Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
THE PRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF LOCAL CHICKENS IN THREE ECOLOGICAL ZONES OF GHANA

A survey was carried out in three agro-ecological zones (coastal savannah, rain forest and guinea savannah) of Ghana to find out the productive performance of local chickens. A total of 180 local chicken keepers (60 each from the three zones) were randomly selected with the help of the Agricultural Extension Agents in the zones. Data were collected through the administration of pre-tested semi-structured questionnaires, direct observations and measurements of productivity indices. Data collected included clutch sizes, number of clutches per year, egg production per year with and without hatching, age at sexual maturity, flock size and composition, hatchability and chick survival rates. Egg and body weights of birds were measured. Results obtained showed an average flock size per household of 17.5, 24.3 and 11.7 for the coastal, forest and savannah zones respectively, with an estimated inbreeding coefficient of 0.04. The mean clutch number was 3.0 with a clutch size of 12.8 eggs. The local birds were found to reach sexual maturity at 5.7 and 6.4 months for cocks and hens respectively. The annual egg production with hatching was 38 eggs with an egg size of 41.3g and 84.5% hatchability rate. The birds were found to be reared under the traditional extensive system with little or no care. Diseases (Newcastle), predation and theft were found to be the main causes of loss of bird or reduction in flock size. It is advocated that extra effort in the management and improvement of local chickens in the areas of housing, breeding, feeding and health care can go a long way to improve the productive performance of local chickens in Ghana.
Influence of Subcontract Offering on the Performance of Manufacturing Micro and Small Enterprises in Kenya

This study set out to investigate the influence of intensity of participation in subcontract offering on the performance of manufacturing micro and small enterprises (MSEs) in Kenya. The study used an exploratory research design targeting a population of 2450 MSEs from Kamukunji ‘JuaKali’ Association, Nairobi Kenya. A random sample of 180 firms returned 175 (97.2%) valid responses. Survey data was collected with a semistructured questionnaire through face-to-face interviews. A pilot test on 20 firms helped to improve the instrument while the Principal Component Analysis (PCA) method extracted the factors with reliability cut-off value of 0.70. Factors loadings that were less than 0.40 were discarded. Descriptive statistics presented the responses in means and standard deviations. To sharpen inferences, ordinal regression analysis was performed using the Polytomous Universal Model (PLUM) of SPSS for Windows 19 location-scale model. Response frequencies of firm performance, ordered in 5-part Likert-type categories, were positively skewed, thus,the negative log‐log link function was used. Model fitting information provided log likelihood ratio tests for the null hypothesis that the independent variable was statistically equal to zero. The study found that the intensity of participation in subcontract offering influences firm performance, positively and significantly.
Effect of spraying thiamin and salicylic acid on growth and flowering of Zinnia elegans L.

This study was conducted during spring and summer seasons of 2011 to study the effect of foliar spraying of thiamin at 0, 60 and 120 mg L -1 and/or salicylic acid at 0, 25 and 50 mg L -1 on growth and flowering of Zinnia plant in a factorial experiment designed with R.C. B.D. Means were compared according to R.L. S.D test at probability 0.05. Results showed a significant increase in plant height, number of leaves plant -1 , leaf area, (dry matter, total chlorophyll, protein, phosphorus and potassium content in leaves), number of roots plant -1 , root dry weight, number of flowers plant -1 , flower diameter, dry weight of flowers and vase life when spraying with thiamin at 120 mg L -1 or salicylic acid at 50 mg L -1 . The interaction between the two factors increased significantly the number of leaves plant -1 to 32.00 when spraying with 120 mg L -1 thiamin + 25 mg L -1 salicylic acid, whereas spraying with thiamin at 120 mg L -1 + salicylic acid at 50 mg L -1 increased significantly number of roots plant -1 , root dry weight, number of
On the Landau-Levich problem for a viscoplastic fluid

