Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The Effect of Questionnaire Cover Design in Mail Surveys

It has been suggested that the response rate for a self administered questionnaire will be enhanced if the cover of the questionnaire contains a picture, and, furthermore, that the more distinctive and complex the cover design created, the stronger this effect is likely to be. This paper reports the results of a study designed to test these hypotheses by comparing responses to six different questionnaire cover designs, varying in ter ms of complexity of graphic design and the presence or absence of images. These results suggest that, while the use of pictures or photos may marginally increase response rates, there is little evidence that a more complex design is better than a simple one. The significance of this enhanced cognitive accessibility was demonstrated by the fact that the white covers performed at least as well as the black covers early in the survey, but did significantly worse after the fourth wave when reminder techniques (postcards and telephone calls), which did not include a copy of the questionnaire, were used. Thus it appears that the response rate for a self administered questionnaire may be en hanced if the cover of the questionnaire contains a picture and, furthermore, that the more distinctive and complex the cover design created, the stronger this affect is likely to be. However, attempts by Dillman & Dillman (1995) to replicate Nederhof's research using different cover designs were unsuccessful. Dillman & Dillman tested a range of cover designs including simple text versions, white dominant and black dominant graphic designs (to emulate Nederhof's experiment), and four-colour versions of the same graphic designs. But their results provided little or no support for Nederhof's theory. The black cover produced a higher response in one experiment, while the white cover was more effective in the other, though neither of the differences was statistically significant. Similarly, there were no differences in the effectiveness of text or colour designs, casting further doubt on the hypothesis that questionnaire cover design influences survey completion rates.
The Manufacturing Flexibility to Switch Products: Valuation and Optimal Strategy

This paper applies a dynamic programming methodology to the valuation problem for the flexibility to switch. In our model, flexibility provides an investor with the right, or option, to perform a switch between a less profitable and a more profitable project at no cost. In contrast to previous analyses, the option to switch can be exercised in the future at any time during the decision horizon. We present the solution methodology that allows to determine the value of the flexibility and to identify the optimal timing of the switching decision. Comparative statics demonstrate how changes in the input parameters affect the values of the problem"s solution. The results partially explain why investing in flexible manufacturing systems is reported to have both low profitability and rate of diffusion.
Adjoint-based distributed multiple shooting for large-scale systems

Abstract Distributed multiple shooting is a modification of the standard multiple shooting method which takes into account the structure of certain large-scale systems in order to obtain a better controller design flexibility and high parallelizability. The aim of this paper is to extend the framework where distributed multiple shooting can be deployed and to propose a new solution method based on adjoint-based sequential quadratic programming. A numerical experiment shows that this can lead to considerable savings in computational time for the sensitivity generation.
Prevalence of Drug Abuse and Strategies for Combating It in Secondary Schools in Hwange District

This study investigated the prevalence of drug abuse in secondary schools in Hwange District in order to come up with practical suggestions to combat the practice. The population comprised of all the 30 secondary schools in the district and the sample was made up of pupils from 10 of the secondary schools, which were randomly selected. From each school 20 pupils were randomly selected to arrive at a sample of 200 respondents. The study used the quantitative methodology and employed the descriptive survey design. Data were collected by means of a questionnaire. The study revealed that drug abuse in most schools existed and that there was little evidence to show that schools were coming up with strategies to combat it. School authorities and other community stakeholders should treat drug abuse in schools as a major challenge that requires collective effort to address. The study also recommends that the school curriculum should include content and concepts addressing drug abuse in the same way HIV/AIDS is addressed.
Surfin’ endocasts: The good and the bad on brain form

Digital anatomy and computed morphometrics currently represent basic tools in anthropology, zoology, and paleontology. Despite the user-friendly interfaces of the programs, these methods require a robust expertise in statistics, biomedical imaging, and computer graphics. Geometrical modeling is aimed at normalizing shape variation as to compare forms within a shared reference space. As any other modeling approach, it can be used to test hypotheses or to investigate the structure of sample variation. In both cases, models refer to specific variables and parameters, and they follow numerical criteria that are based on algebraic and conventional rules. If models are interpreted too broadly and confused with the real anatomical elements, conclusions can be seriously biased. This risk can be particularly relevant when dealing with morphometric methods that do not use anatomical references, like sliding landmarks, surface analysis, or voxel-based morphometry. All these techniques are largely employed in craniology, paleoneurology, and evolutionary neuroanatomy. Following these approaches, elements are analyzed as “objects” and not as “anatomical elements,” introducing noise and drawbacks due to the registration processes and to the absence of constraints associated with anatomical boundaries. Downsides can be avoided by interpreting geometric models as specific representations of a set of properties of the original anatomical systems and not as generalized effigy of biological elements. Emiliano Bruner. Grupo de Paleobiología, Centro Nacional de Investigación sobre la Evolución Humana, Paseo Sierra de Atapuerca 3, 09002 Burgos, Spain. emiliano.bruner@cenieh.es Naomichi Ogihara. Faculty of Science and Technology, Department of Mechanical Engineering, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa 223-8522, Japan. ogihara@mech.keio. ac.jp
Bankruptcy Codes and Innovation

