Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Defining scale thresholds for geomagnetic storms through statistics

Abstract. Geomagnetic storms, as part of the Sun-Earth relations, are continuously monitored with different indices and scales. These indices usually have some associated scale thresholds to quantify the severity or risk of geomagnetic disturbances. However, the most usual scale thresholds are arbitrarily chosen. In this work we aim to quantify the range of the thresholds through a new method. These new thresholds are based on statistical distribution fitting. We used different geomagnetic indices, as Dst, SYM-H, and Kp, since they are relevant for space weather purposes. The first two indices have been discriminated between their negative values and the whole dataset. We considered two periods: a short-term one, comprising data from 1997 to 2012; and long-term ones, which are from 1957–2012 for Dst and 1932–2012 for Kp. We look for the best fit for different statistical continuous distributions applied to these indices. The best fits and the data distribution functions yield to intersects that can be used to define thresholds. The best fit distribution functions are more coincidental between them when considering determined similar datasets, as non-central f-distribution for negative values, meaningful for geomagnetic disturbances; or non-central Student's-t, when the whole dataset is taken. The method yields different values for thresholds depending on the index. Thresholds for geomagnetic storms can be chosen by common values of SYM-H and Dst, as −75 nT for moderate storms; −150 nT for intense storms, and −330 nT for extreme storms. For the case of Kp, the value equal to 5 may mark the departure from quiet time to stormy time. The obtained values are close to those usually considered as thresholds for, typically, Dst and Kp; therefore the thresholds defined here may provide criteria to assess the vulnerability to geomagnetic activity on design or mitigation purposes.
"THE IMPACT OF FINANCIAL CONSTRAINTS ON FIRMS' SURVIVAL: A COMPARISON ACROSS WESTERN EUROPE CONVERGENCE REGIONS"

The aim of the paper is to investigate the impact of financial strength on firms’ survival in Western Europe convergence regions. While large amount of evidence exists on the relation between financial development, firms’ survival and growth both cross-country and cross-industry, much less is known at the microeconomic level of the firm. In this context, the contribution of our research which relies on accounting data collected from the Bureau van Dijk’s Amadeus database - is twofold. First, we make a microeconomic comparison across Western Europe convergence regions, where the percentage of small and medium enterprises is relatively higher than in more developed regions. Second, following the most recent literature in this field, our research takes into account several financial constraints instead of a commonly used one-dimensional definition of financial status. The empirical evidence shows that the financial strength is a key factor explaining firm survival in Western Europe convergence regions. Some differences arise from a deeper analysis of the financial ratios. While both the debt and the cash flow ratios, as well as profitability, are strongly significant in explaining firms’ survival in Western Europe convergence regions, structure and operational ratios are not important factors explaining firms’ survival. Additional differences arise when we consider the countries separately: while debt and cash flow ratios are significant for bank based economies, they are not significant for United Kingdom, which is characterized by a more developed financial market.
Problems and Prospects of Implementing Continuous Assessment at Adigrat University.

The purpose of the study is to assess the prospects and implementing continuous assessment (CA) in in higher education. Data were collected through a structured questionnaire from instructors and students of Adigrat University as well as Mekelle and Aksum Universities for comparison purpose. Both quantitative and qualitative data were carried out. Result of this study indicated that, instructors were not continuously collecting information about student progress, small number of assessment is used in courses and few instructors give feedback at all. Significant number of instructors and students had poor knowledge and negative attitude towards CA. Based on the results, it can be concluded and recommend that instructors need to use the results from CA as a means of identifying students’ progress and thereby providing support. Accordingly, departments need to have strong documentation and reporting systems, the maximum and minimum numbers of students in a class need to be put at a standard level. In addition, concerned officials of the university need to closely examine the challenges. On the other hand, offering pre remedial classes on specific courses, putting tests on the exam banks, establishing and following student networking programs and peer learning groups, tutorial classes, providing consultation hours, ensuring classroom size, continuous assessment, encouraging students participation in the classroom and providing incentives for instructors had positive effect on academic performance. Keywords: problems, prospects and implementing of continuous assessment.
Returns to University Quality in Australia: A Two-Stage Analysis

This study investigates the relationship between university quality and graduate starting salaries using pooled Australian data from the Graduate Destination survey and a two-stage estimation methodology. The results suggest that average starting salaries for young undergraduates differ significantly across universities after controlling for relevant confounding factors, though the range of university effects is fairly small in relation to other salary determinants, particularly course area. The results are robust to alternative specifications and suggest that employers generally do not place salary premia on attending a high-quality or prestigious university, at least upon workforce entry.
Curriculum differentiation and social inequality in higher education entry in Scotland and Ireland

