Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A community based comparative cross- sectional study to assess the effects of mobile phone on quality of sleep in smart phone users and non- users in Central India

Background: Mobile phones are no longer simply a communication device now-a-days, rather has become an indispensable part of human life. Mobile phones have transformed from necessity to the level of status symbol. Smart phones are a newer generation of cellular phones with integrated computer related functions capable of performing various tasks based on number of applications. The extensive use of smart phones in recent years had led to exposure of human beings to radio frequency electromagnetic field (RF-EMF) which could have adverse effects on sleep. Objectives of the study was to compare the effects of mobile phone on quality of sleep in smart phone users and non- users using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). 2. To educate the study subjects about the hazards of excessive smart phone usage. Methods: Study design- Prospective cross- sectional comparative study. Study subjects- 166 working class adults working in various offices in Bhopal. Inclusion criteria - Those who were using any type of mobile phones and gave consent to participate in the study. Exclusion criteria -Those who had any recent trauma or chronic illness related to sleep. Ethical consideration-Permission taken from Head of the department of Community Medicine, Gandhi Medical College, Bhopal. Verbal consent was obtained from the study participants. Results: Out of 166 study participants 92 were male and 74 were female of which mostly belonged to the age group of 20-30 years with mean 26.75 years and SD 5.12years. 97.6% were graduate and above. Participants showing a better subjective sleep quality amongst non-users of smart phone was significant (p=0.00185) and the number of participants showing no problem to keep up enough enthusiasm to get things done were more in non-users than users with difference being statistically significant (p=0.0146). Conclusions: We should restrict the use of mobiles to minimum for sound mind and good health.
Political violence and volatility in international tourist arrivals: the case of Sri Lanka.

In recent years, a growing body of literature has emerged exploring the link between dramatic fluctuations in tourist arrivals to particular destinations and events such as political violence and financial shocks. Sri Lanka is one such destination that provides a fascinating case study of this link. That is, international tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka have experienced notable fluctuations during the nearly three decades of civil war, particularly between 1983 and 2009. For the first time, an attempt is made in this study to model the conditional mean and conditional variance of the logarithm of monthly tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka. The results reveal a significant seasonal effect in tourist arrivals to Sri Lanka. First, the study demonstrates the existence of a large volatility in monthly tourist arrivals into Sri Lanka from 1978, stemming from the negative publicity in the print and electronic media and the travel warnings issued by Western countries relating to in-country conflict. Furthermore, the results suggest that major war-related incidents are strong enough to reduce the tourist arrival numbers by 5.2% per month compared to a period when peace is restored in the country.
‘Are we being de-gifted, Miss?’ Primary school gifted and talented co-ordinators’ responses to the Gifted and Talented Education Policy in England

This is the accepted version of the following article: Koshy, V. and Pinheiro-Torres, C. (2013), ‘Are we being de-gifted, Miss? ’ Primary school gifted and talented co-ordinators’ responses to the Gifted and Talented Education Policy in England. British Educational Research Journal, 39: 953–978. doi: 10.1002/berj.3021, which has been published in final form at http://onlinelibrary.wiley. com/doi/10.1002/berj.3021/abstract.
Implications of Beaver Castor canadensis and Trout Introductions on Native Fish in the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve, Chile

Abstract Invasive species threaten global biodiversity, but multiple invasions make predicting the impacts difficult because of potential synergistic effects. We examined the impact of introduced beaver Castor canadensis, brook trout Salvelinus fontinalis, and rainbow trout Oncorhynchus mykiss on native stream fishes in the Cape Horn Biosphere Reserve, Chile. The combined effects of introduced species on the structure of the native freshwater fish community were quantified by electrofishing 28 stream reaches within four riparian habitat types (forest, grassland, shrubland, and beaver-affected habitat) in 23 watersheds and by measuring related habitat variables (water velocity, substrate type, depth, and the percentage of pools). Three native stream fish species (puye Galaxias maculatus [also known as inanga], Aplochiton taeniatus, and A. zebra) were found along with brook trout and rainbow trout, but puye was the only native species that was common and widespread. The reaches affected by beaver impoundmen.
Towards a democratisation of new media spaces in multilingual/multicultural Africa: A heteroglossic account of multilocal and multivoiced counter-hegemonic discourses in Zambian online news media

