Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Utilizing E-Learning Systems in the Libyan Universities: Case Study; Tripoli University, Faculty of Engineering.

E-learning in teaching and learning considered as the easy way to use information and communication technology by using of the internet. With the support of E-learning higher education can be delivered anywhere and at any time. Although E-Learning is very importance in Libyan higher education, It’s implementation is facing many challenges in the Libyan universities. This paper focuses on the implementation of E-learning in Libyan Universities. The main aim of this paper is to discover the implementation of E-learning in Libyan higher education and to identify the factors affecting the use of its technology. The research findings and recommendations will benefit the Libyan policymakers and the stakeholders.
Effect of low-intensity eccentric resistance training with blood flow restriction on the activation and proliferation indicators of satellite cells

Introduction: The objective of the present research was to determine the effect of low-intensity eccentric training with blood flow restriction (BFR) on Hepatocyte Growth Factor (HGF) and myogenic factor 5 (Myf5), in non-athletes young men. Methods: In this study, 20 non-athlete young men were allocated to two eccentric training and eccentric training with BFR groups. Eccentric training program includes 75 knee extension repetitions in severity of 30 IRM within three sets by using isokinetic device. BFR was made by using air pressure meter and a muscular biopsy was taken from the vastus lateralis muscle of active leg, 48 hours before and 24 hours after the training program. The data were analyzed using independent and paired t-tests. Results: The results of analysis showed that HGF serum levels and mRNA Myf5 expression in both eccentric resistance training and without BFR groups had a significant increase compared to pre-test levels (Pl0.05). Moreover, it was observed that HGF serum levels and mRNA Myf5 expression in training group with BFR had a significant increase of 6.39 and 4.05, respectively, compared to training group without BFR (Pl0.05). Conclusion: The results of this research showed that eccentric training with and without BFR may improve the activation and proliferation indicators of satellite cells. But, in spite of this matter, it seems that eccentric resistance training with BFR may have a more significant effect on activation and reproduction of satellite cells. n
Effects of atmospheric environmental changes on annual ring growth of Cryptomeria japonica in Southern Korea

Annual ring formation is considered a source of information to investigate the effects of environmental changes caused by temperature, air pollution, and acid rain on tree growth. A comparative investigation of annual ring growth of Cryptomeria japonica in relation to environmental changes was conducted at two sites in southern Korea (Haenam and Jangseong). Three wood disks from each site were collected from stems at breast height and annual ring growth was analyzed. Annual ring area at two sites increased over time (p > 0.05). Tree ring growth rate in Jangseong was higher than that in Haenam. Annual ring area increment in Jangseong was more strongly correlated with environmental variables than that in Haenam; annual ring growth increased with increasing temperature (p < 0.01) and a positive effect of NO2 concentration on annual ring area (p < 0.05) could be attributed to nitrogen deposition in Jangseong. The correlation of annual ring growth increased with decreasing SO2 and CO2 concentrations (p < 0.01) in Jangseong. Variation in annual growth rings in Jangseong could be associated with temperature changes and N deposition. In Haenam, annual ring growth was correlated with SO2 concentration (p < 0.01), and there was a negative relationship between precipitation pH and annual ring area (p < 0.01) which may reflect changes in nutrient cycles due to the acid rain. Therefore, the combined effects of increased CO2, N deposition, and temperature on tree ring growth in Jangseong may be linked to soil acidification in this forest ecosystem. The interactions between air pollution (SO2) and precipitation pH in Haenam may affect tree growth and may change nutrient cycles in this site. These results suggested that annual tree ring growth in Jangseong was more correlated with environmental variables than that in Haenam. However, the further growth of C. japonica forest at two sites is at risk from the long-term effects of acid deposition from fossil fuel combustion.
Spending, Saving and Public Transfers Paid to Women

The literature suggests men and women have different preferences. This paper exploits a random assignment social experiment in which women in treatment households were given a large public cash transfer (PROGRESA) and women in control households were given nothing. In an effort to disentangle the effect of additional income in the household from the effect of changing the distribution of income within the household, the impact of PROGRESA income is compared with all other income sources. In addition to spending on food, clothing and education, savings and investment decisions are examined. Additional money in the hands of women is spent on child goods (particularly clothing), improved nutrition (better quality diets) and investments in small livestock (which are traditionally managed and cared for by women). Among single headed households, PROGRESA income is not treated differently from other income. We conclude that not only do preferences of men and women differ but, among poor, rural Mexican households, resources under the control of women are more likely to be spent on investments for the future than resources that men control.
Do Dominant Firms Provide More Training?

