Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
EFFECT OF GOVERNMENT EXPENDITURE ON ECONOMIC GROWTH IN EAST AFRICA: A DISAGGREGATED MODEL

he goal of this research was to investigate empirically how government expenditure contributes to economic growth in East Africa. Most existing studies examining the relationship between expenditure and economic growth show conflicting results and mainly focus on aggregate expenditure. Hence this study focused on disaggregated expenditure over the period from 1980 to 2010. The objective of the study was to establish these expenditures that have effects on growth using balanced panel fixed effect model. Employing LLC test, this study tested for panel unit root and found that only GDP was stationary at level. The findings showed that expenditures on health and defense to be positive and statistically significant effect on growth. In contrast, education and agriculture expenditure were insignificant. This study suggests that for East Africa, the policy of increasing spending on health and defence budget to promote economic growth will be appropriate, but fewer funds should be channeled towards other sectors.
A population-based study of cognitive impairment in socially vulnerable adults in Argentina

Population aging has taken place intensively worldwide, even in developing countries. These countries have population groups with low resources and basic unmet needs that are frequently omitted from epidemiological studies. Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of cognitive impairment (CI) and dementia in an economic and socially vulnerable population from Argentina. Methods: A door-to-door observational population-based survey among adults over 60 years of cognitive impairment and dementia in the social vulnerable area of the Matanza Riachuelo Basin, in the suburban area of Buenos Aires, Argentina was conducted. Trained psychologists interviewed subjects and a proxy informant. A standardized protocol including a socio-demographic questionnaire, the Mini-Mental State Examination, the Geriatric Depression Scale and a functional inventory for IADL and ADL was administered. Diagnoses were divided into three general categories: normal cognitive function, cognitive impairment-no dementia (CIND) and dementia. Results and Conclusions: A total of 2437 elderly persons were assessed, of which 73.6% fulfilled inclusion criteria. The prevalence of CI among those over 60 was 26.4% (18.1% CIND and 8.3% dementia) with higher prevalence of dementia in younger individuals than rates reported in developed counties, probably due to low control of vascular risk factors. This information can help inform health public decisions in the generation of programs and plans for the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of cognitive impairment in this type of socially vulnerable population.
Problem-Based Learning in K–12 Education

Enthusiasm for problem-based learning (PBL) is widespread, yet there exists little rigorous experimental evidence of its effectiveness, especially in K–12 populations. Reported here is a highly controlled experimental study of PBL in a middle school population. Between- and within-subject comparisons are made of students learning the same material under three instructional conditions: lecture/discussion, characteristic small-group PBL, and solitary PBL. Assessments of comprehension and application of concepts in a new context 9 weeks after instruction showed superior mastery in both PBL conditions, relative to the lecture condition, and equivalent performance in the two PBL conditions, the latter indicating that the social component of PBL is not a critical feature of its effectiveness.
Efficient Market Hypothesis, Price Volatility, and Performance of Mutual Funds

Mutual fund organizations have responsibility towards investors to provide them optimal returns using their abilities to efficiently tap market timings along-with desired diversification. Mutual fund portfolio management is a real dynamic decision process whereby continuous evaluation and monitoring is demanded from efficient fund managers. Ever improved technologies and deregulation have significantly contributed towards improving the operational efficiency of mutual fund managers yet the investors risk perception gap is widening. In this paper an attempt has been made to identify if mutual fund managers can outperform by estimating market movements. Results of the study support Efficient Market Hypothesis (EMH) and conclude that Mutual fund managers cannot identify similar patterns in market movements and stock market follows Random Walk.
Cracking behavior of compressible filter cakes

In cake filtration, shrinkage cracking is an undesirable phenomenon as it leads to deterioration of the filtration process in terms of residual moisture, gas consumption and overall cost. Whereas shrinkage cracking has been extensively studied for thermal drying, there is little research on shrinkage and cracking behavior in a filtration process. Aim of this work is to investigate the relationship of dewatering, shrinkage and crack onset and propagation for compressible filter cakes during vacuum filtration. We combine an image analysis technique with laser displacement measurements to investigate in-plane and vertical shrinkage during cake dewatering. The influence of the boundary on cracking behavior and the saturation at crack onset are determined. The influence of filtration pressure on crack area and crack propagation speed will be discussed.
Stress, Social Support, and Health Among College Students After September 11, 2001