Une étude expérimentale systématique du problème de Landau-Levich pour un fluide viscoplastique (Carbopol 980) a été réalisée. La validité de la loi asymptotique de Landau-Levich est vérifiée par des mesures d’épaisseur du film déposé en fonction de la concentration en Carbopol. Pour mieux comprendre les origines physiques des déviations observées par rapport au lois classiques en 2/3, une étude complète du champ de vitesse et de sa dépendance temporelle a été réalisée autour de lobjet se déplaçant. Les principales différences entre les structures de lécoulement dans le cas dun fluide viscoplastique comparé à celle(s) observée(s) dans le cas dun fluide newtonien ont été mises en évidence. Létude expérimentale a été complétée par une analyse asymptotique préliminaire en utilisant le modèle rhéologique de type Bingham.
Time perspective, death anxiety and emotional regulation processes in older adults

In late life, time perspective was regarded as one of the important variables relating people’s well-being. It may also serve as a coping mechanism against death anxiety, a major concern of older adults. A number of previous research were done in Western population to examine the relationship between time and death anxiety of older adults (Dickstein and Blatt, 1966; Hendrick & Hendrick, 1977; Nurmi, Pullianen, & Salmela-Aro, 1992; Quinn & Reznikoff, 1985; Rappaport, Fossler, Bross, & Gilden, 1993), but no such research was done in Chinese population. Thus, the present study aimed at studying the relationship between time perspective and death anxiety in a sample of 165 Chinese older adults residing in Hong Kong. This study adopted three multidimensional inventories in studying time perspective and death anxiety, namely, Zimbardo’s Time Perspective Inventory (ZTPI), Transcendental-Future Time Perspective (TFTP) and Chinese Death Anxiety Inventory (CDAI). Results showed that death anxiety was unrelated to future time orientation, while present hedonistic and past negative time perspective was positively related to after-death anxiety. Also, death and dying anxiety was predictive of past positive time perspective. Moreover, transcendental-future time perspective was unrelated with death anxiety. The results discussed in the context of socioemotional selectivity theory. The present study proposed that older adults tended to adjust their time orientation, especially focused on the positive sides, to cope with the death anxiety. Therefore, it is suggested that emotional functioning was not declined, or even improved in late life.
A GIS-based assessment of threats to the natural environment on Koh Tao, Thailand.

The objective of this study was to provide an overview of the issues affecting the natural resources on Koh Tao, Thailand, so a management plan could be developed. Remote sensed data was combined with data from a questionnaire to create a model that assesses the condition of the reefs and threats to the reefs. Remote sensed data were acquired from 4 y (1975, 1994, 2001 and 2005) to assess changes in land usage and to determine the location of the reefs. With a geographical information system (GIS) different models were created based on the available data. The results showed that areas on the northeast side of the island were in better condition than other areas. In recent decades, almost 50% of the rainforests have been lost, with soil erosion and subsequently sedimentation on the reefs as a consequence. The enormous reef recreation industry on the island has also caused stress to the reefs. While it was expected that the divers from the large number of diving schools would cause damage to the coral, commercially organized snorkel trips appeared to be more destructive. Most reef areas that were stressed suffered from sedimentation and physical damage caused by snorkeling and diving.
First interactive simulations of cirrus clouds formed by homogeneous freezing in the ECHAM general circulation model

[1] A physically based parameterization for the nucleation and initial growth of ice crystals in cirrus clouds at low (<238 K) temperatures prevailing in the upper troposphere and in the tropopause region is implemented in the ECHAM general circulation model (GCM). With this model we performed the first interactive simulations of cirrus clouds in a global climate model. As homogeneous ice crystal nucleation requires relative humidities with respect to ice of 140–170% at these temperatures, we abandoned the saturation adjustment scheme previously used to compute the properties of cirrus clouds in GCMs. The comparison with relative humidity data taken on commercial aircraft showed that ECHAM reproduces the frequency distribution of supersaturation with respect to ice in cloud-free regions well especially if high values of the subgrid-scale vertical velocity are assumed. On the other hand, the higher frequency of occurrence of high supersaturations in the model may point to heterogeneous freezing as the missing mechanism for ice formation. We found that homogeneous freezing may be limited by the number of hygroscopic aerosols present. However, as the ice water content remains the same for the natural and present-day aerosol scenarios the longwave radiation does not change. Thus anthropogenic aerosol and precursor emissions have only a small effect on cirrus formed by homogeneous freezing. Aircraft emissions of sulfate aerosols are not likely to be important for cirrus formation. Aircraft soot emissions may be important if the soot particles nucleate ice more efficiently than by homogeneous freezing.
Evolution of the accretion disc around the supermassive black hole of NGC 7213

