Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Skill Accumulation, Education Policies and the Return to Schooling

Using a dynamic skill accumulation model of schooling and labor supply with learning-by-doing, we decompose early life-cycle wage growth of U.S. white males into four main sources: education, hours worked, cognitive skills (AFQT scores) and unobserved heterogeneity, and evaluate the effect of compulsory high school graduation and a reduction in the cost of college. About 60 percent of the differences in slopes of early life-cycle wage profiles are explained by heterogeneity while individual differences in hours worked and education explain the remaining part almost equally. We show how our model is a particularly useful tool to comprehend the distinctions between compulsory schooling and a reduction in the cost of higher education. Finally, because policy changes induce simultaneous movements in observed choices and average per-year effects, linear IV estimates generated by those policy changes are uninformative about the returns to education for those affected. This is especially true for compulsory schooling estimates as they exceed IV estimates generated by the reduction in the cost of higher education even if the latter policy affects individuals with much higher returns than than those affected by compulsory schooling.
Predicting Faculty Intentions to Assign Writing in Their Classes

Teachers who offer undergraduate courses agree widely on the importance of writing assignments to further undergraduate education. And yet, there is a great deal of variance among teachers in their writing assignments; some teachers assign no writing whatsoever. To determine the variables that influence the decisions of teachers about whether to assign writing, we predicted their intentions to assign writing from attitudes, subjective norms, perceived control, and perceived difficulty pertaining to assigning writing. Zeroorder correlations and hierarchical regression analyses implicate attitude and perceived difficulty as the most important predictors of teacher’s intentions to assign writing in two studies. We also obtained open-ended belief statements in Study 1 and used them to obtain quantitative belief data in Study 2 to find and validate the importance of the impact of particular specific beliefs on intentions to assign writing.
Electrochemical Deposition of Zn3P2 Thin Film Semiconductors Based on Potential–pH Diagram of the Zn-P-H2O System

Electrochemical Deposition of Zn3P2 Thin Film Semiconductors Based on Potential‒pH Diagram of the Zn-PH2O System Author(s) Nose, Yoshitaro; Hosokawa, Kouhei; Uda, Tetsuya; Awakura, Yasuhiro Citation Journal of The Electrochemical Society (2012), 159(4): D181D186 Issue Date 2012-01 URL http://hdl.handle. net/2433/154847 Right ©2012 The Electrochemical Society Type Journal Article Textversion publisher KURENAI : Kyoto University Research Information Repository
On the long-wave instability of natural-convection boundary layers

This paper considers the stability of the one-dimensional boundary layer generated by sudden heating of an infinite vertical wall. A quasi-steady approximation is used to analyse the asymptotic form of the lower branch of the neutral curve, corresponding to disturbances of wavelength much greater than the boundary-layer width. This leads to predictions of the critical wavenumber for neutral stability and the maximum phase speed of the travelling waves. Results are obtained for a range of Prandtl numbers and are compared with solutions of the full stability equations and with numerical simulations and experimental observations of cavity flows driven by sudden heating of the sidewalls.
Enhancement of the UK Standard Assessment Procedure (SAP) solar water heating prediction algorithm using parametric dynamical thermal simulations

SAP is the UK Government’s method for calculation of a dwelling’s energy efficiency and carbon dioxide emissions. This paper presents a method of informing the SAP procedure regarding evaluation of the advantage given to SAP ratings by installation of typical domestic Solar Domestic Hot Water (SDHW) systems. Comparable SDHW systems were simulated using the dynamic thermal simulation package TRNSYS and results were translated into empirical relations in a form that could be input into the SAP calculation procedure. Findings were compared against the current SAP algorithm and differences explained. Results suggest that calculation variances can exist between the SAP methodology and detailed dynamic thermal simulation methods. This is especially true for higher performance systems that can deviate greatly from default efficiency parameters. This might be due to SAP algorithms being historically based on older systems that have lower efficiencies. An enhancement to the existing SAP algorithm is suggested.
ACCESS TO CREDIT OF ANIMAL PRODUCTION HOUSEHOLDS: A STUDY IN HAI DUONG PROVINCE, VIETNAM

Recently, the credit supply from the formal credit sector to the rural area has increased considerably. However, the credit supply to agriculture is still far from the actual credit need and mismatching with the economic and social contribution of agriculture sector to the rural area. Using data from the household survey in Hai Duong, finding of this paper shows that the credit supply from the formal sector did not meet the credit need of animal production households. In the borrower’s side, dependency ratio, area of crop land, area of fish pond and number of pigs were main factors influencing their credit accessibility from the formal sector. In addition, age, educational level of household head and size of fish pond were key factors affecting the loan amount approved by the banks. The weaknesses in the rural credit supply from the formal sector also resulted in some constraints of animal producer’s credit accessibility.
An Examination of the Natural Resource Curse after the 1990 s Nazgul ERALIEVA

