Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Travel Distance and Stimulus Duration on Observing Responses by Rats

Observing procedures have differed qualitatively regarding the spatial arrangement of the food and the observing operanda within the experimental chamber. The effects of varying the distance between the operanda, however, remain unknown. The present study explored the effects of increasing the distance between the food and the observing lever using two stimulus durations in rats as subjects. A chamber containing two levers was used and presses on one lever were reinforced on a mixed random-interval 30 s extinction schedule with 60 s components alternating randomly. Each press on the second lever produced the component-correlated stimuli. Using a factorial design, combinations of 3, 9, or 18 cm distance between the levers with stimuli durations of 0.5 and 5 s were explored. Observing rate decreased as a function of both, increasing travel distance and shortening stimulus duration. As with concurrent schedules of food reinforcement, as travel distance increased changeover rate decreased and the duration of stays on each lever increased. Even when a travel distance was imposed, the rats moved to the observing lever but only when stimulus duration was 5 s.
Investigation on interlaminar shear strength properties of disc laser machined consolidated CF-PPS laminates

In consequence of an increased interest in using endless carbon fibre reinforced thermoplastic composites (TPC), automated and highly productive processing technologies for cutting and trimming steps of consolidated materials are sought. In this paper, the influence on the thermal effect caused by laser cutting with respect to static strength properties of TPC based on a polyphenylene sulfide (PPS) matrix is studied. For the cutting experiments, consolidated TPC laminates at varying thicknesses up to s = 3.1 mm and a disc laser emitting at a wavelength of ! = 1030 nm at a maximum output power of PL = 2 kW are used. For the first time, the resulting magnitude of the heat affected zone (HAZ) at the cutting edge of the composite material is correlated with interlaminar shear strength tests. The results are compared to specimens prepared by milling and abrasive water jet cutting. Depending on the laminate thickness, the laser treated TPC samples show compara- ble properties to those of conventionally processed specimens. A reduced load bearing area, as a consequence of damaged fibre-matrix-adhesion due to laser impact, is identified as main factor for the reduction of interlaminar shear strengths for higher laminate thicknesses.
Statistical challenges in individual patient data meta-analyses of binary outcomes

Meta-analyses (MA) based on individual patient data (IPD) are regarded as the gold standard and are becoming increasingly common, having several advantages over MA of summary statistics. These analyses are being undertaken in an increasing diversity of settings, often having a binary outcome. Parameter estimation of generalized linear mixed models (GLMMs), which are frequently used to perform inference on binary outcomes, is convoluted by intractable integrals in the marginal likelihood. Penalized quasi-likelihood (PQL) and adaptive Gauss-Hermite quadrature (AGHQ) are estimation methods commonly used in practice. However, few comparisons for the assessment of the performances of these estimation methods have been reported in the context of IPD meta-analyses (IPD-MA) with binary outcomes. I considered as a first step to the thesis, a systematic review of the literature. In a previous systematic review of articles published between 1999-2001, the statistical approach was seldom reported in sufficient detail, and the outcome was binary in 32% of the studies considered. Here, we explore statistical methods used for IPD-MA of binary outcomes only, a decade later. 19 of the 26 MA used a one-step approach verses a two-step approach and random-effect logistic regression was the most common method for these binary outcomes, allowing the treatment effect to vary across studies. However, the estimation technique used in these studies (e.g. a GLMM estimated via PQL or AGHQ) was rarely reported.Afterwards, via simulation studies, whose design is realistic for conducting IPD-MA of binary outcomes, to compare techniques to estimate multilevel models, and to address the concern of including trial-membership as fixed or random? The parameters of the one-step models were estimated using PQL and AGHQ while that of the two-step model were estimated via restricted maximum likelihood (REML) at the second step. Size and number of study, total sample sizes, variances and correlation in the random effects distribution were varied. The comparison is done in terms of bias, root mean square error (RMSE), numerical convergence, and coverage of interval estimates. The two-step and one-step (via PQL, and AGHQ) methods produced approximately unbiased pooled treatment effect estimates, although the manner in which PQL achieves this is an advantage. The AGHQ methods for estimating the random treatment effect variance performed better with respect to bias and coverage, but RMSE performed relatively poor in comparison with PQL for all data sizes and model misspecification. %%%%Les meta-analyses (MA) de donnees individuelles de patient (IPD) sont considerees comme une approche de reference et deviennent de plus en plus communes puisqu’elles ont plusieurs avantages comparativement aux meta-analyses de statistiques sommaires. Le champ d’application de ces analyses est diversifie et releve souvent une reponse binaire. L’estimation des parametres dans de modeles lineaires generalises mixtes (GLMMs), qui sont souvent utilises pour inferer sur des reponses…
The effects of time and temperature in hydrothermal pretreatment on the enzymatic efficiency of wheat straw

