Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Impact of Group Cohesiveness on Organizational Performance: The Nigerian Case

Several scholarly studies have associated strong group performance with a high level of group cohesion among the members. In this study, we investigated the impact of group cohesion on organizational performance using Carron, Widmeyer, and Brawley group environment questionnaire and Beauchamp, Bray and Carron (2002) role perception and acceptance scale administered to 180 employees in four branches of a commercial bank in Nigeria. The questionnaire was divided into three sections: demographics, role perception, acceptance and group cohesion. Our finding was inconclusive because group cohesion was found to be strong in groups with good performance likewise groups with weak performance. Further examination showed that groups with high cohesion consisting of members with higher organizational tenure outperformed groups made up of employees with lower organizational tenure.
A Comparative Study on the Performance of Cobb-500 and Hubbard Classic Broiler Strains under Farm Condition

Md. Rayhanul Islam 1 , Md. Abdur Rahman 2 , Md. Ruknuzzaman 2 , Sajibul Hasan 3 , Md. Zaminur Rahman 2 * 1 Department of Dairy and Poultry Science, Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. 2 Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Gono Bishwabidyalay, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh. 3 Department of Pre-Clinical Courses, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Gono Bishwabidyalay, Savar, Dhaka, Bangladesh.
Barriers Faced by Women in Software Development Projects

Computer science is a predominantly male field of study. Women face barriers while trying to insert themselves in the study of computer science. Those barriers extend to when women are exposed to the professional area of computer science. Despite decades of social fights for gender equity in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) education and in computer science in general, few women participate in computer science, and some of the reasons include gender bias and lack of support for women when choosing a computer science career. Open source software development has been increasingly used by companies seeking the competitive advantages gained by team diversity. This diversification of the characteristics of team members includes, for example, the age of the participants, the level of experience, education and knowledge in the area, and their gender. In open source software projects women are underrepresented and a series of biases are involved in their participation. This paper conducts a systematic literature review with the objective of finding factors that could assist in increasing women’s interest in contributing to open source communities and software development projects. The main contributions of this paper are: (i) identification of factors that cause women’s lack of interest (engagement), (ii) possible solutions to increase the engagement of this public, (iii) to outline the profile of professional women who are participating in open source software projects and software development projects. The main findings of this research reveal that women are underrepresented in software development projects and in open source software projects. They represent less than 10% of the total developers and the main causes of this underrepresentation may be associated with their workplace conditions, which reflect male gender bias.
The recurrence dimension for piecewise monotonic maps of the interval

We investigate a weighted version of Hausdorff dimension introduced by V. Afraimovich, where the weights are determined by recurrence times. We do this for an ergodic invariant measure with positive entropy of a piecewise monotonic transformation on the interval [0, 1], giving first a local result and proving then a formula for the dimension of the measure in terms of entropy and characteristic exponent. This is later used to give a relation between the dimension of a closed invariant subset and a pressure function. Mathematics Subject Classification (2000): 37E05 (primary); 37C45, 28A80, 37B40, 28A78 (secondary).
Local Perceptions of Livestock Husbandry and Rangeland Degradation in the Highlands of South Africa: Implication for Development Interventions

Abstract This study assessed communal farmers’ perceptions of livestock husbandry and rangeland degradation in the highland areas of South Africa. Sixty households and 30 elders were interviewed individually and as a group, respectively. Cattle are primarily kept for cash generation, goats for cultural ceremonies, sheep equally for cash, meat and wool production, and chicken for meat consumption. Elderly people ranked shortage of feed and grazing, rangeland degradation and water scarcity as the primary constraints of livestock production. Changes in species composition, gully erosion, bare patch frequency and Euryops floribundus invasion were perceived as the main indicators of degradation. Elders also grouped consequences of rangeland degradation into direct effects on animals such as hair loss, weight loss and the long distance travelled by animals for foraging, and into indirect effects such as poverty, migration, less marketable animals and stock theft. Community-based rangeland and livestock development aimed at conservation, management and restoration of resources, while maintaining an assemblage of livestock species, is recommended.
Dealing with Wormhole Attacks in Wireless Sensor Networks Through Discovering Separate Routes Between Nodes

