Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Clostridium perfringens Type A from Broiler Chicken with Necrotic Enteritis

This paper reports the investigation of necrotic enteritis (NE) in six broiler chickens of age two to three weeks old, died in Jowai poultry farm, Meghalaya, India. Initially, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was performed to observe the morphological changes within the intestine. Intestinal contents and liver samples from dead chicken were investigated for isolation of bacteria and their virulence determinant. The SEM analysis of infected intestine revealed massive necrosis and complete destruction of the intestinal villi within the intestinal mucosa. Bacterial isolation confirmed the causative agent as C. perfringens in NE. All the isolates harboured single and double plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid with identical 45.2kb common plasmid. In polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay all 10 clinical isolates harboured alpha toxin gene (cpa) of C. perfringens, however, four isolates also carried additional beta2 toxin gene (cpb2). None of the isolates were positive for beta, epsilon, iota and enterotoxin genes. PCR analysis revealed that all isolates derived from NE belonged to C. perfringens type A. The partial cpa gene sequence analysis showed 97.6 to 100% homology among the C. perfringens isolates. The study confirmed that C. perfringens type A is the most predominant one associated with necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens in Meghalaya, India and the alpha toxin (CPA) might play a significant role in the pathogenesis of the disease in broiler chicken.
Relationship Between Islamic Beliefs and Psychological Well-Being

The purpose of the present study is to explore the relationship between Islamic beliefs and psychological well-being among students from University of Sistan and Baluchestan, Iran. The sample size of this research consists of 300 undergraduate students (148 males and 152 females) that were selected at random and asked to complete the psychological well-being and Islamic beliefs questionnaires. The results showed that there was a significant positive correlation between Islamic beliefs and satisfaction with life, spirituality, happiness and optimism, personal growth, and total scores of well-being. But Islamic beliefs had a significant negative correlation with positive relationship with others. The results of Pearson correlation coefficient did not illustrate any significant correlation between Islamic beliefs and autonomy. The results of stepwise regression revealed that positive relationship with others accounted for 10.6% and made the largest unique contribution, satisfaction with life accounted for 10.3%, total scores of well-being accounted for 8.3%, spirituality accounted for 7.6%, happiness and optimism accounted for 6.3%, and eventually personal growth accounted for 3.3% of variance in Islamic beliefs of students. There was a significant difference between males and females on scores of satisfaction with life spirituality, happiness and optimism and total scores of well-being, male students obtained higher mean scores than female students, but female students showed higher mean scores than their male counterparts on positive relationship with the above-mentioned issues, and eventually the results did not indicate any significant differences between the two groups on personal growth and autonomy. The results showed that male students had higher mean scores than female students on Islamic believes.
A Client-Centric Data Streaming Technique for Smartphones: An Energy Evaluation

With advances in microelectronic and wireless communication technologies, smartphones have computer-like capabilities in terms of computing power and communication bandwidth. They allow users to use advanced applications that used to be run on computers only. Web browsing, email fetching, gaming, social networking, and multimedia streaming are examples of wide-spread smartphone applications. Unsurprisingly, networkrelated applications are dominant in the realm of smartphones. Users love to be connected while they are mobile. Streaming applications, as a part of network-related applications, are getting increasingly popular. Mobile TV, video on demand, and video sharing are some popular streaming services in the mobile world. Thus, the expected operational time of smartphones is rising rapidly. On the other hand, the enormous growth of smartphone applications and services adds up to a significant increase in complexity in the context of computation and communication needs, and thus there is a growing demand for energy in smartphones. Unlike the exponential growth in computing and communication technologies, the growth in battery technologies is not keeping up with the rapidly growing energy demand of these devices. Therefore, the smartphone’s utility has been severely constrained by its limited battery lifetime. It is very important to conserve the smartphone’s battery power. Even though hardware components are the actual energy consumers, software applications utilize the hardware components through the operating system. Thus, by making smartphone applications energy-efficient, the battery lifetime can be extended. With this view, this work focuses on two main problems: i) developing an energy testing methodology for smartphone applications, and ii) evaluating the energy cost and designing an energy-friendly downloader for smartphone streaming applications. The detailed contributions of this thesis are as follows: (i) it gives a generalized framework for energy performance testing and shows a detailed flowchart that application developers can easily follow to test their applications; (ii) it evaluates the energy cost of some popular streaming applications showing how the download strategy that an application developer adopts may adversely affect the energy savings; (iii) it develops a model of an energy-friendly downloader for streaming applications and studies the effects of the downloader’s parameters regarding energy consumption; and finally, (iv) it gives a mathematical model for the proposed downloader and validates it by means of experiments.
THE MAJOR AND MINOR GALAXY MERGER RATES AT z < 1.5