An attempt to correlate biomass characteristics to its susceptibility to enzymes is often inconclusive via investigation of the variables of hydrothermal pretreatment. Based on an integrated analysis of physicochemical properties, cellulose bioconversion, loss of pentose sugars, formation of inhibitory products, and the cost of energy, the optimal hydrothermal operation for wheat straw (1:20 w/v%) was found. This optimal operation involved cooling the hydrolysates as soon as the temperature reached 180 °C. Finally, a total of 40.7% glucose and 70.3% sugars were recovered during subsequent enzymatic hydrolysis. Although treatment at a noticeably increased severity with a long incubation time could lead to almost 100% conversion of cellulose, the weight losses (mainly sugars) and inhibitors in the process liquid were not well suited for an industrial scale operation.
Using gestures and English as a Foreign Language vocabulary learning: Does gender make a difference?

This study aimed at investigating possible gender differences of adult EFL learners in terms of the effects of semantic elaboration (operationalized through teacher-performed gestures) on memory for new words in English and words in native tongue. To achieve this goal, thirty male and thirty female university students were randomly selected and each of the groups went through the experiment separately. They were presented with two sets of new English words (determined through a pretest) and were instructed to do their best to learn the words in two conditions. One set consisted of word-translation pairs (control condition) and the other set consisted of word-translation pairs followed by a video showing the meaning of each word through gestures. Each participant was presented with every experimental word but in two different orders. Then they were required to complete two recall tasks (i.e. free recall in English, free recall in Persian). The results of data analysis using repeated measures of ANOVA (two-way and one-way) showed a negative effect of using gestures on free recall in English and a positive effect of using gestures on free recall in Persian for both groups. Based on the results some pedagogical implications are provided.
Single photoionization of the Zn II ion in the photon energy range 17.5-90.0 eV: experiment and theory

Measurements of the single-photoionization cross-section of Cu-like Zn+ ions are reported in the energy (wavelength) range 17.5 eV (708 angstrom) to 90 eV (138 angstrom). The measurements on this trans-Fe element were performed at the Advanced Light Source synchrotron radiation facility in Berkeley, California at a photon energy resolution of 17 meV using the photon-ion merged-beams end-station. Below 30 eV, the spectrum is dominated by excitation autoionizing resonance states. The experimental results are compared with large-scale photoionization cross-section calculations performed using a Dirac Coulomb R-matrix approximation. Comparisons are made with previous experimental studies, resonance states are identified and contributions from metastable states of Zn+ are determined.
KONSUMSI FAST FOOD dan SOFT DRINK SEBAGAI FAKTOR RISIKO OBESITAS PADA REMAJA SEKOLAH MENENGAH ATAS (SMA) di KOTA PONTIANAK