One of the most common attacks against Wireless Sensor Networks is the wormhole attack. In this attack, the enemy deploys two malicious nodes in two different areas of the network and establishes a high-speed dedicated channel between these two. This will cause the normal nodes in two different areas wrongly think that they are two-hop neighbors. Therefore, this attack will greatly affect the routing algorithms. In this paper, a new distributed algorithm is provided to deal with the wormhole attack. The main idea of the proposed algorithm is to discover separate routes between pairs of two-hop neighboring nodes. The proposed algorithm was implemented and evaluated in terms of true and false detection rate by performing a series of experiments and the results were compared with the base algorithm. The test results showed that the proposed algorithm has desirable efficacy.
Fractions of Numerical Semigroups

Let S and T be numerical semigroups and let k be a positive integer. We say that S is the quotient of T by k if an integer x belongs to S if and only if kx belongs to T . Given any integer k larger than 1 (resp., larger than 2), every numerical semigroup S is the quotient T/k of infinitely many symmetric (resp., pseudo-symmetric) numerical semigroups T by k. Related examples, probabilistic results, and applications to ring theory are shown. Given an arbitrary positive integer k, it is not true in general that every numerical semigroup S is the quotient of infinitely many numerical semigroups of maximal embedding dimension by k. In fact, a numerical semigroup S is the quotient of infinitely many numerical semigroups of maximal embedding dimension by each positive integer k larger than 1 if and only if S is itself of maximal embedding dimension. Nevertheless, for each numerical semigroup S, for all sufficiently large positive integers k, S is the quotient of a numerical semigroup of maximal embedding dimension by k. Related results and examples are also given.
Measuring a decade of progress in Text-to-Speech

The Blizzard Challenge offers a unique insight into progress in text-to-speech synthesis over the last decade. By using a very large listening test to compare the performance of a wide range of systems that have been constructed using a common corpus of speech recordings, it is possible to make some direct comparisons between competing techniques. By reviewing over a hundred papers describing all entries to the Challenge since 2005, we can make a useful summary of the most successful techniques adopted by participating teams, as well as drawing some conclusions about where the Blizzard Challenge has succeeded, and where there are still open problems in cross-system comparisons of text-to-speech synthesisers.
Treatment approaches for Scheuermann kyphosis: a systematic review of historic and current management.

OBJECTIVE Scheuermann kyphosis (SK) is an idiopathic kyphosis characterized by anterior wedging of ≥ 5° at 3 contiguous vertebrae managed with either nonoperative or operative treatment. Nonoperative treatment typically employs bracing, while operative treatment is performed with either a combined anterior-posterior fusion or posterior-only approach. Current evidence for these approaches has largely been derived from retrospective case series or focused reviews. Consequently, no consensus exists regarding optimal management strategies for patients afflicted with this condition. In this study, the authors systematically review the literature on SK with respect to indications for treatment, complications of treatment, differences in correction and loss of correction, and changes in treatment over time. METHODS Using PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library, all full-text publications on the operative and nonoperative treatment for SK in the peer-reviewed English-language literature between 1950 and 2017 were screened. Inclusion criteria involved fully published, peer-reviewed, retrospective or prospective studies of the primary medical literature. Studies were excluded if they did not provide clinical outcomes and statistics specific to SK, described fewer than 2 patients, or discussed results in nonhuman models. Variables extracted included treatment indications and methodology, maximum pretreatment kyphosis, immediate posttreatment kyphosis, kyphosis at last follow-up, year of treatment, and complications of treatment. RESULTS Of 659 unique studies, 45 met our inclusion criteria, covering 1829 unique patients. Indications for intervention were pain, deformity, failure of nonoperative treatment, and neural impairment. Among operatively treated patients, the most common complications were hardware failure and proximal or distal junctional kyphosis. Combined anterior-posterior procedures were additionally associated with neural, pulmonary, and cardiovascular complications. Posterior-only approaches offered superior correction compared to combined anterior-posterior fusion; both groups provided greater correction than bracing. Loss of correction was similar across operative approaches, and all were superior to bracing. Cross-sectional analysis suggested that surgeons have shifted from anterior-posterior to posterior-only approaches over the past two decades. CONCLUSIONS The data indicate that for patients with SK, surgery affords superior correction and maintenance of correction relative to bracing. Posterior-only fusion may provide greater correction and similar loss of correction compared to anterior-posterior approaches along with a smaller complication profile. This posterior-only approach has concomitantly gained popularity over the combined anterior-posterior approach in recent years.
Consequences of Basel Accords on Bank Risk-Taking and Profitability: Evidence from Asian Countries