The current study was designed to examine associations among stress due to the 9/11 terrorist attacks, social support, and health (depression and physical illness) in a college student sample. In December 2001, students from Eastern universities (N= 666; 482 women, 184 men; average age 19.5 yrs.) completed measures of stress from terrorism (developed by the authors), supportive behaviors received from friends and family (Experienced Support Scale; Xu & Burleson, 2001), symptoms of depression (Depression Anxiety Stress Scale; Lovibond & Lovibond, 1995), and illness (Pennebaker Inventory of Limbid Languidness; Pennebaker, 1982). The results indicate that even among college students with low exposure to the 9/11 attacks, terrorism-related stress was associated with greater depressive and illness symptoms (p < .05), and that emotional and tangible support were associated with fewer symptoms (p < .05). Findings are considered for their practical implications for college students and personnel.
On fibre suspension flow modelling : mechancal fibre flocculation and fibre orientation

The fibre orientation state evolution is evaluated by the fully 3D convection-dispersion equation, i.e. the Fokker-Planck equation. This is solved along various streamlines in the contraction with vane inserts so that effects of wakes and boundary layers could be studied across a jet. As an input to the fibre orientation model the turbulent flow field is solved by Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) with second-order closure of the turbulence model. Parameter values for the rotational dispersion coefficient of three hypotheses reported in studies are tested for an independent experimental case. After the contraction the anisotropy profile across the flow, has a variation in anisotropy value in different regions, identified as the boundary layer, the undisturbed region and wakes. The numerical result predicts these regions by comparison to the experimental result with the fully 3D approach of the fibre orientation state applied.
A New Generation of Cool White Dwarf Atmosphere Models. II. A DZ Star with Collision-induced Absorption

In the first paper of this series, we presented our upgraded cool white dwarf atmosphere code. In this second paper, we use our new models to analyze SDSS J080440.63+223948.6 (J0804+2239), the first DZ star to show collision-induced absorption (CIA). This object provides a crucial test for our models, since previous versions of our code were unable to simultaneously fit the metal absorption lines and the CIA. We find an excellent fit to both the spectroscopic and photometric data, which further validates the improved constitutive physics of our models. We also show that the presence of metal lines allows lift of the degeneracy between high and low hydrogen abundances that usually affects the fits of white dwarfs with CIA. Finally, we investigate the potential impact of spectroscopically undetected metals on the photometric solutions of DC stars.
Ameliorate salinity effect through sulphur application and its effect on some soil and plant characters under different water quantities

The main objective of this work is to study the effect of sulphur application and irrigation water quantity on some soil properties of the calcareous soils and to limit the suitable concentration to obtain satisfactory yield of faba beab under saline conditions. The study area (Tamyia district, Fayoum Governorate, Egypt) is characterized by a hot and dry climate in general with annual rainfall average of 8 mm/year, whereas the evaporation rates average ranging between 3.5 to10 mm/day. Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) was sown at 18 November 2010 and harvested at 26 April 2011. Total water consumed during faba bean growing season were 623.7 and747.2 m3/ fed for 100% and 120% irrigation treatments with increasing ranged between 3.5% and 3.7% in same sequence. Results showed that values of soil EC, pH and CaCO3 was improved as a result of both irrigation and S treatments. The improvement resulted in a gradual reduction of the studied soil properties by about 10.3%, 3.2%; 17.0% and 23.1%, 4.3%; 11.3% comparing S treated plot relative to the control plot at 100 and 120% irrigation treatments. Application S improved water content under studied soil constant and these increases were 8.8%, 11.8%, 8.3% and 16.9% for SP, FC, WP and AW, respectively relative to the control plots. Irrigation 100% had a positive effect on the drainable pores% which increased by about 7.0% comparing with 120% irrigation treatments. While hydraulic conductivity increased by about 16.4% and percentage of increase drainable pores was 14.0% and 21.4% for 100% and 120% irrigation treatments comparing 3rd layer with the 1st one, respectively. Increasing irrigation water from 100% to 120% resulted increasing in the studied macronutrients, N, P and K, by about 80.8%, 144.9% and 72.9%, respectively; while they increased in plant by about 118.8%, 132.8% and 62.2% as compared with the control one, respectively as a result of S application. Results showed that Na, Cl and Na/K ratio that increasing irrigation water caused increase by 2.02%, 11.11% for Na and Cl, while reduction in the ratio between Na and K was observed with value –15.7% as compared 120 with 100% irrigation treatments. S application cause slightly increases in Na content (3.55%) and moderately increases with Cl (34.38%), which led to decrease Na:K ratio by about 39.4%. Increasing irrigation water by 20%resulted in a gradual increase of both yield and water use efficiency (WUE) of faba bean plants compared with the control plants. Irrigation treatments significantly decreased the contents of proline in dry weight seed of faba bean gradually as a result of increase irrigation quantity (from 100% to 120%) and the reduction was 9.7%. While S addition decreased proline by about 15.9%. According to the interaction effect between irrigation and S application treatments, S improved proline content by about 20.4% and 11.2% relative to the control treatments under 100% and 120% irrigation treatments, respectively %.
Maternal Awareness on Child Health Card and Factors Associated with its Retention in Salyan Village Development Committee of Kaski, Nepal