Background : Recently, obesity has become health problem which is frequently associated with an increased occurrence of non-communicable diseases. The prevalence of obesity has been increasing in both developed and developing countries. The increasing prevalence of obesity is marked by a shift in eating pattern composition containing high fat, cholesterol, but low in fiber such as consumption of fast food and soft drinks. The imbalance of nutrient intake is one of the risk factors for the emergence of obesity in adolescents. Obesity in adolescents at risk of becoming obese in adulthood and potentially can lead to cardiovascular and metabolic diseases Objective : This study aimed to find out the prevalence of obesity and to investigate risk factors for energy intake and frequency of consumption of fast food and soft drinks on the incidence of obesity in high school students in Pontianak. Method : This research is an observational study which involves case-control design. The samples in this study are 160 students consisting of 80 obese high school teenagers and 80 non-obese high school teenagers. The choice for subject of research used proportional stratified random sampling. Measurement of obesity status subject was taken by the measurement of weight and height based on the reference standard WHO / NCHS. It also involves data intake of fast food and soft drinks based on interviews with SQFFQ. Data were analyzed by chi-square test, t-test and logistic regression. Result : The prevalence of obesity in high school teenagers in Pontianak was 9.29%. Bivariate test result shows no association between total energy intake of fast food and obesity (p < 0.05
Rice Diversity Panel Evaluated for Agro-Morphological Diversity by Multivariate Analysis

Rice is an indispensable staple food for half of the world’s population. In countries where rice is used as staple food, the per capita consumption is very high ranging from 62 to 190 kg/year (Kaiyang et al., 2008). It has the second largest production after wheat with over 503 million tonnes recorded in 2013. While the demand for rice is rising up steadily with steep increase in human population, the land area available for rice production is shrinking due to rapid urbanization and changing life style. New rice cultivars that combine high yield potential, resistance to both biotic and abiotic stress and good grain quality are urgently needed to meet future consumer demands. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 6 Number 11 (2017) pp. 3887-3901 Journal homepage: http://www.ijcmas. com
Distinctly different thermal decomposition pathways of ultrathin oxide layer on Ge and Si surfaces

The thermal decomposition pathway of an ultrathin oxide layer on Ge(100) and Si(100) surfaces is examined by synchrotron radiation photoelectron spectroscopy and ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy with helium I radiation. The as-prepared oxide layer consists of a mixture of oxides, namely, suboxides and dioxides, on both the surfaces. Upon annealing, the oxide layers decompose and desorb as monoxides. However, we find that the decomposition pathways are different from each other. On annealing Ge oxides, GeO2 species transform to GeO and remain on the surface and desorb at >420 °C. In contrast, annealing of Si oxides results in the transformation of SiO to SiO2 up to temperatures (∼780 °C) close to the desorption. At higher temperatures, SiO2 decomposes and desorbs, implying a reverse transformation to volatile SiO species.
Spatial Variation in the Spawning Season of Bluegill Lepomis macrochirus in Lake Biwa, Japan

Reproductive condition of bluegill Lepomis macrochirus was examined at 3 sites in Lake Biwa, Japan, in an attempt to investigate spatial variation in their spawning season. Analytical results showed that the gonadosomatic index (GSI) of fish at all sites increased from mid-May to early June. Although the GSI of fish at the southernmost and mid-latitude sites decreased from early to late June, the GSI decline was much more severe in fish at the southernmost site. In contrast, fish at the northernmost site exhibited no significant difference in GSI between early and late June. The proportion of females containing mature eggs decreased with latitude in early June but increased with latitude in late June, implying that bluegill at the southernmost site actively spawned in June and were in the final stage of spawning in late June, whereas fish at the northernmost site were still actively spawning in late June. These results suggest that the spawning season of bluegill in Lake Biwa varies from site to site; fish at lower latitudes begin to spawn earlier, and those at higher latitudes may have a longer spawning season.
Tribological Potential of Hybrid Composites Based on Zinc and Aluminium Alloys Reinforced with SiC and Graphite Particles

