h of reperfusion in the left testis. After 24 h, the abdomen was opened, the left testis extracted for histopathological studies. Semen samples from caudal epididymis were collected to determine malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and total antioxidant status. According to the data, testicular ischemia-reperfusion degenerated seminiferous tubules and spermatogenesis in animals (P < 0.05). Administration of 40 mg/kg of tramadol protect testicular against ischemia-reperfusion injury (P < 0.05). Administration of 40mg/kg tramadol increased superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase while diminished malondialdehyde levels in testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury (P < 0.05). These results suggest tramadol might be a potent agent in preventing testicular IR injury.
Attachment Theory: In search of a relationship between attachment security and preschool children's level of empathy

The ability to empathise has frequently been advocated as the driving force behind pro-social behaviour. The tender and nurturing environment inherently provided by mothers of securely attached children, constructs an ambience which promotes the development of empathy and implicates the role of attachment theory in explaining individual differences in empathy. Investigated in 58 preschool children, using 8 pictorial scenes portraying four emotions – happiness, sadness, anger and fear, children were invited to rate emotions elicited for both the character and self. Results supported the main prediction that securely attached children would be more empathic than insecurely attached children (p < .001), thus indicating that the route for increasing pro-social behaviour may lie within the realms of attachment theory.
Effect of Protein Level on Gonadal Development of the African Catfish

A study was carried out to determine the effect of protein level, on the gonadal development of the African catfish, Clarias gariepinus, broodfish, using regularly recommended 31% and 40% crude protein (CP) diets. This was aimed at determining, the best level of crude protein inclusion in their diets, capable of enhancing gonadal recrudescence, maturity and spawning, and yet ensuring cost-effective feeding of pond-bred Clarias gariepinus broodstock. Juveniles weighing 5gms to 8gms with lengths ranging from 6cm to 9cm, were reared on the diets, for six months. Gonadal development (using Qualitative (Macro-morphological gonad examination) and Quantitative (Gonadosomatic index– GSI) methods), and Fish condition (using the Condition factor – K) were assessed at the third and sixth months. At the third month, qualitative gonad assessment revealed low gonadal development for all fishes though that, of the fishes (females and males) fed the 31% CP diets were 100% immature stage I gonads, whereas the 40% CP diet fed fishes were 70%immature stage I and 30%maturing stage II for males, and 80%immature stage I and 20%maturing stage II for females. At the sixth month however, qualitative gonadal assessment revealed that, fishes fed 40% CP had 30% of the females spawning, and 30% of the male fishes attained full maturity, but amongst the fishes fed 31% crude protein, 30% of females and 20% of males were about attaining maturity. This was supported by higher GSI ranges of 25.5% - 39.1% for females and 0.17% - 0.22% for males fed 40% CP, as compared to lower GSI ranges of 20.5% - 28.6% for females and 0.11% - 0.14% for males fed 31%CP diet. The condition factor-K values were generally high at the third month (1.46 -1.90 and1.25 to1.68, for females and males fed 31%CP respectively; and 0.12 to2.16, and1.28 to1.95 for females and males respectively, fed 40%CP) but fell at the sixth month (0.57 - 0.75 and 0.59- 0.84, for females and males fed 31% CP; and 0.59 – 0.73 and 0.74 to 0.92 for females and males respectively, fed 40%CP). This down-ward trend indicates loss in condition related to gonadal development. However, the loss exhibited by fishes fed40% CP was less and their condition were better . The observed differences in GSI between 30% and 40% CP diets fed-fishes were significant at P<0.05% for females and P<0.01% for males. Also, the condition of females fishes fed 31% and 40% crude protein were not significantly different, but the males fed both experimental feeds were significantly different at P<0.05%. It could thus be inferred that, the 40% CP diet gave better results than 31%CP diet. It is therefore recommended that, aquaculturist utilize 40% crude protein- inclusion for enhancing broodfish condition, gonadal recrudescence and spawning, for year-round seed production and cost effective Clarias gariepinus broodfish management. Keywords : Clarias gariepinus, C rude protein, Gonadal development, Fish condition.
The Effect of Thyme Essential Oil (Thymus Vulgaris) Added to Quail Diets on Performance, Some Blood Parameters, and the Antioxidative Metabolism of the Serum and Liver Tissues