This paper examines the relationship between firm-specific training and product market competition. A canonical Cournot competition model shows that the profitability of training investments increases as the number of competitors decreases. Empirical evidence from British establishments in 1998, 2004 and 2011 confirms that a critical form of specific training, cross-training, is far more extensive in less competitive product markets. This persists within all three separate cross-sections and in two separate panel estimates and suggests that a dominant product market position increases the incentives to invest in specific human capital.
A Travel Cost Analysis of the Value of Special Events: Gemfest in Central Queensland

Special events play an important part in tourism and recreation choices in Australia, and many receive funding from various levels of government. However, the economic case for funding special events often focuses on estimates of expenditure, employment and indirect impacts rather than estimates of economic benefit or consumer surplus. The study discusses the application of the travel cost method for estimating consumer surplus associated with a special event. The event studied is the annual four-day ‘Gemfest’ in the sapphire fields of Central Queensland. Surveys were conducted in 1998 and 2002, and the derivations of the appropriate models, welfare calculations and comparisons over time are outlined.
Who Writes the Rules for Hostile Takeovers, and Why? The Peculiar Divergence of US and UK Takeover Regulation

Hostile takeovers are commonly thought to play a key role in rendering managers accountable to dispersed shareholders in the "Anglo-American" system of corporate governance. Yet surprisingly little attention has been paid to the very significant differences in takeover regulation between the two most prominent jurisdictions. In the UK, defensive tactics by target managers are prohibited, whereas Delaware law gives US managers a good deal of room to maneuver. Existing accounts of this difference focus on alleged pathologies in competitive federalism in the US. In contrast, we focus on the "supply-side" of rule production, by examining the evolution of the two regimes from a public choice perspective. We suggest that the content of the rules has been crucially influenced by differences in the mode of regulation. In the UK, self-regulation of takeovers has led to a regime largely driven by the interests of institutional investors, whereas the dynamics of judicial law-making in the US have benefited managers by making it relatively difficult for shareholders to influence the rules. Moreover, it was never possible for Wall Street to "privatize" takeovers in the same way as the City of London, because US federal regulation in the 1930s both pre-empted self-regulation and restricted the ability of institutional investors to coordinate.
Microstructure and Mechanical Properties in Progressively Drawn Pearlitic Steel

This paper studies the relationship between the microstructural changes caused by the cold drawing process in pearlitic steel wires (axial orientation of the pearlitic lamellae together with decrease of the average interlamellar spacing) and the improvement of their mechanical properties. The strength is related to plastic strain by means of the Embury-Fisher equation, and also by a new Hall­Petch expression, where to calculate the distance between barriers against dislocational movement one must consider, apart from the average interlamellar spacing, the average orientation angle. A modelling of the evolution of pearlitic lamellae with cold drawing was made, assuming that initially all angles appear with the same probability, that lamellae change their geometry along the longitudinal section of the wire similarly to the specimens and that the projection of the average interlamellar spacing on the cross section of the wire is proportional to the specimen diameter. The results obtained with this modelling show a good correspondence with experimental data. [doi:10.2320/matertrans.MA201316]
Maternal serum triglyceride at midpregnancy and newborn weight in nondiabetic and normal BMI women

Aim: To determine whether elevated midpregnancy (24 -28 Gestational weeks) maternal serum lipid levels predict the risk of macrosomia in non-diabetic women. Methods: Nondiabetic pregnant women (who had negative diabetic screens) were enrolled. Fasting serum triglyceride, and total cholesterol levels were measured at 24-28 weeks gestation. We tested the association between maternal variables and birth weight by univariable analysis. We also used multiple logistic regression analysis to determine whether maternal hyperlipidemia is a risk factor for having an LGA infant. Results: We enrolled 190 subjects. Among measured maternal lipids, only triglyceride levels correlated with birth weight in univariable analysis ( r 2 = 0.40, P = .000). Logistic regression analysis showed that fasting maternal hypertriglyceridemia was the significant predictor of macrosomia, independent of maternal weight gain and fasting plasma glucose levels. (Odds ratio 11.2; 95% confidence interval 1.5, 31.2; P = .01). Conclusion: In nondiabetic women, fasting triglyceride levels at midpregnancy correlated positively with newborn weight at term. Keywords: Birth weight, hypertriglyceridemia, nondiabeic pregnant, normal BMI
Inequality and the Instability of Polity and Policy

We create alternative measures of political instability, which capture only movements from dictatorship to democracy and vice versa and, unlike older, well-known measures, does not capture government changes that preserve the democratic or dictatorial structure of the country. We show that inequality is positively correlated with our measures of political instability as well as with a well-known measure (used by Alesina and Perotti) but the impact of inequality on the latter is only through components of political instability captured by our measures. We show that our measures have significant policy implications - political instability increases both fiscal and trade polity volatility. Copyright (C) The Author(s). Journal compilation (C) Royal Economic Society 2008.
Flight directions and density of nocturnal passerine migration in the northern part of the Balkan Peninsula in autumn: preliminary results