This paper explores the production of hybrid cultural identities in Zambian online news websites. Using extracts from five popular online newspapers, namely Lusaka Times , The Post , Kachepa360 , Zambia Reports and Zambian Watchdog , the paper shows how writers construct polyphony (many voices) and multiple locality which transcend ethno-linguistic, cultural, geographical/national, orthographic and linguistic boundaries. Through the notion of heteroglossia (Bakhtin 1981), the paper shows how the writers manipulate multiple Zambian languages and English, cultural knowledge and orthographic conventions to achieve various shades of meaning; as well as to produce multiple voices and cultural identities, some of which appear contradictory on the surface but effectively disseminate particular messages. In particular, the paper shows how traditional proverbs and idioms, ‘standard’ language and spelling systems are used together with so-called “urbanised” and globalised discourses to (re)shape and (re)create language. I argue that what is critical is not knowledge of static and rigid norms of ‘traditional’ grammar, spelling systems and associated cultures, but an appreciation of how writers manipulate (trans)cultural capital across traditional and modern cultural boundaries and between complementary and contradictory logics. In turn, I argue that to analyse from and to apply ‘centre’ or ‘standard’ norms to these discourses is inappropriate and can lead to misinterpretation and misunderstanding of the messages. I conclude that the harnessing and representations of this cultural capital and these diverse voices in the (co)(n)texts not only constitute the peculiarities of the heteroglossic (and even heterotopic) practices of speakers/writers, but also demonstrate that language and ‘culture’ are products of social activities. Successful deciphering of the cultural materialities of the multilingual (co)(n)texts demands that one divorce the traditional understanding of what constitutes ‘language’, particularly through decentring ‘centre’ norms about how language is produced and consumed.
IKT 16: the first X-ray confirmed composite SNR in the SMC

Aims: IKT 16 is an X-ray and radio-faint supernova remnant (SNR) in the Small Magellanic Cloud (SMC). A detailed X-ray study of this SNR with XMM-Newton confirmed the presence of a hard X-ray source near its centre, indicating the detection of the first composite SNR in the SMC. With a dedicated Chandra observation we aim to resolve the point source and confirm its nature. We also acquire new ATCA observations of the source at 2.1 GHz with improved flux density estimates and resolution. Methods: We perform detailed spatial and spectral analysis of the source. With the highest resolution X-ray and radio image of the centre of the SNR available today, we resolve the source and confirm its pulsar wind nebula (PWN) nature. Further, we constrain the geometrical parameters of the PWN and perform spectral analysis for the point source and the PWN separately. We also test for the radial variations of the PWN spectrum and its possible east west asymmetry. Results: The X-ray source at the centre of IKT 16 can be resolved into a symmetrical elongated feature centering a point source, the putative pulsar. Spatial modeling indicates an extent of 5.2 arcsec of the feature with its axis inclined at 82 degree east from north, aligned with a larger radio feature consisting of two lobes almost symmetrical about the X-ray source. The picture is consistent with a PWN which has not yet collided with the reverse shock. The point source is about three times brighter than the PWN and has a hard spectrum of spectral index 1.1 compared to a value 2.2 for the PWN. This points to the presence of a pulsar dominated by non-thermal emission. The expected E_{dot} is ~ 10^37 erg s^-1 and spin period < 100 ms. However, the presence of a compact nebula unresolved by Chandra at the distance of the SMC cannot completely be ruled out.
Can power and anaerobic capacity reduce according to disordered eating behaviors in cyclists