This paper examines the relative importance of upper secondary subject choice and attainment in explaining social inequalities in access to higher education (HE) in Scotland and Ireland. These two countries differ in the extent of curriculum differentiation, in the degree of standardisation in school examination and in HE entry criteria. In particular, in Scotland subject choice in upper secondary education is more differentiated (both in terms of number and type of subjects taken) and allocation of places in HE is less standardised and more dependent upon the subjects studied at school than in Ireland. Given these institutional differences, we expected subject choices to be more important for explaining social origin differences in HE entry and access to prestigious institutions in Scotland than in Ireland. Because of increasing student competition for HE places, we further hypothesised the growing importance of school subjects over time in mediating social inequalities in HE entry in both countries, more so in Scotland than in Ireland. Our results confirm that subject choice is a stronger mediator of social inequalities in HE entry and access to prestigious universities in Scotland while attainment is more important in Ireland. Contrary to our expectations, the role of subject choice in HE entry has not become more important over time. However, in Scotland subject choice continues to be a strong mediator for social inequalities in HE entry.
Immigration and location choices of native‐born workers in Canada

There are two competing views on how immigration would affect local labor markets. When immigrants offer skills similar to those of native-born workers, they may compete directly with them, and this competition may lead to lower economic returns for native-born workers. This view can be called the â€œsubstitutionâ€ hypothesis. The alternative view is that immigrants may provide â€œcomplementaryâ€ skills, which can raise the productivity of other workers. If the substitution argument is effective, immigration might lead to out-migration of the nonimmigrant population from a community in the short run. Models in location-choice studies usually examine the migration decision in two separate processes: whether-to and where-to decisions about moving. The present study investigates how location choices of native-born workers can be influenced by the conditions in both the potential destinations and the departure regions. To validate either the substitution or complementary view, we apply choice-specific, clustered fixed-effect response models, which use industry- and occupation-specific regional attributes that allow us to control for unobserved regional heterogeneity as well as to identify regional factors that affect location choices. This study uses the 20 percent sample of the 2006 Census that covers the entire country with 282 census divisions. The results show that location-choice models are sensitive to how regional attributes are defined. When industry-specific immigration density differentials across regions are measured only at destinations, they have strong and negative effects on the location choices of the native born. However, when the models control choice-specific attributes relative to the origin, immigration variables become insignificant on the desirability of destinations.
Thermal-Hydraulic System Codes in Nulcear Reactor Safety and Qualification Procedures

In the last four decades, large efforts have been undertaken to provide reliable thermal-hydraulic system codes for the analyses of transients and accidents in nuclear power plants. Whereas the first system codes, developed at the beginning of the 1970s, utilized the homogenous equilibrium model with three balance equations to describe the two-phase flow, nowadays the more advanced system codes are based on the so-called “two-fluid model” with separation of the water and vapor phases, resulting in systems with at least six balance equations. The wide experimental campaign, constituted by the integral and separate effect tests, conducted under the umbrella of the OECD/CSNI was at the basis of the development and validation of the thermal-hydraulic system codes by which they have reached the present high degree of maturity. However, notwithstanding the huge amounts of financial and human resources invested, the results predicted by the code are still affected by errors whose origins can be attributed to several reasons as model deficiencies, approximations in the numerical solution, nodalization effects, and imperfect knowledge of boundary and initial conditions. In this context, the existence of qualified procedures for a consistent application of qualified thermal-hydraulic system code is necessary and implies the drawing up of specific criteria through which the code-user, the nodalization, and finally the transient results are qualified.
Electronic structure of bilayer graphene: A real-space Green's function study

In this paper, a real-space analytical expression for the free Green’s function propagator of bilayer graphene is derived based on the effective-mass approximation. Green’s function displays highly spatial anisotropy with threefold rotational symmetry. The calculated local density of states LDOS of a perfect bilayer graphene produces the main features of the observed scanning tunneling microscopy STM images of graphite at low bias voltage. Some predicted features of the LDOS can be verified by STM measurements. In addition, we also calculate the LDOS of bilayer graphene with vacancies by using the multiple-scattering theory scatterings are localized around the vacancy of bilayer graphene. We observe that the interference patterns are determined mainly by the intrinsic properties of the propagator and the symmetry of the vacancies.
Pillars of Creation among Destruction: Star Formation in Molecular Clouds near R136 in 30 Doradus

