Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A SOCIOPHONETIC STUDY ON TH VARIATION IN EDUCATED NIGERIAN ENGLISH

This study examines the realization of the voiceless dental fricative /θ/ and its variation (TH variation) by educated Nigerian English speakers and presents the preliminary results. Previous studies on TH variation (e.g. [17], [19], and [1]) have found that /θ/ is often realized as [t] in Nigerian English. However, there is a lack of systematic review of TH variation and an investigation of its potential correlation with social factors. In the present study, the TH production of 33 speakers (18m15f) were examined. They were selected from the Nigerian component of the International Corpus of English (ICE Nigeria) based on their age, gender, and ethnic group. Identified tokens were analysed using a mixed-effects logistic regression model.
Biological and biochemical changes in pink bollworm , Pectinophora gossypiella after treatment with Hexaflumuron and Chlorfluazuron

The effects of two insect growth regulators (IGRS), Hexaflumuron and Chlorfluazuron were evaluated on some biological aspects; pre-oviposition, oviposition and post oviposition periods, total number of deposited eggs (fecundity), percentage of hatchability (fertility) and longevity' in addition to some biochemical parameters such as total protein, total lipids and amylase as well as glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase (GOT = ALT) and glutamic pyruvic transaminase (GPT = AST) enzymes in one and three day old adults of pink bollworm, Pectinophora gossypiella (Saunders). This laboratory study was done under conditions of 26 ± 1 C° and 75 ± 5 R.H. Data revealed that one and three day old adults were more susceptible to Hexaflumuron than Chlorfluazuron at two concentrations of LC50 and LC25 values. Also, Hexaflumuron showed more than Chlorfluazuron' significant increase in pre-oviposition, post oviposition period, percentage of hatchability and longevity of both females and males. On the other hand, there was a significant decrease in oviposition period and total numbers of deposited eggs. Again, Hexaflumuron caused more reduction than Chlorfluazuron in total protein and glutamic pyruvic transaminase enzyme. In contrast, Chlorfluazuron caused more reduction than Hexaflumuron in total lipids and glutamic oxaloacetic transaminase.
What we know and don ’ t know about the carbon storage and sequestration of urban trees

Carbon storage and sequestration are widely regarded as one of the most important physical benefits provided by urban trees, and have been fairly widely studied, especially in the US. Both are usually determined by combining surveys of the numbers and trunk diameters of trees with allometric equations relating biomass to diameter. However, only in the US have such allometric equations been determined for urban rather than forest trees. Results show that storage of carbon in urban trees lies in the range of 10-30 t ha, and sequestration in the range of 0.1-0.9 t ha yr, depending on tree cover and age, but there is considerable uncertainty in the figures. In particular more needs to be known about the storage of carbon in roots and soil beneath urban trees and the cultivation and maintenance costs of the trees themselves. Little is also known about how carbon sequestration rates vary between trees of different species and grown under different conditions. The main take-home message from the research, however, is that all of the figures are small. Carbon sequestration rates of urban trees can be two orders of magnitude smaller than emission rates due to transport and building use, and several times smaller than emission reductions due to other benefits of trees such as shading of buildings or reduction of the urban heat island. But sequestration rates would be worth knowing because of the close relationship between tree growth and physiological performance.
The impact of health and safety management on organisations and their staff

The research assessed the impact of organisational approaches to occupational safety and health (OSH) management on organisational performance, safety climate, employees’ attitudes to the organisation and employees’ health and wellbeing. The research was conducted in 31 case study organisations, covering a broad range of company sizes and industrial sectors. Seventy-eight interviews were conducted with health and safety managers, directors and workers’ representatives across the organisations to obtain in-depth information on OSH management and organisational performance indicators. The findings from the interviews were used to classify organisational OSH approaches into three categories: ‘yet to be fully engaged’, ‘complier’ and ‘very good’ (using the Continuous Improvement Cycle model). A cross-sectional survey of employees from these organisations (involving a sample of 2,067 employees) looked at the impact of company size, industrial sector and approach to OSH management on indicators of organisational performance and employees’ attitudes and health outcomes. Public sector employees reported lower safety climate perceptions and more work-related illnesses than private sector employees. Comparisons between specific industrial sectors showed that employees in the construction industry have the highest levels of general health, safety climate awareness, organisational commitment and self-reported job performance. Employees in the utilities and property development, renting and business activities sectors also reported high levels of selfreported health and safety climate perceptions, and positive organisational attitudes. Large organisations reported higher staff absence rates, yet employees in small and medium-sized businesses reported higher levels of work-related illness. With regard to the impact of the organisation’s OSH approach on employees, ‘very good’ organisations were found to show more positive safety climate perceptions across eight out of the nine safety climate dimensions. Employees in organisations with ‘very good’ OSH management were more committed to their organisations and showed greater satisfaction with their job than employees in organisations which are categorised as ‘yet to be fully engaged’ or ‘complier’. These positive safety climate and organisational attitudes were associated with better self-reported physical and mental health.
PHARMACOLOGICAL MANAGEMENT OF PATIENTS WITH TYPE 2 DIABETES AND CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE : A REVIEW