Do legal institutions governing financial contracts affect the nature of real investments in the economy? We develop a simple model and provide evidence that the answer to this question is yes. We consider a levered firm's choice of investment between innovative and conservative technologies, on the one hand, and of financing between debt and equity, on the other. Bankruptcy code plays a central role in these choices by determining whether the firm is continued or liquidated in case of financial distress. When the code is creditor-friendly, excessive liquidations cause the firm to shy away from innovation. In contrast, by promoting continuation upon failure, a debtor-friendly code induces greater innovation. This effect remains robust when the firm attempts to sustain innovation by reducing its debt under creditor-friendly codes. Employing patents as a proxy for innovation, we find support for the real as well as the financial implications of the model: (1) In countries with weaker creditor rights, technologically innovative industries create disproportionately more patents and generate disproportionately more citations to these patents relative to other industries; (2) This difference of difference result is further confirmed by within-country analysis that exploits time-series changes in creditor rights, suggesting a causal effect of bankruptcy codes on innovation; (3) When creditor rights are stronger, innovative industries employ relatively less leverage compared to other industries; and (4) In countries with weaker creditor rights, technologically innovative industries grow disproportionately faster compared to other industries. Finally, while overall financial development fosters innovation, stronger creditor rights weaken this effect, especially for highly innovative industries.
Effect of temperature on stored product pests Tribolium confusum Jaquelin du Val (Coleoptera: Tenebrionidae) and Callosobruchus maculatus (F.) (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Bruchidae)

Two stored product insects, Tribolium confusum and Callosobruchus maculatus were exposed to different temperature degree (50, 55, 60, 65, 70 and 75 ̊C) and different exposure periods (10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 minutes). Increase in temperature level or exposure time resulted in an increase in average mortality. Complete mortality of T. confusum was achieved in 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 ̊C at 25, 20, 15, 15 and 10 minutes of exposure times respectively. 100% Mortalities of C. maculatus was achieved in 50, 55, 60, 65, 70 and 75 ̊C at 40, 25, 25, 20, 15 and 10 minutes of exposure times respectively. Loss percentage of wheat flour and emergence percentage of adult insects were significantly decreased (P˂0.05) with increasing of temperature levels and exposure times. There was no significant effect of temperature and exposure time on cowpea seeds germination which concluded that Thermal disinfestation is one of the means of physical insect control.
NEW ARCHITECTURE OF LOW AREA AES S-BOX/ INV S-BOX USING VLSI IMPLEMENTATION

The Substitution box (S-box) is one of the core of Advanced Encryption System (AES) implementation and the only non-linear transformation. It is consumed most of the power in AES hardware. This paper present a low-complexity design methodology for the S-box/ InvS-box which includes minimising the comprehensive circuit size and critical path delay, scaling down the transistor size, along with selecting an advanced technology for an optimised CMOS full custom design. The area of the circuit is about 39.44 µm 2 , while the hardware cost of the S-box/InvS-box is about 147 logic gates, with a critical path propagation delay of 3.235ns.
THE ROLE OF SELF-EFFICACY INFORMATION IN INFLUENCING SECONDARY SCHOOL STUDENTS' SCIENCE SELF-EFFICACY BELIEFS by

This article presents the findings of an investigation into how various sources of self-efficacy information influence secondary school students’ perceptions of self-efficacy in science. Fortytwo students of three different Form levels, namely Form 2, Form 4 Science and Lower 6 Science from an urban coeducational secondary school in Kuching, Sarawak, Malaysia, participated in this study. The students, who were of three different science self-efficacy (SSE) levels, were interviewed to obtain insights into how various sources of selfefficacy information influenced their self-efficacy beliefs. They were also asked to indicate which source of self-efficacy information had the greatest impact on their self-efficacy beliefs. Implications of the findings on teaching and learning approaches are discussed.
EFQM excellence model as the TQM model of the construction industry of southeastern Europe