After remarkable changes in the global economy in the last two decades, does the natural resource curse still exist ? To answer this question, this paper examines the relationship between economic growth and natural resource abundance with World Bank data over the period 1970―2009. The results suggest that the natural resource curse still exists after the 1990s; however, it is weaker compared with the findings of Sachs and Warner (1997) over the period 1970―1990. Our results are robust even when we include post-Soviet countries in the sample and introduce new institutional quality indicators into the model.
General variable strength t-way strategy supporting flexible interactions

To ensure conformance and establish quality, software testing is an integral part in software engineering lifecycle. However, because of resource and time-to-market constraints, testing all exhaustive possibilities is impossible in nearly all practical testing problems. Considering the aforementioned constraints, much research now focuses on a sampling technique based on interaction testing (termed as t-way strategy). Although helpful, most t- way strategies (e.g. AETG, In-Parameter-Order General (IPOG), and GTWay) assume that all parameters have uniform interaction. In reality, the interaction among parameters is rarely uniform. Some parameters may not even interact, wasting the testing efforts. As a result, a number of newly developed t-way strategies that consider variable-strength interaction based on input-output relationships have been developed, e.g. Union, ParaOrder, and Density. Although useful, these strategies often suffer from lack of optimality in terms of the generated test size. Furthermore, no single strategy is dominant because the optimal generation of t-way interaction test suite is considered an Nondeterministic Polynomial (NP) hard problem. Motivated by the above-mentioned challenges, this paper proposes and implements a new strategy, called General Variable Strength (GVS). GVS has been demonstrated, in some cases, to produce better results than other competing strategies.
Impact of biological effective microorganisms [EM] preparations on some physico-chemical properties of soil and the vegetative growth of apple-tree rootstocks

Summary. Effect of preparations from Effective Microorganis ms (EM) group on physico-chemical soil property changes as well as on the v egetative growth of apple-tree rootstock M.9 has been estimated. Among the tested preparations, a mixture of EM-A and EM-5 has shown to be the most effective one. Its application caused a distinct acceleration of organic matter mineralization in the soil, it increased the volume of the root system of rootstocks and increased the growth of the assimilative surface of leaves.
Factors affecting materials recovery from municipal waste. A case study of Bologna Province

According to the 2008 data, recycling rates in 60 municipalities in Bologna Province vary in a very wide range from 15% to over 60%. In order to promote sustainable practices of resource (in this case, materials) recovery, it is important to identify factors that influence the attitudes and behaviour of citizens in this regard and clarify the differences among these municipalities. Starting from the findings of similar studies that have been carried out elsewhere, this research study is undertaken to investigate these factors in Bologna Province. Particular attention is paid to the role of information and awareness raising campaigns implemented in the municipalities under investigation. Stratified sampling is used to select 17 municipalities that are representative of the Bologna Province according to relevant characteristics. Research methodology includes interviews with formal stakeholders such as municipal authorities and waste service providers, as well as a survey among residents. In addition, pertinent documents and campaigning materials are studied. This paper presents the results of the study. The research reveals that several municipalities have very significantly improved their recycling rates in the course of the last year. The findings of the study provide insights into the factors that explain the difference in recycling rates among municipalities as well as those that have contributed to the increase of recycling rates in the recent period.
ANALYSIS OF FIRM EFFICIENCY AND PERFORMANCE IN THE CHINESE FINANCE INDUSTRY FROM OWNERSHIP PERSPECTIVE

Nowadays the finance industry plays vital roles in supporting China’s economic growth. This study examines impacts of ownership concentration and various ownership categories on the performance of the 28 listed financial institutions in China, between 1999 and 2009. Our results indicate that ownership concentration, legal person and foreign ownership do not improve financial institutions’ performance while state ownership has negative impacts. However, these results are moderated by firm size. State and legal person ownerships have positive impacts on large financial institutions’ performance because of their great public scrutiny and political pressure.
E-Banking and Commercial Bank Performance in Nigeria: A Cointegration and Causality Approach

This work studied the relationship between electronic banking and the performance of Nigerian commercial banks. The study became necessary due to the increased adoption of the electronic banking which has redefined the banking service both in Nigeria and internationally. Electronic banking was proxied by value of Point-of-Sale transactions while commercial banking performance was proxied by customers’ deposits. Engle-Granger cointegration model was used to analyse data for the sample period January 2009 to December 2013. The results show that POS is not cointegrated with both the savings and time deposits but are cointegrated with demand deposits. It is recommended that the monetary authorities and commercial banks should embark on an all inclusive enlightenment campaign for the banking public on the benefits, convenience and importance of adopting e-banking channels in completing their transactions.
Strong Indian Ocean sea surface temperature signals associated with the Madden‐Julian Oscillation in late 2007 and early 2008

