Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Effect of Microwave Frying on Acrylamide Formation in Potato Chips

The occurrence of acrylamide, a probable carcinogen and a neurotoxin, is currently a global issue. Therefore, the main objective of the present study was to determine the effects of microwave frying on acrylamide formation in potato chips. A simple method using high-performance liquid chromatography has been applied for determination of acrylamide in microwave-fried potato chips. The results showed that microwave frying could form more acrylamide at high microwave power level 800 W compared with low microwave power level 200 W. The highest level was 13230 ppb at 800 W for 120 s. Moreover, the acrylamide content was higher than the levels people might be exposed to in foods 1000 ppb. As a result of this study, it was concluded that microwave frying at high thermal process 180°C, 800 W, 120 s could form high level of acrylamide.
Leaf area index of Norway spruce stands in relation to age and defoliation

Pokorný R. , Stojnic S. 2012: Leaf area index of Norway spruce stand in relation to its age and defoliation. – Beskydy, 5 (2): 173–180 This contribution presents LAI data of 17 Norway spruce stands of different age (from 15 to 102 years) and health status (defoliation ranging from 0 to 40 %) located in the Těsinske Beskydy Mts. (NE of the Czech Republic). Defoliation degree was estimated by ocular observation and LAI was estimated indirectly on the base of gap fraction method using LAI-2000 PCA (Li-Cor, USA). It was found that LAI decreased with stand age (approximately from 12.6 to 8.5) whereas defoliation increased. Therefore, strong relationship between defoliation and LAI as well as gap fractions was found. LAI appears valuable parameter for health status of stand evaluation due to linear relationship (r2 = 0.87) between LAI and defoliation. As LAI can be estimated more objectively by a canopy analyzer then the degree of canopy defoliation by ocular observation, there is a perspective for a wide use LAI in forest practice. The LAI values can be used for the evaluation of health status of Norway spruce stands.
Effects of different doses of melamine in the diet on melamine concentrations in milk, plasma, rumen fluid, urine and feces in lactating dairy cows

The objectives of this paper were to evaluate the effects of feeding diets containing different levels of melamine on melamine concentrations in milk, plasma, rumen fluid, urine and feces in Holstein dairy cows. Sixteen Chinese Holstein dairy cows fixed with permanent ruminal cannulas were assigned to 1 of 4 treatments within a completely randomized design for 10 days. Cows were fed different amounts of melamine {20 (group 1), 40 (group 2), 60 (group 3) or 80 (group 4) g/day/cow} once daily in the morning mixed with a melamine free basal diet for 7-days adaptation followed by 3-days urine and feces sample collections. Melamine was found in all samples tested and its concentration generally increased as dose increased in the diet. These results indicated that different doses of melamine in the diet could result in different concentrations of melamine in milk, plasma, rumen fluid, urine and feces. Data suggested that melamine primarily cleared by urinary excretion, followed by fecal excretion in lactating dairy cows. Mammary tissue was apparently not a major tissue to dispose melamine, especially when fed a relatively low dose (lower than 40 g/day/cow).
Effect of Slab Stiffness on EBF Link Rotation Demands and Implications for Link Ultra Low-Cycle Fatigue Susceptibility

This study aims to quantify slab contributions in EBFs by investigating the dynamic performance of two 3-story EBF configurations with and without concrete slabs: one configuration having long (flexural yielding) links and the other having shorter (shear yielding) links. Particular effort is spent investigating the relative accumulation of ultra low-cycle fatigue damage within the link regions during dynamic loading. All slab and frame geometries are modeled using shell elements. Linear springs and nodal constraints model the discrete slab-to-beam interactions. Recorded earthquake ground accelerations, scaled to design-level intensities, load the EBFs. Ultra low-cycle fatigue damage is investigated using a calibrated micro-mechanics based ductile fracture model. Results indicate reduced system-level frame demands (inter-story drift, residual drift, and link rotation) due to increased system stiffness from the concrete slabs. Reductions in these demands were larger for EBFs with long (flexural yielding) links as compared to the short (shear yielding links). Even with reduced rotation demands, EBF models with slabs sustained similar fatigue damage as the bare-steel EBF models due to increased plastic strain demands, presumably from a neutral axis shift.
Organizational Politics and Job Outcomes: The Moderating Effect of Trust and Social Support

We propose a model for examining the moderating effect of trust and social support on the relationship between organizational politics and job outcomes. The model was tested empirically using data collected among 142 academics in one of Israel’s major research universities. Findings based on interaction effects support the hypothesis that trust and social support are good moderators of the relationship between perceived organizational politics (POPs) and several job outcomes (i.e., job satisfaction, organizational commitment, stress, burnout). In other words, the potentially negative aftermaths of POPs can be controlled and reduced when trust and social support dominate the intra-organizational climate. Theoretical and practical implications of the findings, as well as recommendations for future studies, are suggested. jasp_683 2829.2861
An Inquiry Based Continuing Professional Development Program: how to make the first Steps?

