Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
FOCUS FRONTING BETWEEN DECLARATIVES AND EXCLAMATIVES

In many languages, including Romance and German, Focus Fronting (FF) is generally associated with an emphatic intonation and interpretation, so that sentences hosting FF are often indiscriminately mistaken for exclamative clauses. In this paper we demonstrate that, despite its special interpretive and prosodic properties, FF is a syntactic construction that is independent from illocutionary force and from clause-typing since it typically marks declaratives, but may also be found in interrogative and exclamative clauses. An interpretation of surprise and unexpectedness is present in these structures with FF, which we thus call Mirative Focus Fronting (MFF). On the basis of criteria such as presuppositionality and the position of the prosodic main prominence, we show, on the one hand, that in non-interrogative contexts, sentences featuring MFF have in fact an assertive force and are therefore genuine declaratives; on the other, a special type of Focus Fronting must be identified which occurs in genuine exclamatives (hence the name Exclamative Focus Fronting, EFF), but which is associated with a special prosodic pattern and is limited to specific types of constituents (mostly, scalar adjectives and adverbs).
INVESTIGATION ON QUALITY OF COIR WASTES BIOCHAR FOR SOIL AMENDMENT AND SOIL CARBON SEQUESTRATION APPLICATIONS

In this paper, coir wastes biochar was prepared from coirwaste biomass at low temperatures (400-450°C) and the quality of the biochar was tested with reference to the International Biochar Initiative (IBI) criteria for soil amendment and soil carbon sequestration applications. The coir wastes biochar had mass yield (20.02%), H/Corg (0.48), O/C (0.59), pH (7.28) and EC (0.09 dS cm). Carbon (%) of the coir waste biochar was found to be increased from 34.52% to 44.98%. The nitrogen (%) and sulphur (%) was found to be low in the coirwastes biochar compared to the raw biomass, indicating that it would produce less NOx and SOx emissions during combustion. The total organic carbon (%) was notably increased from 18% to 52% and follows class 2 biochars (≥30<60%) based on the criteria given by IBI. It is observed from the results that the thermo-chemically converted coir wastes biochar had greater potential and stability to sequester organic carbon in the soil because H/Corg of the biochar was found to be <0.70 and all other characteristics were in the threshold criteria as declared by IBI.
Sleep time in the time use survey

We spend about one-third of our life on sleeping which is essential for physical and mental health. Researches verified that both too much (above 8 hours) and too little sleep (under 7 hours) affect the state of health unfavourably, while the golden mean seems to be ideal. Sleep time forms an U-shaped curve over the life span. Younger people and the old sleep more, whereas the middle generation spends less time on sleeping. Women sleep somewhat more than men and sleeping has a relation with family lifecycle, with working time and with income, as well. In our overdriven lifestyle we can observe the conversion of sleep time to waking activities. In addition, some dimensions of the social inequality may influence the sleeping habits. In the analysis of lifestyle some crucial evidences can be furnished from time use surveys. Investigations of these points and relations are based on the data of Hungarian time use survey 2009-10.
Reframing the Reliability of Models Moving From Error to Quality for Use

Scientific computer simulation—here defined as involving a mathematical model that is implemented on a computer and that imitates real-world processes—is portrayed by some philosophers of science as a new method of doing science, besides theorizing and experimentation (e.g., Rohrlich 1991; Humphreys 1994; Keller 2003). Science studies generally seems to support this conclusion from an historical or sociological perspective (e.g., Galison 1996; Dowling 1999). Two major reasons are typically given for why simulation should be considered qualitatively different. First, it is claimed that simulations make it possible to ‘experiment’ with theories in a new way (e.g., Dowling 1999: 271). Second, simulation enables us to extend our limited mathematical abilities so that we can now perform calculations that were hitherto unfeasible. Thus, we can both construct new theories using computer simulation and calculate the consequences of old theories. An example of the former category is the application of cellular automata in biology (Rohrlich 1991; Keller 2003). And the latter category is exemplified by the forecasting of the weather on the basis of the well-established nonlinear equations of fluid dynamics, the Navier–Stokes equations. Although there is no fundamental difference between the computability of problems before and after computers became available (an argument against putting simulation in a philosophically distinct category), through the introduction of the computer an actual barrier in scientific practice to the large-scale use of numerical mathematics—that is, the limited speed with which humans, even if aided by mechanical machines, can do calculations—was removed. We agree with Paul Humphreys:
Dojo Tokens : The Effects of a Token Economy on Undergraduate Student Behaviour and Performance