The main purpose of this paper is to examine the impact of Basel Accord II on bank profitability and risk-taking in three developing Asian countries; Philippines, Thailand and India over the period 2006? 2015. Using panel data, the study methodology is to employ both One-way Analysis of Variance (ANOVA) and multiple regression techniques to explore these relationships. Our empirical results show that Basel II, represented by its three pillars; capital regulatory requirement, official supervisory power and private monitoring and market discipline indices all have a significant negative impact on profitability, which may imply that binding regulations have adverse impacts. Furthermore, capital regulatory requirement and private monitoring inversely impact risk-taking while official supervisory power shows a significantly positive effect on bank risk-taking levels. Concluding that bank regulators must insure that the banks in the three countries strengthen their corporate governance and private monitoring to reduce corruption and enhance performance. Same results are obtained when conducting additional analyses to ensure the validity of the results.
The effects of gender and motivation on the use of language learning strategies in the Moroccan EFL context

This study was conducted to examine the use of language learning strategies (LLSs) by Moroccan university EFL Science students in relation to gender and motivation. The sample consists of sixty students enrolled in their second year at the Faculty of Sciences, Mohammed V University – Rabat. To collect the data, the Strategy Inventory for Language Learning (SILL) developed by Rebecca Oxford (1989) was adapted to the Moroccan EFL context. The motivation questionnaire was developed based on different sources (Gardner’s (2004) AMTB, Pintrich’s (1991) MSLQ and Schmidt and Wattanabe, 2001). The two questionnaires were tested for reliability and validity. Descriptive statistics, an Independent Samples T-test and Pearson Correlation were selected to analyze the data. The results demonstrated that Moroccan university EFL Science students used LLSs at a medium level of 3.09. Male and female students did not exhibit any significant differences on the six categories of strategies except for compensation strategies. However, Moroccan university EFL Science students exhibited moderate correlations on the relationship between motivation and LLS.
Price-Cost Margins and Rent Sharing: Evidence from a Panel of French Manufacturing Firms +

This paper presents a model for estimating both the magnitude of price-cost margins and the extent of rent sharing. The model generalizes Robert Hall's model, relating the conventional measure of total factor productivity (the "Solow residual") to the degree of imperfect competition in product markets, by also allowing for the possibility of imperfect labor markets. It does so by assuming that the firm wages and level of employment are jointly determined according to an efficient bargaining scheme between the firm and its workers. One attractive aspect of Hall's framework is that it does not require a measure of the user cost of capital to assess the magnitude of markups, in contrast to more conventional analyses. Similarly, another interesting feature of our extended framework is that it does not require a measure of the alternative external wage to estimate the degree of workers' bargaining power, contrary to most studies on rent sharing. Our model is estimated on a panel of French manufacturing firms using the Generalized Method of Moments (GMM). We find that the lack of explicit consideration of labor market imperfection results in a large underestimation of the firm true markup, corresponding to the omission of the part of the firm rent captured by workers. Our estimate of average rent sharing is about 0.6, while our estimate of average price-cost margins is of an order of magnitude of 1.4, to be compared to 1.1 only, if rent sharing is ignored.
Effective Domination and the Bounded Jump

We study the relationship between effective domination properties and the bounded jump. We answer two open questions about the bounded jump: (1) We prove that the analogue of Sacks jump inversion fails for the bounded jump and the wtt-reducibility. (2) We prove that no c.e. bounded high set can be low by showing that they all have to be Turing complete. We characterize the class of c.e. bounded high sets as being those sets computing the Halting problem via a reduction with use bounded by an ω-c.e. function. We define several notions of a c.e. set being effectively dominant, and show that together with the bounded high sets they form a proper hierarchy.
interpretation of the point-biserial correlation coefficient in the context of a school examination

When creating an examination for educational purposes, one must make sure that the entire curriculum is covered. However, it can be difficult to do so without requiring a large number of questions. Also, it is desirable for those questions to be capable of accurately discriminating students who understand from those who do not, without being too difficult or easy. A practical way of identifying questions that fit these criteria is to study the point-biserial correlation (rpb) between the success on a question and the number of questions correctly answered. This tutorial explains what the rpb is and how to use it through the interpretation of effect sizes and significance testing applied to real data. It also presents the corrected point-biserial correlation (r∗ pb), which is more suited for significance testing when one of the variables is partially determined by the other.
Analysing Resistance of Stereotyped Sexuality via ‘Gender Performance’ in The Silk Fan and Under the Blanket

