Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Do more educated leaders raise citizensâ€™ education?

This paper looks at the contribution of political leaders to enhance citizens education and investigate how the educational attainment of the population is affected while a leader with higher education remains in office. For this purpose, we consider educational transitions of political leaders in office and find that the educational attainment of population increases when a more educated leader remains in office. Furthermore, we also observe that the educational attainment of the population is negatively impacted when a country transitions from an educated leader to a less educated one. This result may help to explain the previous finding that more educated political leaders favor economic growth. Key Words: Political leaders, Primary Education, School Achievement, Political institutions. JEL classification: I21,I25,I28.
What drives consumers to shop online? A literature review

While a large number of consumers in the US and Europe frequently shop on the Internet, research on what drives consumers to shop online has typically been fragmented. This paper therefore proposes a framework to increase researchers’ understanding of consumers’ attitudes toward online shopping and their intention to shop on the Internet. The framework uses the constructs of the Technology Acceptance Model (TAM) as a basis, extended by exogenous factors and applies it to the online shopping context. The review shows that attitudes toward online shopping and intention to shop online are not only affected by ease of use, usefulness, and enjoyment, but also by exogenous factors like consumer traits, situational factors, product characteristics, previous online shopping experiences, and trust in online shopping.
Significant records of birds in forests on Cebu island, central Philippines

Information on threatened endemic birds of Cebu, generated over three years of monitoring (2001‐2004), revealed a number of supposedly extinct bird taxa surviving in small, degraded forest patches. Methods used in our surveys included mist-netting, line transects, point counts and interviewing key local persons. Four threatened Philippine endemic birds were observed in at least two sites on Cebu Island. Seven of the twelve endemic subspecies from Cebu were confirmed extant. Twenty forest birds presumed extinct in Cebu were rediscovered. In addition, we mist-netted the first Chinese Goshawk for Cebu and one Phylloscopus warbler showing characteristics of Yellow-browed Warbler, a species not previously known from the Philippines. On the other hand, we did not find the Cebu endemic races of White-bellied Woodpecker Dryocopus javensis cebuensis, Blackish Cuckooshrike Coracina coerulescens altera, Bar-bellied Cuckooshrike Coracina striata cebuensis and Philippine Oriole Oriolus steeri assimilis along with 16 other forest bird species that may now be extinct or nearly extinct on Cebu. The surviving populations of threatened and endemic birds of Cebu largely depend on the persistence of small forest patches; hence, the condition of these populations is precarious.
Photoluminescence of the Dehydrated Ag-type Zeolite A Packed under Air(Condensed matter: electronic structure and electrical, magnetic, and optical properties)

The photoluminescence (PL) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements have been carried out for the dehydrated fully Ag + exchanged zeolite A powders packed with controlled amounts of the adsorbed H 2 O molecules. The powders are designated as “air-packed 12Ag-A” and have been prepared by packing the dehydrated 12Ag-A in the glass cell under air at different temperatures between 120 and 30 °C in the cooling process after the dehydration at 500 °C for 24 h under air. The PL spectra obtained by radiation of 400 nm light have main peaks around 2.15 eV and subpeaks around 2.70 eV. The PL spectra were fitted by four Gaussians. The peak around 2.15 eV consists of the band I ∼1.94 eV and band II ∼2.10 eV, while the subpeak around 2.70 eV of the band III ∼2.50 eV and band IV ∼2.80 eV. The temperature variations of the integral intensities for the bands II and IV show maxima between 50 and 80 °C where the interaction between the zeolite framework and the adsorbed H 2 O molecules is found to .
Chemical characteristics of submicron particles at the central tibetan plateau: Insights from aerosol mass spectrometry