Design: Two experiments were used to investigate this issue. Consistent with the extant token economy literature which uses within-subjects experimental designs, Experiment One identified suitable target academic behaviours / rewards and then compared levels of student target academic behaviour before and after the implementation of the procedure for students in a single Sales class (n=72). The second experiment specifically compared levels of student performance as well as the variables considered in Experiment One for two separate classes; a control (n=76) and a ClassDojo section (n=71).
Exploring Pair Programming Benefits for MIS Majors

Pair programming is a collaborative programming practice that places participants in dyads, working in tandem at one computer to complete programming assignments. Pair programming studies with Computer Science (CS) and Software Engineering (SE) majors have identified benefits such as technical productivity, program/design quality, academic performance, and increased satisfaction for their participants. In this paper, pair programming is studied with Management Information Systems (MIS) majors, who (unlike CS and SE majors taking several programming courses) typically take only one programming course and often struggle to develop advanced programming skills within that single course. The researchers conducted two pair programming experiments in an introductory software development course for MIS majors over three semesters to determine if pair programming could enhance learning for MIS students. The program results, researchers’ direct observations, and participants’ responses to a survey questionnaire were analyzed after each experiment. The results indicate that pair programming appears to be beneficial to MIS students’ technical productivity and program design quality, specifically the ability to create programs using high-level concepts. Additionally, results confirmed increased student satisfaction and reduced frustration, as the pairs worked collaboratively to produce a program while actively communicating and enjoying the process.
Efficacy of Different Insecticides against Cotton Thrips ( Thrips Tabaci Lind . ) ( Thripidae : Thysonoptera ) in Ecological Zone of Bahawalnagar

A field experiment was conducted during summer seasons 2014 and 2015 to determine the efficacy of different insecticides against cotton thrips (Thrips tabaci) at farmer’s field of Adaptive Research station Bahawalnagar. Six different insecticides Spinosad 240SC @100ml/ha, Acephate 75SP @875g/ha, Dimethoate 40EC @1000ml/ha, Chlorpenpyre 360GL @250ml/ha, Spintoram 120SC @150ml/ha and Acetamaprid 20SP @375g/ha were evaluated in a three replicated RCBD method including an unchecked. Before application of insecticides, the pre treatment observations were taken on thrips, while post treatment observations were taken after 24, 72 and 168 hours of application of insecticides. However, Spinosad 240SC (87%) showed its effectiveness up to 7 th day of the spray during both years. The mortality percentage of thrips on cotton was observed in case of Spintoram 120SC (83%) and Dimethoate 40EC (75%). This attained its effectiveness up to 7th day after application. Least controlled was observed when applied Acetamaprid 20SP (47%) during both years 2014-15.
EFFECT OF SOME MEDICINAL PLANTS EXTRACTS ON FUNGI INVADED LIMESTONE OF SOME MONUMENTAL BUILDINGS IN OLD CAIRO

The present work was designed to pinpoint some medicinal plants as good candidates of antifungal activities. These medicinal plants were collected from Egyptian Herbalism, and identified. Extraction of the crude oil using steam distillation method. Isolation of different fungal species from contaminated three different historical buildings in Old Cairo (mosque of Tameem Alrassafy, madrasa of Azbak Al-Yusufi, and the mosque of Yusuf Agha Al-Heen), which are infected by biological deterioration on its limestone surface. The antifungal activity of clove, piper, and thymus crude oil extracts on these isolated fungi was examined. The potential Sterilization of these extracts on limestone samples was investigated. The effectiveness of the treatment using these extracts has been evaluated with laboratory tests. The results obtained seem to indicate that this type of treatment will be suitable for monumental stone conservation. This research is illustrated by a set of tables, figures, and pictures.
“ ecoDriver ” HMI feedback solutions