Existing studies had shown that gender stereotyping is still evident in contemporary Malaysian English literature particularly in novels. By using the concepts of ‘gender performance’ and ‘performativity’ introduced by Judith Butler’s Gender Trouble (1990), the current study aims to prove that there is an act of resistance among the new generations/contemporary Malaysian writers against the gender norms placed on sexuality. These writers resisted the norms by performing “gender trouble” through the construction of their characters’ gender identity. Two short stories are selected from 25 Malaysian Short Stories: Best of Silverfish New Writing 2001 – 2005 as the scope of the study to answer these questions; (a) what are the stereotyped ‘gender performances’ of the characters’ sexuality in the two selected short stories? , and (b) how do contemporary Malaysian writers resist stereotyped sexuality using ‘gender performance’ in their writings? The study found that the selected characters from the short story The Silk Fan and Under the Blanket , do perform “gender trouble” in resisting gender expectations on their sexuality. Thus, based on the results of this study, it is hoped that the misconceptions on gender and the conventional way of thinking about sexuality and gender in Malaysian society can be somewhat liberated.
8-6-2011 From Health Decisions to Performance : The Network Effect

This study uses a simulation as a vehicle for social networks research application. Eighty five companies were created as part of a simulated healthcare industry. Our results suggest that companies positioning themselves at pivotal points within the network outperform companies that do not. The findings show the applicability of network theory and the use of simulations in applied research on healthcare decision-making.
Finally, proof that leaf floral induction with photoperiodic dependent flowering does not occur in the grapevine plant (Vitis vinifera L. 'Chardonnay')

This research study, for the first time, presents unequivocal evidence that leaf derived photoperiodic dependent flowering (PDF) does not occur in the grapevine. The morphological changes in the shoot apical meristem (SAM), at the beginning of the flowering pathway in angiosperms, are described as starting in two possible ways: with floral induction stimulus from the leaf or a non-leaf stimulus directly on the SAM. Floral induction, floral evocation, floral initiation then floral development are defined and discussed, together with the current concepts and classification of plant PDF. The only two research papers in the English language literature suggesting grapevine PDF absence are described, with a detailed analysis in the discussion that raises doubt as to the validity of the data and subsequent conclusions. To examine the hypothesis that "leaf derived PDF does not occur in the grapevine" Vitis vinifera L. 'Chardonnay' grapevines were completely defoliated from budburst as leaves appeared, and compared to a control group (where all leaves were left) by microscopic dissection of compound latent buds at 31, 54 and 76 days post budburst. Latent bud inflorescence primordia developmental stages, at each of the sample dates, were the same in treatment and control groups. The experimental data supports the hypothesis, indicating that leaves, with floral induction, are not needed to initiate the grapevine flowering pathway. The initial stimulus to commence grapevine flowering is directly on the compound latent bud vegetative SAM with no leaf involvement. Further research investigating the presence or absence of floral evocation in grapevines, and its timing if the event occurs, is now enabled.
Place Change and Identity Processes

This study intents to examine the relationship between place change and identity process, using Breakwell’s model (1986, 1992) as framework. In the context of a process of imposed relocation in an old neighbourhood in Lisbon, two groups of residents were studied in two different moments along the relocation process. These two groups differ in terms of their choice of relocation. The generic hypothesis of the study is that relocation, and the residents’ choice changes the relation of the people with the space, the social relationships, and it has also an impact in the resident’s identity. The results show that the relocation process threats the identity principles in the two groups, but in different ways, depending of the residential choice, and also had impact in the social relationships and in the relation of the people with the space. As other studies (e.g.: Twigger-Ross and Uzzell, 1996; Speller, Lyons, and Twigger-Ross, 2002) this research underlines the relationship between changes in physical environment and identity, in the context of residential environment. Key-words: Place identity, Place attachment, Relocation, Social Networks.
A road to hydrogenating graphene by a reactive ion etching plasma

We report the hydrogenation of single and bilayer graphene by an argon-hydrogen plasma produced in a reactive ion etching (RIE) system. Electronic transport measurements in combination with Raman spectroscopy are used to link the electric mean free path to the optically extracted defect concentration. We emphasize the role of the self-bias of the graphene in suppressing the erosion of the flakes during plasma processing. We show that under the chosen plasma conditions the process does not introduce considerable damage to the graphene sheet and that hydrogenation occurs primarily due to the hydrogen ions from the plasma and not due to fragmentation of water adsorbates on the graphene surface by highly accelerated plasma electrons. For this reason the hydrogenation level can be precisely controlled. The hydrogenation process presented here can be easily implemented in any RIE plasma system.