Abstract. Recent studies have revealed a significant influx of anthropogenic aerosol from South Asia to the Himalayas and Tibetan Plateau (TP) during pre-monsoon period. In order to characterize the chemical composition, sources, and transport processes of aerosol in this area, we carried out a field study during June 2015 by deploying a suite of online instruments including an Aerodyne high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-AMS) and a multi-angle absorption photometer (MAAP) at Nam Co station (90 ∘ 57 ′ E, 30 ∘ 46 ′ N; 4730 m a.s.l.) at the central of the TP. The measurements were made at a period when the transition from pre-monsoon to monsoon occurred. The average ambient mass concentration of submicron particulate matter (PM 1) over the whole campaign was ∼ 2.0 µ g m −3 , with organics accounting for 68 %, followed by sulfate (15 %), black carbon (8 %), ammonium (7 %), and nitrate (2 %). Relatively higher aerosol mass concentration episodes were observed during the pre-monsoon period, whereas persistently low aerosol concentrations were observed during the monsoon period. However, the chemical composition of aerosol during the higher aerosol concentration episodes in the pre-monsoon season was on a case-by-case basis, depending on the prevailing meteorological conditions and air mass transport routes. Most of the chemical species exhibited significant diurnal variations with higher values occurring during afternoon and lower values during early morning, whereas nitrate peaked during early morning in association with higher relative humidity and lower air temperature. Organic aerosol (OA), with an oxygen-to-carbon ratio (O ∕ C) of 0.94, was more oxidized during the pre-monsoon period than during monsoon (average O ∕ C ratio of 0.72), and an average O ∕ C was 0.88 over the entire campaign period, suggesting overall highly oxygenated aerosol in the central TP. Positive matrix factorization of the high-resolution mass spectra of OA identified two oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA) factors: a less oxidized OOA (LO-OOA) and a more oxidized OOA (MO-OOA). The MO-OOA dominated during the pre-monsoon period, whereas LO-OOA dominated during monsoon. The sensitivity of air mass transport during pre-monsoon with synoptic process was also evaluated with a 3-D chemical transport model.
Effects of Cognitive-Behavioral Stress Management Training on the Syndrome of Burnout in Employed Women Nurses: A Case Study in Hospitals of Ahvaz University of Medical Sciences

This study explored the effects of cognitive-behavioral stress management training on nurses’ burnout in three dimensions: emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment. Population of the study included all female nurses employed in Golestan, Razi, and Abuzar Hospitals. 30 nurses whose scores were one standard deviation above the mean were selected from among volunteers who responded to the Maslach Burnout Inventory. Subjects were matched according to their marital status and randomly assigned into experimental and control groups. The experimental group received nine sessions of cognitive-behavioral stress management training. Data were collected using Maslach Burnout Inventory. Results of the intervention sessions showed the intervention had been effective for improving the symptoms of burnout. Results from Multivariate Covariance Analysis (MANCOVA) showed significant differences between the two groups. Meanwhile, results of the covariance analysis of the mean scores of emotional exhaustion, depersonalization, and personal accomplishment showed stress management training had been effective in reducing depersonalization and increasing personal accomplishment among members of experimental group as compared to control group. However the intervention sessions had been far from effective in reducing the emotional exhaustion in the experimental group. Follow-up studies also revealed the long-term positive effects of stress management training in reducing depersonalization and increasing personal accomplishment, although it had no effect on reducing emotional exhaustion.
Habitat Selection by Two K-Selected Species: An Application to Bison and Sage Grouse

Habitat Selection by Two K-Selected Species: An Application to Bison and Sage-Grouse in Utah Joshua T. Kaze Department of Plant and Wildlife Science, BYU Masters of Science Population growth for species with long lifespans and low reproductive rates (i.e., Kselected species) is influenced primarily by both survival of adult females and survival of young. Because survival of adults and young is influenced by habitat quality and resource availability, it is important for managers to understand factors that influence habitat selection during the period of reproduction. My thesis contains two chapters addressing this issue for K-selected species in Utah. Chapter one evaluates habitat selection of greater sage-grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus) on Diamond Mountain during the critical nesting and brood-rearing period. Chapter two address selection of birth sites by bison (Bison bison) on Antelope Island, Utah. We collected micro-habitat data for 88 nests and 138 brood locations of greater sagegrouse from 2010-2012 to determine habitat preferences of nesting and brooding sage-grouse. Using random forests modeling techniques, we found that percent sagebrush, percent canopy cover, percent total shrubs, and percent obscurity (Robel pole) best differentiated nest locations from random locations with selection of higher values in each case. We used a 26-day nesting period to determine an average nest survival rate of 0.35 (95% CI = 0.23 – 0.47) for adults and 0.31 (95% CI = 0.14 – 0.50) for juvenile grouse. Brood sites were closer to habitat edges, contained more forbs and less rock than random locations. Average annual adult female survival across the two-year study period was 0.52 (95% CI= 0.38 – 0.65) compared to 0.43 (95% CI= 0.28 – 0.59) for yearlings. Brooding and nesting habitat at use locations on Diamond Mountain met or exceeded published guidelines for everything but forb cover at nest sites. Adult and juvenile survival rates were in line with average values from around the range whereas nest success was on the low end of reported values. For bison, we quantified variables surrounding 35 birth sites and 100 random sites during 2010 and 2011on Antelope Island State Park. We found females selected birth sites based on landscape attributes such as curvature and elevation, but also distance to anthropogenic features (i.e., human structures such as roads or trails). Models with variables quantifying the surrounding vegetation received no support. Coefficients associated with top models indicated that areas near anthropogenic features had a lower probability of selection as birth sites. Our model predicted 91% of observed birth sites in medium-high or high probability categories. This model of birthing habitat, in cooperation with data of birth timing, provides biologists with a map of highprobability birthing areas and a time of year in which human access to trails or roads could be minimized to reduce conflict between recreation and female bison.
Evaluating the effects of freeze-dried supplements of purslane (Portulaca oleracea) on blood lipids in hypercholesterolemic adults

