Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Teaching Short Stories in the Omani Context: The Use of the Reader Response Theory

The present study investigated the effectiveness of using the Reader Response Theory (RRT) on Omani secondary school students’ comprehension of short stories and their attitudes towards the method used in teaching short stories. To serve this purpose, two instruments were used in this study: a reading comprehension test and a questionnaire. The data obtained from the two instruments were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ttests. Using the Semiexperimental method, the results showed that students who were taught a short story with the RRT did better on the comprehension test than those in the control groups. There was also a significant difference between the control and experimental group in their attitudes towards the method used in teaching and reading the short story and learning English in general in favor of the experimental group.
Physicochemical, Microbiological, Antioxidant and Sensory Characteristics of “Aguamiel” Microencapsulated by Spray Drying

The aim of this work was to obtain powders of “aguamiel” (AM) (from Agave salmiana) by spray drying using maltodextrin (MD) and Arabic gum (AG) as encapsulates. Three microencapsulated powders were obtained: Powder 1 (P1, AM/MD), Powder 2 (P2, AM/AG/MD; AG:MD, 3:1) and Powder 3 (P3, AM/MD/AG; AG:MD, 1:3) from solutions with 20% (w/w) of solutes. Powders were evaluated according to their physicochemical, antioxidant, microbiological and sensory characteristics. Powders had averages of moisture content of 2.55 ± 0.24%, water activity of 0.34 ± 0.02, and particle size of 29.84 ± 1.4 μm. It was observed that the higher the concentration of Arabic gum, the darker the powders. The physicochemical and color properties of the rehydrated powders were similar to those of fresh “aguamiel”. The microbial load, during 95 days of storage, indicated no significant changes (p > 0.05) between the initial and final values in the three powders; the highest microbial load was observed in powder P3 (6.6x103 CFU/mL and 5.9x103 CFU/mL, initial and final loads, respectively). The content of phenolics in powders P1, P2 and P3 during storage were 212.40 ± 68.22, 350.51 ± 145.00, and 266.25 ± 89.93 mg Gallic acid equivalents/100 g, respectively; the antioxidant capacity was 1,207.13 ± 109.64, 1,172.17 ± 145.80, and 1,183.34 ± 65.17 mg Trolox equivalents/100 g, respectively. According to the sensory evaluation of the rehydrated powders, the better acceptance was obtained with the P3 powder, with better physicochemical and sensorial characteristics.
Textuality in EAP Research Articles: A Genre Analysis

One of the main concerns of scholars working in the field of EAP over the last 2decades has been raising the awareness of EAP students and publishers of genreconventions in academic journals. In line with the above concern, many studies haveaimed at exploring the general characteristics of research articles (RAs) in the field.Among these features, it seems that the generic moves and textuality have drawn theattention of researchers. Therefore, the purpose of this study was twofold: (1) tocompare and contrast the Iranian local ESP journals with their internationalcounterparts in terms of the given features by drawing upon existing research, and(2) to develop a more inclusive model for the analysis of moves and lexical cohesionpatterns (LCPs) in the Discussion sections of ESP RAs. Results showed that theDiscussion sections in the international ESP RAs tended to have a more cyclicalevaluative move mechanism compared with their Iranian local counterparts.Findings also revealed that the organizational patterning and use of the LCPs inconsolidating the Results sections of the RAs have a dual intrinsic relationship.Translation of such findings provides a better chance for nonnative EAP writers topublish in international journals.
Identification of Discriminant Factors after Exposure of Maize and Common Bean Plantlets to Abiotic Stresses