We present new sensitive CO(2–1) observations of the 30 Doradus region in the Large Magellanic Cloud. We identify a chain of three newly discovered molecular clouds that we name KN1, KN2, and KN3 lying within 2–14 pc in projection from the young massive cluster R136 in 30 Doradus. Excited H2 2.12 μm emission is spatially coincident with the molecular clouds, but ionized Brγ emission is not. We interpret these observations as the tails of pillar-like structures whose ionized heads are pointing toward R136. Based on infrared photometry, we identify a new generation of stars forming within this structure.
Pathological Studies on Root Rots of Wheat and Barley Induced by Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium culmorum and their Effects on the Crop

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of Rhizoctonia solani and Fusarium culmorum, which caused root rot, on the growth and yield of wheat and barley plants. Wheat cv. ‘Yecorarogo’ and barley cv. ‘Gustuo’ were planted in soil artificially infected with R. solani and F. culmorum. There was a significant decrease in the growth and yield of infected plants compared with healthy plants, in particular the length, fresh and dry weight of roots and shoots, and the number of grains for each spike. Both fungi damaged wheat plants more than barley plants. R. solani had the greatest effect on the growth and yield of wheat and barley. The content of biochemical compounds also decreased in all cases of infection. Total carbohydrate, proteins and fats decreased in the range between 23.28-45.68, 0.55-26.22 and 28.45-59.94%, respectively.
Sex, Size, and Position: A Test of Models Predicting Size at Sex Change in the Protandrous Gastropod Crepidula fornicata

The optimal size for sex-changing organisms to change sex can be predicted based on mate availability and the relationship between body size and reproductive output for each sex. Sex-changing invertebrates also show individual variation in size at sex change that may be due to population structure and environmental heterogeneity. Protandry in slipper-shell gastropods of the genus Crepidula is a common textbook example of sex change, yet it has not been studied within the framework of recent sex allocation theory. I developed three models that predict the size at sex change using estimates of immediate reproductive potential based on individual size and interactions with conspecifics. These models were evaluated for small mating groups that structure the population as well as for the population as a whole. All three models predict that sex change should occur at smaller sizes than observed in the field. High male growth rates suggest that males sacrifice immediate optimality in favor of increased lifetime fitness. Although the models made better predictions when evaluated for groups than they did when evaluated for the whole population, discriminant analysis showed that an individual's sex could be predicted as well by its size alone as by the combination of each group member's size.
A comparison between star formation rate diagnostics and rate of core collapse supernovae within 11 Mpc

Aims. The core collapse supernova rate provides a strong lower limit for the star formation rate (SFR). Progress in using it as a cosmic SFR tracer requires some confidence that it is consistent with more conventional SFR diagnostics in the nearby Universe. This paper compares standard SFR measurements based on Hα, far ultraviolet (FUV) and total infrared (TIR) galaxy luminosities with the observed core collapse supernova rate in the same galaxy sample. The comparison can be viewed from two perspectives. Firstly, by adopting an estimate of the minimum stellar mass to produce a core collapse supernova one can determine a SFR from supernova numbers. Secondly, the radiative SFR can be assumed to be robust and then the supernova statistics provide a constrain on the minimum stellar mass for core collapse supernova progenitors. Methods. The novel aspect of this study is that Hα, FUV and TIR luminosities are now available for a complete galaxy sample within the local 11 Mpc volume and the number of discovered supernovae in this sample within the last 13 years is high enough to perform a meaningful statistical comparison. We exploit the multi-wavelength dataset from 11 HUGS, a volume-limited survey designed to provide a census of SFR in the Local Volume. There are 14 supernovae discovered in this sample of galaxies within the last 13 years. Although one could argue that this may not be complete, it is certainly a robust lower limit. Results. Assuming a lower limit for core collapse of 8 M� (as proposed by direct detections of SN progenitor stars and white dwarf progenitors), the core-collapse supernova rate matches the SFR from the FUV luminosity. However, the SFR based on Hα luminosity is lower than these two estimates by a factor of nearly 2. If we assume that the FUV or Hα based luminosities are a true reflection of
Growth, straightness and survival at age 32 in a Pinus strobus x P. wallichiana F1 hybrid population (Experiment 2)

