Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Good Dispersion, Bad Dispersion

Dispersion in marginal revenue products of inputs across plants is commonly thought to reflect misallocation, i.e., dispersion is "bad. " We document that most dispersion occurs across plants within rather than between firms. In a model of multi-plant firms, we then show that dispersion can be "good": Eliminating frictions increases productivity dispersion and raises overall output. Based on this framework, we argue that in U.S. manufacturing, one-quarter of the total variance of revenue products reflects good dispersion. In contrast, we find that in emerging economies, almost all dispersion is bad and the gains from eliminating distortions are larger than previously thought.
Simulations of the 2005, 1910, and 1876 Vb cyclones over the Alps – sensitivity to model physics and cyclonic moisture flux

Abstract. In June 1876, June 1910, and August 2005, northern Switzerland was severely impacted by heavy precipitation and extreme floods. Although occurring in different centuries, all three events featured very similar precipitation patterns and an extratropical storm following a cyclonic, so-called Vb (five b of the van Bebber trajectories) trajectory around the Alps. Going back in time from the recent to the historical cases, we explore the potential of dynamical downscaling of a global reanalysis product from a grid size of 220 to 3 km. We investigate sensitivities of the simulated precipitation amounts to a set of differing configurations in the regional weather model. The best-performing model configuration in the evaluation, featuring a 1 d initialization period, is then applied to assess the sensitivity of simulated precipitation totals to cyclonic moisture flux along the downscaling steps. The analyses show that cyclone fields (closed pressure contours) and tracks (minimum pressure trajectories) are well defined in the reanalysis ensemble for the 2005 and 1910 cases, while deviations from the ensemble mean increase for the 1876 case. In the downscaled ensemble, the accuracy of simulated precipitation totals is closely linked to the exact trajectory and stalling position of the cyclone, with slight shifts producing erroneous precipitation, e.g., due to a break-up of the vortex if simulated too close to the Alpine topography. Simulated precipitation totals only reach the observed ones if the simulation includes continuous moisture fluxes of >200 kg m−1 s−1 from northerly directions and high contributions of (embedded) convection. Misplacement of the vortex and concurrent uncertainties in simulating convection, in particular for the 1876 case, point to limitations of downscaling from coarse input for such complex weather situations and for the more distant past. On the upside, single (contrasting) members of the historical cases are well capable of illustrating variants of Vb cyclone dynamics and features along the downscaling steps.
A grid‐based tool for optimal performance monitoring of a glycemic regulator

Recent technology breakthroughs towards a fully automated artificial pancreas give rise to the need of new monitoring tools aiming at increasing both reliability and performance of a closed‐loop glycemic regulator. Based on error grid analysis, an insightful monitoring tool is proposed to assess if a given closed‐loop implementation respects its specification of an optimally performing glycemic regulator under uncertainty. The optimal behavior specification is obtained using linearly solvable Markov decision processes, whereby the Bellman optimality equation is made linear through an exponential transformation that allows obtaining the optimal control policy in an explicit form. The specification for the desired glucose dynamics is learned using Gaussian processes for state transitions in an optimally performing artificial pancreas. By means of the proposed grid, the specification is vis‐à‐vis compared with glucose sensor readings so that any significant deviation from the expected closed‐loop performance under abnormal or faulty scenarios can be detected. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Iranian EFL Instructors’ Perceptions and Practices Concerning Learner Autonomy

The current study explored the Iranian EFL instructors’ perceptions, practices and challenges related to learner autonomy (LA). Applying a mixed method design, two kinds of instruments were used: Teachers’ beliefs questionnaire derived from Borg and Al-Busaidi’s study (2012) and a follow-up focus group discussion. First, the questionnaire was answered by 100 university instructors. Then, to have a knowledgeable focus group who can yield profound dependable information, five EFL instructors with more than 10 years of intensive experience were asked to take part in the interview. The data analysis in both quantitative and qualitative strands indicated that the majority of the participants highlighted the importance of fostering and practicing LA among learners and stressed teachers’ essential role as facilitators and guides. Teachers revealed more inclination toward psychological and social aspects of LA rather than political and technical ones. Moreover, while considering LA enhancement as a desirable goal, they showed doubt concerning its practicality due to the constraints in the educational system, learners characteristics, and teachers’ factors. Regarding the degree of LA, the questionnaire showed mixed ideas of teachers, while the focus group participants believed in the lack of LA among EFL students. The findings of the study can have some pedagogical implications for enhancing LA in the Iranian educational system.
“I’m Not the President of Black America”: Rhetorical versus Policy Representation

