Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN CONTINUOUS ASSESSMENT AND JUNIOR SCHOOL CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION MATHEMATICS SCORES IN EKITI STATE ADEBULE

The study investigated the relationship between students’ continuous assessment scores and Junior School Certificate Examination Mathematics Scores in Ekiti State. The population consisted of all Junior Secondary School Students for 2005/2006, 2006/2007 and 2007/2008 academic sessions. A sample of 80 students selected through the stratified random sampling technique from eight junior secondary schools was involved in the study. Three null hypotheses were generated and tested at 0.05 level of significance. The findings showed that there was a significant relationship between the junior secondary school continuous assessment scores (JSSCAS) and the overall performance in junior secondary school certificate examination in mathematics (JSSOT). However, there was no significant relationship between JSSCAS and JSS ST for male and female students. It was suggested that teacher made test used for continuous assessment should be made to pass through the processes of standardization and validation.
Title : Association of genetic markers with structural soundness and its relationship to gilt development and sow longevity-NPB # 08-012

1. Onteru, S.K. , B. Fan, D. Garrick, K.J. Stalder, and M.F. Rothschild. 2009. Whole genome analyses for pig reproductive traits using the PorcineSNP60 BeadChip. Pig Genome III Conference. November 2-4, 2009, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK. Abstract No. 5. 2. Fan, B. , Onteru, S.K, Garrick, D. , Stalder, K.J, and M.F. Rothschild. 2009. A genome-wide association study for pig production and feet and leg structure traits using the PorcineSNP60 BeadChip. Pig Genome III Conference, November 2-4, 2009, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK. Abstract No. 6. 3. Onteru S.K. , B. Fan, D.J. Garrick, K.J. Stalder, and M.F. Rothschild. 2010. Genome-wide analyses for pig reproductive traits using the PorcineSNP60 BeadChip. The International Plant & Animal Genome XVIII Conference. January 9-13, San Diego, California. P615. 4. Fan, B. , Onteru, S.K, Garrick, D. , Stalder, K.J, and M.F. Rothschild. 2010. Whole genome association analysis body composition and feet and leg structure soundness traits in the pig. The International Plant & Animal Genome XVIII Conference. January 9-13, San Diego, California. P605. 5. Rothschild, M.F. , D.M. Gorbach, B. Fan, S.K. Onteru, Z. -Q. Du, D.J. Garrick, R.L. Fernando, K.J. Stalder, and J.C. M. Dekkers. 2010. Applications of new porcine genomic tools to trait discovery and understanding genomic architecture. The International. Plant & Animal Genome XVIII Conference. January 9-13, San Diego, California. W614.
Attitudes , perceptions , fatalism and behaviours : some early findings

Road transport represents the 12th leading cause of death in the UK, and things are not improving. This research focuses on one of the factors behind the statistics; human behaviour. Specifically, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between self-reported involvement in accidents on the road, self-reported pedestrian behaviours, and three social cognitive constructs; road safety attitudes, on-road risk perceptions, and fatalistic beliefs. In a survey of 695 respondents, it was found that attitudes relate strongly to self-reported behaviours, and to some of the constructs measured by the fatalistic beliefs scale used here. Risk perceptions were not found to correlate strongly with any other variable, and splitting the sample by self-reported involvement in accidents resulted in few group differences. Results are discussed in terms of the need for road safety interventions to consider the determinants of behaviour.
s-Processing in AGB stars revisited . II . Enhanced 13 C production through MHD-induced mixing

Editorial Dear Colleagues, Happy New Year! It is our pleasure to present you the 222 issue of the AGB Newsletter. It is a voluminous edition containing much of interest and inspiration – including determinations of masses and ages of red giant stars, high angular resolution images of the circumstellar environments of cool evolved stars, the properties of the circumstellar dust grains, the abundances of s-process (and other) elements; novæ, planetary nebulæ and other post-AGB objects. The next issue is planned to be distributed around the 1 of February.
Are Female CEOs Paid Less ?