By using an incomplete factorial mating design between twenty Pinus strobus L. female and seven P. wallichiana Jack. male trees, a number of 34 full-sib families were obtained. The objective of this experiment was to combine the fast growing of the former species with moderately to high resistance to blister rust ( Cronartium ribicola Fich. in Rabenh.) of the latter one. The hybrid families were artificially inoculated at age two, and field planted at age four. The plantation took place within an old black current ( Ribes nigrum L.) heavy infected by blister rust. In order to provoke new infections, this time naturally, the pine rows were planted in between the black currant ones. Diameters at breast height, tree height, tree growth rate volume, stem straightness and tree survivals were the traits measured at age 32 from seed. The first trial thinning was simultaneously applied with the present measurements. The average tree survival was 74.8% in hybrids, 8.3% in Pinus strobus and 27.8% in P. wallichiana . Highly significant ( p < 0.01) differences were found between hybrid families for all traits except stem straightness. Genetic coefficient of variation at family level was 13.7% for tree volume growth rate and 15.9% for tree survival, but only 2.1% for tree straightness. Broad-sense family heritability estimates were 0.530 for diameter at breast height, 0.596 for stem height, and 0.564 for stem volume growth rate, 0.166 for stem straightness, and 0.539 for tree survivals. Similarly, the individual tree narrow-sense heritability estimates were 0.138 for diameter at breast height, 0.209 for stem height, 0.149 for stem volume growth rate, and 0.022 for stem straightness. If the best 5, 10 and 15 of 34 families were selected, a genetic gain of 17.7%, 13.4% and 10.2%, respectively, may be achieved in tree survival or blister rust resistance. Similarly, if the best 5%, 10% and 15% individuals within the best hybrid families were selected, a genetic gain of 4.7%, 4.0% and 3.6% in diameter at breast height and 10.7%, 9.1% and 8.1% in tree volume growth rate could be made. The estimated genetic gains indicated that a program aimed at improving growth traits and survival through interspecific hybridization could be successfully achieved.
Stealing Fire: Creative Deviance in the Evolution of New Ideas

What happens when an employee generates a new idea and wants to further explore it but is instructed by a manager to stop working on it? Among the various possibilities, the employee could choose to violate the manager's order and pursue the new idea illegitimately. I describe this action as creative deviance and, drawing on the creativity literature and deviance literature, propose a theory about its organizational conditions and implications.
Higher education students’ attitude towards the use of gamification for competencies development

Gamification is gaining momentum as an educational innovation to motivate and to engage students in their learning process. Nevertheless students’ beliefs towards educational methodologies can affect both their motivation and attitude towards a given educational methodology. This study main goal is to explore key drivers of students’ attitude towards the use of gamification as an educational methodology to develop their competencies. Using Keller’s ARCS model (1987) a research model is developed and tested via Partial Least Squares (PLS) on a sample of 128 undergraduate students enrolled in a private Higher Education institution in Spain. Main results suggest that perceived attention, perceived relevance, and perceived confidence influence in a direct and positive way students’ attitude towards the use of online educational video games to develop their competencies. Both attention and confidence also affects students’ perceived relevance of online educational video games as a suitable means to develop their competencies. Managerial
Parental knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding overweight among preschool children in rural Zimbabwe

Parents have significant influence in the development of children’s eating behaviour and food choices. Their knowledge and attitudes towards nutritional status play an important part in childhood growth, as parents become role models in shaping children’s eating habits. The aim of this study was to assess parental knowledge and attitudes towards childhood nutritional status and evaluate the relationship between eating habits, knowledge and attitudes of parents. A cross-sectional study was conducted in five districts of Mashonaland East Province of Zimbabwe. A total of 241 parents of preschool children were selected using multi-stage sampling technique. Questionnaires were administered to parents who gathered at the selected primary schools in the Districts. Data was analysed using SPSS version 16 (2007) and MS Excel. Spearman’s Coefficient Correlation at a 95% significance level was used to measure the strength of linear association between knowledge and attitude score as well as education level, gender and food consumption scores. Results showed that parents in Mashonaland East Province of Zimbabwe had a poor to moderate nutrition knowledge and understanding of the causes of overweight among preschool children. There was a significant association between education level of parents and nutrition knowledge scores attained (p = 0.028). Food consumption score was significantly associated with knowledge score (p = 0.008). Furthermore, 0.4% of the parents with good nutrition knowledge had acceptable food consumption scores. This study showed that most parents (83.4%) were knowledgeable about the concept of a balanced diet. However, this was not translated into practice as 72% of the parents had poor to borderline food consumption score. Nutrition gaps identified in this study included failure by parents to link skipping breakfast to overweight among children and that exclusive breast feeding contributes to weight reduction. Parents did not acknowledge that eating at least 5 servings of fruits and vegetables is beneficial in maintaining healthy body weight and that being overweight is a risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus. The results further demonstrated that parents in the province require additional nutrition knowledge to help curb overweight among preschool children by giving appropriate nutritious foods. Keywords: Parents, children, knowledge, attitude, food consumption score, weight, nutritional status