Adverse environmental conditions limit crop yield and better understanding of plant response to stress will assist the development of more tolerant cultivars. Maize and common bean plantlets were evaluated under salinity, high temperature, drought and waterlogged conditions to identify biochemical markers which could be useful for rapid identification of putative stress tolerant plants. The levels of phenolics (free, cell wall-linked, total), aldehydes including malondialdehyde andchlorophylls (a, b, total) were measured on stressed plantlets. Only two indicators were statistically non-significant: chlorophyll b in maize plantlets stressed with sodium chloride and malondialdehyde content in drought stressed maize. The most remarkable effects of abiotic stresses can be summarized as follows: (i) salinity increased levels of free phenolics in maize plantlets and chlorophylls (a, b, total) in common bean; (ii) high temperature (40 °C) elevated levels of chlorophylls (a, b, total) in maize but decreased chlorophylls (a, b, total) and free phenolics in common bean; (iii) drought increased phenolics and decreased chlorophylls (a, b, total) in maize and increased chlorophyll pigments (a, b, total) in common bean; (iv) waterlogging increased free phenolics and decreased chlorophylls (a, b, total) in maize and increased chlorophyll (a, total) incommon bean. Free phenolics and chlorophylls, especially a, were the most responsive indicators to stress and can, therefore, be considered putative biochemical markers for abiotic stress tolerance in maize and common bean. The use of Fisher’s linear discriminant analysis to differentiate non-stressed and stressed plants in breeding programs is also a novel aspect of this report. Fisher’s linear discriminant functions classified correctly 100% of non-stressed or stressed originally grouped plants.
Cognitive restructuring ability, teacher guidance and perceptual distracter tasks: An aptitude, treatment, interaction study

The aptitude-treatment interaction (ATI) study reported here explored the relationship between cognitive restructuring ability, as measured by the Group Embedded Figures Test (GEFT), and treatments varying in amounts of teacher guidance. It specifically investigated how these two variables affected performance on rational number tasks involving perceptual distracters. Perceptual distracter problems evolved from the work of the Rational Number Project (Behr & Post, 1981). Such problems contain visualstimulus information inconsistent with the demands of the task that must
Effects of Seed Sowing Depth on Emergence and Early Seedling Development of Two African Indigenous Leafy Vegetables

Depth of sowing can affect early crop establishment due to poor seedling emergence. A glasshouse study was conducted to investigate the effects of sowing depths (1.5, 3.5, 7, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30 mm) on emergence and early seedling development of two each of African indigenous (Amaranthus hybridus & Cleome gynandra) and exotic (Spinacia oleracea & Brassica napus) leafy vegetables. A split plot design with four replicates was used. Exotic vegetables had significantly higher (p 5 mm) sowing and their emergence was more adversely affected by soil strength at this depth. It is concluded that seeds of African indigenous vegetables should be sown at shallower depths (1-5 mm) in order to ensure rapid emergence and early establishment of seedlings if sown directly into the soil. (T.M. Seeiso and S.A. Materechera. Effects of Seed Sowing Depth on Emergence and Early Seedling Development of Two African Indigenous Leafy Vegetables. Life Science Journal. 2011;8(S2):12-17) (ISSN: 1097 - 8135). http://www.lifesciencesite. com .
Studying Innovation Trajectories and Networks : The Case of Benecol Margarine

Science Studies, Vol. 13(2000) No. 1, 50–67 During the 1980’s and 1990’s, the concept of network has gained importance in the comprehension of innovation processes. It has been acknowledged that the locus of the innovation has shifted from a single firm to a network of firms or other actors collaborating in different ways during the innovation process. This network postulate is apparent in technology policy documents (OECD, 1992; 1998), as well as in research literature (Powell, 1990; Powell et al., 1996). The utilization of the network concept in empirical innovation studies is, as yet, on a developmental phase. In this article, I shall elaborate two theoretical approaches that may help advance the empirical employment of the network concept in innovation studies. The first theoretical approach I shall deal with is Actor-network theory (ANT). ANT is a member of a group of theories called ‘the social shaping of technology’ (SST). SST was formed during the last quarter of the 20th century, when researchers from different disciplinary backgrounds were brought together by a critique of traditional, deterministic conceptions of technology. These researchers insisted that the content of technology, not just its adoption or adjustment, had to be exposed and analyzed empirically. This was pivotal in showing that there were ‘choices’ or negotiations inherent in technological design processes. The social shaping of technology has meant studying this negotiability of technology (the possibility of different outcomes), and, in addition to that, the irreversibility of technology (the stabilization of innovation and foreclosing other choices). (Williams & Edge, 1996: 865-867.) ANT has shared these tenets of SST, whilst it has developed an original actornetwork approach of studying technology and innovation processes. Currently, the concept of actor-network is gradually expanding in innovation studies and other disciplines.1 Nevertheless, the criStudying Innovation Trajectories and Networks: The Case of Benecol Margarine
In vitro and in situ activity of carboxymethyl cellulase and glutamate dehydrogenase according to supplementation with different nitrogenous compounds

Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of supplementation with different nitrogenous compounds on the activities of carboxymethil cellulase (CMCase) and glutamate dehydrogenase (GDH). In the first experiment, four treatments were evaluated in vitro: cellulose, cellulose with casein, cellulose with urea, and cellulose with casamino acids. After 6, 12 and 24 hours of incubation, CMCase and GDH activity, pH, and concentrations of ammonia nitrogen (AN) and microbial protein were measured. In the three incubation periods, the concentration of AN was higher when urea was used as a supplemental source of nitrogen. The activity of CMCase was higher with the addition of urea and casamino acids when compared with the control and the casein treatment. Supplementation with casamino acids provided higher GDH activity when compared with the control at 6 hours of incubation. At 12 hours of incubation, the GHD activity was also stimulated by casein. At 24 hours, there was no difference in GHD activity among treatments. In the second experiment, three rumen-fistulated bulls were used for in situ evaluation. Animals were fed Tifton hay (Cynodon sp.) ad libitum. The treatments consisted of control (no supplementation), supplementation with non-protein nitrogenous compounds (urea and ammonium sulphate, 9:1) and supplementation with protein (albumin). In treatments with nitrogenous compound supplementation, 1 g of crude protein/kg of body weight was supplied. The experiment was conducted in a 3 × 3 Latin square design. The measurements were performed at 6, 12 and 24 hours after supplementation. No difference in GDH activity was observed among treatments. The control treatment showed higher CMCase activity when compared with the treatments containing supplemental sources of nitrogen. However, urea supplementation provided higher CMCase activity compared to albumin.
Short-term storage in vitro and large-scale propagation of grapevine genotypes

The objective of this work was to evaluate the large‑scale propagation of grapevine genotypes after short‑term storage in vitro. Microshoots from ten grapevine genotypes were used. The following storage temperatures were evaluated: 10, 20, and 25°C. After short‑term storage, the shoots were propagated in up to five successive subcultures, to assess the large‑scale propagation of the germplasm maintained under conditions of minimal growth. The propagated shoots were rooted in different concentrations of indolbutiric acid (IBA) and acclimatized in greenhouse. The best temperature for short‑term storage in vitro and survival of the genotypes was 20°C. In the propagation phase, the highest number of shoots per explant was found in the subcultures 4 and 5, with averages of 4.9 and 4.8 shoots per explant, respectively. In the rooting phase, the best results for number of roots were obtained using a culture medium supplemented with 0.4 μmol L‑1 of IBA, with an average of three roots per shoot. During the acclimation phase, a survival rate higher than 95% was achieved after 30 days in the greenhouse. Grapevine genotypes maintained for six months in vitro, at 20oC, can be micropropagated in large scale.
JARNO MÄKELÄ DYNAMICS OF STOCHASTIC SEQUENCE-LEVEL MODELS OF TRANSCRIPTION AND TRANSLATION IN PROKARYOTES

TAMPERE UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY Master’s Degree Programme in Biotechnology MÄKELÄ, JARNO: Dynamics of stochastic sequence-level models of transcription and translation in prokaryotes Master of Science Thesis, 59 pages June 2011 Major: Computational Systems Biology Examiners: Professor Olli Yli-Harja and Assistant Professor Andre Ribeiro
A Preliminary Analysis of Chemical Characteristics of Atmospheric Pollutants and Their Deposition Budget on the Fu-shan Forest in Taiwan

