Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Ethical Implementation of an Automated Essay Scoring (AES) System: A Case Study of Student and Instructor Use, Satisfaction, and Perceptions of AES In a Business Law Course

A pilot study of a vendor provided automated grading system was conducted in a Business Law class of 27 students. Students answered a business law fact pattern question which was reviewed and graded by the textbook vendor utilizing artificial intelligence software. Students were surveyed on their use, satisfaction, perceptions and technical issues utilizing the Write Experience automated essay scoring (AES) software. The instructor also chronicles the adoption, set up and use of an AES. Also detailed are the advantages and disadvantages of utilizing such software in an undergraduate course environment where some students may not be technologically adept or may lack motivation to experiment with a new testing procedure. Automated grading of student assignments is part of the next wave of textbook enhancements that vendors will be providing to instructors in the near future. Several vendors are conducting beta testing with instructors in hope of offering automated grading as part of their textbook and course support. Of course, such services will be an additional cost to the text. Exactly what will be charged for such services remains to be seen. The vast majority of previous research in the area of AES has been limited to its use in grading assignments in the STEM fields. Computer science instructors have been experimenting with self-created automated grading software for several decades. Recently automated grading software has been implemented by vendors to score essay questions in online tests such as the Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT). The experience of one business law class in using automated grading software as part of such a beta test can give valuable insight into the needs and expectations of the three stakeholders in this situation – instructor, student and vendor. Implementation of an AES raises numerous issues. Should an instructor be willing to relinquish control of the grading process to an outside entity? Are the student needs for feedback and grading fairness being met? Is the technology advanced enough to replace the human element always present in grading assignments? What will be the economic impact on students if such software is adopted? The implications for the various stakeholders are discussed and addressed. The author comes to conclusions about the pedagogical usefulness of AES systems and offers suggestions for best practices to be employed by instructors interested in implementing such software in their courses.
A triglyceride from Lupinus albus L. seed with bio- stimulatory properties

In vitro and in vivo bio-stimulatory activity of a Lupinus albus cv. Bethuana white Seed Suspension (SS) was previously documented using vegetable crops. This was repeated for two grain crops, maize and wheat, in an attempt to provide a rationale for the isolation and identification of the active compound(s) involved. In all cases, besides negative controls, the response to treatment with SS was compared to that of a commercial bio-stimulant, ComCat ® . At an optimum concentration of 5 mg l -1 SS significantly enhanced seedling growth and yield in both crops. Subsequently, activity directed liquid-liquid extraction of ground L. albus seed resulted in an ethyl acetate extract containing most of the biostimulatory activity. Two in vitro bio-assay procedures were employed to appraise the in vitro biostimulatory properties of semi-purified fractions as well as pure compounds contained in it. The highly active ethyl acetate extract was fractionated further by means of adsorption column chromatography resulting in eighty five fractions that were combined into twelve on the basis of similarities in thin layer chromatography profiles. Four of these fractions showed significant bio-stimulatory activity and were pooled. From this one compound was isolated, purified and identified as glyceryl trilinoleate by means of nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy.
Effect of twinning and stillbirth on the shape of lactation curve in Holstein dairy cows of Iran

Abstract. The aims of this study were to estimate the effects of twinning and stillbirth on the lactation curve traits in Holstein cows in Iran. Data from March 2000 to April 2009 comprising of 862 109 test-day milk records corresponding to 115 805 lactations of 58 756 cows in 27 herds were used. The lowest peak and total lactation yield but the highest days in milk (DIM) until peak yield, persistency and cumulative milk yield from calving up to DIM at peak production were found during the first lactation (P
An Organizing Center for Thermohaline Excitability

