Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Students' Ways of Interpreting Aspects of Change Embedded in a Dice Game.

In this paper seventh-grade pupils’ ways of handling aspects of probability have been investigated. The aspects in question were embedded in a dice game, based on the total of two dice. Four different set-ups of dice were included in the situation in which they were up to explore optimal strategies for winning the game. How children understand concepts is regarded from the perspective of how the pupils’ understanding varies with their interpretation of the situation, in which the concepts are embedded. Empirical data have been analyzed with intentional analysis, a method by which we regard pupils’ act as intentional. The results show approaches of extremes and of a number model, as consequences of how the pupils process and bring to the fore information in the situation. BACKGROUND Two research perspectives are seen in the area of chance encounters. First there is the psychology/cognitive perspective including the works by Kahneman and Tversky, quoted and developed in Gilovich et al. (2002), with focus on analyzing patterns in order to identify misconceptions and judgmental heuristics. The second perspective is that of mathematicians and mathematics educators, with focus more on learning probability from a mathematical point of view (Shaughnessy, 1992). The results of numerous psychological studies are reflected in the research of mathematics educators, in that the psychologists have provided a theoretical framework in considering judgmental heuristics. An extensive mapping based on the psychologist approach, and from related studies of misconceptions, can be identified in the literature, including representativeness and availability (Gilovich et al., 2002), the outcome approach (Shaughnessy, 1992) as well as the equiprobability bias (Lecoutre, 1992). The bias in focus here is equiprobability. Regarding the total of two dice this notion implies that all sums are equally likely to appear. Based on her results Lecoutre (1992) argues that this bias mainly stems from a conceptualization of the random experiment as being only a matter of chance. Confronting pupils with the total of two dice in a computer-based environment Pratt (2000) also identifies responses in accordance with equiprobability. He concludes that the participants base their decisions in random experiments on different types of resources, external as well as internal. Regarding equiprobability the four local internal recourses unpredictability, irregularity, unsteerability and fairness are mainly in play. In a study of factors affecting probabilistic judgments Fischbein et al. (1991) argue that there seems to be no natural intuition regarding the order of the two dice. This implies that children are not aware of all possible combinations when they are
Does the choice of benchmarks matter ? The characteristic index vs . the market index

Previous research documented that soon after companies cross list, they achieve significant negative post-listing abnormal returns (the post-listing anomaly). The host market condition was the most recent satisfactory explanation for the sign, and the significance of the anomaly. Event studies are based on grouping companies by certain characteristics, as such, the choice of benchmarks affect the method of forming portfolios of companies, which in turn, affect the sign and the significance of the post-listing abnormal returns. The sample evidence shows for almost the different Characteristic Index benchmarks used, different estimation procedures neither changed the sign nor the significance of the post-listing abnormal returns. But, for almost the different Market Index benchmarks used, different estimation procedures changed the sign, and the significance of the post-listing abnormal returns. The GARCH estimation procedure is a better fit when using daily returns to estimate abnormal returns, and the Characteristic Index is a better fit when forming portfolios of companies based on certain characteristics. With either the Characteristic Index or the Market Index, some companies time the market before cross-listing, and they achieve significant negative post-listing abnormal returns. While, others who don‘t time the market, they achieve significant positive post–listing abnormal returns. The paper used an event study methodology and a wide variety of statistical tests to prove its results.
Examining Oral Reading Fluency Trajectories Among English Language Learners and English Speaking Students

Students’ oral reading fluency growth from first through fourth grade was used to predict their achievement on the Stanford Achievement Test (9th ed.; SAT-9 Reading) using a latent growth model. Two conditional variables related to student status were used to determine the effects on reading performance - English language learners (ELLs) with low socioeconomic status and low socioeconomic (SES) status alone. Results revealed that both types of student status variables reliably predicted low performance on initial first grade oral reading fluency, which later predicted fourth grade performance on the SAT-9. However, the reading fluency trajectories of the ELLs and monolingual English students were not significantly different. In addition, when both student status variables and letter naming fluency were used to predict initial oral reading fluency, letter naming fluency dominated the prediction equation, suggesting that an initial pre-reading skill, letter naming fluency, better explained fourth grade performance on the SAT-9 than either ELL with low SES or low SES alone. The discussion focuses on how to better enable these readers and how oral reading fluency progress monitoring can be used to assist school personnel in determining which students need additional instructional assistance.
Laminar–turbulent transition induced by a discrete roughness element in a supersonic boundary layer

