Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Universal Beliefs and Specific Practices : Students ’ Math Self-Efficacy and Related Factors in the United States and China

This study intends to compare and contrast student and school factors that are associated with students’ mathematics self-efficacy in the United States and China. Using hierarchical linear regressions to analyze the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) 2012 data, this study compares math self-efficacy, achievement, and variables such as math teacher support and socioeconomic status (SES) between 15-year-old students in the U.S. and in Shanghai, China. The findings suggest that on average, students from Shanghai showed higher math self-efficacy and better achievement than those of American students. However, at the student level, similar positive relationships between math teacher support and math self-efficacy and between SES and math self-efficacy were found in both locations. That is, in the U.S. and Shanghai, an increase in math teacher support predicts an increase in math self-efficacy, also higher SES is significantly associated with higher math self-efficacy. In addition, at the school level, the smaller difference in American students’ math self-efficacy between higher SES school and lower SES school indicates that the U.S. is more equitable between schools than Shanghai, China in terms of students’ math self-efficacy. Implications from this study indicate that improving teacher support in math class and narrowing the gap in students’ self-efficacy related to school-level SES is a significant issue for the U.S. and Shanghai, China respectively.
Late extensional shear zones and associated recumbent folds in the Alpujarride subduction complex, Betic Cordillera, southern Spain

The existence in the Alpujarride Complex (Betic Cordillera, southern Spain) of a relatively continuous extensional event (following crustal thickening) is based on detailed structural studies and is consistent with the P-T paths and geochronological data established for the Alpujarride rocks. According to our research, the Alpujarride Complex contains two large-scale shear zones accommodating early Miocene extension. The shear zones contain km-scale recumbent folds, some with sheath fold geometry, and megaboudinage structures, and are closely associated with detachment faults. Large-scale folds and boudins cause dome-like undulations in the detachments, which are inferred to overlap in time with the deformation in the shear zones. One shear zone in the eastern part of the orogen is top-N; the other, in the western part, is top-E. The change in the shear direction may represent a temporal evolution in the direction of shear, possibly related to a change in the subduction direction in space and time.
Experimental and theoretical study of the elliptic instability in a rotating stratified flow

The combined effects of Coriolis force and buoyancy effects on the dynamics of a weakly elliptical bounded vortex are treated theoretically as well as experimentally. As predicted theoretically, stratification and rotation have antagonist contributions to the stability of an elliptical vortex. Thus if the stratification is strong enough (Nb > Ωc, Nb and Ωc being respectively the Brunt-Väisälä frequency and the rotation rate of the flow in a frame rotating with the elliptical deformation at angular velocity Ωt), we have observed that only anticyclones (such that |Wa| < Ωc with Wa = 2(Ωc + Ωt)) are unstable, whereas the cyclones are always stable. In addition if the stratification is weak (Nb < Ωc), instability areas over change. These instability thresholds found theoretically have been observed experimentally with a good accuracy and the measured growth rate are in a good agreement with those predicted by a linear stability analysis in the limit of small deformation.
Differential Adoption of Scientific Dairy Farming Practices and Related Constraints

The nation still needs to adopt and follow better technologies of dairy farming to meet the growing demand for milk. This is the purpose sought in imparting the Scientific Dairy Farming training. But, parallel to imparting training it is of paramount importance to examine the level of adoption and the constraints faced by them in adopting various scientific technologies. In the present study, comparison of adoption and constraints perceived in Scientific Dairy Farming by Ex-trainees of KVK and the non-trainee was carried out. Sixty Ex-trainee and sixty non-trainee dairy farmers were selected at random from the villages of Karnal district of Haryana. The data was collected through personal interview with the help of a structured schedule. The ex-trainees were found to have better adoption than non-trainees. The respondents faced more constraints in breeding and health care. Some of the major constraints mentioned by the respondents were poor results of Artificial Insemination, lack of knowledge of common contagious diseases, their causes and control measures and non- availability of mineral mixture in the area. The present investigation concluded that scientific dairy farming training programme had positive impact on adoption of technologies by dairy farmers despite of many constraints.
The Organization of Consumption