A B S T R A C T The paper reviews contemporary research in the area of hybrid composites based on zinc and aluminium alloys reinforced with SiC and graphite particles. Metal matrix composites (MMCs) based on ZA matrix are being increasingly applied as light-weight and wear resistant materials. Aluminium matrix co mposites with multiple reinforcements (hybrid AMCs) are finding increased applications because of improved mechanical and tribological properties and hence are better substitutes for single reinforced composites. The results of research show that the hybri d composites possess higher hardness, higher tensile strength, better wear resistance and lower coefficient of friction when compared to pure alloys . © 2012 Published by Faculty of Engineering
COMPANY SIZE IN RESPONSE TO EARNINGS MANAGEMENT AND COMPANY PERFORMANCE

Company size has been assumed to be an influential factor in any businesses. Therefore, anycompany might be also induced by this factor when dealing with its performance. This researchaimed to analyze the effect of firm size on earnings management and corporate performance.This study was done by means of census with the population of 69 go public companies.They have been the participants of Corporate Governance Perception Index (CGPI)period 2004-2008. The variable of company size was measured by using the logarithm ofassets while that of earnings management using discretionary accruals. In measuring firmperformance variable, the study uses Tobins Q. The results of this study show a significantnegative effect of firm size on earnings management. Large-sized companies will avoid doingearnings management. Beside, the size of company has a significant and positive effect oncompany performance. Large-sized companies will have a chance to get a greater opportunityto profit through the sale of shares.
Owner Situationally Specific Motivation, And Organisational Citizenship Behaviour: A Study of New Zealand Entrepreneurs

Despite the extensive developments in entrepreneurship theory over recent decades, there is a lack of empirical studies examining the influence of owner situationally specific motivation on firm performance focusing on small and medium sized enterprises (SME) in New Zealand. The present study attempts to bridge this gap. At the same time, it responds to calls to extend performance measures to include non-financial outcomes by using organisational citizenship behaviours – OCB – as a performance measure. This is based on the observation that OCBs are consistently presented in the literature as a cornerstone of good performance and competitive advantage. The study uses mixed methods, combining surveys and semi-structured interviews. Multiple regression is used to analyse data on entrepreneurial situationally specific motivation (i.e. communicated vision, self-efficacy, and goals) provided by a sample of 107 firms. In addition, 107 pairs, each comprising an owner-manager plus a random employee from the same firm, also supplied data on organisational citizenship behaviours. Finally, nine qualitative interviews were conducted with owners to further enhance understanding. The study highlights the statistical significance of the positive relationship of entrepreneurial situationally specific motivation and OCB. This finding suggests that owners who have confidence in their abilities [self-efficacy] and who have communicated their vision [communicated vision] are more likely to encourage in their employees the behaviours that are required in order to function well in their organisations. The implications of this finding for potential future research are discussed.
COMPATIBILITY COMPETITION IN THE PRESENCE OF NETWORK EXTERNALITIES

A quality level is much often determined ahead of price. In imperfectly competitive markets, quality decisions are known to create the rivali¯s price undercutting, and thus the equilibrium quality level becomes suboptimal. This paper takes a view that a quality level of a product subject to network externalities is positively related to its degree of compatibility to other brands as well as to the size of its own network. It shows that in the presence of network externalities, contrary to the literature, the suppliers tend to provide an excessive degree of compatibility because compatibility provision relaxes subsequent price competition.
Do labour market reforms reduce labour productivity growth? A panel data analysis of 20 OECD countries (1960–2004)

Based on comprehensive regression analysis, the authors find that weak wage growth and a smaller labour share of national income significantly reduce labour productivity growth. They conclude that supply-side labour market reforms have contributed to reducing labour productivity growth: this cannot be explained by a deregulation-induced inflow of low-productivity labour as proposed by OECD researchers. They also discuss why deregulation, easier firing and higher labour turnover may damage learning and knowledge accumulation in companies, notably by weakening the functioning of the “routinized” innovation model (“Schumpeter II”). Finally, their findings raise doubts about the relevance of Baumol's law and Verdoorn's law.
Evaluating Measurement Model of Lecturer Self-Efficacy