Abstract The linear instability and breakdown to turbulence induced by an isolated roughness element in a boundary layer at Mach $2. 5$ , over an isothermal flat plate with laminar adiabatic wall temperature, have been analysed by means of direct numerical simulations, aided by spatial BiGlobal and three-dimensional parabolized (PSE-3D) stability analyses. It is important to understand transition in this flow regime since the process can be slower than in incompressible flow and is crucial to prediction of local heat loads on next-generation flight vehicles. The results show that the roughness element, with a height of the order of the boundary layer displacement thickness, generates a highly unstable wake, which is composed of a low-velocity streak surrounded by a three-dimensional high-shear layer and is able to sustain the rapid growth of a number of instability modes. The most unstable of these modes are associated with varicose or sinuous deformations of the low-velocity streak; they are a consequence of the instability developing in the three-dimensional shear layer as a whole (the varicose mode) or in the lateral shear layers (the sinuous mode). The most unstable wake mode is of the varicose type and grows on average ${\sim }17\hspace{0.167em} \% $ faster than the most unstable sinuous mode and ${\sim }30$ times faster than the most unstable boundary layer mode occurring in the absence of a roughness element. Due to the high growth-rates registered in the presence of the roughness element, an amplification factor of $N= 9$ is reached within ${\sim }50$ roughness heights from the roughness trailing edge. The independently performed Navier–Stokes, spatial BiGlobal and PSE-3D stability results are in excellent agreement with each other, validating the use of simplified theories for roughness-induced transition involving wake instabilities. Following the linear stages of the laminar–turbulent transition process, the roll-up of the three-dimensional shear layer leads to the formation of a wedge of turbulence, which spreads laterally at a rate similar to that observed in the case of compressible turbulent spots for the same Mach number.
SALESPERSON NETWORKING BEHAVIORS AND CREATIVITY : EXPLORING AN UNCONVENTIONAL RELATIONSHIP

Creativity is used generally to describe the generation of novel and useful ideas, products, processes and solutions (Perry-Smith, 2006; Scott & Bruce, 1994). Scholars consider creativity as a critical skill for relationship management (Bradford et al., 2010) and the development of innovative sales approaches (Strutton, Pentina, & Pullins, 2009). One area that is relatively sparse within the salesperson creativity literature lies in the social antecedents of the salesperson’s creativity (Amabile, 1983; Woodman, Sawyer & Griffin, 1993). In the profession of selling, which by nature is built upon social communications (Bagozzi, 2006), a salesperson’s job is embedded within an array of social interactions (Bradford et al., 2010). Further, research reinforces the value of social interactions, because “social interactions with others in a domain should enhance one’s understanding of the area and facilitate the generation of approaches that are feasible and unique” (Perry-Smith, 2006, p. 86). The value of social interactions lies in the inherent information sharing, which enables creativity (Amabile & Khaire, 2008). One common form of salesperson social interactions is their networking behaviors, the degree to which salespeople engage in social interactions that possess the potential to assist them in their work and career (Forrett & Dougherty, 2004). Networking behavior has been noted as an important ability for one’s career (Todd, Harris, Harris & Wheeler, 2009), and serves as a means of enhancing one’s growth and development (Thompson, 2005). Hence, we suggest that networking behaviors plausibly lead to creative behaviors and enable greater adaptation in one’s selling efforts.
Effect of Timolol Maleate on the Retinal Circulation of Human Eyes with Ocular Hypertension