Research findings concur in demonstrating both that collective settings spur teacher development, and that changes in teacher approaches and practices depend on some conditions (Grangeat, 2012). These conditions specify a new way for teacher training. This kind of collaborative settings is frequently called 'Inquiry Based Continuing Professional Development program' since all the actors involved in this IB-CPD program endeavour to resolve the common problem but any of them know the solution of this problem. This paper addresses a specific IB-CPD program that involves teachers from two lower secondary and four primary schools within a urban sector in France. A first question is to describe and understand the basis and the structure that underpin this programme. A second question is to figure out a set of variables that will be monitored in order to regulate and evaluate the program efficiency.
Risk-based definition of zones for land-use planning in snow avalanche terrain

For avalanche applications, the definition of zones for land-use planning typically involves estimates of both return period and impact pressures as functions of position in the runout zone. Since return period is related to expected avalanche frequency and impact pressure is related to consequences if structures are hit, zone specifications imply a risk-based approach. In this paper, the schemes for definition of zones from three countries (Switzerland, Canada, and Austria) are presented and compared from a mathematical, risk-based framework. The comparison reveals that the Swiss standard is the least conservative and the Austrian standard is the most conservative.Key words: risk, snow avalanches, zoning, return period.
Role of the Social Capital in Effectiveness of Knowledge Management within Iran Khodro Diesel Company

Social capital is considered as a new concept which, as compared with the human or physical capitals, is of more significance within different organizations. On the other hand the modern management has already identified the concept of knowledge as an endless source of interests and competitive advantages. Given the growing significance of this organizational necessity which is vital for proper knowledge management all the required efforts shall be made for identifying and understanding the factors affecting and the factors affected by the concept of knowledge. The main purpose behind the present research was to study role of the social capital and its relationship with the knowledge management effectiveness within every organization. The statistical community used for the present research included staff of the Iran Khodro Diesel Company Research and Development Department. The researcher, at the beginning of his research, referred to three secondary assumptions and one primary assumption. Then the social capital was designed based on three dimensions including cognitive, relational and structural dimensions and the knowledge management was designed based on three dimensions of the knowledge, knowledge storage, continuous knowledge refinement, knowledge utilization and knowledge sharing/distribution. The main tools for collecting the required data included statistical sampling for 105 individuals as well as the social capital and knowledge management related questionnaires distributed among the participants in the research. The validity of the questionnaires was verified by use of the content validity method and the factor analysis of the structural equations. Also the reliability of the questionnaires was calculated based on the Cronbach’s Alpha at 0.89 and 0.91 which was indicative of an accepted reliability. The statistical analysis was made by use of the SPSS statistical and LISREL software. Accordingly, all the three secondary assumptions as well as the primary assumption were confirmed. Based on the outcome of the research it was verified that there is a meaningful relationship between the three dimensions of the social capital and the knowledge management effectiveness. In continuation the organizational rating was assessed based on the knowledge management dimensions and the social capital and in the end some recommendations were introduced for promotion of the social capital and knowledge management within the organization.
Technical Efficiency of Boro Rice Production in Meherpur District of Bangladesh: A Stochastic Frontier Approach

Although rice is the main crop in Bangladesh and the country is ranked as the sixth largest rice producer in the world, researchers observe that rice is not produced with full efficiency in the country. It is also observed that owing to the application of high yielding variety seeds, chemical fertilizer, pesticide, and irrigation, productivity of rice in Bangladesh has increased in the recent years though it is still lower compared to other Asian countries. A review of existing literature reveals that so far little attention has been given by the researchers in investigating the efficiency of rice production in Bangladesh. Thus, the objective of the present study is to analyze the technical efficiency of rice production in Bangladesh using data from boro rice farmers. Required data are collected from 115 boro rice producing farmers of Meherpur district selected using multistage random sampling procedure. In analyzing the data, farm specific technical efficiency scores are estimated using the Translog Stochastic Frontier Production function approach. The study found that technical efficiency of boro rice farms in Meherpur district is 89.5%. It is also found that ‘labor’, ‘fertilizer and pesticide’, ‘seed’ and ‘irrigation’ are the significant factors that affect the level of technical efficiency while ‘farm size’ and ‘ploughing cost’ are found insignificant in affecting technical efficiency of boro rice production in the study area. The results indicate that boro rice farms in the study area have been operating below the maximum level of production frontier and given the available technology, farmers can increase their production by 10.5% through increasing the use of labor, seed and irrigation inputs and also by using proper doses of fertilizer and pesticide inputs.
Assessing the level of the safety practice in construction companies in Palestine