The global incidence and prevalence of type 2 diabetes have been escalating in recent decades. Patients with type 2 diabetes have an increased risk of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). About twothirds of deaths in type 2 diabetes are due to ASCVD, including 40% from coronary heart disease (CHD), 15% from heart failure (HF), and 10% from stroke. The association between hyperglycemia and elevated CV risk has been demonstrated in multiple cohort studies. However, clinical trials of intensive glucose reduction did not significantly reduce macrovascular outcomes. This review article provides a Pharmacological Management of Patients with Type 2 Diabetes and CV Diseases. The consensus is comprised of 5 major parts: 1) Treatment of diabetes in patients with hypertension, 2) Treatment of diabetes in patients with CHD, 3) Treatment of diabetes in patients with stage 3 chronic kidney disease, 4) Treatment of diabetes in patients with a history of stroke, and 5) Treatment of diabetes in patients with HF. The members of the consensus group comprehensively reviewed all the evidence, mainly RCTs, and also included meta-analyses, cohort studies, and studies using claim data. The treatment targets of HbA1c were provided. The anti-diabetic agents were ranked according to their clinical evidence.
Self-Care Challenges among Diabetic Patients in a South-Southern Teaching Hospital , Nigeria

Background: World Health Organization has reported that the number of people with diabetes mellitus rose from 108 million in 1980 to 422 million in 2014. Objective: The aim of our study was to examine the self-care challenges amongst diabetic patients in a Teaching Hospital. Specific objectives of the study were to evaluate the respondents’ knowledge of Diabetes Mellitus, examine the self care challenges experienced by the respondents and assess the effect of these self-care challenges on the respondents Methodology: Simple random sampling method was used to collect quantitative data from one hundred and twenty six respondents that represented the study population after approval for collection was sort from appropriate committee. The data was collected using self-administered standardized instruments. Analysis was both manually (scoring) and with statistical software (SPSS17), presented in frequency tables, percentages and graphs. Results: Results show that majority of respondents have a fair knowledge of Diabetes Mellitus, also it was discovered that majority of respondents were severely challenged in caring for self about the disease and most of which were women. Conclusions: The study concludes that there is significant relationship between gender (p value ≤0.000 CI 95%), age (p value ≤0.000 CI 95%), marital status (p value ≤0.000 CI 95%), level of education (p value ≤0.000 CI 95%), occupation (p value ≤0.000 CI 95%) and income (p value ≤0.000 CI 95%) of the patients and challenges experienced and the self-reported effects of self-care challenges respectively. It is however essential to alleviate the burden of self-care from these patients and implementation of recommendations.
Journal of Leadership and International Development ICIRS Conferences

Journal of Leadership and International Development 1 Organizational Change: Effect of Motivational Interviewing on Readiness to Change Conrado J. Grimolizzi-Jensen WALDEN UNIVERSITY Abstract Failure accompanies most organizational change efforts. A change agent’s use of motivational interviewing (MI) to help employees resolve ambivalent attitudes may improve the success rate of organizational change initiatives. This experimental research evaluated MI effectiveness to increase readiness to change. The theoretical framework was the transtheoretical model of change and the theory of planned behavior. Through random assignment, 56 employees of a company undergoing change populated the experimental and control groups. Members of the experimental group participated in 3 MI sessions over a 30-day period. Participants indicated their readiness by completing the Job Change Ladder. Within and between group differences from a mixed ANOVA revealed that MI significantly increased readiness to change. The findings suggest that leaders of organizational and societal change initiatives could incorporate MI to prepare individuals and groups to embrace the change process, thereby improving the chances that the change initiative will be successful.
The Evolution of Inequality of Opportunity in Germany: A Machine Learning Approach

We show that measures of inequality of opportunity (IOP) fully consistent with Roemer (1998)'s IOP theory can be straightforwardly estimated by adopting a machine learning approach, and apply our novel method to analyse the development of IOP in Germany during the last three decades. Hereby, we take advantage of information contained in 25 waves of the Socio-Economic Panel. Our analysis shows that in Germany IOP declined immediately after reunification, increased in the first decade of the century, and slightly declined again after 2010. Over the entire period, at the top of the distribution we always find individuals that resided in West-Germany before the fall of the Berlin Wall, whose fathers had a high occupational position, and whose mothers had a high educational degree. East-German residents in 1989, with low educated parents, persistently qualify at the bottom.
ALLOZYME VARIATION AND MATING SYSTEM OF BLACK WALNUT ( JUGLANS NZGRA L . ) IN THE CENTRAL HARDWOOD REGION OF THE UNITED STATES

