Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Domestic Tourism Development in Asir Region, Saudi Arabia

Domestic tourism is supposed to compose the largest and most unaddressed proportion of the tourism ‘iceberg’, but has been overshadowed by the interest in international tourism on behalf of academics and policy makers. Unlike international tourism which depends greatly on global systems and mega-infrastructure, domestic tourism deems to have evolved and sustained itself in the absence of heavy investments and commercialization. It has also been suggested as an appropriate substitute to international tourism under the influence of external factors such as disasters and crises. In tourism studies, not many researchers have engaged themselves in the topic of domestic tourism in the Middle-east region especially in Saudi Arabia. The focus on domestic tourism is important in Saudi Arabia as the country is one of the biggest exporters of tourists going out of the kingdom, and the government is trying to retain a larger portion of tourism spending of its local tourists in the national tourism industry. In view of this, this paper attempts to discuss the potentials and challenges of developing domestic tourism in the Asir region, which is situated in the southwestern part of Saudi Arabia. The analysis is based on secondary data and supported by interviews with twelve tourism operators and hoteliers in the region. The findings revealed that Asir region is a unique tourist destination and has considerable unrealized potential, however, the growth of domestic tourism requires diversification in terms of product, market and geographical areas. As tourism development is a comprehensive undertaking involving many sectors and stakeholders, it is crucial for the government to come up with multi-hierarchical, all-inclusive and coordinated development strategy, and these are the challenges to which the country’s tourism industry should respond to promote domestic tourism.
New lissamphibians and squamates from the Maastrichtian of Hateg Basin, Romania

Numerous remains of amphibians and squamates were discovered in the continental sediments of the Maastrichtian Sânpetru Formation, south of Pui Village (Haţeg Basin, western Romania). The lissamphibians are represented by a salamander−like allocaudatan (Albanerpeton sp.) and at least two discoglossid frogs (cf. Eodiscoglossus sp. and cf. Paradiscoglossus sp.). The numerous lizards are represented by, e.g., the teiid Bicuspidon hatzegiensis sp. nov., and for the first time in a Late Cretaceous site, by two species of the paramacellodid Becklesius (Becklesius nopcsai sp. nov. and Becklesius cf. B. hoffstetteri). Snakes are also present in this site by an indeterminante madtsoiid, which represents the first occurrence of this family in eastern Eu− rope. The presence of Albanerpeton in this site confirms that this genus appeared in Europe by at least the Late Cretaceous in− stead of Miocene as previously thought. The presence of both Albanerpeton and Bicuspidon in Haţeg Basin suggests a North American influence on eastern European amphibian and lacertilian faunas by Maastrichtian times.
Experimental models of cell in vitro-differentiation by different laboratory incubation times in the presence of Aronia melanocarpa fruit extract

The current study was directed to investigation on the influence of fruit extract from the medicinal plant Aronia melanocarpaon in vitro-cell differentiation in different incubation conditions. Slight differences in cell morphology in a short -term cultivation in the presence of plant extract, expressed mainly in increased size, rounded cell form and changed nuclei/cytoplasm ratio, in comparison with the untreated controls, were noted. These changes were accepted as signs for early myeloid differentiation, probably mainly of embryonic stem cell sub-populations from 3T3 cell line. Signs of osteoblast lineage differentiation of from the derived of 3T3 cells, incubated separately for a long -term period in the presence of Aronia-extract. After freezing of separate subpopulations from the so incubated cells for 2 -4 weeks in the presence of cryo-protector Dymethylsulfoxide (DMSO), subsequent thawing and re-incubation, appearance of osteoclast-like cells was observed. In co -cultivation of the so derived cells from both types (suspensions of cultural fluids plus cells from both types), regions of destroyed osteoblast -like cells monolayer were observed.
Domestic Energy Needs and Natural Resources Conservation: The Case of Fuelwood Consumption in Nigeria

Apart from air, water and food, energy is the most important item for human survival. It is essential for meeting various domestic, industrial and commercial obligations. Kerosene, electricity, gas and fuelwood are however, the major sources of domestic energy in Nigeria. The paper examines the role and challenges associated with the use of fuelwood in Nigeria. Desk research on energy utilisation, rate of deforestation and alternative sources of energy provided data for the paper. Content analysis of available data was used in the preparation of the paper. The paper revealed that domestic energy accounts for more than 50 per cent of the total energy consumed in Nigeria. The paper further shows that fuelwood provides energy for more than 60 per cent Nigerians and also responsible for meeting 80 per cent of domestic energy needs. Again, majority of Nigerians adopted fuelwood for meeting domestic energy needs due to the high level of poverty, inadequate infrastructure and lack of political-will to address the country’s energy challenges. The paper therefore recommends the use of gas, kerosene and electricity for domestic needs in order to conserve the nation’s forest resources, prevents loss of biodiversity and conserve the ground water. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2013. v4n7p147
Analysing the Impact of Managerial Ownership on the Performance of Shariah-Compliant Firms in Pakistan