Abstract — The present study aimed to compare the power, anaerobic capacity (AC) and performance in a road bicycle race among cyclists with and without risk of disordered eating behaviors (DEB). The sample was selected in a non-probabilistic way, totaling 69 male road cyclists aged between 19 and 30 years. The Wingate test was used to evaluate peak power (PP) and mean power. Time in minutes was adopted to determine performance in a 120-km road cycling race (competitive event). The Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26) was completed to assess DEBs. The results did not indicate a difference in PP among cyclists with and without risk of DEBs ( F (2, 67) =3.92; p =0.13). Findings showed a difference in mean power among cyclists with and without risk of DEBs ( F (2, 67) =36.43; p =0.01). The results revealed a difference in performance in 120-km cycling races among cyclists with and without risk of DEBs ( F (2, 67) =46.03; p =0.01). It could be concluded that DEBs were associated with a lower mean power and performance in a competitive event among male road cyclists, although the same was not true for PP.Keywords: exercise; metabolism; performance; stress.
Postharvest nitric oxide treatment of persimmon (Diospyros kaki l.) improves fruit quality during storage

Introduction. The effects of nitric oxide (NO) on postharvest ripening of persimmon were investigated. Materials and methods. Fruit were dipped for 30 min in 1.0 and 1.5 mM sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a nitric oxide donor, and stored at 1 °C and 90% relative humidity for 56 days. Changes in total antioxidant activity, total phenol compounds, color, firmness, soluble tannins and weight loss were evaluated. Results and discussion. The results showed that fruit ripening was significantly delayed by SNP. Application of 1.0 and 1.5 mM SNP delayed weight loss and retained greater total antioxidant activity, total phenolic compounds and firmness compared to the control treatments. No significant differences were observed between the two concentrations of SNP. Conclusion. These results demonstrated that postharvest NO application has potential to delay ripening and maintain quality of harvested persimmon fruit.
The Estimation Method of Inference Functions for Margins for Multivariate Models

An estimation approach is proposed for models for a multivariate (non–normal) response with covariates when each of the parameters (either a univariate or a dependence parameter) of the model can be associated with a marginal distribution. The approach consists of estimating univariate parameters from separately maximizing univariate likelihoods, and then estimating dependence parameters from separate bivariate likelihoods or from a multivariate likelihood. The analysis of this method is done through the theory of inference or estimating functions, and the jackknife method is proposed for obtaining standard errors of the parameters and functions of the parameters. The approach proposed here make a large contribution to the computational feasibility of carrying out inference with multivariate models. Examples illustrate the approach, and simulation results are used to indicate the efficiency.
Can the Consumption–Wealth Ratio Predict Housing Returns? Evidence from OECD Countries

We use a representative consumer model to analyze the relation between the transitory deviations of consumption from its common trend with aggregate wealth and labor income, cay, and the housing risk premium. The evidence based on data for 15 OECD countries shows that, if financial and housing assets are seen as complements, investors will temporarily allow consumption to rise when they expect a rise in future housing returns. By contrast, if housing assets are treated as substitutes for financial assets, consumption will be reduced.
Density and size segregation in deposits of pyroclastic flow

The main portion in the deposits of pyroclastic flow shows various characteristic features such as density and size segregation of large fragments in the vertical direction. To understand the mechanism which produces these features, we numerically study granular flows on an inclined rough surface with impurities that are different in density and size from the matrix particles. The simulation shows the occurrence of density and size segregation of large impurities, and the impurities finally concentrate at the top and the bottom. Based on these results, we discuss the mechanism of the segregation. It is found that the behavior of impurities is governed by gravity, buoyancy and the viscosity of the randomly moving matrix.
Idiosyncratic Risk in Innovative Industries

The paper studies whether “idiosyncratic risk”, i.e. the degree to which firm and industry specific returns are more volatile than aggregate market returns, is higher in innovative industries which are characterized by more risk and uncertainty. Volatility is studied both at the industry level (for 34 different industries from 1974-2003) and at the firm level (for 5 industries with different levels of innovativeness: biotech, pharmaceuticals, computers, textile, agriculture). Findings are mixed. A relationship between innovation and volatility emerges most strongly with firm level data, when firm dimension is accounted for, and when time varying volatility is explicitly studied via GARCH analysis. The latter highlights the distinctive behavior of returns during the course of the industry life-cycle.
Examining the relative disagreement model of opinion dynamics with Klemm-Eguiluz social network topologies

