Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Anthrax Sampling and Decontamination: Technology Trade-Offs

The goal of this project was to answer the following questions concerning response to a future anthrax release (or suspected release) in a building: 1. Based on past experience, what rules of thumb can be determined concerning: (a) the amount of sampling that may be needed to determine the extent of contamination within a given building; (b) what portions of a building should be sampled; (c) the cost per square foot to decontaminate a given type of building using a given method; (d) the time required to prepare for, and perform, decontamination; (e) the effectiveness of a given decontamination method in a given type of building? 2. Based on past experience, what resources will be spent on evaluating the extent of contamination, performing decontamination, and assessing the effectiveness of the decontamination in abuilding of a given type and size? 3. What are the trade-offs between cost, time, and effectiveness for the various sampling plans, sampling methods, and decontamination methods that have been used in the past?
Invariant measures and measurable projective factors for actions of higher-rank lattices on manifolds

We consider smooth actions of lattices in higher-rank semisimple Lie groups on manifolds. We define two numbers $r(G)$ and $m(G)$ associated with the roots system of the Lie algebra of a Lie group $G$. If the dimension of the manifold is smaller than $r(G)$, then we show the action preserves a Borel probability measure. If the dimension of the manifold is at most $m(G)$, we show there is a quasi-invariant measure on the manifold such that the action is measurable isomorphic to a relatively measure preserving action over a standard boundary action.
Vocabulary gender patterns in EFL compositions: a cross sectional and longitudinal study

The correlation between the level of lexical competence of an individual and his/her academic success has long been established, hence the importance of selecting the vocabulary input presented to language learners. The sex/ gender variable may affect the way a learner acquires new words. With an eye on these factors the present paper analyses the vocabulary production of a sample of 204 EFL learners (102 males and 102 females) when writing school compositions at two stages of their learning process, 4 th year of primary school and 1 st year of ESO. The data obtained, we believe, may help designing classroom materials.
The accuracy of emotional intelligence and forgiveness in predicting the degree of satisfaction in marital communications

This research investigates the accuracy of emotional intelligence and forgiveness in predicting the degree of satisfaction in marital communications between Iranian married couples. A total of 200 Iranian married couples were randomly selected for investigation. Multivariable regression and correlation coefficients were used to measure the accuracy. Results show that the correlation coefficient calculated between emotional intelligence and satisfaction in marital communications was 0.405, which was significant at 0.01 level. The correlation coefficient calculated between emotional intelligence and forgiveness did not reach a level of significance. The correlation coefficient calculated between satisfaction in marital communications and forgiveness was 0.71 for original families and 0.243 for nuclear families, which were significant at 0.05 level. An analysis of multivariable regression of female and male data showed a significant coefficient between predictions and evidence variables. The correlation coefficients calculated between satisfaction in marital communications and forgiveness were 0.71 and 0.243 for the original and nuclear families, respectively. The predictive accuracy of emotional intelligence is 0.505 for males and 0.253 for females. Key words: Emotional intelligence, forgiveness, satisfaction marital communications.
Multivariate functional principal component analysis: A normalization approach

This study proposes a modified version of the classical Karhunen-Loeve expansion for a vector-valued random process, called a normalized multivariate functional principal component (mFPCn) approach, as a general stochastic representation for multivariate random functions. The mFPCn approach takes the varying extent of variations between the components of multivariate random functions into account and takes advantage of component dependency through the pairwise cross-covariance functions. The multivariate approach leads to a single set of multivariate functional principal component scores, which serves well as the proxy of multivariate functional data. We derive the consistency properties for the estimates of the mFPCn model components, and the asymptotic distributions for statistical inferences. We illustrate the finite sample performance of the mFPCn approach through the analysis of a traffic flow data set, including an application to clustering multivariate functional data derived from the mFPCn approach and a simulation study. The mFPCn approach serves as a basic and useful statistical tool for multivariate functional data analysis.
An Expose of the Relationship between Paradigm, Method and Design in Research

