Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Impact of Agri-environmental Schemes on Farm Perfo in five EU Member States

Agri-environmental schemes (AES) of the European Union are the most important measure in terms of share on the public budget for Rural Development. Although the farmers uptake of AES is expected to strongly impact even farmer’s behavior, in the literature the applies a difference-in-differences propensity score matching estimator in order to perform a comparative analyses of the effects of AE measures on farmer’s practises and economic performances acros Member States. Results show differences in the AES effects across country as well as differences across farmers of the same country according to what extent the farm income is dependent on the AE payment. Our analyses suggests that the AE payment in Spain is not enough to compensate the large drop of the per hectare income after participation and the AE uptake does not seem to promote effectively environmental practises. In France and Italy the sustainable practises of farmer partici not fairly compensated by the AE payments. Only in Germany and UK the AE payments seem to compensate the income loss that results from changes in farmers production choices.
Evaluating Field Measurements of Impact Sound

Analyzing data from an earlier investigation revealed uncertainties concerning data evaluation. Therefore, data points comprising 1/3-octave impact sound data and interview data from the earlier investigation are partly replaced by new data points. The data removed pertain to horizontal measurements. The investigation is then completed with data for 10 new housing units pertaining to vertical impact sound measurements. Including the new floor structures, a total number of 22 vertical data points are included. It was found that the current international standard method is unsatisfactory, and that the single-number value proposed in the earlier investigation suffers from shortcomings: when analyzing the new data sample, the correlation coefficient fell from 87% to 83%. The best choice proved to be a reference curve with a steep positive slope of 5.5 dB/octave between 50–100 Hz and the curve becomes a straight line. This reference curve resulted in a correlation coefficient again equal to 87%.
The exploration on network behaviors by using the models of Theory of planned behaviors (TPB), Technology acceptance model (TAM) and C-TAM-TPB

This research mainly aims to explore the network behaviors of Web 2.0 users. The comparative analysis is also operated with the research models of Theory of planned behaviors (TPB), TAM and C-TAM-TPB. With network questionnaires, there are 638 valid replies received. The relations among different variables in this research are examined with the structural equation models. Additionally, it is found from research results, all hypotheses are established. Moreover, the explanatory power of planned behaviors is more acceptable than the technology acceptance model and C-TAM-TPB. Key words: Theory of reasoned action (TRA), theory of innovation diffusion (TID), Theory of planned behaviors (TPB), TAM, C-TAM-TPB.
Predictive Power of the Sources of Primary School Students' Self-Efficacy Beliefs on Their Self-Efficacy Beliefs for Learning and Performance

The purpose of this study is to reveal the extent to which the sources of 6th- 8th grade students' self-efficacy beliefs predict their self-efficacy beliefs for learning and performance. The study is correlational and was con- ducted on a total of 1049 students during the fall term of the educational year 2010-2011. The data of the study were collected through "The Scale of Determining the Sources of Self-Efficacy" and "The Scale of Self-Efficacy for Learning and Performance". The data were analyzed on the basis of the arithmetic mean, standard devia- tion, Pearson product-moment correlation coefficient and stepwise regression. The students stated that their self-efficacy beliefs were developed mostly by verbal persuasion and performance accomplishments. They also noted that psychological states and vicarious experiences develop their self-efficacy beliefs at a lower level. It is the factor "performance accomplishments" that is correlated with the students' self-efficacy beliefs and pre- dicts them in the strongest way. Apart from performance accomplishments, the factors "vicarious experiences" and "verbal persuasion" predict the students' self-efficacy beliefs for learning and performance.
Measuring the Image of God: The God Image Inventory and the God Image Scales