We show that there exists a significant gender pay gap in CEO compensation of the S&P 1500 firms. However, this pay gap is conducive to the society because this time female CEOs earn more than their male counterparts. We use a large sample of 22,119 firm-year observations over the period of 1998-2015. Our finding is robust under various specifications and estimation techniques. We use pooled cross-sectional fixed effect regression as a base model. Thereafter, we use matched sample using propensity score matching and instrumental variable regression under 2SLS and GMM with robust weighting matrix. Our finding holds in every model: female CEO coefficient is a positive and significant (at 1% level). We show that the reason behind female CEOs earning a higher pay is attributable to their better capacity in handling firm risk than male CEOs. Furthermore, using quantile regression model (QRM), we show that the CEO compensation is asymmetric, i.e., gender pay gap exists at the lower quantiles, however, fades away at the median and higher quantiles. Therefore, it is not surprising that earlier research concluded (depending on mean-based models) that there is no gender pay gap in the CEO level.
The production of methane from the straw pellets with addition of enzymes

Biogas production requires much cheaper raw materials. The use of straw, as not always the full use of agricultural residues, increases the methane yield in pelletised form compared to non-pelletised straw. Lack is the high ratio of carbon to nitrogen content of straw, which leads to a slow and incomplete breakdown of the matter, and less producing substances from which bacteria produce methane.Variety of additives can be used to improve anaerobic digestion process. This article shows the results of the study, where the enzymes alpha amylase and xylanase and catalysts Metaferm and Melafen mixture are used for the digestion process echancement. Investigation was provided in 16 bioreactors operated in batch mode at 38 °C. Additives were filled into 14 bioreactors and only inoculum were filled into two bioreactors for control. The yield of biogas from straw pellets without additives was 0.655 L gDOM and methane 0.301 L gDOM after 34 days of anaerobic digestion. The yield of biogas from straw pellets with added alpha amylase was 0.652 L gDOM and methane 0.318 L gDOM. The yield of biogas from straw pellets with added xylanase was 0.689 L gDOM and methane 0.347 L gDOM. The yield of biogas from straw pellets with added Metaferm and Melafen mixture was 0.638 L gDOM and methane 0.254 L gDOM. The study demonstrates that the adding of enzymes increases the production of methane.
Patronage for Productivity: Selection and Performance in the Age of Sail

Patronage is a byword for poor performance, yet it remains pervasive. We study the selection effects of patronage in the world's most successful navy â? the British Royal Navy between 1690 and 1849. Using newly collected data on the battle performance of more than 5,800 naval officers promoted â? with and without family ties â? to the top of the navy hierarchy, we find that connected promotees outperformed unconnected ones. Therewas substantial heterogeneity among the admirals in charge of promotions. Discretion over appointments thus created scope for "good" and "bad" patronage. Because most admirals promoted on the basis of merit and did not favor their kin, the overall selection effect of patronage was positive.
On the Usage of Phonetic Information for Text-Independent Speaker Embedding Extraction

Embeddings extracted by deep neural networks have become the state-of-the-art utterance representation in speaker recognition systems. It has recently been shown that incorporating frame-level phonetic information in the embedding extractor can improve the speaker recognition performance. On the other hand, in the ﬁnal embedding, phonetic information is just an additional source of session variability which may be harmful to the text-independent speaker recognition task. This suggests that at the embedding level phonetic information should be suppressed rather than encouraged. To verify this hypothesis, we perform several experiments that encourage or/and suppress phonetic information at various stages in the network. Our experiments conﬁrm that multitask learning is beneﬁcial if it is applied at the frame-level stage of the network, whereas adversarial training is beneﬁcial if it is used at the segment-level stage of the network. Additionally, the combination of these two approaches improves the performance further, resulting in an equal error rate of 3.17% on the VoxCeleb dataset.
Net reservoir discrimination through multi-attribute analysis at single sample scale