This paper presents a brief history of models of opinion dynamics and summaries of the work from the creation of the Bounded Confidence (BC) model through to the more recent development of the Relative Agreement (RA) model and finally of the Relative Disagreement (RD) model. As a result of the re-examination and correction of the original specification of the RA model given by Meadows and Cliff, and subsequent first investigation of the RA model operating within non-trivial but realistic social networks the RD model was proposed as not only an extension but a significant improvement. Given that these two highly successful approaches have been taken with the RA model, it is now necessary to present a full exploration of the new RD model operating within the same non-trivial topologies
Compact descriptors for the median nerve motion assessment using ultrasound

Poster: "ECR 2018 / C-2061 / Compact descriptors for the median nerve motion assessment using ultrasound" by: "P. Conde1, A. Silva1, M. R. D. Santos2, A. Silva1; 1Aveiro/PT, 2 Aveiro/PT"
Comparison of the immunogenicity between bacterial ghost and formalin-killed bacteria for Vibrio vulnificus

Vibrio vulnificus ghosts (VVG) were generated using a mobilizable vector including a thermosensitive expression cassette by conjugation. The vaccine potential of VVG was investigated in mouse. Mice immunized with VVG showed significantly higher antibody titer than those with formalin-killed V. vulnificus. The present study supports the conceptive usefulness of bacterial ghosts as vaccine candidates.
Rapid burial has differential effects on germination and emergence of small- and large-seeded herbaceous plant species

Abstract The dynamics of many plant populations essentially depend upon seed and seedling stages, and a persistent seed bank may give species an opportunity to disperse through time. Seed burial is a decisive prelude to persistence and may strongly influence seed-bank dynamics. The fate of buried seeds depends on species-specific traits, environmental conditions and possibly also burial mode. We tested seed germination, seedling emergence and growth of the co-occurring herbaceous flood-meadow species Arabis nemorensis, Galium wirtgenii, Inula salicina, Sanguisorba officinalis and Selinum carvifolia in response to the experimental manipulation of burial depth (0, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12 cm) and substrate type (sand, clay). Increasing burial depth led to decreased germination, emergence and growth in all species studied, and seedling growth differed significantly between substrate types. The responses of species differed on an individual basis, but also showed a higher-ranking pattern based on seed size. Larger-seeded species were able to emerge from greater depths and experienced less depth-mediated growth inhibition than smaller-seeded species, which, in turn, had higher survival rates during burial and were less likely to experience fatal germination. Based on these results, we suggest that herbaceous flood-meadow species have developed two different seed-size based strategies for coping with the extreme recruitment conditions prevailing in flood meadows, the balance of which seems to be maintained by disturbance events.
Locations of peculiar supernovae as a diagnostic of their origins

We put constraints on the properties of the progenitors of peculiar calcium-rich transients using the distribution of locations within their host galaxies. We confirm that this class of transients do not follow the galaxy stellar mass profile and are more likely to be found in remote locations of their apparent hosts. We test the hypothesis that these transients are from low metallicity progenitors by comparing their spatial distributions with the predictions of self-consistent cosmological simulations that include star formation and chemical enrichment. We find that while metal-poor stars and our transient sample show a consistent preference for large offsets, metallicity alone cannot explain the extreme cases. Invoking a lower age limit on the progenitor helps to improve the match, indicating these events may result from a very old metal-poor population. We also investigate the radial distribution of globular cluster systems, and show that they too are consistent with the class of calcium-rich transients. Because photometric upper limits exist for globular clusters for some members of the class, a production mechanism related to the dense environment of globular clusters is not favoured for the calcium-rich events. However the methods developed in this paper may be used in the future to constrain the effects of low metallicity on radially distant core-collapse events or help establish a correlation with globular clusters for other classes of peculiar explosions.
Sorption Studies of Acid Dye by Mixed Sorbents