This study was designed to evaluate the efficacy of the freeze-dried supplements of purslane in reducing blood lipids in hypercholesterolemic adults. Fresh purslane leaves were freeze-dried and the fatty acids content analyzed. Eleven (11) hypercholesterolemic subjects (5 females and 6 males) volunteered to participate in the study. The subjects consumed step I diet during a 2-week acclimation period and switched to step I diet supplemented with freeze-dried purslane leaves (6 g/day) for 4 weeks. Subjects were instructed to incorporate the freeze-dried supplements into their meals at lunch (3 g) and dinner (3 g) during the 4 weeks experimental period. Fasting blood samples were collected at the end of the acclimation period and at 2-weeks interval during the experimental period for analysis of plasma cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol, HDL-cholesterol and triacylglycerol concentrations. Data were subject to analysis of variance and means separation was conducted using the Duncan multiple range test (DMRT). Consumption of purslane for 4 weeks reduced (P < 0.05) plasma total cholesterol and LDLcholesterol. HDL-cholesterol levels were increased (P < 0.05). Plasma triacylglycerol concentrations were not affected by the consumption of purslane supplements. Results suggest that purslane supplements have the potential to alter blood lipid metabolism in hypercholesterolemic subjects and can lower the risk of heart disease. In addition, nutrient analysis confirmed that purslane is a rich source of polyunsaturated fatty acids, crude protein, vitamins and minerals.
Weed management in maize using hoeing and intercropping with Mimosa caesalpiniifolia

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o manejo de plantas daninhas no milho, usando-se capinas e consorciacao com Mimosa caesalpiniifolia. Utilizou-se o delineamento de blocos ao acaso com parcelas subdivididas e cinco repeticoes. Os hibridos AG1051 e BR205 (parcelas) receberam os seguintes tratamentos: A = duas capinas [aos 20 e 40 dias apos a semeadura do milho (DASM)] e sem consorciacao; B = capina aos 20 DASM + semeadura de sabia apos a capina; C = semeadura da sabia por ocasiao da semeadura do milho + capina aos 40 DASM; D = semeadura da sabia por ocasiao da semeadura do milho; E = sem capinas e sem consorciacao. O menor crescimento das plantas daninhas ocorreu nos dois hibridos, com os tratamentos que envolveram capinas. Os maiores rendimentos do milho foram obtidos com duas capinas. As combinacoes de capinas com a consorciacao proporcionaram maior rendimento de graos em comparacao com a consorciacao com a sabia isoladamente. O rendimento de graos com a capina aos 20 dias apos a semeadura do milho (DASM) + consorciacao com a sabia, foi maior do que a consorciacao com a sabia + capina aos 40 DASM.
Experimental study of H 2 SO 4 aerosol nucleation at high ionization levels