Calculating the galaxy merger rate requires both a census of galaxies identified as merger candidates and a cosmologically averaged “observability” timescale 〈Tobs(z)〉 for identifying galaxy mergers. While many have counted galaxy mergers using a variety of techniques, 〈Tobs(z)〉 for these techniques have been poorly constrained. We address this problem by calibrating three merger rate estimators with a suite of hydrodynamic merger simulations and three galaxy formation models. We estimate 〈Tobs(z)〉 for (1) close galaxy pairs with a range of projected separations, (2) the morphology indicator G − M20, and (3) the morphology indicator asymmetry A. Then, we apply these timescales to the observed merger fractions at z < 1.5 from the recent literature. When our physically motivated timescales are adopted, the observed galaxy merger rates become largely consistent. The remaining differences between the galaxy merger rates are explained by the differences in the ranges of the mass ratio measured by different techniques and differing parent galaxy selection. The major merger rate per unit comoving volume for samples selected with constant number density evolves much more strongly with redshift (∝(1 + z)+3.0 ± 1.1) than samples selected with constant stellar mass or passively evolving luminosity (∝(1 + z)+0.1 ± 0.4). We calculate the minor merger rate (1:4 <Msat/Mprimary ≲ 1:10) by subtracting the major merger rate from close pairs from the “total” merger rate determined by G − M20. The implied minor merger rate is ∼3 times the major merger rate at z ∼ 0.7 and shows little evolution with redshift.
Dynamical Imaging with Interferometry

By linking widely separated radio dishes, the technique of very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) can greatly enhance angular resolution in radio astronomy. However, at any given moment, a VLBI array only sparsely samples the information necessary to form an image. Conventional imaging techniques partially overcome this limitation by making the assumption that the observed cosmic source structure does not evolve over the duration of an observation, which enables VLBI networks to accumulate information as Earth rotates and changes the projected array geometry. Although this assumption is appropriate for nearly all VLBI, it is almost certainly violated for submillimeter observations of the Galactic center supermassive black hole, Sagittarius A* (Sgr A*), which has a gravitational timescale of only s and exhibits intrahour variability. To address this challenge, we develop several techniques to reconstruct dynamical images (“movies”) from interferometric data. Our techniques are applicable to both single-epoch and multiepoch variability studies, and they are suitable for exploring many different physical processes including flaring regions, stable images with small time-dependent perturbations, steady accretion dynamics, or kinematics of relativistic jets. Moreover, dynamical imaging can be used to estimate time-averaged images from time-variable data, eliminating many spurious image artifacts that arise when using standard imaging methods. We demonstrate the effectiveness of our techniques using synthetic observations of simulated black hole systems and 7 mm Very Long Baseline Array observations of M87, and we show that dynamical imaging is feasible for Event Horizon Telescope observations of Sgr A*.
Do teachers and parents influence a students’ tendency to perceive examinations as threatening?