The bifurcation behavior of a conceptual heat‐salt oscillator model is analyzed by means of numerical continuation methods. A global (homoclinic) bifurcation acts as an organizing center for the dynamics of the simplified convective model. It originates from a codimension-2 bifurcation in an extended parameter space. Comparison with earlier work by Cessi shows that the intriguing stochastic thermohaline excitability can be understood from the bifurcation structure of the model. It is argued that global bifurcations may play a crucial role in determining long-term variability of the thermohaline circulation.
Modal testing of an isolated overpass bridge in its construction stages

This study presents the application of ambient vibration survey based dynamic testing on an isolated, precast and pre-stressed overpass bridge during and after its construction. In the studied three-bay bridge, the girders are located on the elastomeric bearings carried by two abutments and two internal piers. The first modal testing is performed after the placement of the girders on the elastomeric bearings and dynamic properties of the uncompleted bridge are determined. After the completion of all construction works and the opening of the overpass to human traffic, the modal testing is repeated to obtain the dynamic properties of the final structure. The dynamic properties obtained in both analyses are used to interpret the effects of the performed works between two modal testing. Moreover, the structural behaviour of isolated, precast and pre-stressed bridges is evaluated in detail.
GAMMA-RAY BURST AFTERGLOW SCALING RELATIONS FOR THE FULL BLAST WAVE EVOLUTION

We demonstrate that gamma-ray burst afterglow spectra and light curves can be calculated for arbitrary explosion and radiation parameters by scaling the peak flux and the critical frequencies connecting different spectral regimes. Only one baseline calculation needs to be done for each jet opening angle and observer angle. These calculations are done numerically using high-resolution relativistic hydrodynamical afterglow blast wave simulations which include the two-dimensional dynamical features of expanding and decelerating afterglow blast waves. Any light curve can then be generated by applying scaling relations to the baseline calculations. As a result, it is now possible to fully fit for the shape of the jet break, e.g., at early-time X-ray and optical frequencies. In addition, late-time radio calorimetry can be improved since the general shape of the transition into the Sedov–Taylor regime is now known for arbitrary explosion parameters so the exact moment when the Sedov–Taylor asymptote is reached in the light curve is no longer relevant. When calculating the baselines, we find that the synchrotron critical frequency νm and the cooling break frequency νc are strongly affected by the jet break. The νm temporal slope quickly drops to the steep late-time Sedov–Taylor slope, while the cooling break νc first steepens and then rises to meet the level of its shallow late-time asymptote.
3D Modeling of Iran and Surrounding Areas from Simultaneous Inversion of Multiple Geophysical Datasets (Postprint). Annual Report 3

Abstract : The objective of this work is to help improve seismic monitoring technology through the development and application of advanced multivariate inversion techniques to generate realistic, comprehensive, and high-resolution 3D models of the seismic structure of the crust and upper mantle that satisfy independent geophysical datasets. The focus is on the region surrounding Iran from the east coast of the Mediterranean in the west, to Pakistan in the east, a region with adequate calibration events to validate our model and to quantify its accuracy. Specifically, the effort is to integrate surface-wave dispersion, receiver function, and satellite and ground-based gravity observations to help constrain the shallow seismic structure in the Arabian-Eurasian collision zone. Building on earlier work combining receiver functions and surface wave dispersion, and surface-wave dispersion and gravity, integration of geophysical data sets will continue to create more broadly compatible earth models. Geologically based smoothness constraints will be explored to help resolve sharp features in the underlying shallow 3D structure.
Assessment of Fouling Potentials of Extracellular P olymeric Substances in a Membrane Bioreactor Using Modified Fouling Index (MFI)