The God Image Inventory (GII) is an 8-scale, 156-item, psychometric instrument to measure the image of God, developed for clinical and pastoral use in N = 1 cases. For research use with a large N, the God Image Scales (GIS), in a 6-scale, 72-item format, or a 3-scale, 36-item format, are preferred subsets of the GII. The GII and GIS are designed on the basis of Ana-Maria Rizzuto's distinction between the God concept and the God image. They explore issues of belonging (Presence and Challenge scales), goodness (Acceptance and Benevolence scales) and control (Influence and Providence scales). The scales of the GII have demonstrated internal reliability and preliminary validity work has been done. Standards have been developed on an N = 1580 sample of U.S. adults, but are applicable, at least to date, only for Christian subjects. A computerized version is expected shortly. The GIS (text in Appendix) have begun to be used by other researchers, and results to date have supported the validity of the GIS scales.
A Sensitivity Analysis of Cross-Country Growth Regressions: Is 1990-2010 Different?

This paper examines the robustness of explanatory variables in cross-country growth regressions. It employs a variant of Leamer’s (1983, 1985) extreme-bounds analysis. My results confirm Levine and Renelt’s (1992) conclusion, but identify more variables to be robustly correlated with economic growth. Of 25 explanatory variables tested, I find 8 to be significantly and robustly correlated with long-term growth over the 1990-2010 period. The strongest evidence is for the investment ratio, government consumption share in GDP, the rule of law, and the Sub-Saharan dummy. I also find strong empirical evidence for conditional convergence, which is consistent with the neoclassical growth model.
Title: “Integrated assessment of future potential global change scenarios and their hydrological impacts in coastal aquifers. A new tool to analyse management alternatives under uncertainty in the Plana Oropesa-Torreblanca aquifer” Special Issue: Assessing impacts and adaptation to global change in 

Manuscript Number: hess-2017-262 Title: “Integrated assessment of future potential global change scenarios and their hydrological impacts in coastal aquifers. A new tool to analyse management alternatives under uncertainty in the Plana Oropesa-Torreblanca aquifer” Special Issue: Assessing impacts and adaptation to global change in water resource systems depending on natural storage from groundwater and/or snowpacks
Effects of dietary alpha-lipoic acid on anti-oxidative ability and meat quality in arbor acres broilers.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary alpha-lipoic acid (LA) on growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality in Arbor Acres broilers. A total of 240 1-d-old male Arbor Acres broilers were randomly allocated to 4 dietary treatments (0, 300 ppm, 600 ppm, and 900 ppm dietary LA supplementation, respectively). Birds were slaughtered at 42 days old. Live body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), average feed intake (AFI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), dressing percentage, breast muscle percentage, thigh muscle percentage, abdominal fat percentage, muscle color (L*, a*, b*), pH values at 24 h postmortem, meat shear force value (SFV) and anti-oxidative ability were measured. Results showed that addition of 600 ppm or 900 ppm LA decreased BW (p<0.01), ADG (p<0.01) and AFI (p<0.05) compared with other diets. FCR was not affected by dietary LA content. LA had no marked effect on dressing percentage, breast muscle percentage or thigh muscle percentage. Abdominal fat percentage was lower (p<0.05) in the 900 ppm LA supplementation group than the control group. Dietary 900 ppm LA increased (p<0.05) breast and thigh muscle pH value at 24 h postmortem compared with the control treatment. Dietary LA increased thigh muscle a* value, though no significant difference was found in thigh muscle a* value among the treatments. Dietary LA significantly decreased breast muscle L* value (p<0.05), breast muscle b* value (p<0.01) and thigh muscle b* value (p<0.05). Broilers fed LA had higher breast muscle a* value (p<0.05) and thigh muscle L* value (p<0.05). All test groups had lower (p<0.05) breast muscle SFV than the control group. Dietary 600 ppm or 900 ppm LA both decreased (p<0.01) thigh muscle SFV compared with the control treatment. Dietary 900 ppm LA significantly increased (p<0.05) TAOC, SOD and GSHPx compared with no LA treatment. Broilers fed LA had lower (p<0.01) MDA compared with the control treatment. These results suggested that dietary LA enhanced the anti-oxidative ability and oxidative stability, and contributed to the improvement of meat quality in broilers. (Key Words : Alpha-lipoic Acid, Carcass Traits, Meat Quality, Anti-oxidative Ability, Broiler)
Physio-chemical and Microbial Characteristics of Treated Sewage Effluent Used for Crop Irrigation in the Kingdom of Bahrain