Submitted 1 Nov 2016; Accepted 22 Nov 2016; Published 25 Dec 2016 It is crucial to monitor the growth and development of a child in early stage of life to take early corrective action in time to ensure normal growth. Child health card (CHC) is a tool used to maintain records and monitor the under five children. The objective of this study was to find out the maternal awareness on CHC and factor associated with its retention. This was a cross sectional analytical study conducted among 198 mothers having <3 years children in Salyan VDC, Kaski, Nepal. The study found 61.1% retention of CHC. Only about one-fourth (25.8%) of the mothers had adequate level of awareness on different aspect of CHC. Of the 24 different independent variables studied; only nine (age of the child; place of delivery; antenatal and postnatal care services utilized; first choice health institution for treatment; maternal awareness on CHC; place of immunization; taking CHC regular to health facility and health worker ever counseled on CHC) were found positively associated with retention of CHC (P < 0.05). This study showed retention of CHC only in six-out of-ten studied cases. The study also revealed poor level of awareness on CHC in the study area. The study also highlighted on positive association of retention of CHC with counseling by health workers and increased use of health services.
Evaluating Human Services Contracting: Managers, Professionals, and Politicos

When state and local governments contract out for human services, the purchasing process is often affected by the value perspectives of the participants. The contracting system is shaped by differing approaches of three participant types: (1) the managers, who emphasize the traditional principles of efficiency, least cost, and accountability; (2) the professionals, who stress cooperation, professional norms, and client service; and (3) the politicos, who are responsive to major political interests. Since they have different outlooks, these groups have conflicting expectations and evaluations of the contracting process and its outcomes. In addition, the three value approaches produce several organizational, operational, and political problems in the purchasing system. Understanding how participants and observers evaluate the success of individual contracts and the system as a whole can produce an improved knowledge of the complexities of the contracting process.
Effects of Freestream Turbulence on Cavity Tone and Sound Source

To clarify the effects of freestream turbulence on cavity tones, flow and acoustic fields were directly predicted for cavity flows with various intensities of freestream turbulence. The freestream Mach number was 0.09 and the Reynolds number based on the cavity length was 4.0 × 104. The depth-to-length ratio of the cavity, , was 0.5 and 2.5, where the acoustic resonance of a depth-mode occurs for = 2.5. The incoming boundary layer was laminar. The results for the intensity of freestream turbulence of Tu = 2.3% revealed that the reduced level of cavity tones in a cavity flow with acoustic resonance was greater than that without acoustic resonance . To clarify the reason for this, the sound source based on Lighthill’s acoustic analogy was computed, and the contributions of the intensity and spanwise coherence of the sound source to the reduction of the cavity tone were estimated. As a result, the effects of the reduction of spanwise coherence on the cavity tone were greater in the cavity flow with acoustic resonance than in that without resonance, while the effects of the intensity were comparable for both flows.
Continuous Catalyst-Free Esterification of Oleic Acid in Compressed Ethanol

The esterification of oleic acid in a continuous catalyst-free process using compressed ethanol was investigated in the present study. Experiments were performed in a tubular reactor and variables investigated were temperature, pressure, and oleic acid to ethanol molar ratio for different residence time. Results demonstrated that temperature, in the range of 473 K to 573 K, and pressure had a positive effect on fatty acid ethyl esters (FAEE) production. In the experimental range investigated, high conversions can be obtained at low ethanol concentrations in the reaction medium and it was observed that oleic acid to ethanol molar ratios greater than 1 : 6 show no significant increase in conversion. Nonnegligible reaction conversions (>90%) were achieved at 573 K, 20 MPa, oleic acid to ethanol molar ratio of 1 : 6, and 20 minutes of residence time.
Knowledge, awareness and attitudes of pharmacy students toward epilepsy

Purpose: Pharmacy students represent a better educated group of society regarding the use of drugs and they are required to grasp the appropriate knowledge of drug use and have positive attitudes toward healthcare issues. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the level of knowledge, awareness and attitude among pharmacy students at a public university in Pakistan. Methods: A self-administered questionnaire, validated previously was distributed to the pharmacy students, University of Karachi, Pakistan. The completed questionnaire was collected on the same day. The students were required to respond a series of questions on their knowledge, awareness and attitudes toward epilepsy. Results: The questionnaire was distributed to 216 students and the same number responded to the questionnaire. The majority of the respondents were of age group between 21-25 years (69.9%) and rest belonged to age groups 16-20 (21.8%) or 26-30 years (8.3%). The majority of the respondents were female (63%). About 69% students claimed to have knowledge of the cause of epilepsy, 57.9% respondents believed in the curability of epilepsy however 47.2% were unaware of the epilepsy treatment by antiepileptic drugs. Majority, 89.8% of respondents were familiar with the terminology of epilepsy, 10.4% students had attended lecture on epilepsy, while 54.2% had seen the epileptic attack. Conclusion: In this study, majority of the students had knowledge of the disease however, majority were deficient in knowledge on the treatment of epilepsy. Hence, there is a need to improve certain aspects of knowledge of epilepsy among pharmacy students.
A common QTL for resistance to races 3 and 9 of soybean cyst nematode.