A moored buoy was recently deployed at 8°S, 67°E in the shallow thermocline region of the Indian Ocean known as “Seychelles‐Chagos Thermocline Ridge” (SCTR), where the Madden Julian Oscillation (MJO) is associated with strong sea surface temperature (SST) variability. We use observations from this mooring to describe the oceanic signature of two MJOs between November 2007 and February 2008. The four‐month average upper ocean heat balance was largely between heating by atmospheric forcing (2.0 ± 0.3°C/month) and a significant cooling by subsurface processes (−2.2 ± 0.8°C/month), consistent with climatological Ekman pumping in the region. The two MJO events resulted in strong intraseasonal SST variations (1.5 to 2°C in ∼20 days) in the SCTR. At the mooring site, atmospheric fluxes dominated the upper ocean heat balance at the MJO timescale, with the net surface heat flux into the ocean decreasing from an average 105 W m−2 during suppressed phases to 15 W m−2 during active phases of the MJO. It is difficult to establish if MJO‐induced variations of subsurface processes also contributed to the cooling because of large uncertainty in this term. Lateral advection had no systematic fluctuations on MJO timescales, but cannot be neglected at the mooring site.
Yield, Yield Attributes, Nodulation and Protein Content of Chickpea as Influenced by Variety and Inoculation with Rhizobium Strains

Field experiment was conducted on Arba Minch University research farm during 2015 evaluate the effect of inoculation with different Rhizobium strains on growth, yield, nodulation ability and protein content of chickpea varieties. The treatments consisted of six varieties of chickpea (two desi types: Fetenech and Kutaye; four kabuli types: Harbu, Kasech, Kobo and Yelb) and four levels of inoculation (uninoculated, inoculated with CP-M1, inoculated with CP-EAL 018, and inoculated with CP-EAL 029) arranged in randomized complete block design with three replications. Growth, nodulation, yield and yield attributes of chickpea were substantially affected by the main effects of variety whereas the effect inoculation was significantly only on plant height, nodule number, nodule dry weight per plant (mg) and seed yield. Variation in seed yield and protein content due to variety effect ranged from 13.3 to 24.86qha -1 and 27.99 to 36.57% over control treatment, respectively. Rhizobium inoculation also showed 8.34 and 5.36% increment in seed yield and crude protein content, respectively. However, the differences among strains were not significant. The highest significant yield was obtained from Yelbe (24.86qha -1 ) followed by Kobo (22.7 qha -1 ) while the lowest was recorded due to Fetenech (13.37 qha -1 ). On the other hand, Kobo produced the highest crude protein (36.57%) followed by Fetenech (35.96%) and Yelbe (33.12%) whereas the lowest crude protein was obtained from Kutaye (27.99%). This could indicate that variety consideration and inoculation with rhizobium may improve the productivity and quality of chickpea. Keywords: nodulation, chickpea varieties, rhizobium strain, crude protein content
Amphipod-based food web: Themisto gaudichaudii caught in nets and by seabirds in Kerguelen waters, southern Indian Ocean

Comparing food samples from diving and surface-feeding seabirds breeding in the Golfe du Morbihan at Kerguelen Islands to concurrent net samples caught within the predator foraging range, we evaluated the functional importance of the hyperiid amphipod Themisto gaudichaudii in the subantarctic pelagic ecosystem during the summer months. T. gaudichaudii occurred in high densities (up to 61 individuals m-3) in the water column, being more abundant within islands in the western part of the gulf than at open gulf and shelf stations. The amphipod was a major prey of all seabird species investigated except the South Georgian diving petrel, accounting for 39, 80, 68, 59 and 46% of the total number of prey of blue petrels, thin-billed prions, Antarctic prions, common diving petrels and southern rockhopper penguins, respectively. The length-frequency distribution of T. gaudichaudii was similar between the 2 diving species, which fed on 1 large size class of adult individuals, whereas the 3 surface-feeding seabirds preyed upon 2 size classes but in different proportions. Juveniles and adults T. gaudichaudii were equally important in the diet of blue petrels, whereas juveniles and adults predominated in the food of thin-billed and Antarctic prions, respectively. Comparison of T. gaudichaudii found in nets and food samples together with observations at sea indicated that common diving petrels and southern rockhopper penguins fed in the close vicinity of the colonies in the Golfe du Morbihan, whereas blue petrels, and thin-billed and Antarctic prions mainly preyed upon amphipods outside the sampled area. Our study shows that T. gaudichaudii is an important local component of the macrozooplankton community and the main prey for planktivorous seabirds inhabiting the Kerguelen archipelago. In certain areas of the subantarctic zone, it therefore has a trophic role similar to that of Antarctic krill Euphausia superba further south, in Antarctic waters.
Nonlinear vibration of rested Euler-Bernoulli beams on linear elastic foundation using Hamiltonian approach