A key question in the study of minority representation is whether descriptive representatives provide superior substantive representation. Neglected in this literature is the distinction between two forms of substantive representation: rhetoric versus policy. We provide a systematic comparison of presidential minority representation along these two dimensions. Barack Obama was the first African American president, yet his substantive representation of African Americans has not been fully evaluated. Using speech and budget data, we find that relative to comparable presidents, Obama offered weaker rhetorical representation, but stronger policy representation, on race and poverty. While we cannot rule out non-racial explanations, Obama’s policy proposals are consistent with minority representation. His actions also suggest that descriptive representatives may provide relatively better policy representation but worse rhetorical representation, at least when the constituency is a numerical minority. We thus highlight an understudied tension between rhetoric and policy in theories of minority representation.
The individual level effect of symbolic representation: An experimental study on teacher-student gender congruence and students’ perceived abilities in math

Studies on representative bureaucracy have often confirmed the positive performance effects of bureaucracies mirroring the demographic characteristics of their clientele. However, little is known about the underlying individual level mechanisms leading to these outcomes. In this study, theoretical ideas from representative bureaucracy literature and social and educational psychology are combined in a new model that explains effects of passive representation from the perspective of the individual client in the educational field. It is hypothesized that positive effects of gender congruence on students’ academic self-concepts are mediated by gender stereotypical beliefs of students. This mediation is expected to be moderated by the self-confidence of the teacher. Results of a survey experiment among students in a Dutch high school do not support the hypothesized relationships. The study does reveal gender differences in stereotypical beliefs and academic self-concepts though. Furthermore, the academic self-concept for math of both male and female students is higher if the math teacher is a woman. The study concludes with a discussion of the findings and avenues for future research on the role of stereotypical beliefs in the association between gender representation and student performance.
Leachates from Helophyte Leaf-Litter Enhance Nitrogen Removal from Wastewater Treatment Plant Effluents.

Bioengineering techniques are currently used in a wide variety of wastewater treatment systems. Aquatic plants (i.e., helophytes) used in these techniques reduce excess nitrogen (N) from water column via assimilation. Moreover, leachates from plant leaf-litter can serve as an additional source of labile dissolved organic matter (DOM), which can promote aerobic respiration and N removal via denitrification. We tested the influence of leaf-litter leachates from Iris pseudacorus and Phragmites australis on the structure and activity of freshwater biofilms grown in flumes fed by effluent from a wastewater treatment plant (WWTP). The responses of the epilithic biofilm to the inputs of leaf-litter leachates were compared to those measured using a brewery byproduct rich in sugars and to the WWTP effluent water (i.e., control). All DOM sources significantly enhanced aerobic respiration and denitrification of the biofilm when compared to the controls, with increases in total microbial abundance but not in denitrifier abundance. The results suggest that metabolic activity of biofilms may be limited by bioavailability of DOM in WWTP effluent; and leaf-litter leachates of helophytes used in bioengineering techniques could alleviate this limitation by enhancing microbial N and C uptake.
Comprehensive, Multi-Source Cyber-Security Events Data Set

This data set represents 58 consecutive days of de-identified event data collected from five sources within Los Alamos National Laboratory’s corporate, internal computer network. The data sources include Windows-based authentication events from both individual computers and centralized Active Directory domain controller servers; process start and stop events from individual Windows computers; Domain Name Service (DNS) lookups as collected on internal DNS servers; network flow data as collected on at several key router locations; and a set of well-defined red teaming events that present bad behavior within the 58 days. In total, the data set is approximately 12 gigabytes compressed across the five data elements and presents 1,648,275,307 events in total for 12,425 users, 17,684 computers, and 62,974 processes. Specific users that are well known system related (SYSTEM, Local Service) were not de-identified though any well-known administrators account were still de-identified. In the network flow data, well-known ports (e.g. 80, 443, etc) were not de-identified. All other users, computers, process, ports, times, and other details were de-identified as a unified set across all the data elements (e.g. U1 is the same U1 in all of the data). The specific timeframe used is not disclosed for security purposes. In addition, no datamore » that allows association outside of LANL’s network is included. All data starts with a time epoch of 1 using a time resolution of 1 second. In the authentication data, failed authentication events are only included for users that had a successful authentication event somewhere within the data set. « less
Comparison of nurses' and nursing students' attitudes toward care provision to opposite-gender patients