Recent models of evaluation anxiety (e.g. Zeidner & Mathews, 2005) suggest that the appraisal of an examination as threatening depends upon self-knowledge beliefs, but no route is theorised for situational or interpersonal influences. Negative self-knowledge beliefs contributing to the appraisal of an examination as threatening include avoidant motivations (e.g. fear of failure, fear of incompetence) and perceptions of lower subject competence and/ or examination and test-taking skills. Although no direct route is theorised for situational or interpersonal influences, the achievement goals promoted by teachers in the classroom have been demonstrated to influence the student’s personal achievement goals (Greene et al., 2004; Tapola & Niemivirta, 2008) and parental pressure has been demonstrated to influence a negative academic self-concept (Campbell, 1994; Ketsetzis, Ryan & Adams, 1998). The aim of this study is to investigate whether situational or interpersonal factors exert an indirect influence on a student’s appraisal of examinations as threatening through personal knowledge beliefs. Self-report data was collected for test anxiety, personal knowledge beliefs (personal achievement goals, academic self-concept and perceived test competence), teachers’ achievement goals and parental pressure/ support in 175 sixth-form college students. Data were subjected to hierarchical regression analyses to establish whether the relationships between the test anxiety and teachers’ achievement goals/ parental pressure and support were mediated by personal knowledge beliefs. In this approach, the mediating variable is forced into a regression equation. A reduction in the direct relationship indicates a mediating effect, the significance of which can be established with the Sobel test. Results indicated that parental pressure could exert both direct and indirect effects on test anxiety depending on which component of test anxiety was being accounted for. Parental pressure exerted a direct effect on the worry and tension components of test anxiety and an indirect effect on test-irrelevant thinking component by increasing a student’s personal performance-approach goal. Teacher’s performance-avoidance goals exerted an indirect effect on test anxiety by increasing a student’s personal performance-avoidance goal and in the case of the bodily symptoms component of test anxiety also through a performance-approach goal. In conclusion, teachers who promote motivation through a fear-of-failure in the classroom increase examination anxiety in students who also adopt a fear-of-failure. Parental pressure may directly influence examination anxiety, but also lead to an indirect increase in particular aspects of examination anxiety (headaches, muscle tension and so forth) through students adopting a motivation to demonstrate achievement. These findings suggest that models of test and anxiety and require modifying to account for the influence of parents and teachers.
Role of Monitoring in Institutional Performance: Forest Management in Maharashtra, India

In this article we examine the role of 'monitoring', believed to be crucial for effective participatory common property management. While gov- erning a common pool resource such as forests, there may be conditions that tempt individuals to cheat and gain substantially higher benefits. This is dis- advantageous for other participants, and can adversely affect resource condi- tion. Monitoring includes ensuring rule compliance, dealing with infractions and guarding forest areas against outsider entry. Here we examine the impact of institutional structure on monitoring and, consequently, on the effective- ness of forest management. We examine the three most frequent approaches in India, namely community-initiated management, non-governmental organisa- tion (NGO) promoted forest management, and state-sponsored Joint Forest Management (JFM). Through a comparison of 3 case studies in the Gadchi- roli district of Maharashtra in central India, we conducted a detailed com- parison of forests that are situated in similar bioclimatic conditions and similar social environments. We assess community approaches to monitoring using detailed social interviews with communities and integrate this with an analysis of forest condition at the tree, sapling and seedling level using forest plot data. Our findings indicate that local enforcement has been most effective in the case where forest management was initiated by the community, with
Effect of Off‐Stoichiometry and Ternary Additions on Planar Fault Energies in Ni3Al

First principles calculations were done to evaluate the lattice parameter, cohesive energy and stacking fault energies of ordered gamma' (Ll(2)) precipitates in superalloys as a function of composition. It was found that addition of Ti and Ta lead to an increase in lattice parameter and decrease in cohesive energy, while Ni antisites had the opposite effect. Ta and Ti addition to stoichiometric Ni3Al resulted in an initial increase in the energies of APB((111)), CSF(111), APB((001)) and SISF(111). However, at higher concentrations, the fault energies decreased. Addition of Ni antisites decreased the energy of all four faults monotonically. A model based on nearest neighbor bonding was used for Ni-3(Al, Ta), Ni-3(Al, Ti) and Ni-3(Al, Ni) pseudo-binary systems and extended to pseudo- ternary Ni-3(Al, Ta, Ni) and Ni-3(Al, Ti, Ni) systems. Recipes were developed for predicting lattice parameters, cohesive energies and fault energies in pseudo- ternary systems on the basis of coefficients derived from simpler pseudobinary systems. The model predictions were found to be in good agreement with first principles calculations for lattice parameters, cohesive energies, and energies of APB((111)) and CSF(111).
Should I stay or should I go? Breeding dispersal decisions in a young avian hybrid zone