It is crucial that any research inquiry be guided by a paradigm. However, many early career researchers do not mention the research paradigm guiding their inquiry. Furthermore, qualitative and quantitative methods are sometimes erroneously referred to as research paradigms or research designs. Experienced researchers often use the terms research paradigm, research methods and research design in a loose and confusing manner. Although it is reasonable to assume that experienced researchers do understand the distinction and relationship between the three concepts, the loose use of the concepts leads to confusion among early career researchers, especially Master’s and PhD students. By using a literature review, this paper provides an expose of the relationship between these three concepts and highlights the sources of confusion from the literature. A qualitative approach, using a sample of 11 students from different South African universities, is used to provide an understanding of these concepts by early career researchers. The findings show that there is confusion in the understanding of these concepts. The study raises questions about what could be the possible sources of the confusion, besides the literature, and how the confusion could be addressed.
Are More Risk-Averse Agents More Optimistic? Insights from a Simple Rational Expectations Equilibrium Model

We analyze the link between pessimism and risk-aversion. We consider a model of partially revealing, competitive rational expectations equilibrium with diverse information, in which the distribution of risk-aversion across individuals is unknown. We show that when a high individual level of risk-aversion is taken as a signal for a high average level of risk-aversion, more risk-averse agents are more optimistic. This correlation between individual risk-aversion and optimism leads to a pessimistic consensus belief hence to an increase in the market price of risk. Risk-sharing schemes and welfare implications are analyzed. We show that agents' welfare may increase upon the receipt of more precise information.
Dynamic Agenda Setting

A party in power can address only a limited number of issues in an election cycle. What issues to address--the party's agenda--has dynamic implications because it affects what issues will be addressed in the future. What is the optimal agenda in the presence of dynamic concerns? How does a party's political strength affect its agenda? What are the efficiency implications? We address these questions in a stylized model in which the incumbent in each period addresses one issue among several issues and the remaining issues roll over to the next period. When the incumbent expects its power to strengthen or weaken, strategic manipulations can happen in the form of waiting for the moment and seizing the moment respectively. When the incumbent expects the opposition to come in power next period, strategic manipulations can happen in the form of steering and preemption. In steering, the incumbent gives priority to a less pressing issue to direct the opposition party towards addressing the most pressing issue for the incumbent. In preemption, the incumbent gives priority to the issue most pressing for the opposition to prevent the opposition from addressing it. Although preemption can still be efficient, steering is necessarily inefficient.
Investigating the Effect of Cooperative Learning and Competitive Learning Strategies on the English Vocabulary Development of Iranian Intermediate EFL Learners

The current study investigated the effect of cooperative and competitive learning strategies on the acquisition of English vocabulary development by Iranian EFL intermediate learners. In addition, it explored what type of theses strategies was more effective. In such doing, utilizing an Oxford Placement Test (OPT), 45 out of 77 Iranian EFL intermediate learners from four language institutes in Tehran, Iran, were randomly selected. Then, the selected participants were equally divided into three groups, i.e. a control group and two experimental groups, (N=15). On experimental group was taught via cooperative learning, and the other experimental group was taught via competitive learning. The obtained results were analyzed via one-way ANOVA and independent sample t-test. The results revealed that both of these strategies were effective in English vocabulary development by Iranian EFL intermediate students. Furthermore, the findings indicated that the performance of the experimental group via cooperative strategy was better than their counterpart in the experimental group whom was taught via competitive strategy.
SPATIAL AND TEMPORAL VARIABILITY OF FINE ROOT ABUNDANCE AND GROWTH IN TROPICAL MOIST FORESTS AND AGROFORESTRY SYSTEMS (SULAWESI, INDONESIA)

Selective logging and forest conversion into agroforestry systems are widespread at the margins of tropical moist forests in South-east Asia, typically creating gradients of forest disturbance intensity from the edge to the interior. We studied the effect of increasing forest use on the temporal and spatial variability of fine root mass and fine root production in a sub-montane tropical moist forest in central Sulawesi. We selected four forest types which represent a disturbance gradient from undisturbed forest to selectively logged forest with small or large timber extraction, and to agroforestry plantations under natural shade tree cover. Increasing intensity of forest use led to a significant decrease in fine root biomass and necromass. Even the extraction of only a limited number of small-diameter stems had a significant negative impact on the fine root biomass. Spatial variability of fine root biomass or necromass within the stands did not differ along the disturbance gradient, and neither did the relative seasonal variation in fine root mass. Fine root production was significantly less in the heavily disturbed forest stands than in the undisturbed forest. Fine root biomass and fine root production were strongly correlated with canopy cover and basal area of the stands, whereas soil physical or chemical conditions were of secondary importance. We conclude that mild to moderate disturbances of tropical moist forests have a significant negative effect on total fine root biomass and carbon fluxes associated with root production, whereas spatial and temporal patterns of the fine root system remain largely unaffected. Accepted 21 August 2007.
Academic and Social Challenges Faced by African International Students in Collegiate Institutions in America