The first aim of the present study was to examine the construct of lecturer self-efficacy. In so doing, the study sought to establish the extent to which the conceptualized self-efficacy measure reproduced the data. Second, the study evaluated the adequacy of the lecturer self-efficacy measure across lecturers' gender. The data were collected from a self-reported questionnaire administered to 106 faculty members of a teacher training institution in Malaysia. The results of confirmatory factor analysis supported the adequacy of lecturer self-efficacy measure. Also, the measurement found to be applicable across gender. 1 Keywords: validity, self-efficacy, measurement model, CFA.
The customer relationship management process: its measurement and impact on performance

Customer relationship management (CRM) systems track and measure marketing campaigns over different networks. There are literally many studies associated with the implementation of CRM in different industries. This paper presents an empirical investigation to determine effective factors influencing on the success of CRM implementation. The study designs a questionnaire in Likert scale on measuring various factors and distributes it among selected employees who work for the biggest software maker firm in city of Tehran, Iran. Using principal component analysis, the study has detected five factors influencing on the succes of CRM including customer relationship technologies, customer oriented, enterprise development strategies, customer services and business plan.
Carbon Stocks and Fluxes in Rangelands of the Río de la Plata Basin

Abstract Grasslands are one of the most modified biomes on Earth. Land use changes had a large impact on carbon (C) stocks of grasslands. Understanding the impact of land use/land cover changes on C stocks and fluxes is critical to evaluate the potential of rangeland ecosystem as C sinks. In this article we analyze C stocks and fluxes across the environmental gradients of one of the most extensive temperate rangeland areas: the Río de la Plata Grasslands (RPG) in South America. The analysis summarizes information provided by field studies, remote sensing estimates, and modeling exercises. Average estimates of aboveground net primary production (ANPP) ranged from 240 to 316 g C · m−2 · yr−1. Estimates of belowground NPP (BNPP) were more variable than ANPP and ranged from 264 to 568 g C · m−2 · yr−1. Total Carbon ranged from 5 004 to 15 008 g C · m−2. Plant biomass contribution to Total Carbon averaged 13% and varied from 9.5% to 27% among sites. The largest plant C stock corresponded to belowground biomass. Aboveground green biomass represented less than 7% of the plant C. Soil organic carbon (SOC) was concentrated in the slow and passive compartments of the organic matter. Active soil pool represented only 6.7% of the SOC. The understanding of C dynamics and stocks in the RPG grasslands is still partial and incomplete. Field estimates of ANPP and BNPP are scarce, and they are not based on a common measurement protocol. Remotely sensed techniques have the potential to generate a coherent and spatially explicit database on ANPP. However, more work is needed to improve estimates of the spatial and temporal variability of radiation use efficiency. The absence of a flux tower network restricts the ability to track seasonal changes in C uptake and to understand fine-scale controls of C dynamics.
Application of vertical electrical sounding and horizontal profiling methods to decipher the existing subsurface stratification at river Segen dam site, Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

The study area Segen river dam site is situated in the southeastern zone of Tigray National Regional State in between Hintalo Wajirat and Enderta Weredas. It is geographically located at 37P between 541400 to 542600 UTME Latitude and 1481600 to 1482600 UTMN Longitude about 35 km southwestern part of Mekelle, the capital of Tigray National Regional State. The study was conducted having an objective of the geophysical assessment to provide important subsurface geophysical information useful in evaluating the subsurface geological formations, geological structures, cavities and others for the dam site under investigation. Ten vertical electical sounding (VES) points along the two profile lines and a total of two horizontal profiling (EP) with a Wenner electrode array were collected. The VES results have shown that weak zones at VES 2, 3 and 4 along Profile 1 and at VES 2, 3 and 5 along Profile 2 where the depth goes not more than 20 m deep in both profiles’ pseudo cross section except at VES 4 profile which extends up to 30 m deep. Similarly, the electrical resistivity profiling results also have shown that the weak zones extend not more than 20 m of depth. Hence, the result revealed that the investigation requires further core drilling investigations.