Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Mirage of Elite Schools: Evidence from Lottery-based School Admissions in China

In this paper we use school admission lotteries to estimate the eect of elite school atten- dance on student achievement in China. The empirical assessment requires combining lottery records with administrative Middle School Exit Exam (MSEE) records, in which we encounter an imperfect matching problem arising from the lack of a common unique identi…er. To address this problem, we develop a data combination procedure and extend the existing local average treatment eect (LATE) framework to analyze treatment eects in contexts with imperfect matching following data combination. Despite the large observed superiority of elite schools in student achievement, we …nd little evidence that three-year attendance at an elite school improves students'MSEE scores or secondary school admission outcomes. We also …nd that the most sought-after elite schools are those with the highest student achievement level, rather than those with the largest value-added eect on test scores. This …nding suggests that parents may choose schools primarily on the basis of their observed superiority in student outcomes rather than their academic value-added, which casts doubt on parents'ability to identify schools that are better suited to their children's learning needs.
Effects of landscape-scale factors on goshawk Accipiter gentilis arrigonii distribution in Sardinia

The Northern goshawk is a widespread and well-studied species, but few data concern the ecology of the corso-sardinian goshawk Accipiter gentilis arrigonii, which is endemic of Corsica and Sardinia. We studied the breeding habitat selection of the goshawk at landscape scale using MaxEnt, a presence-only modelling method. Working with 37 goshawk localizations, we built three single models, at 10, 30 and 50 km2 scale, and a mixed model, combining variables at different scales. The latter results the best one (AUC=0.866). The woodland variables are the most important factors (about 2/3 of percent contribution in the model) and they seem to act at the minimum scale (10 km2): the woodland area (>200 m from the forest edge) is the most important variable and it has a positive effect, as well as the broadleaved forest and the coniferous forest, even if the latter only if present in small amount (<0.02 km2). At broader scales (30 and 50 km2) the goshawk seems to be sensitive to human disturbance avoiding plains (where there is the highest level of human activity) and urban areas, including small and sparse settlements. The surface of open land <200 m from forest edge, which is a goshawk hunting habitat, has a low weight but a positive effect at scale of 50 km2. Key-words: northern goshawk, Sardinia, breeding ecology, breeding habitat selection, MaxEnt. 21 Avocetta 37: 21-26 (2013)
TOTAL PRODUCTIVITY, NUTRIENT UPTAKE AND ECONOMICS OF RICE-WHEAT CROPPING SYSTEM AS INFLUENCED BY Crotalaria juncea GREEN MANURING

A field experiment was conducted in 2001-2002 and 2002 -2003 on the Mollisols of the crop Research Station at Pantnagar University to find out the effect of green manuring of Sun hemp (Crotalaria juncea) on total productivity, nutrient removal and economics of rice –wheat cropping system. The experiment was conducted in split-split plot design keeping green manuring stages in main plot, levels of nitrogen to rice in sub plot and levels of nitrogen to wheat crop in sub-sub plot. Application of 150 kg N/ha to rice resulted in yield of 6385 and 6521 in 2001-02 and 2002-03, respectively. The wheat yield due to Crotalaria juncea green manuring was 3792 and 3818 in 2001-02 and 2002-03, respectively. Integrated application of Crotalaria juncea green manuring and 150kg N/ha to rice and to succeeding wheat crop gave a production of 12.87 and 12.77 tonnes /ha from rice –wheat sequence during 2001-02 and 2002-03 respectively. At this production level and fertilizer use, total removal of 246 kg N/ha, 45.1 kg P/ha and 275.5 kg K/ha was recorded by rice-wheat system. The same treatment also gave highest net return (Rs 49746 and 50852), and benefit: cost ratio (2.132 and 2.139) in 20012002 and 2002-03 respectively.
Work-Life Balance and Job Satisfaction among Malaysian Healthcare Employees