Delineating faults from seismic images is a key step for seismic structural interpretation, reservoir characterization, and well place-ment. In conventional methods, faults are considered as seismic reflection discontinuities and are detected by calculating attributes that estimate reflection continuities or discontinuities. We consider fault detection as a binary image segmentation problem of labeling a 3D seismic image with ones on faults and zeros elsewhere. We have performed an efficient image-to-image fault segmentation using a supervised fully convolutional neural network. To train the network, we automatically create 200 3D synthetic seismic images and corresponding binary fault labeling images, which are shown to be sufficient to train a good fault segmentation network. Because a binary fault image is highly imbalanced between zeros (nonfault) and ones (fault), we use a class-balanced binary cross-entropy loss function to adjust the imbalance so that the network is not trained or converged to predict only zeros. After training with only the synthetic data sets, the network automatically learns to calculate rich and proper features that are important for fault detection. Multiple field examples indicate that the neural network (trained by only synthetic data sets) can predict faults from 3D seismic images much more accurately and efficiently than conventional methods. With a TITAN Xp GPU, the training processing takes approximately 2 h and predicting faults in a 128 × 128 × 128 seismic volume takes only milliseconds.
The Impact of IFRS Adoption on Stock Price Informativeness

We examine how the adoption of International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) across 32 countries affects stock price informativeness. Overall, we document a decline in stock price informativeness over time. However, we find that voluntary adopters, arguably the more serious and committed adopters, experience a less severe decline in stock price informativeness following IFRS adoption. These results suggest that the benefits associated with IFRS adoption may accrue more to voluntary adopters. In addition, we find that enforcement plays a critical role on the impact of IFRS adoption. Firms in countries with better enforcement have higher firm-specific return variation, and experience a less severe decline in stock price informativeness relative to those firms in countries with weaker enforcement. Our results are robust to alternate measures of stock price informativeness and enforcement. 1 Assistant Professor of Finance, University of Minho School of Economics and Management, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal, Email: gilberto@eeg.uminho. pt (Loureiro), and Assistant Professor, Department of Finance, College of Business Administration, University of Tennessee, 434 Stokely Management Center, Knoxville, TN 37996, Email: ataboada@utk.edu , Phone: (865) 974-1704 (Taboada).
Perception of Cantonese lexical tones by Japanese non-learners and learners of Mandarin

This study examined the perception of the six Cantonese lexical tones by Japanese listeners who are naïve to tone languages and Japanese-speaking L2 learners of Mandarin. Their performance on an AXB discrimination task was analyzed. The results showed that the L2 learner group performed slightly better in general, which suggest the L2 experience of lexical tones can be advantageous for the perception of L3 tones. However, the A-prime scores revealed that their performance only differed significantly for some acoustically easy pairs. They performed no better than the naïve group for pairs with a high degree of phonetic similarity. Specifically, both groups showed high perceptual confusion of acoustically hard pairs within the level-level pairs (T3-T6 and T1-T6) as well as the rise-level tone pair (T2-T5). In addition, the discrimination was generally better when the speaker gender was male. The L2 learners appeared to be more resistant to speaker gender variation.
Molecular prevalence of Theileria in sheep in Jilin province , China

The aim of this study was to enhance our understanding of ovine theileriosis and its timely prevention in sheep. We therefore conducted an epidemiological study in four areas in Jilin province, China. We extracted DNA from 95 blood samples from sheep and analyzed them by nested polymerase chain reaction targeting the 18S RNA gene of ovine Theileria spp. Positive samples were further analyzed by PCR using species-specific primer sets for T. luwenshuni, T. uilenbergi, and T. ovis, respectively, to detect and differentiate among these three Theileria spp. Phylogenetic analysis of positive samples based on 18S rRNA gene sequences of Theileria spp. was also conducted. Theileria spp. was prevalent in all four investigated areas, with a positivity rate of 18.9%. T. luwenshuni was universally prevalent with a positivity rate of 11.6%, whereas no T. uilenbergi or T. ovis infections were detected in these regions. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the positive samples in all four regions belonged to the T. luwenshuni cluster. This survey confirmed the epidemiology of ovine theileriosis and provided important data to support the prevention and control of this epidemic disease in northeastern China.
THE EFFECT OF NATIVE PHONOLOGY CONSTRAINTS ON THE PERCEPTION OF NON-NATIVE TONES