One hundred and ten direct measurements of aerosol nucleation rate at high ionization levels were performed in an 8 m 3 reaction chamber. Neutral and ion-induced particle formation from sulfuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ) was studied as a function of ionization and H 2 SO 4 concentration. Other species that could have participated in the nucleation, such as NH 3 or organic compounds, were not measured but assumed constant, and the concentration was estimated based on the parameterization by Gordon et al. (2017). Our parameter space is thus [H 2 SO 4 ] = 4 × 10 6 − 3 × 10 7 cm − 3 , [NH 3 + org] = 2.2 ppb, T = 295 K, RH = 38 %, and ion concentrations of 1700–19 000 cm − 3 . The ion concentrations, which correspond to levels caused by a nearby supernova, were achieved with gamma ray sources. Nucleation rates were directly measured with a particle size magniﬁer (PSM Air-modus A10) at a size close to critical cluster size (mobility diameter of ∼ 1.4 nm) and formation rates at a mobility diameter of ∼ 4 nm were measured with a CPC (TSI model 3775). The measurements show that nucleation increases by around an order of magnitude when the ionization increases from background to supernova levels under ﬁxed gas conditions.
Cytomixis and unreduced pollen formation in some Festuca L. species of Iran

Abstract Nine populations of 4 Festuca species (genus Festuca, Poaceae) were studied for meiotic characteristics including chiasma frequency and distribution as well as chromosomal association and segregation. The species studied showed the presence 2n = 2x = 14 and 2n = 6x = 42 chromosome number. The chromosome number of F. akhanii is new. Two populations of allohexaploid species of F. arundinacea, F. valesiaca as well as one population of F. akhanii formed quadrivalents in metaphase of meiosis-I, possibly due to the ocurrence of chromosomes structural changes. Diploid and tetraploid species differed significantly in their relative cytogenetic characteristics, indicating their genomic differences. Almost in all the populations studied laggard chromosomes and stickiness were observed which might bring about some degree of pollen infertility. Chromatin/chromosome migration occurred in most of the species studied resulting in the formation of aneuploid and unreduced meiocytes which in turn may lead to the formation of unreduced pollen grains. Cytomixis and 2n pollen formation in the genus Festuca is reported or the first time.
Soil carbon and nitrogen of Northern Great Plains grasslands as influenced by long-term grazing.

Three mixed prairie sites at Mandan, N.D. were grazed heavily (0.9 ha steer-1), moderately (2.6 ha steer-1), or left ungrazed (exclosure) since 1916. These sites provided treatments to study the effects of long-term grazing on soil organic carbon and nitrogen content and to relate changes in soil carbon and nitrogen to grazing induced changes in species composition. Blue grama [Bouteloua gracilis (H.B.K) Lag. ex Griffiths] accounted for the greatest change in species composition for both grazing treatment. Relative foliar cover of blue grama was 25% in 1916 and 86% in 1994 in the heavily grazed pasture and 15% in 1916 to 16% in 1994 in the moderately grazed pasture. Total soil nitrogen content was higher in the exclosure (1.44 kg N ha-1) than in either grazing treatment (0.92 and 1.07 kg N ha-1 for moderately and heavily grazed, respectively) to 107-cm depth. Soil organic carbon content avg 72, 6.4, and 7A kg m-2 to 30.4 cm soil depth and 14.1,11.7, and 14.0 kg m-2 to 106.7 cm soil depth for the exclosure, moderately grazed, and heavily grazed treatments, respectively. Compared to the exclosure the moderately grazed pasture contained 17% less soil carbon to the 106.7 cm depth. Heavy grazing did not reduce soil carbon when compared to the exclosure. Based on 13C analysis and soil organic carbon data to 15.2 cm depth, blue grama or other C4 species contributed 24% or 12 kg m-2 of the total carbon in the heavily grazed and 20% or 0.8 kg m-2 of the total carbon in the moderately grazed pastures during the 1916 to l99l time period. The increase in blue grama, a species with dense shallow root systems, in the heavily grazed pasture probably accounted for maintenance of soil carbon at levels equal to the exclosure. These results suggest that changes in species composition from a mixed prairie to predominantly blue grama compensated for soil carbon losses that may result from grazing native grasslands.
Aktif Spor Yapan Üniversite Öğrencilerinde Sporda Batıl İnanç Eğilimi ile Sürekli Kaygı Seviyeleri Arasındaki İlişkinin İncelenmesi