Increasing participation of women and dual career couples into the employment world, together with the establishment of non-standard work arrangements have affected the employees' ability to juggle between work and life and therefore influencing the satisfaction in performing their job especially among those who are working in 24-hour operating companies such in a healthcare industry. Hence, this study among 681 employees of a Malaysian healthcare organization has found that there was a positive and significant effect of satisfaction with work-life balance towards job satisfaction and male workers were significantly more satisfied with their jobs as compared to the female counterpart. © 2016. The Authors. Published for AMER ABRA by e-International Publishing House, Ltd., UK. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license ( http://creative commons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/). Peer–review under responsibility of AMER (Association of Malaysian Environment-Behaviour Researchers), ABRA (Association of Behavioural Researchers on Asians) and cE-Bs (Centre for Environment-Behaviour Studies), Faculty of Architecture, Planning & Surveying, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Malaysia.
Visualizing distances in a set of near synonyms: rather, quite, fairly, and pretty.

In this paper, I develop a composite methodology for handling and visualizing measures of significant attraction between lexical items in a set of near-synonyms. I aim to uncover revealing aspects of the conceptual structure of four English moderators (rather, quite, fairly, and pretty) and shed new light on previous studies on degree modifiers. This methodology combines univariate and multivariate statistics. Collexemes are used as input for hierarchical agglomerative cluster analysis, and multiple distinctive collexemes are used as input for correspondence analysis.
Reading Strategies and Strategy Awareness in Three EFL Educated Readers of English Literary Texts

This small-scale study of three educated readers aims to contribute to the exploration of the process of reading literary texts in a foreign language. By means of a think-aloud procedure and post-task interviews, the study explores the repertoire of strategies used by educated, non-native readers of literature and their progress in the use and awareness of those strategies after receiving academic instruction. Results evidenced the use of a great variety of cognitive, support and metacognitive strategies although, over time, some of them became less frequent or even disappeared. The study shows that repertoires of strategies change in time but also that each reader changes differently. The article draws pedagogical implications and provides recommendations for further research into the process of reading literature in a foreign language.
Impact of seaweeds on fluorescent Pseudomonas and their role in suppressing the root diseases of soybean and pepper

Incorporation of organic matter in soil before sowing of seeds or transplanting the seedlings has been reported to increase microbial activity in soil specially fluorescent Pseudomonas that play a vital role in suppressing the root rotting fungi and parasitic nematodes invading plant roots. In this study dry powder of seaweeds Sargassum binderi, S. tenerrimum, Halimeda tuna, Stoechospermum marginatum, Padina tetrastromatica, Stokeyia indica and Solieria robusta were applied as soil amendment two weeks before the? sowing of soybean seeds or transplanting of pepper seedlings in screen house and or in field experiments. Application of some seaweeds and Topsin-M (fungicide) and carbofuran (nematicide) showed more or less similar suppressive effect on root rotting fungi Macrophomina phaseolina, Rhizoctonia solani, Fusarium solani and root knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica on soybean and pepper plants. Seaweed also showed a positive effect on plant growth by enhancing fresh shoot weight and plant height. Incorporation of seaweeds in soil increased population of fluorescent Pseudomonas around the roots of soybean and pepper as compared to non-seaweed control. However the increased population of fluorescent Pseudomonas around the roots did not correlate with disease suppression.
Effect of Phosphoric Containing and Varnish-Coated Groups on Candida Albicans Adhesion and Porosity of Heat Cure Acrylic Denture Base Material

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of modified heat cured polymethyl methacrylate denture base (PMMA) or varnish coating of the denture base on candida albicans adhesion and porosity. First experimental group was prepared by addition of 15% phosphoric acid 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate ester with polymethyl methacrylate monomer. While second experimental group prepared by varnish layer coating after material processing, these groups were compared with the control one. Three groups of vertex acrylic resin used as control, mPMMA and varnish coated group (PPH Cerkamed Wojciech Pawlowski, Poland). The inverted light microscope was used to measure the candida albicans adherence after one week and one month of processing. Two-way ANOVA, LSD test, Ttest and Dunnett T3 were performed on data. Modified Acrylic resin showed highly significant reduction in candida albicans adhesion and porosity, also for varnish coating group showed highly significant reduction in candida albicans adhesion and porosity test.
MULTIPLE STRESSORS AND SALAMANDERS: EFFECTS OF AN HERBICIDE, FOOD LIMITATION, AND HYDROPERIOD