Bolshakov, C.V. , Zehtindjiev, P., Bulyuk, V.N. & A. Sinelschikova (1998): Flight directions and density of nocturnal passerine migration in the northern part of the Balkan Peninsula in autumn: preliminary results. Avian Ecology and Behaviour 1: 50—67. First results of study of flight direction and density of nocturnal passerine migration by the moon- watch method during 22 nights in autumn in NE Bulgaria are presented. Trapping data from August - October 1977, 1979 and 1997 concerning passerine nocturnal migrants at two stopover sites is analysed. In August and September 98-100% of trapped nocturnal migrants are trans-Saharan migrants. The main direction of nocturnal passage of these birds is SSE (165°-170°) in August and SSE-S (176°-179°) in September. The seasonal shift of main flight direction of nocturnal migration from SSE-S (August and September) to SSW-SW (October) is caused by differential passage of species with different wintering areas. The average density of nocturnal passerine migration (migration traffic rate) comprised 14 490 birds·night -1 ·km-1 in September and 8080 birds·night -1 ·km-1 in October. On one September night an av- erage of 11 million passerines may cross the whole northern part of the Balkan Peninsula.
The factors militating against the education of girls: A case study in Kenya

This research attempted to find out the factors militating against the education of girls in Lower Eastern Province, Kenya. The main purpose of the research was to establish the magnitude of the effects of the factors that are known to militate against the education of girls. The investigation employed both qualitative and quantitative methods of research. A Survey design was used in the research. The study employed open and closed ended questionnaires administered to all the participants. The results derived from the research were analysed using descriptive statistics. The open responses were subjected to content analysis. The significant results of this research have shown that girls have low educational and occupational aspirations and that the greatest hindrance to their educational advancement is alleged to be pregnancy, followed by peer pressure, lack of school fees, lack of parental guidance and counselling, drug addiction and intimate boys/girls relationships. The study recommends that there is need to carry out awareness campaigns to sensitise all stakeholders on the importance of education, especially of the girl child. It is important to create well-maintained single gender boarding schools. Girls should be targeted in terms of bursary and sponsorship.
Effect of Evaporation Pheromone Rate of ACO-Based Coordination Strategy on Multirobot-Based Mine Detection System

The sphere of conflict zones is extended each year all over the world, and the remain of war and the explosive devises increase the percentage of death and causalities. This critical situation needs the built of a new strategy for demining operation. This paper adopts the ant colony optimization (ACO) algorithms to coordinate a demining multi robot system. In general, demining operations have humanitarian purposes and the operator security is the most focused criteria in demining systems. Otherwise, other criteria are considered for militaries applications. In fact, time demining operation should be optimized in the case of large-scale minefield area. In this paper, two modifications were performed on ACO algorithm related to ant nest position and evaporation pheromone rate. We perform for each situation different experimentations for three types of minefield distributions.
Image-derived spectral endmembers as indicators of salinisation

The objective of this research is to evaluate the utility of HyMap hyperspectral imagery for characterising and mapping irrigation-induced salinisation. Strategies for extracting and mapping spectral endmembers from HyMap imagery are assessed and a mixture-tuned matched filter approach adopted. Soil and vegetation indicators of salinisation are identified. Disturbed bare ground due to ploughing operations can be differentiated from bare ground due to salinisation. Three saline soil endmembers can be mapped and these relate well to the surface expressions of soil salinity as measured by ground geophysics. Increased salinisation is shown in the spectra of image-derived soil endmembers by the appearance of an infrared reflectance plateau between 800 nm and 1100 nm, hydrate-related absorption features at 1010 nm, 1180 nm, 1780 nm, 1950 nm and 2210 nm, the decrease in intensity (depth) of the hydroxyl absorption feature at 2200 nm and the widening of the water absorption features at 1950 nm and 1400 nm. Image-derived vegetation indicators of salinisation correspond with halophytic vegetation comprising the 'succulent' species of Samphire and Sea Blite and two species of native grasses. Classification of pixels according to the highest mixture-tuned matched filter score corresponds well with an independent assessment of the groundcover conditions prevailing at the time of image acquisition.
Are Political Freedoms Converging

This article tests for convergence of freedom using Freedom House's (2002) indices of political rights and civil liberties in 136 countries from 1972 to 2001. Time-series tests, using structural breaks, are employed to test for stochastic and β-convergence. Cross-section tests are performed to examine the impact of legal systems, education, natural resources, economic freedom, and other variables. We find that political freedoms are converging for one-half of the countries. Additionally, we find that the level of freedom is significantly related to the legal system, education, economic freedom, and natural resources. (JEL O57, O40, C3) Copyright 2004, Oxford University Press.
Auction Design and the Success of National 3G Spectrum Auctions