3 Introduction . 3 Material and methods . 7 Study system . 7 Ecology of Ficedula flycatchers . 7 Range of Ficedula flycatchers . 9 Hybridization in Ficedula flycatchers . 10 Dispersal of Ficedula flycatchers . 10 Data gathering . 11 Data analysis . 11 Results . 12 Dispersal within area . 12 Collared flycatcher . 12 Pied flycatcher . 13 Between species comparison . 13 Dispersal between areas . 14 Discussion . 16 Conclusion . 21 Acknowledgments . 21 References . 23
Nutrietive evaulation and in-situ digestibility of irrigated grasses.

The study aimed to determine the nutritive value of Cenchrus ciliaris, Leptochloa fusca, Chloris gayana, Cynodon dactylon and Panicum colunumgrasses for ruminants. Five samples of each grass were taken and composite samples of each grass were oven dried at 55°C. Chemical analysis revealed that dry matter (DM) content varied from 11.38% (C. gayana) to 28.36% (C. dactylon). Maximum crude protein (11.3%) was observed for C. ciliaris while minimum (7.90%) was noted for P. colunum. Higher ash content (13.70%), hemicellulose (28.5%)and NDF (70.7%) contents were noted for C. dactylon. Gross energy value was optimum (3412.2 Kcal/kg) for C. gayana but minimum (2812.1 Kcal/kg) for L.fusca. The Ca, 1.6-4.0; P, 0.14-0.59; Mg, 0.26-0.84; Na, 5.0-10.5; and K, 11.6-27.2 g/kg of DM. However, Ca:P ratio varied from 4.55-16.36. Maximum in-situ DM digestibility (73.3%) and NDF digestibility (62.67%) were noted for C.ciliaris, while minimum in-situ DM digestibility (32.8%) and NDF digestibility (27.37%) were examined in L. fusca. Based on the findings of the present study, grasses as ruminant feed were ranked as C. ciliaris> C. dactylon> C. gayana> L. fusca> P. colunum.
Effect of Manure and Urea on Chemical Properties of Sandy Soil and Physiological Properties of Aloe Vera L . Plant Cultivated in Coastal Sandy Area

Study dealing with the application of cow-manure and urea in different doses in coastal sandy land has aimed to determine the chemical properties dynamic of sandy soil and physiological properties of the aloe plant under nutrient stress condition. The research was conducted in coastal sandy area of Depok, Kretek District, Bantul Regency, Special Region of Yogyakarta, Indonesia. The Research was carried out from January until August 2015 using a factorial experiment arranged in Randomized Completely Block Design. The first factor was the doses of manure consisting of three levels, i.e 10; 20 and 30 ton ha-1. The second factor was doses of urea consisting of five levels i.e : 0; 150; 300; 450 and 600 kg.ha-1. The soil chemical properties parameters included organic C content, organic matters level, pH value, total N content, and Cation Exchange Capacity (CEC) were observed. The observation was also objected to physiological parameters of aloe plant such as leaf area, stomatal density, total chlorophyll content, plant photosynthetic rate, plant respiration rate, proline content, and aloetic acid (aloin) content. The results of the experiment indicated that there was an influence of the manure as well as urea on both the chemical properties of sandy soil and the physiological properties of aloe plant.
ICT SOCIAL AND ETHICAL COMPETENCY AMONG TEACHER EDUCATORS IN THE PHILIPPINES