AbstractOver the years the European Foundation for Quality Management Excellence model (EFQM) has become a popular performance management tool and representation of Total Quality Management (TQM) in Europe. Although the model has been tested and supported by many questionnaire surveys, EFQM has never been validated on real self-assessment scores obtained from companies. Therefore this study validates the model on scores from 34 construction companies in South Eastern Europe. The analysis shows that: a) there is an enabler excellence construct that is obtained by each enabler criteria; b) there is a result excellence construct that is obtained by each result criteria; and c) the EFQM model is most suitable for Contractor type organizations. Furthermore, we have found that the EFQM weights do not entirely correspond with the construction industry. Therefore we present new weights for the better use in the construction. Although this study proves EFQM to be a good representation of TQM in the construction in.
A numerical analysis of shipboard and coastal zone color scanner time series of new production within Gulf Stream cyclonic eddies in the South Atlantic Bight

Eddy-induced upwelling occurs along the western edge of the Gulf Stream between Cape Canaveral, Florida, and Cape Hatteras, North Carolina, in the South Atlantic Bight (SAB). Coastal zone color scanner images of 1-km resolution spanning the period April 13–21, 1979, were processed to examine these eddy features in relation to concurrent shipboard and current/temperature measurements at moored arrays. A quasi-one-dimensional (z), time-dependent biological model, using only nitrate as a nutrient source, has been combined with a three-dimensional physical model in an attempt to replicate the observed phytoplankton field at the northward edge of an eddy. The model is applicable only to the SAB south of the Charleston Bump, at ∼31.5°N, since no feature analogous to the bump exists in the model bathymetry. The modeled chlorophyll, nitrate, and primary production fields of the euphotic zone are very similar to those obtained from the satellite and shipboard data at the leading edges of the observed eddies south of the Charleston Bump. The horizontal and vertical simulated fluxes of nitrate and chlorophyll show that only ∼10% of the upwelled nitrate is utilized by the phytoplankton of the modeled grid box on the northern edge of the cyclone, while ∼75% is lost horizontally, with the remainder still in the euphotic zone after the 10-day period of the model. Loss of chlorophyll due to sinking is very small in this strong upwelling region of the cyclone. The model is relatively insensitive to variations in the sinking parameterization and the external nitrate and chlorophyll fields but is very sensitive to a reduction of the maximum potential growth rate to half that measured. Given the success of this model in simulating the new production of the selected upwelling region, other upwelling regions for which measurements or successful models of physical and biological quantities and rates exist could be modeled similarly.
Delayed Ratification: The Domestic Fate of Bilateral Investment Treaties

Abstract Some treaties are signed and then ratified quickly while others languish in legal limbo, unratified by one or more parties. What explains this variation in the time between signature and ratification? The international relations literature has not taken the ratification stage seriously enough, despite its obvious importance from a legal and a political perspective. We offer a systematic study of this question in the context of bilateral investment treaties. We develop and test a set of theoretical propositions related to domestic-level constraints on the executive, the varying ability of governments to rationally anticipate ratification obstacles, and the bilateral relationship between treaty partners. We generally find support for these propositions but report some surprising findings as well. The article presents implications for investment agreements and treaty making more generally, and raises a number of issues for further study at the intersection of international politics and law.
Measuring Identity: Quantitative Content Analysis and the Measurement of Collective Identity

Content analysis is a summarizing, quantitative analysis of messages that relies on the scientific method (including attention to objectivity-intersubjectivity, a priori design, reliability, validity, generalizability, replicability, and hypothesis testing) and is not limited as to the types of variables that may be measured or the context in which the messages are created or presented. (Neuendorf 2002: 10)
Non-base wage components as a source of wage adaptability to shocks: evidence from European firms, 2010–2013

This paper provides evidence on the role of non-base wage components as a channel for firms to adjust labour costs in the event of adverse shocks. It uses data from a firm-level survey for 25 European countries that covers the period 2010–2013. We find that firms subject to nominal wage rigidities, which prevent them from adjusting base wages, are more likely to cut non-base wage components when they are hit by negative shocks. Firms thus use non-base wage components as a strategic margin to overcome base wage rigidity. We also show that while non-base wage components exhibit some degree of downward rigidity this is smaller than that observed for base wages.
The Capital Structure: An Alternative Explanation

Prior studies on the capital structure have identified several capital structure determinants. However, the models that try to explain leverage often have only little explanatory power. In this study an alternative, more practically related manner of defining leverage is presented in order to obtain better models to explain differences in the capital structures of firms. I find that when leverage is defined by a debt-to-EBITDA measure instead of an often used debt-toassets ratio, better capital structure models can be obtained. Furthermore, reexamination of previously identified capital structure determinants finds business risk, profitability, collateral value of assets, the non-debt tax shield and asset intensity to be related to long-term debt. Profitability, risk, collateral value of assets, the non-debt tax shield and growth are found to affect the amount of short-term debt in the capital structure.
The importance of genetic make-up in seagrass restoration: a case study of the seagrass Zostera noltei