Amphibian populations can be affected adversely by multiple biotic and abiotic stressors that together can contribute to their local and global decline. We focused on the combined effects of food limitation, drying conditions, and exposure to possibly the most abundant and widely used herbicide in the world, atrazine. We used a factorial design to evaluate the effects of exposure to four ecologically relevant doses of atrazine (approximate measured doses: 0, 4, 40, and 400 μg/L), two food levels (limited and unlimited food), and two hydroperiods (presence or absence of a dry down) on the survival, life history, and behavior of the streamside salamander, Ambystoma barbouri, from the embryo stage through metamorphosis. In general, food and atrazine levels did not interact statistically, and atrazine affected dependent variables in a standard, dose-dependent manner. Exposure to 400 μg/L of atrazine decreased embryo survival and increased time to hatching. Drying conditions and food limitation decreased larva.
AQUIFER COMPARIBILITY AND FORMATION STRATA IN OROGUN AND OSUBI (UGOLO) AREA OF DELTA STATE USING ELECTRICAL RESISTIVITY METHOD

Vertical electrical sounding (VES) using Schlumberger electrode configuration was carried out at Osubi (Ugolo) and Orogun areas of Delta State. A total of ten VES were carried out in the two communities with 6 VES at Osubi and 4 VES at Orogun with maximum current electrode separation of 500m. The equipment used for acquiring data is the ABEM SAS 1000 Terrameter with an inbuilt booster. The data obtained were interpreted using computer software WINRESIST. The interpretation processes were carried out firstly by curve matching and computer iteration where the geological model parameters and curves were obtained. Five geological layers were observed within the two communities. These ranges from topsoil, coarse grained soil, clayey sand, clay and fine grained soil. For Osubi, the water bearing zone depth ranges from 29.7 to 42.2m and resistivity ranges from 366. 1Ωm. to 3304. 5Ωm, but good portable water is observed at a depth of 30 to 39m while for Orogun location, the depth ranges from 13.6 to 54.6m, and resistivity ranges from to 101. 3Ωm to 6224. 0Ωm but for VES 2 of Orogun location, water bearing zone is at the range of 20m to 42m. For this location, good portable water is observed at the depth of 38.0 to 49.0m. The study shows that locations 3 and 6 of Osubi and locations 1 and 4 of Orogun are the best for sitting boreholes since they have higher resistivity indicating low corrossivity and salinity with higher transmissivity. Keyword: Transmissivity, aquifer, resistivity, Osubi, Orogun, Corrosivity.
Pollen Tubes With More Viscous Cell Walls Oscillate at Lower Frequencies

Pollen tubes are tip growing plant cells that display oscillatory growth behavior. It has been demonstrated experimentally that the reduction of the average pollen tube growth rate through elevated extracellular calcium or borate concentrations coincides with a greater amplitude of the growth rate oscillation and a lower oscillation frequency. We present a simple numerical model of pollen tube growth that reproduces these results, as well as analytical calculations that suggest an underlying mechanism. These data show that the pollen tube oscillator is non-isochronous, and is different from harmonic oscillation.
Dietary diversity and nutrient intake adequacy among women in Iwo Local Government Area, Osun State Nigeria