We studied the effect of topical timolol maleate 0.5% on the retinal circulation of eyes with ocular hypertension using laser Doppler velocimetry and monochromatic fundus photography. Patients with ocular hypertension had normal eye examinations and had documented elevated intraocular pressures of 23 mmHg or higher on two or more separate occasions. In a double-masked randomized design, one eye of each subject received timolol maleate 0.5% and the fellow eye received placebo. Vessel diameter, maximum velocity of red blood cells, and volumetric blood flow rate were determined in a major retinal vein of each eye just prior to the instillation of drops, and then 2 hr later. In comparison to the baseline value, there was an increase of 12.0% in average red blood cell velocity (P < 0.005, statistically significant) and of 8.4% in volumetric blood flow rate in the timolol-treated eyes (P < 0.05, statistically significant). No significant changes in these quantities were observed in the placebotreated eyes. Also, no significant change in venous diameter was detected in the placeboand the timolol-treated eyes. In comparison to the baseline, a significantly larger increase in red blood cell velocity was observed in the timolol-treated eyes than in the placebo-treated eyes (P < 0.05). The difference between the increase in blood flow observed in the timolol-treated eyes and the placebotreated eyes achieved a probability value of P = 0.058. The increase in blood flow observed in the timolol-treated eyes may be related to the increase in perfusion pressure produced by this drug. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 31:521-526,1990
Cloud condensation nuclei as a modulator of ice processes in Arctic mixed-phase clouds

We propose that cloud condensation nuclei (CCN) concentrations are important for modulating ice formation of Arctic mixed-phase clouds, through modification of the droplet size distribution. Aircraft observations from the Aerosol, Radiation, and Cloud Processes affecting Arctic Climate (ARCPAC) study in northern Alaska in April 2008 allow for identification and characterization of both aerosol and trace gas pollutants, which are then compared with cloud microphysical properties. Consistent with previous studies, we find that the concentration of precipitating ice particles ( > 400 µm) is correlated with the concentration of large droplets (> 30 µm). We are further able to link the observed micro- physical conditions to aerosol pollution, originating mainly from long range transport of biomass burning emissions. The case studies demonstrate that polluted mixed-phase clouds have narrower droplet size distributions and contain 1-2 or- ders of magnitude fewer precipitating ice particles than clean clouds at the same temperature. This suggests an aerosol in- direct effect leading to greater cloud lifetime, greater cloud emissivity, and reduced precipitation. This result is opposite to the glaciation indirect effect, whereby polluted clouds are expected to precipitate more readily due to an increase in the concentration of particles acting as ice nuclei.
INFLUENCE OF FERMENTATION AND COWPEA STEAMING ON SOME QUALITY CHARACTERISTICS OF MAIZE-COWPEA BLENDS

Fermentation and cowpea steaming can be used to improve the protein quality and quantity of fermented maize dough. In the production of maize-cowpea blends, it is important that the quality characteristics are evaluated to determine their functionality in the products. A 5x4x2x2 factorial experiment with cowpea level, fermentation time, cowpea steaming time and fermentation method as the variable was performed. The cowpeas were dehulled, steamed, dried at 65EC for 24 hours and milled into flours. Maize was soaked in water (18 hours), drained and milled into flour. The maize-cowpea blends were made into a 50% moisture dough, fermented for the specified periods, dried at 65EC and milled into flour. Samples were evaluated for pH, titratable acidity, water absorption and sugars. The pH and titratable acidity of the samples were affected by fermentation time, steaming time, and the levels of cowpeas in the blend. Cowpeas was the main source of glucose/galactose. Fermentation caused a reduction in stacchyose and glucose/galactose. The mixing of cowpea flour with fermented maize dough prior to drying (single component fermentation) gave similar effects on sugar concentrations as detected in the co-fermented samples (multi-component fermentation). Fermentation and steamed cowpea fortification can be used to produce high protein fermented cereal foods with reduced anti-nutritional factors.
The Market Liquidity Timing Skills of Debt‐Oriented Hedge Funds