Treated sewage effluent (TSE) is used in the Kingdom of Bahrain (KoB) heavily in irrigating lots of vegetables and fruits gardens due to the shortage in water resources. The aim of this study is to examine the waste water quality regarding pathogenic bacteria and parasites, trace metals (Fe, Cu, Zn, Pb, Ni, Cd and Ag) and physio-chemical properties (E-conductivity, pH, NH3, NO2, NO3, BOD, COD and TSS). TSE is supplied from Tubli wastewater treatment plant (Tubli-WTP) in KoB as a tertiary stage effluent (TSE). The supplied TSE was free of pathogenic bacteria as no bacterium was grown on selective media (EMB, MC, DCA and XLD). TSE as well was free of pathogenic parasites when examined according to the American Standard for the Examination of Water and Waste Water (APHA). In addition, the chemical properties and heavy metals of TSE were within APHA standard. However, some pathogens were found in an irrigation storage reservoir used to collect TSE which was supplied from Tubli-WTP to a local farm (Farm-TSE). From this reservoir, eleven pathogens were identified (Escherichia coli, Citrobacter freundii, Enterobacter cloacae, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Aeromonas hydrophyla, Pseudomonas Paucimobilis, Klebsiella Oxytoca, Salmonella sp., Acinetobacter lwoffii, Serratia sp. and Pseudomonas Paucimobilis) by using API 20E system. The possible contamination source of Farm-TSE was the storage condition of the reservoir and/or the supply process from Tubli-WTP to the local farm.
The Monetary Transmission Mechanism in the Euro Area: Has it Changed and Why?

Based on a structural VAR and a dynamic general equilibrium model, we provide evidence of the changes in the monetary transmission mechanism (MTM) in the European Monetary Union after the adoption of the common currency in 1999. The estimation of a Bayesian VAR over the periods before and after 1999 suggests that the effects of a monetary policy shock on output and prices have not significantly changed over time. We claim that this cannot be the final word on the evolution of the MTM as changes in the conduct of monetary policy and the structure of the economy may have offset each other giving rise to similar responses of output and inflation to monetary policy shocks between the two periods. The estimation of a DSGE model with several real and nominal frictions over the two sub-samples shows that monetary policy has become more effective in stabilizing the economy as the result of a decrease in the degree of nominal rigidities and a shift in monetary policy towards inflation stabilization.
Effect of magnesium silicate in cv. ‘ICA Cerinza’ common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) under field conditions

The bean crop is very important in Colombia, being generator of income and employment; and furthermore very importance within the diet of the population due to its high protein content. Currently, the bean production is not sufficient to meet the demand in the country, because of phytosanitary problems, scarce replacement of varieties and inappropriate handling of mineral nutrition of cultivars. Nowadays, the use of products for soils rich in silicon represents an alternative for production increase, because they contribute markedly in nutritional dynamics. So, the purpose of this research was to assess the effect of magnesium silicate on the physiological behavior of ‘ICA Cerinza’ bean cultivar under agro ecological conditions in Tunja (Boyaca, Colombia). For that, a completely random design with 4 treatments each was used, corresponding to increasing doses of magnesium silicate (0, 300, 600 y 900 kg ha -1 ) with 4 replications. The total chlorophyll content, leaf area, leaf thickness, fresh and dry mass, yield components, silicon and phosphorus leaf content were evaluated. Statistical differences between treatments (P≤0. 05) were found in all variables tested. The application of 900 kg ha -1 of magnesium silicate showed the best results, confirming that silicon as a beneficial element that can submit a favorable response to physiological level in not bio-accumulators crops of this element. However, this response can be linked to agro ecological conditions, the type of product and also the dose used.
Strategic performance management and creative industry