Fouling potentials of extracellular polymeric subst ances represented by MFI were assessed in a full sc ale membrane bioreactor (MBR) treating domestic wastewater. Total EPS were divided into soluble EPS (SEPS), loosely bound EPS (LBEPS) and tightly bound EPS (TBEPS) by a series of extraction methods. The components and properties of three types of EPS were examined by colorimetric methods and three-dimensional excitation-emission matrix (EEM) fluorescence spectroscopy. Fouling potentials of EP S were measured by batch filtration tests with MFI as an indicator. The results showed that the majority of total EPS w as TBEPS, which accounted for nearly 90% of the total EPS. In addition, LBEPS with the lowest content demonstrated the highest membrane rejection rate during filtra tion. EEM spectra analysis confirmed the components measurement of EPS and further revealed that tryptophan prot ein-like substances could be of significant importance. MFI of total sludge rather than individual component wa s significantly related to real MBR fouling rate (dTMP/dt). TBEPS showed the highest potential to foul the membrane; h owever, LBEPS contributed most to membrane fouling since they had the highest specific MFI and similar filtrat ion behavior as activated sludge.
Effect of Rhythmic Aerobic Training on Mood Status Profile and Salivary Alpha Amylase in Non-athlete Students

The purpose of this study is to investigate the effect of rhythmic aerobic training on mood status profile and salivary alpha amylase in male and female students. 80 non-athlete students (40 female, ages: 21 ± 2, Weight: 58 ± 8, Height: 163 ± 5 and 40 male, ages: 21 ± 2, weight: 68 ±10, Height: 176 ±5) who were physically in perfect health and had no history of disease or drug consumption, particularly steroids, were selected; based on the temperament grades of the pre-test they were randomly divided into two groups of control (20 girls and 20 boys) and training (20 girls and 20 boys). The training group did rhythmic aerobic exercises for 10 weeks; each session lasted 60 minutes including 10 minutes as warm up exercises with basic aerobic movements, 40 minutes as the main part (which started with the intensity of 140bpm and reached to 160bpm in final sessions), and 10 minutes of non-impact aerobic movements and stretching for cooling down, by which the training session ended. The control group did not participate in any training programs during the study. During 10 weeks, saliva samples were collected 5 times (10 minutes before starting physical activity, of both training and control groups, and ten minutes after cooling down of the training group, in the first, eighth, fifteenth, twenty-second and twenty-eighth sessions), and BRUMS mood questionnaire was answered by them 5 times, before the training. For statistical analysis of data, variance analysis with repeated measures and Bonferroni post-hoc test were used. Results showed that after 10 weeks of training, moods of both boys and girls improved significantly (girls, p = 0.007, F =62.50, df =19, 1; boys, p=0.008, F =62.50, df =19, 1). Also, following 10 weeks of rhythmic aerobic exercise the amount of salivary alpha-amylase depleted (girls, p =0.021, F =65.37, df =19, 1; boys, p =0.019, F =61.89, df =19, 1). Therefore, due to the specific nature of rhythmic aerobic exercise, its inclusion in people’s health program is recommended.
Parasitic isopod Anilocra apogonae, a drag for the cardinal fish Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus

Cymothoid isopods Anilocra apogonae are regular ectoparasites of the cardinal fish Cheilodipterus quinquelineatus on the Great Barrier Reef. To determine whether this large isopod, attached to the head of the fish, affects the physiology and behaviour of its host, we conducted morphological measurements to obtain a condition index and several laboratory experiments on fish with and without isopods. The condition index did not vary between parasitised and non-parasitised wild fish. However, we found that parasitised fish lost more weight than unparasitised fish when fed a low food ration. Parasitised fish also had a higher rate of oxygen consumption than non-parasitised fish. When maintaining body posture in calm water, parasitised fish had an elevated pectoral fin beat frequency, probably because the isopod attaches asymmetrically, causing an asymmetrical weight balance for which the fish needs to compensate. Moreover, the sustained aerobic swimming speed as well as the swimming endurance at high water speeds were reduced in parasitised fish, possibly because of the drag from the parasite. The results suggest that parasites can have significant effects on fish even if this is not revealed by their body condition index in the wild. The metabolic effects found imply that parasitised fish may have to spend more time foraging to compensate for their higher metabolism. This could expose them to a higher risk of being eaten, a situation made worse by an impaired swimming ability that may reduce their capacity to escape a predator.
Phonon-glass electron-crystal thermoelectric clathrates : Experiments and theory