Background: Nurses often have to care for the patients of the opposite gender. This can be challenging for both nurses and patients in Iran due to the Iranians' cultural and religious beliefs. Objectives: The aim of this study was to compare nurses' and nursing students' attitudes toward care provision to opposite-gender patients. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted in 2018 on a random sample of 107 nurses who worked in four teaching hospitals, and 95 bachelor's and master's nursing students from the Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran. A 21-item researcher-made self-report questionnaire was used for data collection. The data were analyzed through the independent samples t-test and the linear regression analysis. Results: The mean scores of nurses' and nursing students' attitudes were 72.54 ± 15.47 and 66.87 ± 14.80, respectively (P = 0.02). The significant predictors of nurses' and nursing students' attitudes were their educational degree, history of care provision to opposite-gender patients, and clinical work experience. Conclusion: Many nurses and nursing students have moderate attitudes toward care provision to opposite-gender patients. Nursing students' poorer attitudes compared with nurses highlight the need for revisions to the nursing academic curriculum to prepare them for quality care provision to the patients of both genders.
A study of 8Be, 12C and 27Al with state-of-the-art detector arrays

This thesis reports on the results of four different experiments carried out at either Argonne National Laboratory or Aarhus University. The first experiment was a cross section measurement of the 23 Na(α, p) reaction at astrophysical energies. This reaction acts as a proton source for the 25 Mg(p, γ) 26 Al reaction in asymptotic giant branch stars and 26 Al is an direct observable of ongoing nucleosynthesis. Prior to this experiment a different group published the suprising result, that the cross section should be scaled up by a factor of 40. However, the present experiment was unable to reproduce this, and was instead a confirmation of the established statistical model. The second experiment was a measurement of the β feeding of the Hoyle state from the 12 B ground state. This experiment was carried out at Gammasphere in order to provide independent confirmation of a previous result obtained using charged particle spectroscopy, which disagreed from measurement performed in the seventies by roughly a factor of 2. The value of β feeding is an important constraint in the β decay studies of the 2 + excitation of the Hoyle state. The result of the present experiment was a confirmation of the previous result. In the third experiment the 8 Be excitation spectrum, following the γ decay of the 17.6 MeV 1 + state, was measured using charged particles. This technique yields unparalleled detection efficiency, resolution, and dynamic range allowing the resulting spectrum to be analyzed using R-matrix theory. The results of this analysis were improved γ decay widths and a tentative broad 0 + resonance at 12 MeV. The last experiment was a measurement of the 11 B(p, 3α) cross section at an energy corresponding to the 16.1 MeV 2 + state in 12 C. For this state there exist multiple inconsistent measurements of its decay properties, and a majority of these inconsistencies can be traced to ambiguities in the nor- malization. With this experiment the normalization issue was circumvented by measuring the final state in full kinematics. The result was an improved cross section for this resonance and a suggestion to rescale the recommended cross section for 11 B(p, 3α) by a factor of 2/3 over the full energy range. This impacts the recommended reaction rate by NACRE and NACRE II, which should be scaled by roughly a factor of 2. In addition to these experiments, this thesis reports on the technical development carried out at Aarhus University. Specifically, an analysis library for the analysis of nuclear physics experiment with silicon detectors was developed. This library is built on the concept of an analysis pipeline. Secondly, the Aarhus data acquisition has been rebuilt from the ground up. The different components and recent development allowing significantly higher rates will be presented.
The Performance of Identities in an International NGO in Child Welfare in China

This thesis is an investigation of the performance of identities in the social interactions that constitute an international non-governmental organisation (INGO). It examines how those involved in this kind of international-development activity shape what kinds of actors they are through the identity work that is entwined with representations of the organisation and what it is doing. The thesis is based on data generated over four and a half months with an INGO working in the field of child welfare in China. Data was captured in fieldnotes, interview transcripts, organisational documents and other media such as a television programme and a promotional DVD. It is an ethnographic study that draws on discourse analysis and narrative analysis. The study addresses the implications of how the problem the organisation seeks to address and the way it is addressing that problem are constructed, and of how relationships with others are depicted. The thesis argues that analysis of identity work at the micro level, which acknowledges the context driven and variable ways in which actors make sense of the organisation and its work, offers valuable insights into how the social practices that form an INGO unfold. This research adds to understandings of being an actor in international development, specifically in the field of child welfare in China. It identifies various tensions that have implications for policy and practice.
Influence of psycho-social variables on perception of ageing among teachers in Anambra and Akwa-Ibom States, Nigeria