Construction sites are generally complex and sometimes unsafe. They are still one of the most dangerous workplaces because of high incidence of accidents compared with other industries. This paper presents the results of a study undertaken to assess the level of the safety practice in construction companies in the Gaza Strip. The survey included fifty one construction companies that operate in the Gaza Strip. The results indicated that most of contractors in Palestine did not have a safety department, and did not have a safety manual. A large number of the respondent contractors have partial knowledge of safety. The opinion of the respondents’ contractors regarding responsibility of the lack of safety is traced to company management. The majority of the respondents agreed that there is financial saving when complying with safety provisions. The results showed that the highest impact of the accidents on construction projects is on the cost of projects. It is recommended to strengthen the awareness and attitude of the top management and project managers towards the importance of safety. The managements of the company must establish and enforce safety polices for workers. They should develop their activities by including more monitoring of safety performance at the site and by giving more reliable feedback about the consequences that take place. Companies should hold their project management accountable for accidents.
Financial decision-making on behalf of another

Financial decisions that concerns us are not always made by ourselves. In real life, many situations arise when the decisions are taken for us by a third person. Examples of this are when policy makers decide for us and when brokers handle our investments. Others are estimating the risks for us and makes financial decisions from their perception of the situation and perhaps their own risk preferences. This field has scarcely been studied, even though the constellation appears in our everyday life. By establishing the basis of a financial decision, one can conclude whether or not it makes more sense to either make the decisions individually or to let someone else make them for you. This paper is examining this decision-making process on behalf of another when an individual stand in front of lotteries with negative expected value. It is shown that the decision-makers does not act according to expected value maximization when deciding on behalf of someone else. This could depend on the fact that many estimated the preferences of their partner and acted accordingly. Many of the decisions were presumably influenced by skewed perception of the prospect, which was also affecting the choices. Thus, according to this study, one should decide for themselves when facing a lottery with negative expected value. (Less)
Exploration of the Psychometric Qualities of the WCR Creativity Test : for Creative Higher Vocational Education in the Netherlands

This quantitative, cross-sectional research is set up to explore the reliability and validity of the WCR-test for higher vocational education. 519 Dutch students that attend a creative bachelor participated in this research, that consists of 2 studies. The first study investigates the WCR-test, and reports low reliability and validity. The second study further investigates the validity of the WCR-test and a possible solution to bring the validity and reliability to an acceptable level. It was concluded that different scoring methods and lengthening the tests positively influences reliability, but not to acceptable standards. Moreover, a correlation of sections of the WCR-test and corresponding creativity test (Guilford’s Alternative uses, 1967; RAT, 1968) was not found. However, an explorative factor analysis confirms the presence of the cognitive mental operations Widening, Connecting and Reorganizing in the WCR-test and further underlines the theory of the WCR-model. Further improvements of the WCR-test are discussed.
Evaluating Supply Chain Context-Specific Antecedents of Post-Adoption Technology Performance

This study investigated the influence of context -specific antecedents to user perceptions of technology performance using a new logistics information tracking technology designed to facilitate the linking of supply functions. Supply chain awareness, task-technology fit, and satisfaction with the existing system were evaluated as external variables likely to influence technology performance. This research examines the effect of these three constructs on technology acceptance as a function of post-adoption perceptions of technology performance. The research model was based on the original Technology Acceptance Model. Data from a mail survey were collected to evaluate 718 first-tier supply chain users’ perceptions of a new technology’s performance that includes accuracy, visibility, and efficiency. A structural equation model tested eleven hypothesized relationships. The results of this study advance understanding of technology adoption, enrich knowledge of technology innovation, and offer suggestions for enhancing user perceptions of technology performance. Implications along with suggestions for future research are provided.
First Simulations of Designing Stratospheric Sulfate Aerosol Geoengineering to Meet Multiple Simultaneous Climate Objectives