This study empirically examines a sample of national wireless spectrum assignments for the period 2000-2007 to identify the sources of revenue variations. An econometric model that recognises the censored nature of the sample relates per capita winning bid (per Mhz) values to auction design variables (license award process), national and mobile market conditions, spectrum package attributes and post-award obligations identified from national regulatory authority tender documents. The analysis reveals that most auction design variables independently impact on realized 3G spectrum auction revenue in a manner consistent with auction theory.
Numerical and the MU radar estimations of gravity wave enhancement and turbulent ozone fluxes near the tropopause

It is shown with a numerical simulation that a sharp increase in the vertical temperature gradient and Brunt- V¨¨¨ a frequency near the tropopause may produce an in- crease in the amplitudes of internal gravity waves (IGWs) propagating upward from the troposphere, wave breaking and generation of stronger turbulence. This may enhance the transport of admixtures between the troposphere and strato- sphere in the middle latitudes. Turbulent diffusion coefficient calculated numerically and measured with the MU radar are of 1-10 m 2 /s in different seasons in Shigaraki, Japan (35 N, 136 E). These values lead to the estimation of vertical ozone flux from the stratosphere to the troposphere of (1-10) ◊10 14 , which may substantially add to the usually supposed ozone downward transport with the general atmospheric circula- tion. Therefore, local enhancements of IGW intensity and turbulence at tropospheric altitudes over mountains due to their orographic excitation and due to other wave sources may lead to the changes in tropospheric and total ozone over different regions.
The relationship between collegiate band members' preferences of teacher interpersonal behavior and perceived self-efficacy.

The first purpose of this study was to describe collegiate band members' preferred teacher interpersonal behaviors and perceptions of self-efficacy based on the gender, year in college, instrument, and major. The second purpose of the study was to measure the relationship between preferences of interpersonal teacher behavior and self-efficacy scores. The non-probability purposive sample (N = 1020) was composed of band members representing 12 universities from different regions of the United States. There were 4 large public, 4 small public, and 4 private universities that participated in the study. Participants completed 2 questionnaires, the Teacher Interaction Preference Questionnaire (TIPQ) and the Self-Efficacy Questionnaire (SEQ). Descriptive statistics were calculated for each of the questionnaires. Results for the TIPQ showed that all sub-groups most preferred the dominant-cooperative behaviors, followed by submissive-cooperative behaviors, and least preferred the dominant-oppositional behaviors. Results for the SEQ showed subtle variations for all subgroups. Three Pearson product-moment correlation coefficients were calculated to measure the relationship between the three teacher interaction styles (dominant-cooperative, submissive-cooperative, dominant-oppositional) and students' perceived self-efficacy. Due to the possible over-use of the data with multiple correlations, a Bonferroni adjustment was made to avoid a Type I error (.05/3 = .016). A significant positive relationship was found between self-efficacy and dominant-cooperative with 22% shared variance. A significant positive relationship was found between self-efficacy and submissive-cooperative with 7% shared variance. Finally, a significant positive relationship was found between self-efficacy and dominant-oppositional with 5% shared variance. This study's results indicate that it may be beneficial for band directors to measure students' preferences and perceptions of teacher interpersonal teacher behavior in order to find ways to interact better with the students. In addition, due to the relationship between students' preferences of teacher interpersonal behavior and perceived self-efficacy, collegiate band directors may wish to examine their own behaviors to determine how they align with the students' preferences.
Investigating domain-general short-term memory for order versus specific item memory in developmental dyslexia

Recent findings suggest that people with dyslexia experience difficulties with the learning of serial order information during the transition from short- to long-term memory. At the same time, models of short-term memory increasingly incorporate a distinction of order and item processing. This work aims to investigate whether serial order processing deficiencies in dyslexia can be traced back to a selective impairment of short-term memory for serial order, and whether this impairment also affects processing beyond the verbal domain. In three studies, dyslexic children in Italy, good and poor reading school children in Germany and a sample of adults in Belgium participated in 2 x 2 experiments in which short-term recognition performance for order and item information was assessed, using both verbal and nonverbal material. The findings indicate that, irrespective of the type of material, children and adult participants with dyslexia recalled the individual items with the same accuracy as the matched control group, whereas the ability to recognize the serial order in which those items were presented appeared to be affected in the dyslexic groups. This work concludes with the assumption that dyslexia is characterized by a selective impairment of serial order short-term memory and discusses the implications of these findings for current theoretical views on dyslexia and its associated dysfunctions.