International students’ enrollment in higher education in the U.S has expanded considerably in the last decades. In 2015, the United States hosted more of the world’s 4.1 million international students than any other country (Institute for International Education, 2015). With the number of foreign students that come to study in the U.S, 14.5% of international students are African students with the majority of the population coming from Nigeria, Kenya and Ghana. The U.S. is often described as the land of opportunity abroad, but this research intends to explore that perception for international students, especially African students. Many consider African international students as the gateway to local business owners in the U.S seeking to expand a wider global horizon, especially in Africa. This research explored the different types of academic and social challenges faced by African international students in collegiate institutions in America through auto-ethnographic research, and to find possible solutions to those challenges faced by African students. This is a qualitative research approach that used the sequential autoethnographic experience of the author as the research tool in identifying and categorizing some of the challenges faced by African international students. It is the researcher’s intention that the findings in this research will be used as a guide for the next group of African international students aspiring to come to the U.S to study.
Emerging product carbon footprint standards and schemes and their possible trade impacts

(max. 2000 char.) : Concern over climate change has stimulated interest in estimating the total amount of greenhouse gasses produced during the life-cycle of goods and services - i.e. during their production, transportation, sale, use and disposal. The outcome of these calculations is referred to as "product carbon footprints" (PCFs). The paper reviews the rationale, context, coverage and characteristics of emerging standards and certification schemes that estimate and designate PCFs, and discusses the possible impacts on trade, particularly exports from distant and developing countries. It draws on a survey of PCF certification schemes carried out during 2009, on a review of evolving international and national standards, and on a review of consumer surveys. Since 2007 one public standard, and two public and 14 private certification schemes referring to standards for calculating and communicating PCFs have become operational. Two new international standards and several new schemes, including three public ones, are due to become operational by 2011 or earlier. The private schemes are owned by a mixture of voluntary bodies and private companies, including some large retailers. Many provide assistance for reducing carbon footprints or procedures for certification or labelling. Nonetheless, to date only a few thousand products have been footprinted. As PCFs are already becoming market access requirements for bio-fuels imported to the EU, and may also become EU market access requirements for all mass-produced goods within 10-15 years, there is a danger that developing country exporters will lose out as a result. This is because: they are less likely to have the resources necessary for calculating and verifying PCFs; publicly available datasets are less likely to include processes carried out mainly in developing countries; and some existing standards do not currently include production of capital goods in their definition of product life cycles, which imparts a bias against labour-intensive production methods and hence against typical developing country exports. In contrast, PCF standards and schemes did not discriminate against products from distant countries, since emissions from long-distance transport were not treated differently from those generated by other activities in the product life cycle.
Biological Diversity, Ecosystems, and the Human Scale

This paper considers the significance of biological diversity in relation to large-scale processes in complex and dynamic ecological-economic systems. It focuses on functional diversity, and its relation to production and maintenance of ecological services that underpin human societies. Within functional groups of organisms two important cat- egories of species are identified: keystone process species and those essential for ecosystem resilience. The latter group represents "natural insurance capital. " In addition to basic research on the interplay among biological diversity, functional performance, and resilience in complex self-organizing systems, we suggest that a functional approach has two main implications for a strategy for biodiversity conservation: (1) Biodiversity conservation to assure the resilience of ecosystems is required for all systems, no matter how heavily impacted they are. It should not be limited to protected areas. (2) The social, cultural, and economic driving forces in society that cause biodiversity loss need to be addressed directly. Specifically, (a) differences between the value of biological diversity to the private indi- vidual and its fundamental value to society as a whole need to be removed; (b) social and economic policies that encourage biodiversity loss should be reformed, especially where there is a risk of irreversible damage to ecosystems and diversity; and (c) institutions that are adaptive and work in synergy with ecosystem processes and functions are critical and should be created at all levels.
Mechanical state of gravel soil in mobilization of rainfall-induced landslides in the Wenchuan seismic area, Sichuan province, China