The European Project ecoDriver Supporting the driver in conserving energy and reducing emissions, was aimed at identifying an appropriate HMI to be given to the driver to suggest him/her how maintaining an eco-drive style. Two different testing activities involving forty users were held. The first activity, conducted in the CRF Usability Laboratory and involving twenty users aimed to evaluate adequacy and comprehensibility of different types of visual feedback, graphic layouts, kind of personalisation and rewarding solutions to be used in an eco-driving system. The first phase results were used to identify visual stimuli for the second part of the activity, conducted in the CRF Virtual Reality Driving Simulator. Twenty users were asked to drive for about an hour, using an eco-drive system which gave, when appropriate, visual advices and feedback or visual stimuli plus a haptic feedback on the gas pedal. Performance data regarding driving behaviour and fuel consumption were recorded during the driving sessions. Moreover, subjective evaluations were collected using several questionnaires, to identify the best feedback solutions in terms of usability, acceptability and perceived mental effort. Collected data (objective and subjective) allowed to identify HMI solutions that can lead to important contributions to the fulfilment of an eco-drive style and to a real benefit in reducing consumption, without making drive too annoying or unsafe.
Zooplankton dynamics and water quality of the reservoirs from the Alqueva Irrigation System

The construction of dams causes a huge ecological change in the ecosystem of a river. In addition to being a physical barrier, there is the conversion of a lotic natural environment to an artificial lentic medium upstream of the dam. One of the communities that take advantage of these new conditions is the zooplankton. Through the assessment of its community structure at a given moment, it is possible to infer the impacts on these aquatic ecosystems. In this regard, our aim is to assess the zooplanktonic dynamics as an element for water quality assessment, by using the reservoirs from the Alqueva Irrigation System as study cases. Eight reservoirs from this system were selected and, throughout one sampling year, several physical and chemical parameters were evaluated monthly, as well as the zooplanktonic community. All quantified parameters except chlorophyll a never surpassed the stipulated thresholds defined by the WFD for this type of waterbody. However, conductivity (~600 μS/cm) and the negative redox potential throughout the year showed the poor water quality of all studied reservoirs. These reservoirs were classified as mesotrophic, according to chlorophyll a concentrations, except the Roxo reservoir which was classified as eutrophic. Zooplankton density was low throughout the year (<50 ind/L, except in Serpa) but showed a peak in late summer or autumn. The zooplankton community presented a clear similar seasonality in all the reservoirs, except in the Roxo reservoir. The end of spring was marked by the decline of Daphnia longispina, with a shift to small cladocerans and Diaphanosoma mongolianum. The summer samples had a dominance of high efficiency bacteria feeders (Ceriodaphnia sp. and D. mongolianum), underlining the importance of bacterioplankton in this period. In the autumn, the lowest ecological potential due to high chlorophyll a concentration (>15 μg/L) and low transparency values were observed, which reflected a dominance of cyclopoids. The extensive decline of large cladocerans and dominance of high efficiency bacteria feeders in the summer, the lack of macrofiltrators, the dominance of omnivores, and copepod nauplii throughout the sampling year show a deterioration of the water quality of the reservoirs in the Alqueva Irrigation System. Despite the good classification by WFD criteria, the structural and functional community of zooplankton reflected the eutrophic status of these reservoirs. Two exotic species, Daphnia parvula (except in Odivelas) and Bosmina coregoni (except in Pisão), were found in all of the sampled reservoirs, justifying an in-depth analysis, especially B. coregoni which was already described by several authors as invasive in other Mediterranean reservoirs. With all of this in mind, the assessement of zooplankton dynamics was an important tool in classifying the water quality of the studied reservoirs, which justifies its addition to the WFD. FCUP Zooplankton dynamics and water quality of the reservoirs from the Alqueva Irrigation System viii
FUMONISIN CONTAMINATION OF MAIZE ( Zea mays ) IN AFLATOXIN ‘ HOT ’ ZONES IN EASTERN PROVINCE OF