In neoclassical economics, whose golden idyll of general equilibrium theory has only lately lost some of its luster, the consumer is important but inactive. Pareto is supposed to have said that we do not need the consumer at all so long as he leaves us a snapshot of his preferences. It is the logical structure of those preferences, not choice in any existential sense, that drives the Walrasian engine. It is easy enough to make fun of this approach. But our complaint here – if it can even be called that – is not the verisimilitude of the neoclassical consumer. Indeed, neoclassical demand theory is perfectly justifiable within its scope, even if that scope is far more limited than most realize (Langlois and Koppl 1991). In its Marshallian form, that theory has been useful in explaining the direction of changes in price and quantity in the short run as a result of changes in boundary conditions. But for other questions – questions in which the profession is becoming increasingly interested – the consumer-as-preferences approach may be inadequate. In addition to some of the old questions like fashion and advertising, issues of more recent interest, like the communicative role of consumption and the boundary between producers and consumers, require that we take a different tack (Cosgel 1994, 1997). In this chapter we recast the activities of the consumer not only as production activities but also as problem-solving activities that require the purchase, development, and invention of consumption capabilities.
Physical properties of synthetic and natural pyroxenes in the system diopside–hedenbergite–acmite

Summary Unit cell dimensions and refractive indices have been determined for synthetic pyroxenes in the system CaMgSi2O6-CaFeSi2O6-NaFeSi2O6, which have been crystallized and annealed on the nickel-bunsenite (Ni-NiO) oxygen buffer curve at 700 °C and a total pressure of 2 kb. The data presented confirms the many postulates that a complete solid solution series does exist in the subsolidus region of the ‘ternary’ system. The unit cell dimensions show an almost linear change with composition between the end members. The determined cell parameters for a series of analysed natural alkali pyroxenes have been compared with the data for the synthetic pyroxenes and close agreement was found between both sets of data. The variation of the unit cell dimensions and refractive indices has been examined in relation to the possible ionic substitutions taking place in the pyroxenes.
Enhanced Security Protocol in Wireless Sensor Networks

The need for security in communications is in fact not new. This need has existed in military communications for thousands of years. In this paper, we focus on network protocols that provide security services. Wireless sensor network is an emerging technology that shows applications both for public as well as military purposes. Monitoring is one of the main applications. A large amount of redundant data is generated by sensor nodes. This paper compares all the protocols which are designed for security of wireless sensor network on the basis of security services and propose an improved protocol that reduces communication overhead by removing data redundancy from the network. By using the message sequence number we can check whether it is old message or new message. If the message is old then no need to send that message thereby reducing overhead. It also integrates security by data freshness in the protocol.
In the Nick of Time: A Heteroskedastic SVAR Model and Its Application to the Crude Oil Futures Market

Many economic analyses revolve around the identification of shocks. However, this becomes difficult if we do not have enough information, for example because we do not observe the underlying process at a high enough frequency. As a result, if the response of one variable to a shock to another takes place `in the nick of time' this shock remains unidentified. We introduce a structural vector-autoregression model with Markov-switching heteroskedasticity in the data generating process that allows us to study instantaneous impulse-response relationships with the proper selection of a supporting `catalyst', which can be easier to find than an instrumental variable.
The Role of Plant Water Deficits on Cold Tolerance during Cold Acclimation of a Cold Tolerant (Poncirus trifoliata) and Cold Sensitive (Citrus unshiu) Species