We present observations of the double-peaked broad H$\alpha$ profile emitted by the active nucleus of NGC 7213 using the the Gemini South Telescope in 13 epochs between 2011 September 27 and 2013 July 23. This is the first time that the double-peaked line profile of this nucleus -- typical of gas emission from the outer parts of an accretion disk surrounding a supermassive black hole (SMBH) -- is reported to vary. From the analysis of the line profiles we find two variability timescales: (1) the shortest one, between 7 and 28 days, is consistent with the light travel time between the ionizing source and the part of the disk emitting the line; and (2) a longer one of $\gtrsim 3$ months corresponding to variations in the relative intensity of the blue and red sides of the profile, which can be identified with the dynamical timescale of this outer part of the the accretion disk. We modeled the line profiles as due to emission from a region between $\approx$ 300 and 3000 gravitational radii of a relativistic, Keplerian accretion disk surrounding the SMBH. Superposed on the disk emissivity, the model includes an asymmetric feature in the shape of a spiral arm with a rotation period of $\approx$ 21 months, which reproduces the variations in the relative intensity of the blue and red sides of the profile. Besides these variations, the $rms$ variation profile reveals the presence of another variable component in the broad line, with smaller velocity width W$_{68}$ (the width of the profile corresponding to 68$\%$ of the flux) of $\sim 2100$ km s$^{-1}$.
A metric sphere not a quasisphere but for which every weak tangent is Euclidean

We show that for all $n \geq 2$, there exists a doubling linearly locally contractible metric space $X$ that is topologically a $n$-sphere such that every weak tangent is isometric to $\R^n$ but $X$ is not quasisymmetrically equivalent to the standard $n$-sphere. The same example shows that $2$-Ahlfors regularity in Theorem 1.1 of \cite{BK02} on quasisymmetric uniformization of metric $2$-spheres is optimal.
Job Satisfaction of Academic Librarians: An Examination of the Relationships Between Satisfaction, Faculty Status, and Participation

This study examines job satisfaction of academic librarians as it relates to faculty status and participation of librarians in library planning and decision making, university academic affairs, and professional library activities. A questionnaire was distributed to librarians in 300 United States academic libraries at a random sample of universities and colleges in the United States with enrollments exceeding 2,000 students. An SPSS fStatistical Package for the Social Sciences) data analysis of 638 responses focused on job satisfaction of three groups of librarians: librarians with no faculty status or rank; librarians with either faculty status or rank, but not both; and librarians with both faculty status and rank
International entrepreneurial orientation and regional expansion

Abstract This study examines how behavioral elements of international entrepreneurial orientation (i.e. product innovativeness, risk-taking, proactiveness, competitive aggressiveness, and autonomy) increase variability in scope of regional market expansion, and the international marketing channel management conditions under which this occurs. Results from an empirical study in a developing market show that not all behavioral elements of international entrepreneurial orientation (IEO) increase scope of regional expansion. The study specifically finds that scope of regional expansion is fostered when high levels of product innovation intensity, risk-taking, competitive aggressiveness, and autonomous behaviors are aligned with a stronger channel management capability. Conversely, the regional expansion values of product innovation novelty and proactiveness are cancelled out when channel management capability levels are high.
On enhancing the Dorugade and Kashid’s ridge parameter in ridge regression