Natural Fusarium and fumonisin contamination were evaluated in 86 stored maize samples and correlated to damaged kernels (%). Maize samples were collected from selected farmers in Aflatoxin ‘hot’ zones of Eastern province. Samples were collected from Kitui and Kibwezi districts in May to June 2008. Fusarium species were isolated and identified using morphological characteristics at Mycology Laboratory, Kenya Medical Research Institute. Fumonisin quantification was done using ELISA (RIDASCREEN ELISA test kit (Art. No.: R3401) at Bora Biotech, Nairobi. Colony Forming Unit (CFU) counts indicated that apart from Aspergillus a common contaminant in maize, Fusarium species infestation was also high. The most common species being F. verticillioides isolated at (39.9 %) in the two districts. Other isolated Fusarium species included, F. proliferatum (15.1 %), F. solani (9.0 %), F. anthophilium (9.0 %), F. oxysporium (15.1 %), and F. Lateritium (12.1 %). Damaged kernels analysed in this study included insect infestation, mouldy kernels, and off coloured kernels. Results showed up to 20 % of the grains were damaged in some samples. Contamination with fumonisin toxin was observed to be high. Most of the samples exceeded 1 mg / kg the maximum tolerable levels recommended by the European commission. Fusarium species count and fumonisin levels showed positive correlation (p < 0.05). In addition, there was a positive correlation between damaged kernels (%) and Fusarium species count (p < 0.05). Positive correlation was also observed between damaged kernels (%) and Fusarium species count (p < 0.05). In general, F. verticillioides and F. proliferatum were isolated in samples with the highest percentage of kernel damage and highest fumonisin concentrations. These findings indicate wide spread infestation and contamination of maize by Fusarium species and fumonisin toxins. It is apparent that apart from aflatoxins contamination there is also high level of fumonisin exposure in the high risk population necessitating urgent intervention measures to curb the long term health consequences in the population.
Do Long-Term Institutional Investors Contribute to Financial Stability? – Evidence from Equity Investment in Hong Kong and International Markets

This paper assesses whether long-term institutional investors help stabilise or destabilise Hong Kong and international stock markets. We use a novel dataset based on individual funds issued by insurance companies and pension funds worldwide. This allows us to examine each economic region in conjunction with the remaining regions, not in isolation as in bilateral flow-based analysis. Overall, our results indicate that these institutional investors would be counter-cyclical (i.e., they buy past losers and sell past winners) for most stock markets (including Hong Kong) during normal market conditions, which could temper upward and downward movements in asset prices. During adverse market conditions, these investors would become procyclical for some stock markets in advanced economies, which could exacerbate price volatility. This implies that these long-term institutions would have a destabilising impact on these markets during the market downturns. The pro-cyclicality may reflect that some AEs were the epicentre of several major stock market crashes during the sample period. Moreover, the influence of pro-cyclicality would be reinforced by the LTIIs’ herding behaviour.
Modeling Vague Status by Fuzzy Logistic Regression : Application in Evaluating the Effect of Folic Acid on Child ’ s Appetite status

Statistical logistic regression is used for modeling a binary response variable with two exact categories based on a set of explanatory variables. In practice, the state of a binary response variable may be described in linguistic terms rather than in exact ones. In these situations, the borders between linguistic terms are vague and it is not possible to categorize the samples in one of two response categories. So, no usual probability distribution can be considered for such binary response variables and, therefore, statistical logistic regression is not appropriate for modeling. In this paper the state of child’s appetite is described by linguistic terms, and then a set of crisp explanatory variables which are supposed to be related with the state of appetite are collected. Fuzzy logistic regression, based on a least squares method, is used for modeling child’s appetite via a set of explanatory variables. Finally, the obtained model is evaluated by the means of a goodness-of-fit index.
Quantification of growth benefit of carnivorous plants from prey