Dietary diversity has been considered a potential 'proxy' indicator to reflect nutrient intake adequacy. The study assessed the Dietary Diversity and Nutrient Intake Adequacy among adult women in Iwo Local Government (LGA) area of Osun State. Apparently healthy 250 adult women (20-59) were the respondents in the study. The anthropometric measurements of the respondents were taken using standard equipment. A 24-hour dietary recall questionnaire was used to assess the food intake of the respondents, which was converted into nutrient intake using adapted Total Dietary Assessment (TDA) software. Dietary Diversity Score (DDS) was created using a 15-food group model. Nutrient intake was evaluated using Nutrient Adequacy Ratio (NAR). Mean adequacy ratio (MAR) was calculated as an indicator of nutrient intake adequacy. Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software was used for analysis of the data collected. More than half (56.4%) of the respondents had normal body weight, 15.2% were underweight, 21.2% were overweight and 7.2% were obese. The diet of the respondents consisted of food items mainly from food groups such as cereals, white roots and tubers, vitamin A-rich vegetables, spices, condiments and beverages. Fruits and foods from milk and milk products were the least consumed. The mean DDS was 8.29±1.3, 4.4% of the respondents had high DDS, 94.4% had minimum DDS and 1.2% had low DDS. The MAR was 2.56±0.69, the intake of some nutrients such as carbohydrate, fat, iron, zinc and protein was above the recommended dietary intake and there was inadequate intake for some nutrients such as calcium, vitamin C and potassium among the respondents. Consumption of foods from groups such as meat and meat products, eggs and poultry and fish were found to be significantly related with nutrient intake adequacy as respondents with adequate intake of nutrients consumed more from these food groups. These results indicate that dietary diversity is an indicator of nutrient intake adequacy. Most of the respondents consumed foods from cereals, white roots and tubers, vegetables, legumes, oil and fats, spices and condiments than from other food groups. Keywords: Dietary-diversity, Nutrient, Women, Food-groups, Overweight, Micronutrient, Adequacy, Nigeria
Inconsistency within Expressed and Observed Racial Identifications

The present study extends previous work on distress that arises from discrepancy between self and interviewer racial identifications. Using the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent to Adult Health (Add Health) data, we examine mental health consequences of inconsistency over time within expressed (self) and observed (interviewer) racial identifications among American Indians. Given that phenotype signals race, we also contribute to prior research by examining whether skin color moderates inconsistency’s mental health consequences. Analyses show that observed racial inconsistency increased American Indians’ depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation. That is, when interviewers labeled a respondent “American Indian” at one wave of data but not another, there were deleterious implications for mental health status. In addition, an interaction between observed inconsistency and skin color demonstrated that observed inconsistency tended to be harmful when respondents were observed as having light skin. We argue observed inconsistency captures the distressing experience of being not readily classifiable.
Peer Review) THE ESTIMATION ACCURACY OF LIVE WEIGHT FROM METRIC BODY MEASUREMENTS IN ONGOLE GRADE COWS

length in North Sulawesi province. Data on animal live weight (LW), body length (BL) and chest girth(CG) were collected from all cows (n=363) kept by traditional household farmers. Regression analysiswas carried out to estimate LW from all linear body measurements. Data were classified based on age ofanimals consisted of five groups with the first age group of two and half years old, to the fifth age groupof seven and half years old. The results showed that age significantly (P<0.05) influenced all bodymeasurements. Correlations between all pairs of measurements were highly significant (P<0.001) for allage groups. Regression analysis showed that live weight could be predicted accurately from chest girthand body length (R2=0.97). Multiple regression model can be recommended to predict live weight ofOngole grade cows based on those variables with their age groups ranging from 2.5 to ≥7.5 years old asfollows: Live weight (kg) = -806.410 + 4.79835 CG (cm) + 2.83500 BL (cm).
Calibration approaches for distributed hydrologic models in poorly gaged basins: implication for streamflow projections under climate change

This study tests the performance and uncertainty of calibration strategies for a spatially distributed hydrologic model in order to improve model simulation accuracy and understand prediction uncertainty at interior ungaged sites of a sparsely gaged watershed. The study is conducted using a distributed version of the HYMOD hydrologic model (HYMOD_DS) applied to the Kabul River basin. Several calibration experiments are conducted to understand the benefits and costs associated with different calibration choices, including (1) whether multisite gaged data should be used simultaneously or in a stepwise manner during model fitting, (2) the effects of increasing parameter complexity, and (3) the potential to estimate interior watershed flows using only gaged data at the basin outlet. The implications of the different calibration strategies are considered in the context of hydrologic projections under climate change. To address the research questions, high-performance computing is utilized to manage the computational burden that results from high-dimensional optimization problems. Several interesting results emerge from the study. The simultaneous use of multisite data is shown to improve the calibration over a stepwise approach, and both multisite approaches far exceed a calibration based on only the basin outlet. The basin outlet calibration can lead to projections of mid-21st century streamflow that deviate substantially from projections under multisite calibration strategies, supporting the use of caution when using distributed models in data-scarce regions for climate change impact assessments. Surprisingly, increased parameter complexity does not substantially increase the uncertainty in streamflow projections, even though parameter equifinality does emerge. The results suggest that increased (excessive) parameter complexity does not always lead to increased predictive uncertainty if structural uncertainties are present. The largest uncertainty in future streamflow results from variations in projected climate between climate models, which substantially outweighs the calibration uncertainty.
The effect of Staking and Plant Spacing on the growth and yield of Cucumber (Cucumis Sativus L.)