Type-I clathrate compounds have attracted a great deal of interest in connection with the search for efficient thermoelectric materials. These compounds constitute networked cages consisting of nano-scale tetrakaidecahedrons (14 hedrons) and dodecahedrons (12 hedrons), in which the group 1 or 2 elements in the periodic table are encaged as the so-called rattling guest atom. It is remarkable that, though these compounds have crystalline cubic-structure, they exhibit glass-like phonon thermal conductivity over the whole temperature range depending on the states of rattling guest atoms in the tetrakaidecahedron. In addition, these compounds show unusual glass-like specific heats and THz-frequency phonon dynamics, providing a remarkable broad peak almost identical to those observed in topologically disordered amorphous materials or structural glasses, the so-called Boson peak. An efficient thermoelectric effect is realized in compounds showing these glass-like characteristics. This decade, a number of experimental works dealing with type-I clathrate compounds have been published. These are diffraction experiments, thermal and spectroscopic experiments in addition to those based on heat and electronic transport. These form the raw materials for this article based on advances this decade. The subject of this article involves interesting phenomena from the viewpoint of not only physics but also from the view point of the practical problem of elaborating efficient thermoelectric materials. This review presents a survey of a wide range of experimental investigations of type-I clathrate compounds, together with a review of theoretical interpretations of the peculiar thermal and dynamic properties observed in these materials.
Fixed bed column modeling of lead(II) and cadmium(II) ions biosorption on sugarcane bagasse

In this paper the results of the biosorption of lead(II) and cadmium(II) with sugarcane bagasse in fixed bed columns are presented. Experimental data were fitted to several models describing the rupture curve for single-component and two-component systems. The percentages of removal of lead and cadmium in single-component systems are 91% and 90%, respectively. In lead-cadmium bicomponent systems the percentage of elimination of lead was 90% and cadmium 92%. In single-component systems, Yoon-Nelson and Thomas models successfully reproduce the rupture curves. In two-component system, the Dose-Response model was the best one reproducing the experimental rupture curves in the entire measured range.
Multi-Parameter Compensation Method for Accurate In Situ Fluorescent Dissolved Organic Matter Monitoring and Properties Characterization

The recent deployment of fluorescent dissolved organic matter (fDOM) probes in dam catchments and drinking water treatment plants (DWTP) for water quality monitoring purposes has resulted in the production of a large amount of data that requires scientific evaluation. This study introduces a comprehensive, transferable methodological framework for scientists and water professionals to model fluorescence site-specific quenching on fDOM probe readings caused by temperature, suspended particles, and the inner filter effect (IFE) and applies it to an Australian subtropical reservoir. The findings revealed that quenching due to turbidity and IFE effects were best predicted by threshold autoregressive models. Raw fDOM probe measurements were validated as being more reliable if they were systematically compensated using the proposed procedure. The developed fDOM compensation procedure must consider the instrument features (i.e., wavelength broadband and responsiveness) and site-specific conditions (i.e., DOM characteristics and suspended particles). A finding of particular interest was that the compensated normalized fDOM readings had a high correlation with the low (<500 Da) molecular weight fraction of the DOM, which is more recalcitrant to removal by coagulation. As a consequence, there is potential to use compensated fDOM probe readings to provide real-time, in situ information on DOM properties in freshwater systems, which will enable water treatment plant operators to optimize the coagulation process.
PHOSPHORUS PLACEMENT ON ACID ARENOSOLS OF THE WEST AFRICAN SAHEL