With the multicollinearity phenomenon, the parameter estimation technique based on the minimum residual sum of squares is inadequate. One solution of dealing with this phenomenon is called the ridge regression (RR). In RR technique, ridge parameter plays an important role in parameter estimation. Several approaches for selecting the ridge parameter are proposed by many researchers. In this article, a modification for the ridge parameter that proposed by Dorugade and Kashid (DK) [3] is suggested. The investigation of the performance of the proposed modification has been carried out using Monte Carlo simulations. Four different cases of our modification were compared with the DK’s ridge and MLE estimators using the mean square error (MSE) criterion. In this simulation study, the effect of varying the number of predictors included in the model, the correlations among the explanatory variables, and the sample size is considered. According to the simulation results, the new modification seems to be very realistic due to the MSE results. The best overall performance is achieved by using the kTS2 ridge parameter.
Mating type determination of cryptococcus neoformans isolates obtained from faecal samples of veterinary animals in Botswana

Cryptococcus neoformans/gattii species complex cause cryptococcosis, a fatal condition in susceptible humans and animals. This paper aims to find the association of C. neoformans with veterinary excreta, and to carry out a mating type determination of the isolated strains. Two hundred sixty seven veterinary excreta samples from cattle, goats and poultry (chickens) were analysed for the presence of C. neoformans. Morphological and biochemical characteristics were used to identify C. neformans, and mating type-specific PCR amplification was utilized to determine the mating type of the isolates. A total of 72 (26.9%) isolates were found positive for C. neoformans, mostly isolated from cattle (14.9%), followed by poultry (9.4%) and goats (2.6%). However, the isolation rates of the organism from veterinary animals were not statistically significant (p<0.05). Mating type analysis of the 72 positive isolates revealed the presence of MATα, MATα/MATa (hybrids) and MATa in cattle (31.9%, 4.2%, 19.4%)> poultry (19.4%, 2.8%, 12.5%)> and goats (8.3%; 0%, 1.4%), respectively. The frequency of isolation of different mating types was not influenced by the veterinary animals (p<0.05) or sampling location (p<0.05). The results of our study expand the ecological niche of C. neoformans in Botswana and highlight the need to mitigate the dissemination of the pathogen to the population at risk.
PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION SYSTEMS IN CANADA

THIS PAPER IS CONCERNED WITH DELINEATING THE CONCEPTUAL ASPECTS OF PLANNING FOR PEDESTRIANS AND DOCUMENTING THE NATURE AND EXTENT OF PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION SYSTEMS IN MONTREAL, TORONOTO, AND CALGARY. CONCEPTUAL ASPECTS ARE DISCUSSED WITHIN THE PLANNING FRAMEWORK AND THE CANADIAN CONTEXT. SYSTEM CHARACTERISTICS, CONFIGURATIONS, CONCEPTS, AND LINKAGES ARE DESCRIBED. CANADIAN EXPERIENCE APPEARS TO INDICATE THAT THE THEORETICAL CONCEPTS OF PEDESTRIAN- VEHICLE SEGREGATION ADVOCATED FOR MANY YEARS ARE BEING INCORPORATED AS PLANNING PRINCIPLES. IT WOULD ALSO APPEAR THAT THE STATE OF PEDESTRIAN CIRCULATION PLANNING AND DESIGN IN CANADA IS STILL A VERY EMPIRIC ART. IT SEEMS APPARENT THAT NO ATTEMPT HAS BEEN MADE TO EVOLVE METHODS OF BENEFIT-COST ANALYSIS OR DETERMINE OPTIMUM USER-COST CRITERIA. ALTHOUGH THE SURFACE ROAD AND SIDEWALK SYSTEMS ARE BUILT AT PUBLIC EXPENSE, IT IS ASSUMED THAT PRIVATE DEVELOPERS MUST PAY FOR ALL OR PART OF THE SEGREGATED PDESTRIAN SYSTEMS. IN ALL THE THREE CITIES DISCUSSED, ADEQUATE LINKAGES WITH THE PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM ARE BEING INCLUDED. ALTHOUGH THE GENERAL TENDENCY SEEMS TO BE TO DESIGN UNDERGROUND PEDESTRIAN SYSTEMS, ABOVE-GROUND SYSTEMS ARE ALSO BEING TRIED. /AUTHOR/
Genetic parameters of immune response estimated using genetically divergent lines of Holstein-Friesian dairy heifers