Ageing comes with some indicators including decline in functions of the organs which take its toll virtually on every aspect of wellbeing of the ageing person particularly if this important and inevitable phase of life is not prepared for. Right perception of the concept of ageing is no doubt, the very first and perhaps, most important step towards healthy ageing. Positive perception of ageing by teachers will improve the standard of most ageing teachers and also put them in the right frame of mind as they age. The present study examined the Influence of Psycho-social Variables on Perception of Ageing among Teachers in Anambra and Akwa-Ibom states. Activity, Functionalist and Psycho-social theory of personality guided the study. The sample comprised four hundred and two teachers (402) in Anambra state and five hundred and three (503) teachers in Akwa-Ibom state selected through multi-stage sampling technique. Five research instruments namely Psycho-social Variables on Perception of Ageing Questionnaire (PSVPAQ); Brief Ageing Perception Questionnaire (B-APQ); Self-esteem Scale (SES); Self-Rating Anxiety Scale (SRAS) and Emotional Adjustment Bank (EAB) were used to collect data. Seven hypotheses were tested. Descriptive statistics, Analysis of Variance (ANOVA), Independent t-test, Multiple Regression and Pearson Product Moment Correlation were used for data analyses. The study confirmed that there was significant difference due to gender and state of origin in the perception of ageing. There was significant composite influence of societal roles, ageing stereotypes and socio-economic status on perception of ageing. Perception of ageing significantly influenced the self-esteem of teachers. It was recommended among others that there is need for welfare as well as awareness packages for teachers so as to have healthy perception of ageing and adequately prepare for such. Teachers’ gratuity and pension should be paid as soon as they disengage from service to enable them move into other areas of interest.Keywords: Psycho-social Variables, Ageing, Perception, Personality
UNMET NEED FOR FAMILY PLANNING AND ITS DETERMINANTS AMONG CURRENTLY MARRIED WOMEN IN KOBBO WOREDA, NORTH-EAST OF AMHARA

Abstract Background: Addressing unmet need for family planning provides an opportunity for policy makers in all sectors to respond to the expressed fertility preferences of their population while simultaneously improving health, slowing the rate of population growth, and contributing to achievement of national goals. Objective: to examine the underlying factors of unmet need for family planning among currently married women in Kobbo woreda, North-East Amhara. Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted among currently married women in Kobbo woreda. A multi-stage sampling technique was carried out to collect quantitative data from 692 women. Qualitative information obtained through focus group discussion and key informant interview were used to support the results from the quantitative data. Results: The study result revealed that 47.3% currently married women have unmet need for family planning, of which, 27.5% for spacing and 10.5% for limiting. Thirty eight percent were using contraception and 14.7% of currently married women had no need. Unmet need for family planning is highest among women of younger age (<25 years of age), who have no education, live in rural areas, who married too early, have more number of living children (4 or more), have no or little knowledge of family planning and have never discussed family planning issues with their husbands and health workers. Conclusions: since the higher level of unmet need is observed for women with less frequent discussion with health workers and husbands, large number of living children and early age at first marriage, family planning programs need to target these women in order to reduce unmet need for family planning. Ethiopian Journal of Reproductive Health, 2011, 5(1):2-9
The Perception Of English Teacher Association Pacitan About Good English Teacher

The study aims to describe the English teachers` perception about good English teacher in terms of language competence, pedagogic, classroom management, interpersonal communication, and socio-affective competence. The research used a descriptive-qualitative method.The subjects are members of the English teacher association of Pacitan, consisting of 20 participants. The technique for collecting data includes open-ended question, interview and observation. The technique for data analysis applied reduction data, data display, conclusion drawing / verification. The findings indicate that language competence includes mastering four skills; listening, speaking, reading and writing, master the teaching material, major basic and standard competencies , creative to develop material, provide clear and understanding model. While pedagogical competence: open the class to lead learners mind, describe the learning purpose, using IT to find the source and learning media, have methods and teaching models, creative and fun learning, master the theory and practice teaching, design the teaching materials, develop the creative learning media, adapt the materials to learners` intelligence, make creative lesson plan, master the evaluation and fair assessment.The next is classroom management competence: design the class comfort, control the students, educate discipline, attention to all students, make students involved class activity, manage the time well. Interpersonal communication competence: create the qualified relationship, provide time in or out of class, understand the students`psychology, have receivable communication style, and appreciate the students work. Socio affective competence: be patient and good model, find out all students names, motivate students to learn, communicate friendly, have a sense of humor, attractive appearance, solve the students` private problem, and appreciate all learners.
Development of a numerical modelling approach to predict residual stresses in Ti-6Al-4V linear friction welds

i Acknowledgements . iii Table of contents . iv List of figures . ix List of tables . 15 List of equations . 16 List of abbreviations . 18 List of nomenclatures . 20 Chapter 1: Introduction . 23 1.1 Background and motivation . 23 1.2 Thesis structure . 24 Chapter 2: Literature review . 26 2.