Seagrass meadows are among the most important coastal ecosystems. Their ongoing decline is of concern, and transplantations are carried out in many parts of the world to restore the ecosystem services seagrass meadows provide. Several studies have highlighted the importance of genetic diversity for transplantation success in seagrasses, but this is still rarely taken into account in transplantation trials. Here we assess a transplantation experiment of the seagrass Zostera noltei in one of the largest saline Mediterranean lagoons 4 yr after transplantations were carried out with low success rates. We compare genetic diversity values of a transplant site, 2 relict meadows and newly appeared patches in the lagoon to genetic diversity metrics measured before the transplantation experiment inside and outside the lagoon. We show that genotypic richness of the transplant site assessed 4 yr after the transplantation is very low. Moreover, the transplants are genetically distinct from the genetic stock in the lagoon, with low migration rates, low effective population size and signs of a recent population bottleneck. Relict meadows and newly appeared patches show, in contrast, signs of high levels of sexual reproduction and are connected via gene flow. The newly appeared patches likely did not originate from the transplantation. The lack of success of transplanted shoots could be due to an adaptation mismatch of the marine donor material to lagoon conditions or to low plasticity of the transplanted shoots.
Parametric Study on Dynamic Response of Fiber Reinforced Polymer Composite Bridges

Because of high strength and stiffness to low self-weight ratio and ease of field installation, fiber reinforced polymer (FRP) composite materials are gaining popularity as the materials of choice to replace deteriorated concrete bridge decks. FRP bridge deck systems with lower damping compared to conventional bridge decks can lead to higher amplitudes of vibration causing dynamically active bridge deck leading serviceability problems. The FRP bridge models with different bridge configurations and loading patterns were simulated using finite element method. The dynamic response results under varying FRP deck system parameters were discussed and compared with standard specifications of bridge deck designs under dynamic loads. In addition, the dynamic load allowance equation as a function of natural frequency, span length, and vehicle speed was proposed in this study. The proposed dynamic load allowance related to the first flexural frequency was presented herein. The upper and lower bounds’ limits were established to provide design guidance in selecting suitable dynamic load allowance for FRP bridge systems.
Sex Differences and Sex Identification in the Small-Scaled Scorpionfish, Scorpaena Porcus (Scorpaenidae, Scorpaeniformes)

Abstract Sex differences and the ability to determine the sex of Scorpaena porcus (Linnaeus, 1758) on morphological characters were studied in the population inhabiting coastal waters of the Black Sea near the southern coast of Crimea. These differences were revealed in size (females are larger than males) and in proportions of the body. It is found that variation of the absolute and relative values in plastic characters is higher in females compared with males. It is shown that in 92 % of individuals belonging to S. porcus we can determine the sex using morphological characters with a probability of 99.9-100 %.
ELECTRONIC STRUCTURE OF VALENCE BAND OF FERROELECTRIC SbSI CRYSTALS

The form and electronic structure of the valence band (VB) of the ferroelectric SbSI crystal was calculated by solving the HartreenFocknRoothaan matrix equation. The diagonal eigenvalue matrix " gives the electron state energies. These energies were also studied experimentally by PHI 5700 / 660 Physical Electronics Spectrometer using Al Kfi monochromatic radiation (1486.6 eV) as the excitation source. The spectrum of the VB electronic levels was approximated by the Gauss functions. The form of the VB depends on the width of the Gauss function and the number of SbSI molecules, which were taken into account in the model of SbSI crystal. The obtained theoretical density of states and the VB form of SbSI crystal is close to the experimental one.
Respiratory virus-associated severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) and viral clustering in Malawian children in a setting with a high prevalence of HIV, malaria and malnutrition

Background: We used four years of paediatric severe acute respiratory illness (SARI) sentinel surveillance in Blantyre, Malawi to identify factors associated with clinical severity and co-viral clustering. Methods: From January 2011 to December 2014, 2363 children aged 3 months to 14 years presenting to hospital with SARI were enrolled. Nasopharyngeal aspirates were tested for influenza and other respiratory viruses. We assessed risk factors for clinical severity and conducted clustering analysis to identify viral clusters in children with co-viral detection. Results: Hospital-attended influenza-positive SARI incidence was 2.0 cases per 10,000 children annually; it was highest children aged under 1 year (6.3 cases per 10,000), and HIV-infected children aged 5 to 9 years (6.0 cases per 10,000). 605 (26.8%) SARI cases had warning signs, which were positively associated with HIV infection (adjusted risk ratio [aRR]: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.4, 3.9), RSV infection (aRR: 1.9, 95% CI: 1.3, 3.0) and rainy season (aRR: 2.4, 95% CI: 1.6, 3.8). We identified six co-viral clusters; one cluster was associated with SARI with warning signs.