Allozyme data for 10 polymorphic loci from 7 isozyme systems was used to elucidate the genetic diversity, population structure and mating system of black walnut (Juglans nigra L.), in the central hardwood region of the United States. The average expected heterozygosity (0.241), percent polymorphic loci (82 %) and mean number of alleles per locus (2.1) indicate that black walnut is highly variable across the studied range. Observed heterozygosity was higher in mature trees (0.332) than in their progeny (0.241), a result that has become typical for walnuts. Outcrossing rates assessed in all locations were high (0.900 1.012), indicating that black walnut is predominantly outcrossed. The greatest proportion of genetic variation was allocated within populations (94 %), and very small part among populations (6 %). Estimated genetic distances among populations did not reveal any major genetic subdivisions among five widely dispersed provenances.
– ICTMT 13 Lyon , France 3-6 July , 2017 THE EFFECT OF COLLABORATIVE COMPUTERIZED LEARNING USING GEOGEBRA ON THE DEVELOPMENT OF CONCEPT IMAGES OF THE ANGLE AMONG SEVENTH GRADERS

This research intends to investigate the effect of collaborative computerized learning using GeoGebra on the development of the concept images of angle among seventh graders who were engaged with computerized collaborative activities that encouraged the development of five types of the angle concept images: verbal, authentic-life, graphical, numeric and dynamic. The research sample consisted of eight seventh grade students who worked collaboratively in groups of two. Two tests (a pre-test and a post-test) were administered to examine the development of students’ concept images of the angle. In addition, interviews were held with the participants to study this development. The Constant Comparison Method was used to analyze the data. The results showed positive effects of the visual and dynamic use of GeoGebra, as well as of the collaborative learning on the development of participants' concept images of the angle, especially the dynamic one.
The therapeutic or prophylactic effect of exogenous melatonin against depression and depressive symptoms : A systematic review and meta-analysis

ticle as: Hansen, M ms: A systematic. Abstract Circadianand sleep disturbances may be central for understanding the pathophysiology and treatment of depression. The effect of melatonin on depression/depressive symptoms has been investigated previously. This systematic review assesses the current evidence of a therapeuticand prophylactic effect of melatonin in adult patients against depression or depressive symptoms. A search was performed in The Cochrane Library, PubMed, EMBASE and PsycINFO for published trials on November 14th 2013. Inclusion criteria were English language, RCTs or crossover trials. Our outcome was measurement of depression/depressive symptoms with a validated clinician-administered or self-rating questionnaire. PRISMA recommendations were followed and the Cochrane risk-of-bias tool used. Ten studies in 486 patients were included in the final qualitative synthesis and four studies, 148 patients, were included in two metaanalyses. Melatonin doses varied from 0.5–6 mg daily and the length of follow-up varied from 2 weeks to 3.5 years. Three studies were done on patients without depression at inclusion, two studies in patients with depression and five studies included a mixture. Six studies showed an improvement in depression scores in both the melatonin and placebo groups but there was no significant difference. One study showed a significant prophylactic effect and another found
Effects of plant development phases on some morphological , agronomical and chemical traits of Bituminaria bituminosa genotypes

This study was conducted with 25 Bitbit genotypes collected from Central Black Sea Region of Turkey in order to determine the effects of plant development phases on some morphological, agronomical and chemical traits of Bituminaria bituminosa genotypes. The highest plant height and hay yield values were determined at the seed setting development stage as 118.7 cm and 205 g/plant, respectively. A sharp decrease in leaf ratio was observed from elongation stage (78.5%) to blooming stage (30.8%). Crude protein content also linearly decreased from 23.41% (pre-elongation stage) to 7.28 % (seed setting stage). ADF and NDF proportions were measured as 19.80 and 27.37%, respectively, at the pre-elongation stage. RFV values decreased from 249.7 to 86.0 through the following growth stages. Except calcium and magnesium, mineral contents of Bitbit genotypes decreased at each following stage. Considering K, Ca and Mg relations, no possible problem on K/(Ca+Mg) rates, but Ca/P rates over than recommended level of 2 at all stages. In consideration to all aspects, Bitbit plants should be harvested at the beginning of blooming stage to obtain ideal hay yield.
Farmers ’ Perceptions Rice Crop in the Kallar Tract