P. trifoliata is a very cold tolerant citrus species that is capable of surviving freezes to 26 ̊C, whereas C. unshiu cannot survive below -10 ̊C. It is not known if the difference in cold tolerance of these two species is related to differences in water relations during cold acclimation, even when drought stress is minimized. C. unshiu and P. trifoliata trees were kept unacclimated by holding day/night air temperatures at 25 ̊C/20 ̊C, or acclimated by dropping day/night air temperatures weekly from 25 ̊C/20 ̊C to 20 ̊C/15 ̊C to 15 ̊C/10 ̊C, and then to 10 ̊C/5 ̊C for 9 weeks. During cold acclimation, stomata closed similarly for both species. Stomata never completely closed, which allowed low levels of transpiration and CO2 assimilation. Root resistance was higher for C. unshiu than P. trifoliata, and was higher for acclimated than unacclimated plants. Plant water deficits, as measured by stem water potential, declined similarly for both species during cold acclimation, while remaining similar and constant when unacclimated. The similarity in plant water deficits between species during cold acclimation and the responses of stomata and root resistance cannot explain the contrasting cold hardiness of these two species.
Effect of Reducing the Conventional Feeding Rate on Water Quality and Shrimp Production Variables in Penaeus monodon Shrimp Culture with Zero Water Exchange Model Using Molasses as Carbon Source

In aquacultureparticularly for fishes culture it was shown that the application of carbon had brought about good benefits in terms of water quality, fishes production variables and increase in bacterial biomass. Moreover, bacterial biomass used to replace part of the feed requirement of fishes resulting a considerable cost saving and the boasting profit for the farmer. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of reducing conventional feeding rate on water quality and shrimp production variables within Penaeus monodon shrimp culture with zero water exchange model using molasses. Study shows that using molasses with the level of C: N ratio = 20.0:1 at 75 % of conventional feeding rate is the most promising features of zero water exchange culture system because it offers increased biosecurity, reduced feed costs, waste and water use. Keywords : Feeding rate, water quality, zero water exchange model, molasses Dibudidaya perairan terutama untuk budidaya ikan telah diperlihatkan bahwa penggunaaan karbon membawa manfaat dari sisi kualitas air, produksi ikan dan peningkatan dalam biomassa bakteri. Biomassa bakteri digunakan untuk mengantikan sebagian kebutuhan makanan ikan sehingga dapat menghemat biaya dan menguntungkan bagi petani. Tujuan studi ini adalah untuk mengevaluasi pengaruh pengurangan jumlah pakan konvensional terhadap variable kualitas air dan produksi udang dalam budidaya udang Penaeus monodon dengan sistem tanpa pergantian air menggunakan molasses. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan molasses dengan level ratio C:N = 20.0:1 dan pemberian pakan 75 % dari jumlah pakan konvensional merupakan pola yang sangat menjanjikan bagi system budidaya tanpa pergantian air sebab perlakuan tersebut dapat meningkatkan biosecurity, mengurangi biaya pakan, limbah dan penggunaan air. Kata kunci: Jumlah pakan,kualitas air,model tanpa pergantian air, molasses
The High Time Resolution Universe Pulsar Survey – VII. Discovery of five millisecond pulsars and the different luminosity properties of binary and isolated recycled pulsars

This paper presents the discovery and timing parameters for five millisecond pulsars (MSPs), four in binary systems with probable white dwarf companions and one isolated, found in ongoing processing of the High Time Resolution Universe Pulsar Survey (HTRU). We also present high quality polarimetric data on four of them. These further discoveries confirm the high potential of our survey in finding pulsars with very shor t spin periods. At least two of these five MSPs are excellent candidates to be included in the Pulsar Timing Array projects. Thanks to the wealth of MSP discoveries in the HTRU survey, we revisit the question of whether the luminosity distributions of isolated and binar y MSPs are different. Using the Cordes and Lazio distance model and our new and catalogue flux density measurements, we find that 41 of the 42 most luminous MSPs in the Galactic disk ar e in binaries and a statistical analysis suggests that the luminosity functions differ wit h 99.9% significance. We conclude that the formation process that leads to solitary MSPs affects their luminosities, despite their period and period derivatives being similar to those of pulsars in binary systems.
IN BOTTOM SEDIMENTS OF BUG RIVER