This paper presents the chemical characteristics of atmospheric pollutants measured at the Fu-Shan forest (620 m MSL) during two two-weeks field experiments held in the summer and winter of 1993. Chemical compositions of these atmospheric pollutants in solid, gaseous and liquid phases were analyzed. The deposition budget of Sand N compounds through dry and wet deposition pathways were particularly assessed. As a result, aerosol mass spectra were found to be bimodal, having the 50% cut size ＜ 1.0 μm and around 3. 2μm for fine and coarse modes, respectively. In summer, fine and coarse modes were primarily composed of ammonium sulfate and nitrate, respectively. But, in winter the coarse mode was dominated by sea salts due to the influence of northeast monsoon flows. Our average HNO2 (~0.10 ppb) was appreciably higher than those observed in clean troposphere, whereas HNO3 was at a comparable level. Meanwhile, ammonia gas and particulate ammonium were at a lower concentration level compared with those generally observed on the continental grounds. The SO2 (＜1 ppb) was comparable with those frequently observed in the free troposphere, while SO42- was close to the lowest level typically obtained in urban areas. In addition, NO3- which is thought to be associated with local pollution was limited. Therefore, we believe that excessive sot, to a larger extent, was transported to the site via long-range transport, particularly in winter. With regard to the deposition budget, wet deposition pathway (＞ 90 %) was the most effective mechanism for delivering atmospheric S and N compounds to the Fu-Shan forest during the periods of our field experiments.
Karyotypes of the Mexican tropical voles Microtus quasiater and M. umbrosus (Arvicolinae: Muridae)

The non-differentially stained karyotypes of the tropical voles Microtus quasiater (Coues, 1874) and M. umbrosus (Merriam, 1898) are described by first time, and compared and contrasted with that of the hypothetical primitive karyotype for Arvicolinae. The karyotype of M. quasiater from Veracruz, Mexico, has 2n = 62 and FN = 66, while that for M. umbrosus from Oaxaca, Mexico, has 2n = 56 and FN = 60. Their chromosomal morphology comprises few two-armed chromosomes and a relatively large number of single-armed chromosomes. Both species share both a medium-sized metacentric X chromosome and a small telocentric Y chromosome. This karyotypical pattern deviates from the hypothetical primitive condition. However, the karyotypes of other Microtus, including Mexican species of temperate affinity, seem to be even more divergent from the ancestral karyotypical pattern.
The board's role in risk disclosure: an exploratory study of Italian listed state-owned enterprises

The determinants of risk disclosure in the annual reports of listed state-owned enterprises (SOEs) have yet to be fully explored. This paper examines the potential impact of the composition of the boards of directors and other company-specific features on risk disclosure levels. The presence of women on a board made a significant difference to risk disclosure, as did the age of board members. Board directors having an accounting or finance/business qualification affected risk disclosure negatively; company size and an internet visibility were positively related to risk disclosure. Although an Italian study, the lessons here will have application to academia and to practitioners, policy-makers and standard-setters worldwide.
Empathic forecasting: How do we predict other people's feelings?

When making affective forecasts, people commit the impact bias. They overestimate the impact an emotional event has on their affective experience. In three studies we show that people also commit the impact bias when making empathic forecasts, affective forecasts for someone else. They overestimate the impact an emotional event has on someone else's affective experience (Study 1), they do so for friends and strangers (Study 2), and they do so when other sources of information are available (Study 3). Empathic forecasting accuracy, the correlation between one person's empathic forecast and another person's actual affective experience, was lower than between-person forecasting correspondence, the correlation between one person's empathic forecast and another person's affective forecast. Empathic forecasts do not capture other people's actual experience very well but are similar to what other people forecast for themselves. This may enhance understanding between people.
A Study on Cauliflower (Brassica oleracea var. botrytis) Based Intercropping System

In India major land is devoted for cereals and only 3% area of our total arable land is used for vegetable production. The per capita per day consumption of vegetable in India is on an average 125-130 g, but Indian Council of Medical Research recommended taking 285300 g of vegetable every day. To meet this requirement we have to produce 220 million tonnes of vegetable in 2020 AD from the present production level. In this direction, the only solution is to increase vegetable production and productivity per unit area per unit time through growing improved high yielding varieties, adequate and scientific crop management practices and increasing cropping intensities following different cropping patterns.
The economic or infrastructure finance: Public-Private Partnership versus public provision.