To test the hypothesis that immune responses are useful predictors of fertility in New Zealand (NZ) dairy cattle, we estimated genetic parameters for immune response using a small, experimental herd comprised of genetically divergent lines of Holstein-Friesian dairy heifers whose parents were selected for high or low fertility. Pedigree-based animal models fit using ASReml estimated the heritabilities of antibody-mediated immune response at days 14 and 21 (AMIR14 and AMIR21) and cell-mediated immune response (CMIR) as 0.44, 0.47 and 0.11. Genetic correlations between immune response traits varied: 0.67 for AMIR14 and AMIR21; -0.44 for AMIR14 and CMIR; and -0.07 for AMIR21 and CMIR, suggesting complex and time-dependent genetic relationships between the two types of immune responses. We also detected low to moderate genetic correlations between immune response traits and component traits of NZ’s economic selection index, Breeding Worth (BW), which were close to zero for lowly heritable traits like fertility. These data indicate that immune response is unlikely to be a robust predictor trait for lowly heritable BW component traits, but may be a useful selection trait in its own right as consumer preferences and regulatory agencies accentuate animal health and welfare.
Real-time update of multi-fractal analysis on dynamic time series using incremental discrete wavelet transforms

An algorithm is presented to update the multi-fractal spectrum of a time series in constant time when new data arrives. The discrete wavelet transform (DWT) of the time series is first updated for the new data value. This is done optimally in terms of sharing previous computations, in O(L) constant time, with L the number of levels of decomposition. The multi-fractal spectrum is then updated also in constant-time. New pre-computation techniques are presented to further accelerate this process. All possible 2^L data alignments are taken into account in the course of the incremental updates. The resulting spectrum estimate is more stable, compared to the current DWT method using only one dyadic frame, as precise, and more efficient. It is adapted for real-time on-line updates of the time series.
Contesting Business Networks in Liberalising Economy and Polity: Evidence from Regional textile Business in Indonesia

A decade has passed since the fall of president Soeharto. The landscape of Indonesia’s economy and polity has considerably changed. Preaching market and democratic solutions become new medicines for healing Indonesia’s economy. This paper argues that the imposition of liberalisation without accounting for institutional contexts in which textile businesses operate have implications for deindustrialisation. By situating a textile producing region in Central Java as a case study and by using new institutional approach, this paper shows a process of depletion of various textile business networks. A process characterised by the lessening positions of actors in the textile market. The rise of political parties and civic associations has opened public dialogue. However, long steps have to be taken to facilitate the emergence of strong textile business association to influence the politics of textile industry.
FEEP Thruster Survivability in the LEO Atomic Oxygen Environment

In FEEP thrusters, field ionisation of propellant, usually cesium, occurs on the liquidmetal surface at the outlet of a micrometric slit. Some concern was raised on the use ofFEEP in low Earth orbit, since it was feared that the relatively high atomic oxygen con-centration could provoke clogging of the slit due to cesium oxidation. To assess thispotential failure mechanism we have investigated the FEEP thruster compatibility with a200 km altitude atomic oxygen environment. In our experiment, a 50 mm slit, 1 mNFEEP thruster was exposed to direct impingement of atomic oxygen. Ion emission qual-ity was monitored using scanning electrostatic probes. No significant degradation of thethruster performance was observed after as long as 384 hours total exposure to severeatomic oxygen flux and to an intense molecular oxygen background. It is concluded thatthe FEEP thruster can survive in a very low LEO environment without failures due tointeraction with the residual atmosphere.
Correcting for survey effects in pre‐election polls

Pre‐election polls can suffer from survey effects, causing biases in forecasted election outcomes. We advocate a simple methodology to estimate the magnitude of survey effects, by collecting data both before and after the election. This method is illustrated by means of a field study with data concerning the 2009 European Parliament elections in the Netherlands. Our study provides empirical evidence of significant positive survey effects with respect to voter participation, especially for individuals with low intention to vote. For our data, the overall survey effect on party shares is small. This effect can be more substantial, for example, if political orientation and voting intention are correlated in the sample.