The development of industry, agriculture, and transport contributes to an increased environmental pollution by heavy metals. The aim of the study was preliminary assessment of the contents of selected metals (lead, cobalt, copper, chromium, cadmium and nickel) in the sediments of Bug river. The study comprised part of the river flowing through Poland. It was found that the Bug river sediments are not contaminated in respect to the content of tested metals. Based on the analysis of the study results, these metals can be lined up in the following order: Cr > Pb > Cu > Ni > Co > Cd. Statistical analysis showed that copper and chromium occur in Bug river sediments in forms bindings with organic matter in majority of cases. The granulometric analysis of sediments from Bug river revealed the largest percentage of two fractions: 1.0–0.2 mm with average of 47.7 ± 19.77% and 0.2–0.1 mm with average of 20.6 ± 7.7%. These are the dominant fractions with the accumulation of metals in river sediments, which has been confirmed by statistical analysis.
Adaptive Backstepping Control for a Class of Uncertain Nonaffine Nonlinear Time-Varying Delay Systems with Unknown Dead-Zone Nonlinearity

An adaptive backstepping controller is constructed for a class of nonaffine nonlinear time-varying delay systems in strict feedback form with unknown dead zone and unknown control directions. To simplify controller design, nonaffine system is first transformed into an affine system by using mean value theorem and the unknown nonsymmetric dead-zone nonlinearity is treated as a combination of a linear term and a bounded disturbance-like term. Owing to the universal approximation property, fuzzy logic systems (FLSs) are employed to approximate the uncertain nonlinear part in controller design process. By introducing Nussbaum-type function, the a priori knowledge of the control gains signs is not required. By constructing appropriate Lyapunov-Krasovskii functionals, the effect of time-varying delay is compensated. Theoretically, it is proved that this scheme can guarantee that all signals in closed-loop system are semiglobally uniformly ultimately bounded (SUUB) and the tracking error converges to a small neighbourhood of the origin. Finally, the simulation results validate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme.
Primary Prevention of Bleeding from Oesophageal Varices

Variceal bleeding is the most serious complication of patients with cirrhosis and portal hypertension. Mortality related to variceal bleeding has been falling in recent years but is still considered among the leading causes of death in these patients. Therefore, the issue of primary prophylaxis of variceal bleeding is an important one. In the pre-primary prophylaxis setting (prevention of formation/growth of varices) all cirrhotics should be screened for varices at diagnosis although there is no currently indication for treating patients in order to prevent the formation of varices. Areas requiring further study include the natural history of low-risk varices and treatment possibilities for the decrease or the prevention of the development and/or the progression of varices. Patients with small varices could be treated with beta-blockers, which have been proved effective in reducing the risk of first variceal bleeding in patients with medium and large oesophageal varices. Endoscopic band ligation seems to be more effective in recent trials, but concerns have been raised regarding its safety. Further, studies are required to clarify whether the use of the combination of band ligation and beta-blockers is better than each treatment alone. The future aim is to improve current medical therapy taking into consideration the cost-effectiveness and the quality of life.
Predispositional and situational processes underlying choking under pressure: An application of the Self-Determination Theory

The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) is critical in controlling the rate of renal sodium reabsorption and maintaining long term blood pressure control. ENaC activity is twice as high in kidneys of high salt-fed Dahl salt-sensitive (S) rats versus a sister salt-resistant strain (Dahl R), which might explain the increased blood pressure in high salt-fed Dahl S rats versus R rats. ENaC blockade in the brain by benzamil rescued Dahl S rats from salt-induced hypertension. The aims of the present study were: (i) To test whether Dahl S rats harbor genetic polymorphisms in the ENaC a, p\ and/or y genes that might contribute to their enhanced ENaC activity; (ii) To investigate whether a ENaC in Dahl rats' kidney is associated with alternatively spliced forms, and their corresponding mRNA levels, should they exist, in Dahl S versus R rats on normal and high salt diet; (iii) To examine the putative biological function of a ENaC alternatively spliced forms when co-expressed with a ENaC-wt. The first comprehensive sequence analysis of ENaC genes did not reveal any differences between Dahl S and R rats that were isogenic in the entire coding regions, exon-intron junctions, 3 ' and 5' flanking regions of ENaC a, (3, and y genes. Two coding (a and b) and two non coding (c and d) a ENaC alternatively spliced forms were identified whose mRNA levels were elevated in Dahl R versus S rats. Among the four a ENaC transcripts, the salt-sensitive a ENaC-b was highly abundant exceeding a ENaC-wt abundance by -32 fold. The translated a ENaC-b protein sequestered a ENaC-wt and reduced a ENaC-wt expression in a dose-dependent manner. Increased ENaC activity in Dahl S versus R rats might be attributed to the lower abundance of a ENaC-b, a dominant negative expression regulator of a ENaC.
Perspectives of Continuing Professional Development (CPD) for Kenyan Midwives