Native context-based phonological constraints have been proven to be influential in acquisition of second language (L2) contrasts on the segmental level. However, it still needs to check whether such first language (L1) phonological constraints also play a role in the perception of L2 suprasegments by non-native speakers. Tonal language speakers (Shanghai Wu dialect), whose L1 obeys a sandhi rule dissimilar to that in Mandarin, served as the experimental group, and Mandarin native speakers served as a control group. In the results, a context effect was detected for the non-native group, which showed the transfer of phonology constraints in Shanghai. Thus, it is suggested that L1 contextbased constraints would be incorporated into the framework of PAM when making perceptual predictions across languages.
Heat Shock Proteins and Inflammasomes

Heat shock proteins (HSP) regulate inflammation in many physiological contexts. However, inflammation is a broad process, involving numerous cytokines produced by different molecular pathways with multiple functions. In this review, we focused on the particular role of HSP on the inflammasomes intracellular platforms activated by danger signals and that enable activation of inflammatory caspases, mainly caspase-1, leading to the production of the pro-inflammatory cytokine IL-1β. Interestingly, some members of the HSP family favor inflammasomes activation whereas others inhibit it, suggesting that HSP modulators for therapeutic purposes, must be carefully chosen.
Deep Multi-state Object Pose Estimation for Augmented Reality Assembly

Neural network machine learning approaches are widely used for object classification or detection problems with significant success. A similar problem with specific constraints and challenges is object state estimation, dealing with objects that consist of several removable or adjustable parts. A system that can detect the current state of such objects from camera images can be of great importance for Augmented Reality (AR) or robotic assembly and maintenance applications. In this work, we present a CNN that is able to detect and regress the pose of an object in multiple states. We then show how the output of this network can be used in an automatically generated AR scenario that provides step-by-step guidance to the user in assembling an object consisting of multiple components.
Production of Novel Red-purple Delphinium Flowers Containing Cyanidin-based Anthocyanin Using Hybridization Breeding

Modern molecular biology techniques have enabled the generation of novel flower colors. Standard cultivated varieties of delphinium have blue flowers as a result of the biosynthesis and accumulation of delphinidin-based anthocyanins. Some cultivars have pink flowers due to the biosynthesis and accumulation of pelargonidinbased anthocyanins. The biosynthetic pathway of the latter becomes active due to the inactivation of flavonoid 3',5'-hydroxylase. Cyanidin-based red-purple flowers have not been identified to date in delphiniums because these species do not express the flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase gene. However, in our previous work, we identified expression of the flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase gene in a wild delphinium (Delphinium zalil) that accumulates quercetin 3-glycoside. D. zalil lacks the anthocyanidin synthase, the key enzyme to produce anthocyanins, so the flowers do not contain any anthocyanins. Here, we report the use of conventional breeding to introduce cyanidin biosynthesis into delphiniums. We introduced the flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase gene of D. zalil into D. cardinale by hybridization breeding, causing accumulation of cyanidin-based anthocyanin. In the hybrid plants, flavonoid 3'-hydroxylase was transcribed and a cyanidin-based anthocyanin was biosynthesized, generating novel purple-red flowers. Greater understanding of the anthocyanin biosynthetic genes expressed in wild species will benefit the development of breeding strategies to generate novel flower colors in cultivars of high horticultural value.
4 SMALL POLYGON COMPRESSION FOR INTEGER COORDINATES