We investigate the liquidity timing skills of debt-oriented hedge funds following the 2008 credit crisis, which demonstrated the importance of understanding liquidity conditions to manage the market exposure of investments. We base the analysis on the estimated co-movements of fixed income and equity market liquidity. Our findings, which are statistically robust, show evidence of liquidity timing ability in the fixed income market for all debt-oriented hedge fund strategy categories. Joint market liquidity timing skill, however, is only found in some categories. Our findings suggest that debt-oriented hedge fund managers use a sophisticated set of timing strategies in their investment managements.
Land Use and Soil Texture Effects on Organic Carbon Change in Dryland Soils, Senegal

Soil organic carbon (SOC) losses due to poor soil management in dryland are now well documented. However, the influence of soil properties on organic carbon change is not well known. The groundnut plant (Arachis hypogaea L.), and the dominant crop system in the Senegal’s Soudanian zone, have been compared with semi-natural savanna. Leaves, stems and roots biomass were measured, and soil characteristics were analysed. The total leaves and stems biomass was 1.7 and 2.7 Mg ha −1 dry matter in groundnut fields and savanna respectively. Total SOC stocks were low (8 to 20 Mg C·ha −1 within upper 0.2 m depth, 20 to 64 Mg C·ha −1 within upper 1 m depth) and were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in sandy soils than in sandy clayey soils, and lower (approximately 27% - 37%) in groundnut fields than in savanna soils. δ 13 C values show that SOC quality is transformed from the savanna plants (C4/C3 mixed-pools) to C3-pools in groundnut cultivated zone, with the organic matter signature more preserved in the clayey soils. This study confirms that converting woodland to groundnut fields provokes texture transformation and SOC loss. The results call for the extreme necessity to regenerate the wooded zone or encourage practices that favour SOC restitution.
A low-noise CMOS front-end for TOF-PET

An analogue CMOS front-end for triggering and amplification of signals produced by a silicon photomultiplier (SiPM) coupled to a LYSO scintillator is proposed. The solution is intended for time-of-flight measurement in compact Positron Emission Tomography (TOF-PET) medical imaging equipments where excellent timing resolution is required ( ≈ 100ps). A CMOS 0. 13μm technology was used to implement such front end, and the design includes preamplification, shaping, baseline holder and biasing circuitry, for a total silicon area of 500x90 μm. Waveform sampling and time-over-threshold (ToT) techniques are under study and the front-end provides fast and shaped outputs for time and energy measurements. Post layout simulation results show that, for the trigger of a single photoelectron, the time jitter due to the pre-amplifier noise can be as low as 15 ps (FWHM), for a photodetector with a total capacitance of 70 pF. The very low input impedance of the pre-amplifier ( ≈ 5Ω) allows 1.8 ns of peaking time, at the cost of 10 mW of power consumption.
Quality as Determinant Factor of Customer Satisfaction: Case Study of Zain-Kuwait

The potential of mobile communications market in Kuwait is enormous. Therefore, I test customer satisfaction in the Kuwaiti mobile market by examining the quality construct. In our study, quality is measured through the dimensions: interaction quality, environment quality, and outcome quality. Our results show that outcome quality is the most influential construct over satisfaction. Also, the results find that interaction quality is not significant and carries no important association with customer satisfaction.
Major mammary pathogens as contributors to total bacterial counts in raw milk.