This paper analyses the impact of managerial ownership upon firm performance in the Shariah-compliant firms of Pakistan. Agency theory that suggests involving managers as part of firm's ownership can help firms reduce the agency cost, has widely been applied in the corporate setup of conventional finance, however, there is growing need of academic research to find out the role and application of this theory in the Shariah-compliant organizations. All around the Muslim world, there is the rise of Shariah-compliant firms; however, little work has been done to critically evaluate such important concepts based on agency theory, it is, therefore, an optimistic approach to familiarise the idea of firm performance with the relationship of managerial ownership under Agency Theory in such organizations. In order to better understand the acceptability and adaptability of Agency Theory, the objective of this study is to examine the impact of managerial ownership upon firm performance in Shariah-compliant firms of Pakistan for the first time. This paper is based upon panel data and regression models applied to the sample of 68 Shariah-compliant firms listed on Pakistan’s Karachi Stock Exchange covering five years from 2009 to 2013. This paper tests the firm performance through two different dependent variables Tobin’s Q and ROA by regressing through OLS, Fixed effect (FE) and Random effect(RE) methods. Both models are proved empirically significant. The robust results confirm that managerial ownership (MO) has a positive and strong impact upon firm performance (Q)/ (ROA) in the Shariah-compliant firms of Pakistan. The outcomes may provide a good understanding and help in making a better decision regarding investment on the ethical grounds. It proves that more concentrated managerial ownership produces the higher firm profits. It can be also inferred that the increased proportion of managerial ownership tends to align with the interests of owners and thus help to reduce the agency conflict in our sample of Shariah-compliant firms in Pakistan. Moreover, Size (LNTA) has a positive relationship with firm performance (Q)/ (ROA) viewing that the Shariah-compliant firms depend on retained earnings. It may be due to the restricted criterion on the leverage for Shariah-compliant firms by the board of Shariah compliance. Leverage (DAR) is negatively and significantly correlated with profitability and growth (GROW) is positively and significantly correlated with firm performance (Q). In the developing and Muslim world, this study may reserve a unique place due to its virgin attempt and highlight the ignored aspect in the body of literature. These findings are of great benefit to investment managers, and Shariah cautious and other ethical investors regarding investment and portfolio related decisions.
Variation partitioning as a tool to distinguish between niche and neutral processes

We assess the potential of different forms of variation partitioning to distinguish between environmental control and dispersal limitation in communities structured by combinations of niche and neutral processes. Simulation data reveal interactions between dispersal limitation, environmental control, and the spatial structure of environmental factors in the detected levels of variance fractions. The degree of dispersal limitation contributes to both the pure environmental and pure spatial variance partitions. This undermines the common practice of interpreting these partitions as direct expressions of niche and neutral processes, respectively. Furthermore, the proportion of variation attributed to environmental variation depends not only on the strength of environmental control, but also on the specific spatial configuration of the environmental variable. This has important implications for the interpretation of empirical studies. In particular, use of these analytical techniques to compare processes governing community structure among different study systems is unwarranted, as the results will reflect not only differences in the strength of the processes of interest, but also the influence of the unique spatial arrangement of the environmental variables in each system.
Recent impacts of anthropogenic climate change on a higher marine predator in western Britain.

Impacts of anthropogenic climate change on marine ecosystems are now widely acknowledged. In the NE Atlantic, abundant evidence from the partly enclosed waters of the North Sea indicates that recent climate-induced changes in primary and secondary productivity have been propagated up the food chain, with marked consequences for higher vertebrate predators such as seabirds. In contrast, however, there is much less indication of such impacts on higher predators in the more open Atlantic waters around the west coast of the British Isles. Through an annual compar- ison of chick growth and adult food provisioning behaviour of Manx shearwaters in SW Wales, we found that birds bred later and chicks attained lower peak and fledging masses in 2007 and 2008 than in any previous recorded year dating back to 1965. These changes were accompanied by a reduction in parental attendance at the colony, which was probably the result of parents switching to a dual for- aging strategy in 2007 and 2008. These events were linked to higher sea surface temperature in the preceding winter and to a reduction in prey quality, as indicated by the mean body mass of 2 yr old herring. These are the first such findings for the west coast of Britain and indicate that within the NE Atlantic region, adverse impacts of climate change on higher marine predators are no longer restricted to the vicinity of the North Sea.
Theoretical study of the localization of excess electrons at the surface of ice