We describe several polygon compression techniques to enable efficient transmission of polygons representing geographical targets. The main application is to embed compressed polygons to emergency alert messages that have strict length restrictions, as in the case of Wireless Emergency Alert messages. We are able to compress polygons to between 9.7% and 23.6% of original length, depending on characteristics of the specific polygons, reducing original polygon lengths from 43-331 characters to 8-55 characters. The best techniques apply several heuristics to perform initial compression, and then other algorithmic techniques, including higher base encoding. Further, these methods are respectful of computation and storage constraints typical of cell phones. Two of the best techniques include a “bignum” quadratic combination of integer coordinates and a variable length encoding, which takes advantage of a strongly skewed polygon coordinate distribution. Both techniques applied to one of two “delta” representations of polygons are on average able to reduce the size of polygons by some 80%. A repeated substring dictionary can provide further compression, and a merger of these techniques into a “polyalgorithm” can also provide additional improvements.
A Credit Portfolio Framework under Dependent Risk Parameters PD , LGD and EAD

This paper introduces a credit portfolio framework which allows for dependencies between default probabilities, secured and unsecured recovery rates and exposures at default. The overall approach is an extension of the factor-models of Pykhtin (2003) and Miu and Ozdemir (2006), with respect to differentiated recovery rates and the inclusion of dependent exposures. As there is empirical evidence for dependence between these risk parameters and observations for the exposure at default, the secured and unsecured recovery rates are available only in case of a default, we propose a multivariate extension of Heckman’s (1979) selection model in order to estimate the unknown parameters within a Maximum-Likelihood framework. Finally, we empirically demonstrate the effects of the dependence structure on the portfolio loss distribution and its risk measure for a hypothetical loan portfolio.
Do You See What I See ? Growth Intentions as a Function of Personal Resources and Opportunity Perceptions

This research adopts a cognition perspective to examine entrepreneurial growth intentions. Analyses of data from the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM) survey in the United States reveal that income-based and independence-based opportunity motivations, and self-efficacy, are associated with higher growth intentions. Additionally, entrepreneurs who believe they have products or services exhibiting market newness, competitive uniqueness, and international intensity are more likely to have high growth intentions. The implications for theory and literature on entrepreneurial growth lies with our finding that cognitive processes, particular motivations and perceptions about oneself, as well as perceptions about the opportunity, matter in understanding entrepreneurial growth intentions.
Effect of aGuideline Module on DevelopingPediatric Nurses Core Competencies InConducting Genetic Counseling

As science advances, new competencies must be integrated into nursing practice. Pediatric nurses are expected to have the necessary knowledge to interpret genetics and genetic counseling information into nursing care. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of a guideline module on developing pediatric nurses' core competencies in conducting genetic counseling. This study was conducted at Pediatrics Department of El Menoufia University Hospital and MCH centers of Shebin El-Kom city. The study sample was composed of sixty nurses. A quasi-experimental design was used. Structured interview questionnaire schedule was used for data collection.The results of this study showed that the majority of nurses who attended the sessions of guideline module had good knowledge on posttest and follow-up test compared to all of them had poor knowledge on the pretest. Therefore, it was concluded that on posttest pediatric nurses in selected settings had an adequate level of knowledge and skills about genetics contents and genetic counseling after implementing a standardized guideline module than on pretest. So, it was recommended that nurses need to be supported in their career development for increasing the diffusion of new ideas related to genetic and genomic healthcare into clinical practices and education.
Pre-Trained Text Embeddings for Enhanced Text-to-Speech Synthesis

We propose an end-to-end text-to-speech (TTS) synthesis model that explicitly uses information from pre-trained embeddings of the text. Recent work in natural language processing has developed self-supervised representations of text that have proven very effective as pre-training for language understanding tasks. We propose using one such pre-trained representation (BERT) to encode input phrases, as an additional input to a Tacotron2-based sequence-to-sequence TTS model. We hypothesize that the text embeddings contain information about the semantics of the phrase and the importance of each word, which should help TTS systems produce more natural prosody and pronunciation. We conduct subjective listening tests of our proposed models using the 24-hour LJSpeech corpus, finding that they improve mean opinion scores modestly but significantly over a baseline TTS model without pre-trained text embedding input.