Phosphorus (P) deficiency is a major constraint to pearl millet (Pennisetum glaucum L.) growth on acid sandy soils of the West African Sahel. To develop cost-effective fertilization strategies for cash poor farmers, experiments with pearl millet were conducted in southwestern Niger. Treatments comprised single superphosphate hill-placed at rates of 1, 3, 5 or 7 kg P ha−1 factorially combined with broadcast P at a rate of 13 kg ha−1. Nitrogen was applied as calcium ammonium nitrate at rates of 30 and 45 kg ha−1. At low soil moisture, placement of single superphosphate in immediate proximity to the seed reduced seedling emergence. Despite these negative effects on germination, P placement resulted in much faster growth of millet seedlings than did broadcast P. With P application, potassium nutrition of millet was improved and seedling nitrogen uptake increased two- to three-fold, indicating that nitrogen was not limiting early millet growth. Averaged over the 1995 and 1996 cropping seasons, placed applications of 3, 5 and 7 kg P ha−1 led to 72%, 81% and 88% respectively, of the grain yield produced by broadcasting 13 kg P ha−1. Nitrogen application did not show major effects on grain yield unless P requirements were met. A simple economic analysis revealed that the profitability of P application, defined as additional income per unit of fertilizer, was highest for P placement at 3 and 5 kg ha−1.
Agro-morphological variability of shea populations (Vitellaria paradoxa CF Gaertn) in the Township of Bassila, Benin Republic

Shea (Vitellaria paradoxa CF Gaertn) is a multipurpose forest tree species. This is one of the most integrated species in the cropping systems in the central and northern regions of Benin. It is also an important source of income for the population. Observations were made on some shea trees randomly selected in three vegetation types namely forests, fallows and farms. Data collection on quantitative and qualitative parameters such as length and width of leaves and fruits, tree diameter, fruit shape, crown shape, shape of leaf apex were made on 90 shea trees. The results show that the average density of shea trees per hectare varies (not significantly different) according to the three vegetation types (farms, fallow, and forests). The average diameter of tree trunk at man chest level was 37.35 ± 7.78 cm with a coefficient of variation (CV) within population was 21.09%. Variations between Shea populations in the study area were quite important and show the diversity of natural populations of the species. Leaves were predominantly oblong shape with an average length of 18.33 ± 3.21 cm and an average width of 6.92 cm ± 1.28; the leaf apex was in “pointed” shape. The fruits were dominantly oblong in the three vegetation types. The fruits had an average length of 4.49 ± 0.77 cm and a mean diameter of 3.56 ± 0.48 cm. The crown in shape of broom was observed so frequently in the different vegetation types. The longest and widest leaves and the longest and largest fruits were found in fields and fallows, while the smallest leaves and fruits were found in the forests. Key words: Vegetation types, Vitellaria paradoxa, morphological diversity, Benin.
Compare the Quality of Earning Methods (Case Study of Firms Accepted in Listed Firms of Tehran Stock Exchange)

Although the academic research on the quality of earnings has been improved by presenting different approaches of measurement, there is no agreed-upon generally accepted approach to measure the earning quality. General Aims represented results of an empirical study measuring the quality of earnings on three groups’ Security market of Tehran during 2003-2009. Uses a population of 82 companies listed in the Security market of Tehran. The analysis is directed to reach a general assessment of the quality of earnings if there is a complete consistency among the three approaches, and if not, the quality of earnings is questionable and needs further analysis and investigations. The results was showed that different approaches of measuring the quality of earning lead to different assessment, and one group or one company cannot be labeled as having low or high quality of earning based on the result of one approach only. The results also suggest that the stakeholders before making any financing, investing decision or taking any corrective action have to use more than one approach to assess the quality of earnings.
A comprehensive overview on main distress mechanisms in composite pavements

Fatigue cracking of cement-treated bases, instability rutting, top-down cracking, shrinkage cracking, reflective cracking and thermal fatigue cracking have been identified as the most common distresses affecting the service life of composite pavements, which consist of an asphalt course on top of a cement-treated base. These distresses prevent composite pavements from being considered long-life pavements, which are defined as pavements in which the structural elements may last indefinitely. This paper analyzes different factors leading to the initiation and propagation of the distress mechanisms, as well as the material properties required to improve the long-term performance of composite pavements.