In this paper, nonlinear vibration of Euler-Bernoulli beams resting on linear elastic foundation and subjected to the axial loads are studied analytically. Hamiltonian approach is new kind of analytical approaches are used to achieve the nonlinear frequency of the problem. The nonlinear vibration equation is also solved numerically using Runge-Kutta 4th technique. Comparison of Hamiltonian approach (HA) with Runge-Kutta 4th leads to highly accurate solutions using Hamiltonian approach.
The deposition of bronzes at Swiss lakeshore settlements: new investigations

The famous lakeside sites of Switzerland have long been known for their pile dwellings and their massive quantities of Late Bronze Age metalwork. On the most recent excavations, the bronzes have been mapped in situ, allowing comparison with assemblages from dryland sites and rivers, as well as providing a context for the nineteenth-century collections. The pile dwellings emerge as special places where depositions of selected bronze objects in groups or as single discards, comparable to those usually found in dryland deposits or in rivers, accumulated in the shallow water during a unique 250-year spell of ritual practice.
Students’ Perception and Readiness on School-Based Assessment

School-Based Assessment (SBA) was implemented in Malaysia in stages, starting with form one secondary school students in 2012. After a few years of implementation, the SBA has raised many concerns among educational practitioners nationwide. Previous studies highlighted several implications due to perception and readiness of the stakeholders, leaving much room for improvement of SBA implementation in several countries. Hence, this study was conducted to investigate students’ perception and readiness concerning the SBA implementation. The survey study was conducted among 336 lower secondary school students located in different geographical areas. The data were collected using questionnaire and were analysed using descriptive and inferential statistics. The result indicates that the students have moderate perception and readiness for SBA, and there is no difference between urban and suburban school students. It has been found that students were not serious when faced with SBA assessment components and not well prepared for continuous assessment. The implication is that students in form one in secondary school should be well informed of the SBA system implementation, so that they understand the impact of SBA on their final grade. Generally, the implementation of SBA throughout of the schooling system will benefit the students and the country development, but must through a careful planning. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2016. v7n6p189
Improvements in aggregate stability of recently deposited sediments supplemented with tea waste and farmyard manure

Abstract. Organic matter supplement is well-known to influence soil aggregate stability (AS), but the corresponding change in recently deposited fine sediment is not documented well. In this study, improvements in aggregate stability of recently deposited sediment supplemented with the farmyard manure (FYM) and tea waste (TW) during 18-week incubation under controlled conditions. The FYM and TW were applied to recently deposited sediment at different doses (0, 2.5, 5, 7.5, 10, 12.5, and 15 % on weight base). The AS was determined at different times after adding organic matter (2nd, 4th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 14th, and 18th weeks) using wet sieving methods. The results showed that aggregate stability of deposited sediment treated with TW was statistically significantly higher than these of samples treated with FYM. Aggregate stability increased with increasing doses of both FYM and TW. In the FYM applied samples, AS reached the highest value at the end of second week, and declined within the following incubation period. However, in the samples treated with TW, AS reached the highest value at the end of eighth week. The results of this study were clearly indicated that tea waste and farmyard manure applications noticeably increased aggregate stability of recently deposited sediment, therefore it is suggested that TW and FYM could be used for structural stabilization of sediments.
A single ice approach using varying ice particle properties in global climate model microphysics

Ice and mixed‐phase cloud representation and simulation in global climate models are challenging with large uncertainties and biases. Sharing similar growth paths, no distinct separation exists in nature between cloud ice and snow. Different from conventional microphysics schemes separating cloud ice from snow, a single prognostic category is used to represent the whole spectrum of solid hydrometeors. Instead of using fixed physical properties for separate ice classes, e.g., the mass, area, and fall velocity, we consider the particle shape and riming impacts on ice properties. This approach simplifies several ice‐related microphysical processes and eliminates the ambiguity and uncertainty associated with parameterizing cloud ice to snow conversion. The modifications were implemented in the Morrison‐Gettelman (MG08) scheme and tested in Community Atmosphere Model. Evaluation using single column simulations indicated that the new approach increased the ice water content (IWC) in high clouds during dry period, which is improved compared to available retrievals. Global atmospheric simulations using the new approach give an overall comparable mean climate with notable improvement in terms of clouds and their radiative forcing. Both longwave and shortwave cloud forcing are closer to observations due to more realistic IWC, liquid water content, and cloud top height. Furthermore, the new approach yields slightly better representation of mixed‐phase clouds when a smaller capacitance for nonspherical particles is used in the ice depositional growth parameterization. Overall, the physically based single‐ice approach is a promising direction for future GCM microphysics development given its simplified representation of microphysical processes and flexible description of ice particle properties.