The localization of excess electrons at the basal plane surface of hexagonal ice Ih is investigated theoretically, combining density functional theory (DFT) with a partial self-interaction correction (SIC) scheme, to account for spurious self-interaction effects that artificially delocalize the excess electrons. Starting from energetically favored surface geometries, we find strong localization of excess electrons at surface dangling bonds, in particular for surface adsorbed water monomers and dimers.
The Effect of Grape Seed Extract and Vitamin C Feed Supplementation on Some Blood Parameters and HSP70 Gene Expression of Broiler Chickens Suffering from Chronic Heat Stress

In this experiment, the effect of hydroalcoholic grape seed extract (GSE) and vitamin C feed supplementation on some blood parameters and heat shock protein 70 (HSP70 gene) expression of broiler chickens suffering from chronic heat stress was investigated. Experimental diets included control diet (with no additive), 3 levels of GSE (150, 300, 450 mg/kg), and one level of vitamin C (300 mg/kg). Each diet was fed to 5 replicates of 12 male chicks each, from d 1 to 42. The birds suffered from chronic daily heat stress under 34±1°C temperature with 65 to 70% relative humidity for 5 h from 29 to 42 d of age. Results showed that 300 mg/kg GSE supplementation increased body weight of broilers both before and after heat stress condition (at 28 and 42 d, respectively). Also, birds fed 300 mg GSE/kg diet had higher European production efficiency factor during the whole period of the experiment. Supplementation of GSE decreased the concentration of serum glucose at 28 and 42 d; at 42 d (during heat stress condition) and at 450 mg/kg diet it decreased cholesterol, triglyceride, low- and very low density lipoprotein concentration of serum blood. Vitamin C supplementation decreased serum cholesterol concentration of broilers suffering from heat stress. HSP70 gene expression in heart and liver of broilers reduced by GSE and vitamin C supplementation pre- and during chronic heat stress condition.
Effect of Natural Environmental Conditions on the Reproductive Histomorphometric Dynamics in the Male Yellow House Bats (Scotophilus heathii)

The greater Asiatic yellow house bat (Scotophilus heathii) is one of the commonest and widely distributed bat species in Pakistan. Little is known about the reproductive biology of this bat. Both sexes roost separately except during January to March. The breeding season is however not well defined. This study was designed to investigate different morphological and histological changes in dif ferent months of the year in order to determine the actual period when male bats were reproductively active, along with seasonal changes in the spermatogenic activity of this bat. For this purpose, a group of 9 bat species of S. heathii were captured from different areas of Faisalabad in different months of the year. Morphometric measurements of each bat were made by digital Vernier caliper in order to confirm about the exact specie. Tests were taken and their different morphological parameters were taken. Histology of the testes was studied to explore various stages of spermatogenesis using different histological techniques like Fixation, Dehydration, Sectioning, Staining, and preservation. Histomorphometric measurements were also made by image J analysis. All parameter values were taken as Mean±SE. By using one way ANOVA and Fischer LSD the obtained data was analyzed, which showed highly significant values of all parameters, P<0.005. In this study, the morphological parameters and histological parameters were observed, which showed lowest values of all parameters except lumen area, in February and March, which was non spermatogenic period. In September, parameters showed low spermatogenic activity. In November all parameters were at their maximum value, which indicating the peak spermatogenic period for this bat. These results suggest the occurrence of an annual testicular cycle defined by three distinct reproductive periods.
The Effect of Creative Thinking Education in Enhancing Creative Self-Efficacy and Cognitive Motivation

This study aimed to explore the effectiveness of creative thinking education on enhancing creative self-efficacy and cognitive motivation. The sample consisted of 44 female students studying childhood education in the Princess Alia University College divided into two groups (experimental and control). The experimental group was taught a unit in creative thinking whereas the control group was not. Data were collected using two tools; first, a creative self-efficacy scale that included two dimensions (self-efficacy in creative thinking and creative performance) and second, a cognitive motivation scale that included three dimensions (curiosity, discovery, and questioning). Data showed significant differences between experimental and control groups in creative self-efficacy and its dimensions, and also in cognitive motivation and two of its dimensions (curiosity and discovery) in favor of the experimental group. No significant difference was found between the two groups in questioning. We recommend embedding creative thinking education in study courses.
Genotypic variations of open-pollinated families of Cinnamomum camphora seedlings from south China