: This study was conducted in Thinker’s Corner-Emene Enugu, Southeastern Nigeria to determine the effect of staking and plant spacing on the growth and yield of cucumber. Staked and unstaked and three plant spacing (50cmx30cm, 50cmx40cm and 50cmx50cm) were evaluated. The study was conducted as a 2x3 factorial laid out in randomized complete block design (RCBD) with five replications. Treatment means were separated using least significant difference (LSD=0.05). The result generated from the study showed that number of fruits, number of marketable fruits and weight of fruits. Staking had no significant effect on weight of fruits, but showed significant effect on number of branches, number of leaves and vine length decreased as the plant spacing increased from 50cmx30cm to 50cmx40cm. The closest plant spacing (50cmx30cm) recorded the highest value in all the parameters assessed in this trial except for number of flowers, Days to 50% anthesis, length of fruit and weight of fruit. The staked treatment constantly performed better with higher values than the non-staked treatment except for the flowers and number of non-marketable fruits. Hence for maximum production of cucumber staking and closer plant spacing should be adopted.
INTERNET AND AUTISM: The reflection of communication experiences in narrative practices

Background: Perspectives of Internet use among students with ASD are not a clearly investigated field although positive results in mainstream schools are already received. Multiple pieces of research have shown that computer technology facilitates a broader range of educational activities to meet a variety of needs for students with mild learning disorders, and adaptive technology can enable students with severe disabilities to become active learners in the classroom alongside their peers who do not have disabilities. The aim of this study is to understand and describe representation and perception of online communication by persons with ASD via their postings in blogs and online survey. The role of Internet, the importance of ICT in education and the relation between online and offline communication are in the focus of the study. Although the use of technologies in education and everyday routines is not wide-spread due to high costs and teachers’ lack of training in applying modern technologies in the classroom, the results of this study reveal the importance of applying ICT in everyday life for people with autism. Methodology: A qualitative research design was chosen to reach the purpose of the study. To collect data, ten blogs were analyzed and an online open-ended questionnaire was distributed to the participants. Main findings: Crucial topics raised in the blogs and analyzed in this study give a new perspective on the needs and interests of people with ASD. Although Internet activity and blogging provides significant benefits to the social life of people with autism, it is not the only means of communication. Blogging is considered as facilitator and an indirect tool for the development of self-esteem, communication, and leadership skills. Internet, and particularly typing, is an inseparable part of active social engagement for people with social difficulties.
Slater-Pauling behavior and origin of the half-metallicity of the full-Heusler alloys

Using the full-potential screened Korringa-Kohn-Rostoker method we study the full-Heusler alloys based on Co, Fe, Rh, and Ru. We show that many of these compounds show a half-metallic behavior; however, in contrast to the half-Heusler alloys the energy gap in the minority band is extremely small due to states localized only at the Co (Fe, Rh, or Ru) sites which are not present in the half-Heusler compounds. The full-Heusler alloys show a Slater-Pauling behavior and the total spin magnetic moment per unit cell ${(M}_{t})$ scales with the total number of valence electrons ${(Z}_{t})$ following the rule ${M}_{t}{=Z}_{t}\ensuremath{-}24. $ We explain why the spin-down band contains exactly 12 electrons using arguments based on group theory and show that this rule holds also for compounds with less than 24 valence electrons. Finally we discuss the deviations from this rule and the differences compared to the half-Heusler alloys.