The growth of carnivorous plants is usually limited or co-limited by shortage of available mineral nutrients N, P, and K in barren soils or waters. Carnivorous plants capture animal prey, absorb mineral nutrients from digested prey, and partly overcome the nutrient limitation. Therefore, prey capture leads invariably to marked and significant growth increase as the main ecophysiological benefit of carnivory. Here, a novel functional-ecological approach of how to quantify growth benefit efficiency of carnivory is explained. It expresses plant growth increase due to prey catching or feeding per amount of N or P or K theoretically absorbed from prey (or applied in mineral solution onto the traps) in growth experiments.
International Society for Environmental Information Sciences 2010 Annual Conference ( ISEIS ) Assessment of river water quality in Pearl River Delta using multivariate statistical techniques

The Pearl River Delta (PRD) region is one of the most industrialized areas in China, and the river water is increasingly deteriorated due to anthropogenic pollution from the rapid economic development. Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis (CA) were used to identify characteristics of water quality and to assess water quality spatial pattern in this region. The results of PCA for three regions showed that the first four components of PCA analysis showed 85.52% and 89.25% of the total variance in the data sets of North River region and West River region, respectively, the first three components showed 84.63% of variance for data set of East River region. Results of CA based on the station score of PCA were that stations of North River region, East River region and West River region were grouped into four, three and four clusters, respectively corresponding to severe pollution, moderate pollution, light pollution (except for East River region) and good water quality, which indicated the similarity and dissimilarity of the river water quality. Since, the results suggest that PCA and CA techniques are useful tools for assessment of water quality and management of water resources. © 2010 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Reproduction in the ovine Saloia breed : seasonal and individual factors affecting fresh and frozen semen performance , in vivo and in vitro fertility

Our objectives were to characterise seminal traits from fresh and frozen semen and in vivo and in vitro (IVF) fertility rates in Saloia breed. Five rams from this breed were used for semen collection with artificial vagina in spring, summer and autumn during three years. Eighty two ejaculates of good quality were collected, refrigerated (4 oC) and frozen in nitrogen vapours and its seminal traits evaluated. Cervical artificial insemination (AI, n=440) 55 hours after sponge removal and in vitro fertilisation of in vitro matured oocytes (n=1636) with semen frozen in autumn and winter were performed. In fresh semen significant differences (p<0.05) among seasons were detected for individual motility, live sperm, normal and tail abnormalities. Individual variations were detected for volume, concentration, live and normal sperm. For frozen/thawed semen traits, no differences among seasons were observed. No differences in fertility (15 %) and fecundity (20.2 %) were observed between semen frozen in autumn or winter. One of the rams presented higher fertility and fecundity rates when season of semen was not considered. No correlations were found for semen traits and AI results. Oocyte maturation rate was 79.47 ± 9.6 %, a higher maturation rate being observed during the shortening day length semester (83.5 % vs. 74.61 %; p<0.05). Following in vitro swim-up procedure, only sperm motility was different between two males in autumn (56.3 % vs. 36.3 %; p<0.02). No differences in cleavage rates between males or seasons were found (overall mean: 40.9 ± 16.5 %). In one of the males, embryo rates at Day 7 were higher when fertilisation with autumn rather than winter frozen semen was performed (38.1 % vs. 20.3 %; p=0.01). Only post-thawed sperm head abnormalities and embryo cleavage rates were highly and negatively correlated (r = -0.99; p<0.05). This study shows that seminal traits either in fresh or frozen semen were not predictable of in vivo or in vitro fertility rates with thawed semen in the Saloia breed.
STUDY OF DIFFERENT ORGANIC MANURE COMBINATION ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF CHILLI ( CAPSICUM ANNUUM L . )

Increase in application of inorganic fertilizers in agriculture has detoriated the soil quality. Vermicompost as a soil conditioner has been emerging as a potential end use for maintaining soil productivity. The paper examines the effect of vermicompost, cowdung and different organic manures combination on the growth and yield characteristics of chilli (Capsicum annuum L.). After investigation, it was found that the application of vermicompost and farmyard manure recorded significantly higher growth and yield characters than other treatments. In overall investigations, the obtained results specified that the application of vermicompost show promising results in the cultivation of chilli and better for obtaining the higher growth and yields of chilli and further the cow dung and leaf manure shows good growth and high yield of chilli crop.