The purpose of this study was to assess the contribution of major mammary pathogens, as well as of coliform and Gram-negative non-coliform bacteria to standard plate counts (SPCs) of bulk tank milk samples (BTMSs). Randomly selected anonymous BTMSs were collected from 268 dairy herds (with approximately 29,000 cows) in the Czech Republic during 2007. The most frequently detected pathogens were found to be E. faecalis (16.1%; geometric mean 9.8 × 10 2 CFU/ml) and S. uberis (13.6%; 9.0 × 102 CFU/ml). Highly significant positive correlations (P < 0.01) between the bacterial counts of the dominant pathogens and the relevant SPC were found for E. faecalis and S. dysgalactiae, as were significant correlations (P < 0.05) for S. uberis, E. faecium, and S. aureus. Highly significant positive correlations (P < 0.01) were found between SPC and coliform count and between SPC and Gram-negative non-coliform bacteria count. The results suggest, therefore, a recent dominance of environmental pathogens especially streptococci and enterococci, over contagious mammary pathogens in BTMSs. The geometric means of SPC in BTMSs with mammary pathogen (7.7 × 10 4 CFU/ml for environmental; 7.4 × 10 4 CFU/ml for contagious pathogens) exceed significantly (P < 0.05) the geometric means of SPC of pathogen free BTMSs (4.4 × 10 4 CFU/ml). This study revealed that the major mammary pathogens contribute significantly to SPCs of BTMSs. Bulk tank milk samples, mammary pathogen count, standard plate count, coliform bacteria count, Gram-negative non-coliform bacteria count
ACID AND BILE TOLERANCE, ADHESION TO EPITHELIAL CELLS OF PROBIOTIC MICROORGANISMS

Toleranţa faţă de aciditatea gastrică si faţă de sărurile biliare, precum si adeziunea bacteriiloor probiotice la celulele epiteliale sunt considerate condiţii minime necesare pentru un efect benefic asupra stării de sănătate. Rezistenţa tulpinilor Lactobacillus casei 01 si Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5 la pH=2-4 si la o concentraţie de săruri biliare 0,3-1,0%, precum si adeziunea lor la celule IEC-6 a fost verificată in vitro. Capacitatea de adeziune a tulpinilor a fost evidenţiată cu metoda coloraţiei Gram. Tulpina L. casei 01 prezintă o sensibilitate mai ridicată la aciditatea gastrică decât L. acidophilus La-5. L. casei este foarte sensibilă faţă de săruri biliare. Ambele tulpini prezintă o capacitate bună de adeziune la celule epiteliale. Tolerance to gastric acidity, bile salts and adhesion of probiotic bacteria to intestinal epithelial cells is regarded as a prerequisite to exert beneficial health effects. Resistance to pH 2–4 and 0,3–1% bile salt concentration of Lactobacillus casei 01, Lactobacillus acidophilus La-5, as well as adhesion of strains to IEC-6 cell line were investigated in vitro. The adhesion ability of the tested strains was quantified with Gram-staining method. L. casei 01 presents increased sensibility to gastric acidity than L. acidophilus La-5. L. casei 01 is very sensitive to action of bile salts. Both strains show good adhesion ability to epithelial cells.
Continental Shift? An Analysis of Convergence Trends in European Real Estate Equities

This study investigates the effects of European monetary integration on the behavior of stock returns in European real estate companies from the perspective of a dollar-denominated investor. A range of statistical tests is applied to assess changes in segmentation, co-movement and causality. The results suggest that, relative to the wider equity markets, the dispersion of performance is higher, correlations are lower and a common contemporaneous factor has much lower explanatory power whilst lead-lag relationships are stronger. Less and slower integration is attributed to the relatively small size of the real estate securities market and the local nature of many real estate companies' portfolios.
Key Factors of Enterprise Development: Evidence from Biogas Sector of Nepal

This paper aims at determining key factors for enterprise development in biogas sector in Nepal. The variables are introduced via an extension of the econometric model, which explicitly includes Almon (1965) Polynomial Lag Model using SPSS. The number of biogas companies comprises as a dependent variable for the indicator of enterprise development while number of biogas plants, numbers of biogas plants constructed with loan, micro credit i.e., loan, and subsidy are included as independent variables. The empirical results were estimated using annual data of 22 years from fiscal year 1992/93 to 2013/14 with entire study period divided into different sub-periods. The study reveals that enterprise development is influenced not only by the current values of the key factors but also by the past values. The study also shows that number of biogas plants and subsidy play a very strong role while number of plants constructed with loan and loan play a weak role in enterprise development in the context of biogas sector of Nepal. The paper can be extended by investigating characteristics of renewable energy enterprises and renewable energy entrepreneurs to get a greater insight into the results.