The sorption of Acid Blue 9 onto the mixture of activated clay and activated carbon has been studied in terms of pseudo-first order and pseudo-second order chemical sorption processes. The batch sorption model, based on the assumption of a pseudo-second order mechanism, has been developed to predict the rate constant of sorption and the equilibrium capacity with the effect of initial dye concentration, mass of mixed sorbent, temperature and initial solution pH. The rates of sorption were found to conform to pseudo-second order kinetics with good correlation. Batch isotherm studies showed that the sorption of Acid Blue 9 by the mixed sorbent from aqueous solution was described by the Langmuir isotherm equation. A comparison of the evaluated equilibrium capacity of sorption has been made by the pseudo-second order rate equation as well as by the Langmuir isotherm and operating line method. In addition, an activation energy of sorption has also been determined based on the pseudo-second order rate constants.
Phytoremediation Potential of Vetiver System Technology for Improving the Quality of Palm Oil Mill Effluent

Palm oil mill effluent (POME), a pollutant produced by the palm oil industry, was treated by the Vetiver system technology (VST). This technology was applied for the first time to treat POME in order to decrease biochemical oxygen demand (BOD) and chemical oxygen demand (COD). In this study, two different concentrations of POME (low and high) were treated with Vetiver plants for 2 weeks. The results showed that Vetiver was able to reduce the BOD up to 90% in low concentration POME and 60% in high concentration POME, while control sets (without plant) only was able to reduce 15% of BOD. The COD reduction was 94% in low concentration POME and 39% in high concentration POME, while control just shows reduction of 12%. Morphologically, maximum root and shoot lengths were 70 cm, the number of tillers and leaves was 344 and 86, and biomass production was 4.1 kg m−2. These results showed that VST was effective in reducing BOD and COD in POME. The treatment in low concentration was superior to the high concentration. Furthermore, biomass of plant can be considered as a promising raw material for biofuel production while high amount of biomass was generated in low concentration of POME.
The impact of e-portfolio on foreign language writing skills

Bu calisma elektronik(e-) portfolyonun orta alt yabanci dil seviyesindeki hazirlik sinifi ogrencilerinin yazma becerileri uzerindeki etkisini arastirmaktir. Bir grup lisans ogrencisi cevrim ici sinif ortaminda elektronik portfolyo olustururken, diger bir grup da yazili dosya seklinde portfolyo olusturmuslardir. “Ogrenme icin Motivasyon Stratejileri Anketi” ve “Bilgisayar Tutum Anketi” ile “Bilgisayar Okuryazarligi Anketi” araciligiyla veri toplanmistir. Calisma ile teknoloji destekli yazma pratigi ile dosyada yazma pratigi karsilastirmasiyla elektronik ortamin basariya etkisi hakkinda bilgi sunulmustur. Calisma sonuclarina gore 1) Dijital ortam yabanci dil yazma becerilerine olumlu etki etmektedir. 2) Bilgisayar kullanim deneyimi ve bilgisayar sahibi olma bilgisayara karsi tutumu etkilemektedir. 3) Elektronik portfolyo yabanci dil ogretim mufredatinda yer alabilir.
Impact of Foreign Language Proficiency and English Uses on Intercultural Sensitivity

The main purpose of this study was to examine the impact of English uses and English proficiency on inter-cultural sensitivity among 292 Taiwanese participants. Results indicate that there is a significant differential level of English uses across three groups of the participants (high, moderate and low frequency of English uses). Post-hoc comparison indicated that high-frequency English uses have significantly higher inter-cultural sensitivity than moderate and low-frequency users. However, the results do not support the hypothesized linkage between foreign language proficiency and inter-cultural sensitivity. The implications from these findings suggest that the frequency of English uses will better equip EFL learners with sufficient socio-linguistic competences and communicative skills compared with English proficiency. Moreover, inter-cultural sensitivity is a skill learned through authentic interaction in an intercultural context. Thus, the MOF in Taiwan should rethink of washback effect of the English Benchmark Policy.