Plants have evolved sophisticated responses to inhabiting environments that are displayed at different levels such as morphology, anatomy, physiology and growth (Pyakurel & Wang 2013). Leaf is the most important organ for tree growth and survival and is sensitive to the inhabiting environments. Leaf morphology is controlled by the competing demands of maximising photosynthetic gain and minimising transpirational loss of water (Marron et al. 2007). Remarkable variations have been discovered in leaf morphology of numerous tree species, such as Eucalyptus spp. (Warren et al. 2005, Rance et al. 2014), Azadirachta indica (Kundu & Tigerstedt 1997), Quercus rugosa (Uribe-Salas et al. 2008) and Betula papyrifera (Pyakurel & Wang 2013). In addition to leaf features, growth traits also have been proven to be very diverse in nature and their variations have been broadly used to develop programmes for selecting the most productive genotypes. However, due to the GENOTYPIC VARIATIONS OF OPEN-POLLINATED FAMILIES OF CINNAMOMUM CAMPHORA SEEDLINGS FROM SOUTH CHINA
Replacement of animal protein with vegetable protein in the diets of Astyanax altiparanae

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of replacing animal protein with vegetable protein sources on the productive performance of Astyanax altiparanae (lambari-do-rabo-amarelo). Five experimental diets were formulated with increasing replacement levels of animal protein by vegetable protein. A total of 9000 individuals (initial mean weight 1.18 ± 0.12 g, initial mean length 2.1 ± 0.3 cm) were distributed in 20 net cages (1 m3) with a density of 450 ind. m-3. Cages were randomly placed in a pond (180 m2, 1.5 m deep, 10% water renewal per day). After 63 days of cultivation, total count and individual biometrics from 20% of each experimental unit were taken. Mean weight, total length, survival, feed conversion, biomass weight gain and proximate body composition were evaluated. The experimental design was completely randomized with five treatments and four replications. The reduction in the formulation cost achieved by increasing levels of vegetable protein compensated the slight decrease in biomass gain. Besides that, inclusion of vegetable protein resulted in greater fat deposition, suggesting future exploration of A. altiparanae as a functional food.
An empirical study on entrepreneurs' personal characteristics

Article history: Received June 15, 2011 Received in Revised form October, 12, 2011 Accepted 15 December 2011 Available online 5 January 2012 The personality of an entrepreneur is one of the most important characteristics of reaching success by creating jobs and opportunities. In this paper, we demonstrate an empirical study on personal characteristics of students who are supposed to act as entrepreneur to create jobs in seven fields of accounting, computer science, mechanical engineering, civil engineering, metallurgy engineering, electrical engineering and drawing. There are seven aspects of accepting reasonable risk, locus of control, the need for success, mental health conditions, being pragmatic, tolerating ambiguity, dreaming and the sense of challenging in our study to measure the level of entrepreneurship. We uniformly distribute 133 questionnaires among undergraduate students in all seven groups and analyze the results based on t-student test. Our investigation indicates that all students accept reasonable amount of risk, they preserve sufficient locus of control and they are eager for success. In addition, our tests indicate that students believe they maintain sufficient level of mental health care with strong sense of being pragmatic and they could handle ambiguity and challenges. © 2012 Growing Science Ltd. All rights reserved.
Effect of genotype, explants, growth regulators and sugars on callus induction in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.)

Ten cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) genotypes were chosen for tissue culture. Callus initiation was genotype dependent, and R405-2000 has the best callogenesis response. Callus was induced from three media, the percentage of callus induction and dry weight of callus varied, but MS was the best callogenesis medium. It appeared that it was much easier to induce callus from hypocotyl than cotyledon or root explants. Induction callus of cotton was varied with hormone regimes. In effect, a proper combination of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D) and kinetin (KIN) promoted the callus initiation. Glucose was the best sugar to promote the production of callus. However, the concentrations of glucose were critical to the induction of callus. The optimum glucose concentration for callus induction was 40 g/L. The best medium for the proliferation of callus was MS medium with 0.1 mg/l 2,4-D, 0.5 mg/l KIN and 4% glucose. An efficient protocol for the production of high frequency callus of cotton has been developed.
Psychological Contract and Employee Turnover Intention among Nigerian Employees in Private Organizations

The psychological contract is an important emerging area of human resource researchers and practitioners. Increasing recognition of the importance of human resources in enhancing organizational performance, coupled with wider concerns about reputation and competitions have made the issue of psychological contract of highly relevant to researchers and those managing organizations. This study is a response to the call for more study in the developing countries and non-western culturally based societies. Hence, the objective of the study is to examine the relationship between Psychological contract factors operationalized in terms of transactional, rational and balance psychological contracts and employee turnover intention in private sector organization in Nigeria. A structured questionnaire adapted and validated for this study was used to ascertain the responses of the respondents. A survey and cross sectional research design was used and self administered questionnaire with help of research assistant were used to collect the data from 280 samples. The analysis was conducted using SPSS, the major findings of the study indicated that transactional psychological contract has a strong positive significant relationship with turnover intention of employee in private organization in Nigeria. Also, the relational and balance psychological contracts dimensions were significantly related to turnover intention to leave a private organization. The owner/managers, regulatory agencies, government and other stakeholders will benefit from the findings, and future research suggestions were provided.