Bu arastirma aktif spor yapan universite ogrencilerinin sporda batil davranis egilimleri ile surekli kaygi duzeyleri arasindaki iliskiyi incelemek amaciyla yapilmistir. Arastirmaya Pamukkale Universitesi ve Ege Universitesi Beden Egitimi ve Spor Yuksek Okulu’nda ogrenim goren 166 ogrenci basit rastgele ornekleme sistemi ile secilmis ve katilimcilar calismaya gonullu olarak katilmistir. Calismada veri toplamak amaciyla “Sporda Batil Inanc ve Davranis Envanteri” ile “Surekli Kaygi Envanteri” kullanilmistir. Sporda batil davranis egilimi ile surekli kaygi arasindaki iliskiyi belirlemek icin korelasyon analizi kullanilmistir. Yapilan istatistiksel analizler, aktif spor yapan universite ogrencilerinin sporda batil davranis egilimleri ile surekli kaygi duzeyleri arasinda pozitif ve istatistiksel olarak anlamli bir iliski oldugunu gostermistir (r=.208; p=.007). Katilimcilarin batil inanc egilimleri arasinda cinsiyetleri bakimindan anlamli bir farklilik olup olmadigi Bagimsiz Gruplarda T-testi kullanilarak belirlenmistir. Yapilan analizler sonucu, kadin ve erkek katilimcilarin cinsiyetleri bakimindan batil davranis egilimleri arasinda istatistiksel olarak anlamli bir farklilik bulunamamistir (t=1.15; p=.251). Calisma bulgulari kayginin aktif spor yapan universite ogrencilerinde batil davranis egilimini arttiran bir oge oldugunu gostermektedir
Effects of Storage: Whole Blood Specimens for CD4-T Lymphocytes Determination in Yaoundé, Cameroon

ABSTRACT Introduction. Stored blood specimens collected in Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid (EDTA) anti-coagulant tubes for CD4 T-Cell determinations are inevitable practices in Cameroon and many other countries worldwide. This study aimed to evaluate the reproducibility of results obtained from blood samples stored at room temperature (25° C) and 4° C within six days post collection. Methods. Whole blood samples collected in EDTA collection tubes were analyzed for CD4 absolute counts using the FACS Count Machine (Becton Dickinson, France). We Used the FACS Count reagent kit (CD4, CD8 and CD3 combine). Samples were strictly analyzed using the procedural manual of the kit . Freshly collected blood samples in day one served as control. Results. There was a significant correlation with results obtained at day 2 and 3 (47 and 72 hours). Day 4, 5, 6 (72, 96 and 120 hours) did not show any correlation with day one. Blood samples stored at -4°C degrees did not correlate with any other day. Conclusion. Reproducibility of CD4 cell count could only be evaluated up to 72 hours, whereas blood samples stored in the fridge at -4°C were not reproducible after day one. Our findings can serve as a guide to clinical laboratories and health care providers handling samples in rural and urban settings. RESUME Introduction. La conservation des echantillons de sang preleves dans les tubes contenant l’anticoagulant Ethylene Diamine-Tetra-Acetique (EDTA) pour la determination du taux de lymphocytes T CD4 sont des pratiques courantes au Cameroun et dans de nombreux pays du monde . Cette etude visait a evaluer la reproductibilite des resultats obtenus a partir des echantillons de sang stockes a temperature ambiante (25°C) dans les six jours suivant la collecte. Methodologie. Les echantillons de sang total collectes dans des tubes EDTA ont ete analyses afin de determiner le nombre absolu de CD4 en utilisant l’appareil FACS Count (Becton Dickinson, France). Nous avons utilise le kit de reactifs FACS Count (CD4, CD8 et CD3 combines). Les echantillons ont ete analyses en respectant la procedure decrite par le fabriquant du kit. Les echantillons de sang fraichement preleves au jour 1 ont servi de temoins. Resultats. Nous avons trouve une correlation significative entre les resultats obtenus au jour 2 et 3 (47 et 72 heures). Il n’y avait pas de correlation entre les jours 4, 5, 6 (72, 96 et 120 heures) et le jour un. Les resultats des echantillons de sang stockes a - 4°C n’ont ete correles avec ceux d’aucun autre jour. Conclusion. La reproductibilite du nombre de cellules CD4 ne peut etre evaluee que jusqu'a 72 heures, alors que les echantillons de sang stockes dans le refrigerateur a - 4°C ne sont pas reproductibles apres le premier jour. Nos resultats peuvent servir de guide aux laboratoires cliniques et aux prestataires de soins de sante manipulant des echantillons en milieu rural et urbain.