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to determine the effect of diets containing different levels of thyme essential oil (TEO) on performance, some serum parameters and the antioxidative metabolism of the serum and liver tissues in quails. A total number of 200 sixteen-days-old Japanese quails ( Coturnix coturnix japonica ) were used in the study. The animals were divided into 4 groups; the control group was fed only basal diet but groups TEO1, TEO2 and TEO3 had thyme essential oil of 150, 300 and 450 mg/kg, respectively, added to their diets. Body weight and daily weight gain increased with higher levels of thyme essential oil in the feed, yet a statistically significant increase was detected in only group TEO3 (p<0.05). Furthermore, in all of the groups that were fed on TEO, feed intake was significantly higher than that of the control group (p<0.05). In the groups that received thyme essential oil, serum creatinine and low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels were low, whereas serum magnesium levels were high (p<0.05). Thyme essential oil significantly increased in liver catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) activities and serum CAT and GSH-Px activities, and significantly reduced both liver and serum lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde=MDA) levels (p<0.01). In result, while thyme essential oil partially affected the performance and serum parameters, it had a marked effect on the antioxidant metabolism.
Employees as Individually and Collectively Acting Subjects—Key Contributions from Nordic Working Life Research

The Nordic countries—Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, and Sweden—are societies that share many features among themselves that also distinguish them from other industrialized countries. The paper poses the question whether the distinct character of the Nordic societies has generated working life research that is clearly distinguishable from similar research in other countries in terms of distinctness in topics, methods, empirical findings, or theoretical concepts. The aim of this paper is to answer this question by identifying, analyzing, and discussing selected key contributions from Nordic working life research to understand how they research and construe the conditions of humans at work with a special focus on the psychosocial well-being of industrial workers. The paper concludes that the key contributions to Nordic working life research have a distinctive emphasis on collective employee voice and autonomy and an extensive use of empirical and actionoriented research methods. Employees are construed not only as workers resisting exploitations from management or as workers pursuing individual careers, but also as members of collectives who share ideas and aspirations and who legitimately influence the management (and research) using cooperation and pressure.
Thermal and non-thermal effects driven by magnetic reconnections observed in a confined flare

In order to better understand the energy processes occurring during the impulsive phase of solar flares we compare observations with our magnetic model calculations. We study the 1N/M1.9 confined flare of 20 October 2003 observed during a Joint Observation Program (JOP157), and concentrate on the spectral analysis of the Reuven Ramaty High Energy Solar Spectroscopic Imager (RHESSI). These X-ray observations are combined with those from the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) instruments, the French Italian magnetograph (THEMIS), and the Multi-channel Infrared Solar Spectrograph (MISS). The flare occurred in a complex active region, NOAA 10484, with a delta configuration. For model calculations we extrapolate magnetic field lines, which allows us to understand the magnetic topology of the region. This topology and the long impulsive phase of the flare with numerous peaks (GOES, RHESSI) suggest multiple magnetic field reconnection processes. The RHESSI images show a bright structure in hard X-rays (HXR) that could be the tops of the loops. We measure a significant displacement of this structure between the two main maxima of emission, which infers different sites for the reconnection process. The energy release processes can be understood by analyzing the RHESSI spectra using different models. First, using the thermal plus broken power law non-thermal component, we derive the low energy cutoff for the power law distribution of the high-energy electrons (approximate to 25 keV). Then, we apply two models (thermal plus thick- target and thermal plus thin-target non-thermal component) that allow us to fit the observations. These two models lead to similar results; non-thermal energy contributes a significant amount (approximately 20%) of the total flare energy only during the first peak of the impulsive phase. This suggests that the energy that heats the chromosphere is transported mainly by thermal conduction. The temperature of the thermal plasma is 34 MK and 20 MK at the first and second peaks, respectively.
A Component-Based Architecture for Suspense Modelling

This work has been funded by the Andalusian Government under the University of Cadiz programme for Researching and Innovation in Education. This paper has been partially supported by the projects WHIM 611560 and PROSECCO 600653 funded by the European Commission, Framework Program 7, the ICT theme, and the Future and Emerging Technologies FET program.
An in vitro evaluation of the potential use of greenhouse wastes to replace barley in goats ' diets

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of replacing barley grain with greenhouse waste fruits (tomato and cucumber) in diets for ruminants on their in vitro rumen fermentation. A control diet with cereal straw, wheat bran, sunflower meal, alfalfa hay and barley grain was compared with diets in which barley grain was gradually replaced with tomato, cucumber or a mixture (1:1) of both. These diets were incubated in batch cultures using rumen fluid from goats as inoculum. Pressure and gas volume were measured at 0, 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h post-inoculation. Samples were collected after 24 h of incubation for volatile fatty acids (VFA) analyses. The type of waste did not affect kinetic (P = 0.658 and P = 0.885 for A and c, respectively) of gas production (GP) but increasing level of waste in the diet seemed to promote faster GP rate. Waste type and level of inclusion in the diet did not change pH (P ≥ 0.304), total VFA and most of VFA molar proportions. However, higher proportions of propionic acid (P = 0.023) were observed at the highest level of waste. Results from this experiment indicate that tomato, cucumber or a combination of both wastes can be included in ruminant diets to replace barley grain without compromising in vitro rumen fermentation.