We examine the economics of infrastructure finance, focusing on public provision and Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs). We show that project finance is appropriate for PPP projects, because there are few economies of scope and because assets are project specific. Furthermore, we suggest that the higher cost of finance of PPPs is not an argument in favour of public provision, since it appears to reflect the combination of deficient contract design and the cost-cutting incentives embedded in PPPs. Thus, in the case of a correctly designed PPP contract, the higher cost of capital may be the price to pay for the efficiency advantages of PPPs. We also examine the role of government activities in PPP financing (e.g. revenue guarantees, renegotiations) and their consequences. Finally, we discuss how to include PPPs revenue guarantees and the results of PPP contract negotiation in the government balance sheet.
Effect of Carbon Content on Mechanical Properties of SiC/B4C Prepared by Reaction Sintering

SiC/B4C composite was obtained by reaction sintering with Si infiltration, and the effects of carbon content on mechanical properties and the microstructure were investigated. The results showed that the mechanical properties of the SiC/B4C composite improved firstly and then worsened with increasing carbon content. The optimum compre- hensive properties of the composite were obtained by addition of 10vol% carbon. The hardness, bending strength, and fracture toughness of the composite were 19.63 GPa, 358 MPa and 3.96 MPa·m 1/2 , respectively. In addition, at carbon levels below 10vol%, the microstructure became more uniform as the carbon content increased. However, at carbon levels above 10vol%, the addition of carbon led to a fracture mode transformation, from combination of intergranular and transgranular to transgranular, which contributed to a change in the mechanical properties of the SiC/B4C compos- ite.
Oligocene partial melting in the Takab metamorphic complex, NW Iran: Evidence from in situ U-Pb geochronology

U-Pb ages obtained on zircons from the investigated migmatites place new constraints on the evolution of the crustal rocks in the Takab area. SHRIMP UPb dating of inherited zircon in the melanosome parts of mafic migmatites from the Takab complex gives a discordant age with an upper intercept of 296172 Ma (MSWD=0.5) and a lower intercept of 24.25.7 Ma (MSWD=1.7). In the concordia diagram, the melt-grown zircons yield a more precise age of 25.670.74 Ma (MSWD=1.7), similar to the lower intercept age of the discordia. At least part of the scatter along the concordia for the new zircon generations may be real, caused by an extended period of melting and crystallization, in which case the oldest age of c. 29 Ma dates the onset of partial melting. The Oligocene ages for the younger zircons show the importance of partial melting in these mafic rocks. The typical euhedral to subhedral shapes are features related to crystallization and resorption of the grains due to in situ melting. These processes were most likely related to the generation of the Tertiary granitoids of the Takab complex.
Variations of the Atlantic meridional overturning circulation in control and transient simulations of the last millennium

Abstract. The variability of the Atlantic meridional overturing circulation (AMOC) strength is investigated in control experiments and in transient simulations of up to the last millennium using the low-resolution Community Climate System Model version 3. In the transient simulations the AMOC exhibits enhanced low-frequency variability that is mainly caused by infrequent transitions between two semi-stable circulation states which amount to a 10 percent change of the maximum overturning. One transition is also found in a control experiment, but the time-varying external forcing significantly increases the probability of the occurrence of such events though not having a direct, linear impact on the AMOC. The transition from a high to a low AMOC state starts with a reduction of the convection in the Labrador and Irminger Seas and goes along with a changed barotropic circulation of both gyres in the North Atlantic and a gradual strengthening of the convection in the Greenland-Iceland-Norwegian (GIN) Seas. In contrast, the transition from a weak to a strong overturning is induced by decreased mixing in the GIN Seas. As a consequence of the transition, regional sea surface temperature (SST) anomalies are found in the midlatitude North Atlantic and in the convection regions with an amplitude of up to 3 K. The atmospheric response to the SST forcing associated with the transition indicates a significant impact on the Scandinavian surface air temperature (SAT) in the order of 1 K. Thus, the changes of the ocean circulation make a major contribution to the Scandinavian SAT variability in the last millennium.