The Creative Industry (CI), in recent years, has drawn much attention from the side of both scientists and policy-makers in the area of urban planning and industrial policy. The question is however, whether the assumed innovative and successful potential offered by firms in the CI is justified on economic and managerial grounds. The present article aims to provide a critical review of the current creativeness fashion by addressing, in particular, the Critical Success Factors and the high performance conditions of firms in this sector. On the basis of general principles from strategic performance measurement of business firms, a systematic analysis for assessing the performance of creative firms is proposed. Specific attention is paid to the lessons from the Strategic Performance Management literature for measuring the successes (and failures) of creative firms in modern innovative industries. This article aims to offer the basis for a systematic framework for evaluating the competitive performance of firms in the CI.
Hepatoprotective and antioxidant activity of methanolic leaves extract of Cassia arereh in CCl4-induced rat liver damage

Liver disease is still a worldwide problem. Cassia arereh is one out of many medicinal plants in Northern Nigeria used for the management of liver diseases. The study was designed to evaluate the hepatoprotective effects of Cassia arereh against CCl4 induced liver damage in rats. Standard analytical methods were employed in all the parameters assessed. Administration of methanolic leaves extract of C. arereh at doses of 50, 100, 150, 200 mg/kg body weight significantly(P<0.05) reduced the elevated serum liver marker enzymes and lipid peroxidation index (Malondialdehyde) and also increased the levels of total protein, albumin and endogenous antioxidants when compared to CCl4 – induced not treated group. The hepatoprotective effect observed might be due to its rich phytochemical constituents.
Cooperation in Innovation Practices Among Portuguese Firms: Do Universities Interface Innovative Advances?

This paper aims to identify the nature of the relationships that are established amongst agents who co-operate in terms of innovation practices. It analyses whether the entrepreneurial innovation capability of firms is stimulated through the relationships developed with external partners. The data of 2nd Community Innovation Survey of EUROSTAT is used in a logistic model. In the estimation process of the Logit function, the entrepreneurial innovation capability is considered as the answer variable. The scientific agents who cooperate in terms of innovation activities impact, positively, on the propensity to engage in innovative advances revealed by the firms, at the level of product innovation. The paper presents policy implications, which may be used in the design of public policies for fostering open innovation networks between scientific agents and firms.
The Role of Concurrent Feedback in Learning to Walk Through Sliding Doors

Concurrent feedback is defined as information about performance given to participants during the execution of an action. This article investigates whether concurrent feedback is beneficial or detrimental to the learning of an ecologically relevant task. Eighteen participants were asked to walk through a virtual corridor and they practiced over 1110 trials to adjust their walking speed so as to pass through sliding doors that opened and closed at a frequency of 1 Hz. Concurrent feedback informed them about the possible need to accelerate or decelerate. Performance of participants who received concurrent feedback on 66% of the practice trials (on average) did not differ significantly from performance of participants who did not receive concurrent feedback. Furthermore, participants of both of these groups significantly outperformed participants who received concurrent feedback on all practice trials. These results are discussed in relation to the perceptual-motor mechanisms that underlie the control of the action. Also discussed are implications for future research, including the use of self-controlled feedback and the use of multisensory training programs.
Agro-morphological variability in durum wheat landraces of Morocco