A survey of rice farmers was conducted in traditional rice growing area also called the Kallar tract, known all over the world for its fine and long grain aromatic Basmati rice. The purpose of the survey was to as farmers’ attitudes, perceptions and beliefs regarding future of rice crop in this area. During survey and through face to face interviews of rice farmers, it was found that 48% farmers were dissatisfied whereas 39.3% farmers were satisfied from future of rice farming. The main reasons behind dissatisfaction were non introduction of new varieties (87.3%) small land holdings (79.3%), high costs of inputs (76.7%), scarcity of irrigation water (60%), lack of interest of youth (53.4%) to adapt crop farming as a profession and shortage of credit (46.7) to purchase inputs to the crop. In order to make the future bright of this crop the positive change in attitude and philosophy among decision scientists and others stakeholder to acknowledge the importance of this crop for mankind was proposed. Besides this it was also suggested that while formulating policies and extension training programs regarding agriculture the purchase of rice at international market rates, provision of irrigation water, crop insurance, minimizing the role of middle man, to offer more incentive to investment in agriculture for sustainable rural development, encouraging young educated people to choose farming as a profession and promoting a sense of pride in farmers must be give importance.
An Articulatory-Acoustic Investigation into GOOSE-Fronting in German-English Bilinguals Residing in London, UK

This study explores L2 acquisition of socially conditioned phonetic variation in 13 German-English sequential bilinguals residing in London, UK. The phonetic variable analysed is GOOSE-fronting, i.e. the more front pronunciation of /u/ in words like ‘goose’, acoustically manifested through an increased F2 frequency. In the South of England, GOOSEfronting is a sound change considered to be led by young females. We investigated whether bilinguals adhered to this pattern, e.g. whether younger female German-English bilinguals exhibited a relatively higher F2 frequency in words like ‘goose’ than other bilinguals. The bilinguals’ English /u/ productions were compared against their German /u/ (lower F2 as more back) and /y/ (higher F2 as more front) to determine the degree of GOOSE-fronting and whether their F2 values were closer to /y/ than /u/. Normalised formant values were considered in relation to lingual measurements obtained using ultrasound tongue imaging. The acoustic and articulatory results revealed that female bilinguals indeed produced more front English /u/ vowels than their male counterparts. Within female speakers, age and length of residence in the UK were found to be significant, with younger speakers who had lived in the UK longer than five years displaying the greatest degree of GOOSE-fronting.
Examining the Relationship Between Cortical Thickness and Memory Abilities in Major Depressive Disorder

The presence of memory deficits in Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is well documented. Previous studies indicate particular deficits in the area of verbal learning as an indicator of overall impairment in various memory functions. Knowledge of the morphological changes taking place in the brain during depression is also a burgeoning area of research. While several previous studies have focused on subcortical structures, research on the relationship between memory abilities and cortical surface changes in depression has increased. This study proposed that cortical thinning in a young depressed sample would be associated with poorer performance on the California Verbal Learning Test-II (CVLT-II), a list-learning task with a short-term and long-term memory component. CVLT results and cortical thickness measurements (using FreeSurfer imaging software) were obtained (N = 21). Results demonstrated that this particular depressed group did not suffer from memory impairment compared to a normative sample. A correlation between cortical thickness and memory task performance was observed in the left inferior frontal and bilateral medial frontal lobes, but these finding were no longer significant after whole brain correction (p < .05). Future studies including a larger sample size and comparison with matched healthy controls could better assess the hypotheses examined in this study.
Proximate Analysis and Assessment the Physical Characteristics of Different Types of Duck Eggs in Bangladesh

Egg is a universal food in our regular diet which rich in many nutrients. The purpose of this study was to calculate approximately the proximate nutritional content and assess the physical appearance in variety of duck eggs produced in Bangladesh. Eggs have been collected from four region representing different geographic areas in Bangladesh. Proximate nutritional value of eggs has been analyzed according to AOAC method. Antioxidant activity was determined by Yen and Chen method. Farm duck contains the highest amount of moisture which is 71.18±0.04 % and Native duck contains the lowest amount of moisture which is 68.36±0.11%. On the other hand, Native duck contains the highest amount of fat (13.78±0.30%) and lowest ash 0.93±0.09%. Goose Shows highest amount of protein 13.86±0.56%, ash 1.13±0.07% and lowest amount of carbohydrate 2.98±0.34%. Energy has been calculated based on standard formula, where goose shows the highest energy (263.23 ±0.95 kcal) and farm duck shows the lowest amount (190.77±0.85 kcal). Goose shows maximum antioxidant activity 18.24% and Farm duck shows minimum antioxidant activity 14.32%. Native duck shows 16.46%, Chinese goose 16.78% antioxidant activity. Findings of this study will help to provide nutritional data in food composition table of Bangladesh and plays a significant role to eradicate the nutritional problem of the country.