We describe the first simulations of stratospheric sulfate aerosol geoengineering using multiple injection locations to meet multiple simultaneous surface temperature objectives. Simulations were performed using CESM1(WACCM), a coupled atmosphere‐ocean general circulation model with fully interactive stratospheric chemistry, dynamics (including an internally generated quasi‐biennial oscillation), and a sophisticated treatment of sulfate aerosol formation, microphysical growth, and deposition. The objectives are defined as maintaining three temperature features at their 2020 levels against a background of the RCP8.5 scenario over the period 2020–2099. These objectives are met using a feedback mechanism in which the rate of sulfur dioxide injection at each of the four locations is adjusted independently every year of simulation. Even in the presence of uncertainties, nonlinearities, and variability, the objectives are met, predominantly by SO2 injection at 30°N and 30°S. By the last year of simulation, the feedback algorithm calls for a total injection rate of 51 Tg SO2 per year. The injections are not in the tropics, which results in a greater degree of linearity of the surface climate response with injection amount than has been found in many previous studies using injection at the equator. Because the objectives are defined in terms of annual mean temperature, the required geongineering results in “overcooling” during summer and “undercooling” during winter. The hydrological cycle is also suppressed as compared to the reference values corresponding to the year 2020. The demonstration we describe in this study is an important step toward understanding what geoengineering can do and what it cannot do.
Culture, strategic alliances, mergers and acquisitions : an introduction

Over the past decades, we have witnessed a sharp upheaval in the number of external organizational modes such as strategic alliances and mergers and acquisitions (MA Stahl and Voigt, 2008). This has led to a growing and emergent body of literature on the importance of culture for the success of strategic alliances and MA Simonin, 1999; Shenkar, 2001), cultural diversity (Parkhe, 1991), cultural compatibility (Cartwright and Cooper, 1996; Sarkar et al., 2001), cultural fi t (Datta and Puia, 1995; Child and Faulkner, 1998; Weber et al., 1996), management style similarity (Larsson and Finkelstein, 1999), organization (cultural) congruence (Brown et al., 1988; Barkema et al., 1996; Park and Ungson, 1997), cultural change (Kavanagh and Ashkanasy, 2006), cultural convergence (Birkinshaw et al., 2000), or acculturation (Nahavandi and Malekzadeh, 1988; Larsson and Lubatkin, 2001). 3 Much of this research has investigated the impact of national culture on the performance or longevity of strategic alliances and M&A. Diff erent
Creating Caring Qualified Early Childhood Teachers: An Exploration of the Relationship between Teacher Efficacy and Learner-Centeredness among Early Childhood Professionals in Arkansas

The demand for degreed teachers for positions teaching children even younger than preschool age is increasing across the United States. Teacher qualifications vary from state to state, and there is increased emphasis on teacher credentials and education. The current study extends the current literature by examining variables that effect the development of teacher efficacy and aims to determine a relationship between trainability of characteristics of beliefs about learner-centered beliefs/developmentally appropriate practices and teacher efficacy. Participants were 175 teachers working in the state of Arkansas in early childhood programs teaching children birth to 5 years of age. A significant relationship was confirmed between total teacher efficacy and teacher learnered-centeredness with regard to discipline and classroom management, teaching practices, and beliefs about children. However, significant differences in teacher efficacy scores of teachers holding a degree in early childhood education (P-4 licensure) from those without a bachelor’s degree were not found. Interestingly, teachers with bachelor’s degrees in child development did have significantly higher efficacy scores than did those who held the P-4 license in Arkansas. Results are discussed with the hope that teacher-training programs specific to birth through Kindergarten can target specific trainable variables to improve teacher confidence in their training which will result in higher efficacy and developmentally appropriate teaching practices.
Protective effects of the aqueous extract of Bersama engleriana leaves against cypermethrin-induced oxidative stress and reproductive toxicity in male guinea pig (Cavia porcellus)

The present study aimed to evaluate the protective effects of aqueous extract of Bersama engleriana leaves against cypermethrin-induced oxidative stress and reproductive toxicity. Thus, fifty male guinea pigs were divided into 5 groups (G1, G2, G3, G4 and G5) of 10 animals each. During 90 days, animals of G1 were orally given 1 ml/kg of body weight (bw)/day of distilled water, while the other groups received 137.50 mg/kg bw of cypermethrin. In addition, G3, G4 and G5 received respectively 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg bw of aqueous extract of Bersama engleriana leaves. At the end of the treatment period, the testicular concentration of malondialdehyde and the activities of superoxide dismutase and catalase decreased significantly (P<0.05) in guinea pigs exposed to cypermethrin and aqueous extract of B. engleriana leaves compared to those exposed to cypermethrin only (G2), while the reverse was observed with the activity of peroxidases. The time of reaction of male guinea pig in the presence of females and the percentage of abnormal spermatozoa decreased significantly (P<0.05) in animals treated with the insecticide and the aqueous extract of B. engleriana leaves compared to G2 animals. The weight of testes, serum level of testosterone, sperm count, mobility and percentage of spermatozoa with entire plasma membrane increased significantly (P<0.05) in guinea pigs given extract compared to those submitted to cypermethrin only. Thus, the aqueous extract of Bersama engleriana leaves protected male guinea pigs against cypermethrin toxicity.