The knowledge about the extent of variability, the distribution and the relationship between descriptors within local germplasm collection are a high value for the improvement and the efficient genetic diversity maintenance and utilization of plant species. The objective of this study was to evaluate the agro-morphological variability in a set of Moroccan durum wheat germplasm collection maintained in the National Gene Bank of Morocco (INRA, Settat). 467 durum wheat ( Triticum turgidum L. var. durum ) accessions comprising 444 landraces and 23 improved varieties were planted under field condition and their agro-morphological characters such as days to emergence, days to tillering, days to booting, days to head emergence, days to flowering, days to physiological maturity, plant height, thousands kernel weight, spike shape, and spike density were recorded. Univariate and multivariate analysis of data indicated that thousands kernel weight and plant height presented the highest coefficient of variation with 15.72% and 15.15% respectively. The two-dimensional principal coordinates analysis (2D PCOA) explained 52% of the total variance in the collection and separated the accessions into three main groups, namely, the early maturing and shorter (81 accessions), the moderately late and taller (154 accessions), and the late maturing and taller (232 accessions). The frequency distribution of spike characters showed the prevalence of the pyramidal and the dense spike with 54% and 42% respectively. The results of this study will support efforts of conservation and utilization of landraces in durum wheat breeding programmes.
Challenges and Opportunities in DFO-AT : A Study of eNABLE

In this paper, we present the results of a study of the e-NABLE community—a distributed, collaborative volunteer effort to design and fabricate upper-limb assistive technology devices for distant strangers. We position e-NABLE as the prototypical example of “Do-it-yourself For Others Assistive Technology” (DFO-AT) and describe three key findings: how the project does and does not meet the recipient’s nuanced needs for functional and social support; how e-NABLE volunteers’ motivations compare to those of volunteers for other efforts, including open source software projects; and we explore the challenges inherent in the distance between volunteers and recipients. We also describe opportunities for future research into DFO-AT activities and support tools. ACM Classification
Progress in Validation of Wind-Us for Ramjet/Scramjet Combustion

Validation of the Wind-US flow solver against two sets of experimental data involving high-speed combustion is attempted. First, the well-known Burrows- Kurkov supersonic hydrogen-air combustion test case is simulated, and the sensitively of ignition location and combustion performance to key parameters is explored. Second, a numerical model is developed for simulation of an X-43B candidate, full-scale, JP-7-fueled, internal flowpath operating in ramjet mode. Numerical results using an ethylene-air chemical kinetics model are directly compared against previously existing pressure-distribution data along the entire flowpath, obtained in direct-connect testing conducted at NASA Langley Research Center. Comparison to derived quantities such as burn efficiency and thermal throat location are also made. Reasonable to excellent agreement with experimental data is demonstrated for key parameters in both simulation efforts. Additional Wind-US feature needed to improve simulation efforts are described herein, including maintaining stagnation conditions at inflow boundaries for multi-species flow. An open issue regarding the sensitivity of isolator unstart to key model parameters is briefly discussed.
Coping with Uncertainty in an Agile Systems Development Course

Uncertain and ambiguous environments are commonplace in information systems development (ISD) projects, and while different Agile frameworks welcome changes in organizational, technical, and business environments, the incurred uncertainty is known to negatively affect the development process and the quality of the final product. The effects of uncertainty on ISD projects have been studied in the past in real organizational contexts, but the effects of uncertainty on students in Agile systems development have received less attention from scholars. In this study, we measured the effects of experienced uncertainty on students’ performance in an Agile systems development course and how uncertainty affected the quality of the system developed by the students using Scrum. We implemented the course using a problem based learning (PBL) approach and simulated uncertainty through various work environment reflecting concepts. Our study reveals that the effects of uncertainty are fairly similar among students and software professionals, and we identified three different coping strategies that students used with varying degrees of success. We present that learning approaches such as PBL enable a befitting environment for students to acquire hands-on experience in coping with uncertain environments, thus mitigating the problems students are likely to face in their work environments.
Convergence, cycles and complex dynamics of financing investment

This paper demonstrates the diverse dynamical possibilities of a simple macroeconomic model of debt-financed investment-led growth in the presence of interest rate rules. We show possibilities of convergence to steady state, growth cycles around it as well as various complex dynamics from codim 1 and codim 2 bifurcations. The effectiveness of monetary policy in the form of interest rate rules is examined under this context.