Continuing Professional Development (CPD) provides an important strategy for reduction of maternal morbidity and mortality with the aim of attaining Millennium Development goals (MDG) four and five. However, there is lack of information about how Kenyan midwives understand and perceive CPD and how this is situated in the practice and social context. This research aimed to explore Kenyan midwives’ experience and perceptions of CPD. A descriptive explorative approach gathered focus group discussion and questionnaire data on beliefs, opinions, and perceptions, demotivating and motivating factors to CPD of a total of 25 midwives in a level five hospital in Kenya. Questionnaires were piloted and self-administered after cleaning and focus groups taped and transcribed verbatim. Data were analyzed thematically using inductive approach with the aid of SPSS computer program. Results: Four key themes emerged from the data: Midwives’ views of CPD, their motivators for undertaking CPD, the choices they made around CPD, their demotivators for undertaking CPD. Congruence with the issues evident in the literature were: the difficulties with role diversity, the importance of CPD in personal and professional growth, the importance of flexible modes of study and the importance of a supportive culture for ongoing learning. The study findings helped in identifying gaps in the literature about Kenyan midwives’ perspectives on CPD.
Aspects of biology and exploitation of Sepia aculeata Orbigny from Mangalore area, Karnataka

Sepia aculeata is the most important component of cuttlefish landings at Mangalore. The major spawning season is October to March. It attains first maturity at a dorsal mantle length of 86 mm. Females are dominant particularly beyond 150 mm length. The fecundity ranges from 206 to 1,568 ova. Relative fecundity is the highest at 94 mm length and progressively declines with increase in length. Significant difference is observed in lengthweight relationship between immature and mature cuttlefish in either sex. The fluctuations of gonad, nidamental gland and hepatic indices are correlated to the maturity and spawning habits of S. aculeata. The growth parameters are estimated by Gulland and Holt plot as L_= 231 mm K = 0.0041/day and t = -41days. This species reaches a length of 181 mm at the end of one year.
Ecological studies on the vegetation of coastal sand bars. : II. Succession in vegetation and developmental processes of dunes.

The interrelated developments of vegetation and topography were studied on a sand bar less than 150 m in width at the seaward side of the tidal estuary of the Nanakita River, Miyagi Prefecture, North Honshu. Observations on the processes of beach formation revealed that the area under study has a series of surface ages ranging from nine to about 24 years in 1957. The results of the following surveys which were made at various parts of the bar, including those of actual changes during five years, were so interrelated each other that we can make a general picture of the developments: (a) Dispersal of seed and distribution and ecesis of seedling on a beach ridge emerged recently. (b)The number, distribution and growths of embryonic dunes formed during four years after the emergence, (c) Succession associated with the consolidation of the embryonic dunes forming the peculiar dune-and-channel pattern of the topography. It took less than nine years after the emergence, (d) Further developments of the vegetation, which consists of the changes associated with the increment in the relative height of the mobile dunes, and of those related to the stabilization of mobile dunes increasingly protected by the advancing foredunes. The results of gradient analyses of the vegetation, made along the above-mentioned environmental indices which are subject to the influences of the plant growths, served as a useful criterion for the interpretation of autogenic succession. In conclusion, it is emphasized that the interrelation between the vegetation and the dune topography on this sand bar should be regarded as a system of mutual interactions.