The aim of this work was to study the association between the rhg1 gene and the soybean response to races 3 and 9 of Heterodera glycines (Soybean Cyst Nematode - SCN). The resistant cv. Hartwig was crossed with the susceptible line Y23 and the response to races 3 and 9 was evaluated in 135 and 128 Recombinant Inbred Lines (RIL), respectively. Nematode assays were performed in the greenhouse using a completely randomized design. Eight SSR markers covered a genomic region of 57 cM. Estimated heritabilities of resistance to race 3 and 9 were 80.97 and 80.39%, respectively, showing that a few major genes are segregating in the population. Applying the Composite Interval Mapping (CIM) method, the rhg1 resistance gene was mapped between the SSR markers Satt275 and Satt038 at 2.0 and 3.0 cM from marker Satt038, explaining 29.11 and 20.01% of phenotypic variance in resistance to races 3 and 9, respectively. These SSR markers would be useful tools for assisting in the selection of SCN-resistant genotypes and for expediting the introgression of SCN resistance loci from cv. Hartwig to soybean elite cultivars.
Effects of woodland islets introduced in a Mediterranean agricultural landscape on local bird communities

Abstract. This study assesses whether the afforestation approach consisting in the introduction of woodland islets in “agricultural seas” can reconcile the restoration of woody vegetation and the persistence of open-habitat bird populations, providing further opportunities for other forest species to enrich bird diversity at the landscape level. We compared the species richness and abundance of bird communities in a field with 16 introduced woodland islets and in a nearby abandoned field located in central Spain during spring and winter time. The woodland islets presented higher accumulated species richness as well as a higher probability of finding new species if sampling effort were increased only in winter time. These trends were the opposite during spring time. Mean species richness and mean bird abundance were lower at the woodland islets than at the abandoned field in both seasons. We found a higher abundance of open-habitat specialist species in the abandoned field. Woodland islets favoured the wintering of chiffchaff Phylloscopus collybita. We did not find any effects on the only forest specialist species (blue tit Parus caeruleus) in spring. Bird richness and abundance were higher in edge islets than in inner islets. The introduction of larger and mixed plantations connected by hedgerows and a management that favoured the development of big trees, a lower tree density and a diverse shrub layer could promote bird diversity, allowing forest specialists and open-habitat species to coexist at the landscape scale.
Assessment the Leachable Heavy Metals and Ecological Risk in the Surface Sediments inside the Red Sea Ports of Egypt

The concentrations and distributions of the leachable heavy metals (Co, Cu, Zn, Ni, Cd, Mn, Pb and Fe) were investigated in the fine sediment fractions (O3, O4 and O5) collected from the Egyptian Red Sea Harbors at Hurghada, Safaga and Qusier. The three fractions were the essential heavy metal carriers and were formed the main constituent of the marine sediments with percentages exceed 50% at the most of studied stations. The accumulation sequence of the metal carriers at Hurghada was O5 >O4> O3, however at Safaga and Qusier, it was O5 >O3> O4. Fe and Mn showed the highest values at Safaga (7483 and 306.3 µg/g, respectively) due to the high terrigenous inputs from the different shipment operations and the wastewater effluents. The highest values of Zn, Cu, Ni and Pb were recorded in the marine area off Hurghada ports (330.38, 298.40, 91.4 and 101.02 µg/g, respectively), which attributed to the coastal based activities at Hurghada shipyard and fishing berth. Meanwhile the highest levels of Co and Cd were observed at the old port of Qusier (5.85 and 4.19 µg/g, respectively). The correlation coefficient and principal component analysis (PCA) indicated the anthropogenic sources of Cu, Zn and Pb in front of Hurghada ports. Based on the SQGs, the concentrations of Co, Fe, Mn, Zn and Pb were below the lowest effect level (LEL) with limited severity for Cd, Cu and Ni at Hurghada shipyard but lower than the sever effect level (SEL). The principal component analysis (PCA) showed correlations between Fe, Mn and partially Cd as well as the strong positive correlations for Cu with Zn and Pb suggesting common source of contamination that is likely originated from the terrestrial materials associated with the shipping of ores and coastal activities. According to the Enrichment factor (EF) and the geo-accumulation factor (Igeo), Cu and Pb were the highest enriched elements due to anthropogenic contamination; consequently the studied ports were classified as moderately to highly contaminated by Cu and Pb at Hurghada.