This paper presents findings from an empirical investigation of the competency level of social and ethical use of ICT among teacher educators in Central Visayas, Philippines. The study used a survey questionnaire based on the Philippine’s National ICT Competency Standard for Teachers. A total of 383 responses from 76 private and public higher education institutions were included in the analysis. The study reveals that the level of ICT competence in social and ethical domains among the teacher educators is “good. ” The result implies that the respondents have the ability to explain and discuss the task but have not experienced the actual social and ethical practices in ICT. Moreover, there is a significant relationship between the level of ICT competence in terms of social and ethical aspects and the respondent’s age, status, type of institution, number of years in teaching, Internet accessibility, and desktop, smartphone and laptop ownership.
Why are firms rigid? A study of firm age and scope in hedge funds *

Firms often forego business opportunities that necessitate significant change. But, why are firms so rigid? We develop a general framework to disentangle age-based rigidity mechanisms based on each mechanism’s implications for firm performance in periods preceding and following strategic change. Analyzing longitudinal data on 8,887 hedge funds raised by 2,781 firms between 1994 and 2005, we find a strong negative relationship between expanding the horizontal scope of the firm by launching a new fund (“diversification”) and firm age. Furthermore, younger firms outperform older firms both prior to and after diversification. The evidence implies that rigidity in hedge funds is primarily attributable to internal political constraints and less to constraints associated with exchange partner obligations or diminished operational capabilities. We conclude by discussing how our general framework applies to contexts in which the primary constraint on strategic change may differ.
Capital Budgeting Practices in Non-manufacturing Companies in Poland

This paper aims at analyzing the diffusion of investment appraisal methods in non-manufacturing companies Poland. In particular, it deals with the relationships between the methods used and the selected characteristics of companies. The questionnaire was completed in 2012 by representatives of non-manufacturing companies operating in Poland and focused on three areas: (a) general firm characteristics, (b) organization of investment process, (c) investment evaluation methods used. The questionnaire research has shown that service companies in Poland use the same investment appraisal methods as companies in more developed countries; however, the diffusion of these methods is less. What is more, a foreign origin of equity capital, the magnitude of the capital expenditures budget, and a company size have significant and statistically positive influence on the investment appraisal methods in use, especially on: (a) formalization of the investment appraisal process, (b) the use of discounted cash flows – DCF methods, (c) employment of risk assessment methods, and (d) audit after closing the investment process. The author believes that the study bridges the gap in management accounting literature and researchers will use the results of this study to question current ideas and develop new theories. The results of the conducted study may also help practitioners identify the areas in their companies where academic recommendations have not been implemented and their use could be beneficiary for the company due to the fact that they facilitate activities which create value of the company. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.ss. 82.4. 6612
HI-observations of blue compact dwarf galaxies . II .

We present new results from HI observations of previously undetected 69 blue compact dwarf galaxies (BCDGs) of which 35 BCDGs have been detected (detection rate 51%). Optical data (e.g., from NED) and other literature search are used to estimate the likelihood of confusion from other galaxies within the Effelsberg beam. We have combined 24 BCDG galaxies from this study and from Paper I (Huchtmeier et al. 2005) that are unlikely to suffer from confusion effects in combination with 19 other similar BCDGs taken from the literature to infer several characteristic properties of the BCDG population. The parameters which were used for the statistical analysis include linear diameter, axial ratio, blue luminosity, HI and total masses, HI and total mass-to-blue luminosity ratios, HI to total mass ratio, HI gas velocity dispersion, oxygen abundance, equivalent width of Hβ emission line and B − V color. The analysis has revealed that: BCDGs with higher HI mass tend to have lower abundances of heavy elements and are more compact; BCDGs with lower blue luminosity have larger equivalent width of Hβ emission line and bluer B − V colors, as well as a tendency towards lower abundances of heavy elements; BCDGs with larger linear size, with higher total mass and those with higher total and HI mass per unit blue luminosity, tend to have broader HI emission line (larger velocity dispersion); there is no obvious dependence of the star formation parameters on the total mass; almost 10% of the BCDGs emit milli-Jansky level radio continuum near 1 GHz.