Abstract. Gravel soils generated by the Wenchuan earthquake have undergone natural consolidation for the past decade. However, geological hazards, such as slope failures with ensuing landslides, have continued to pose great threats to the region. In this paper, artificial model tests were used to observe the changes of soil moisture content and pore water pressure, as well as macroscopic and microscopic phenomena of gravel soil. In addition, a mathematical formula of the critical state was derived from the triaxial test data. Finally, the mechanical states of gravel soil were determined. The results had five aspects. (1) The time and mode of the occurrence of landslides were closely related to the initial dry density. The process of initiation was accompanied by changes in density and void ratio. (2) The migration of fine particles and the rearrangement of coarse–fine particles contributed to the reorganization of the microscopic structure, which might be the main reason for the variation of dry density and void ratio. (3) If the confining pressure were the same, the void ratios of soils with constant particle composition would approach approximately critical values. (4) Mechanical state of gravel soil can be determined by the relative position between state parameter (e, p′) and ec–p′ planar critical state line, where e is the void ratio, ec is the critical void ratio and p′ is the mean effective stress. (5) In the process of landslide initiation, dilatation and contraction were two types of gravel soil state, but dilatation was dominant. This paper provided insight into interpreting landslide initiation from the perspective of critical state soil mechanics.
Television Programme Preference and the Perception of Crime among Youths in Tertiary Institutions in Port Harcourt, Nigeria.

This study investigated the relationship between television programme preference and perception of crime among youths in tertiary institutions in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. In carrying out this study, three specific objectives and one null hypothesis were postulated. The descriptive survey method was adopted because of its advantage of collecting and analyzing data of a small number of population and generalizing it to the entire population. Also, the questionnaire was used in collecting data from a sample of 390 students in five tertiary institutions in Port Harcourt. A random sample drawn from 28,900 students was determined through a mathematical and representative process using the Yard’s formula. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics. While the Pearson Product Moment Correlation Coefficient (PPMC) analysis was used to test the null hypothesis postulated for the study. The study reveals that violent television programmes disinhibits, and toughens youths who watch such television programmes; programme content having guns was rated most violent by respondents; youths have higher preference for movies/films to any other television programme type. The study further revealed that there is a significant relationship between television programme preference and the perception of crime among students in tertiary institutions. It was recommended among others that the use of guns and live ammunition on television shows should be discouraged by television producers; producers of television programmes should be more creative in showing perpetrators of violent acts being punished and should be able to present alternatives to use of violence in solving problems; Censor Board should have zero tolerance for violent television programmes. It must be understood that the most harmful violent films and movies are not necessarily the bloodiest but are those in which the aggressive is rewarded for violence and in which aggression is portrayed as justified; lastly, regular enlightenment programmes and seminars should be organized by the authorities of these tertiary institutions to educate and enlighten these youths on the dangers of crime and criminal behaviours.
Proximate composition and energetic value of demersal and pelagic prey species from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean

This study describes the proximate composition (moisture, lipid, protein and ash con- tent) and energetic value of 39 species (27 teleosts, 3 sharks, 7 rays and 2 squids) that are known as key prey or potential prey of top predators on the Patagonian continental shelf. Specimens were col- lected in the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean in the area 39 to 51° S, 55t o 65° W. Fifty-two catches were performed at a depth range of 73 to 370 m: 27 catches in autumn and 25 in summer. A multivariate correspondence analysis showed an association between species identity and certain biochemical variables (main dimension = 83% of variance explained). Sharks and some demersal-pelagic teleosts were associated with lipids (9 to 18% wet mass). Teleosts constituted a higher source of protein (9-28% wet mass) than elasmobranches. Rays were nutritionally poor, with the lowest lipid contents (2 to 10%) and energy values (3 to 7 kJ g -1 wet mass), in agreement with the general biochemical characteristics of benthic fishes. Demersal-benthic and demersal-pelagic species did not change in their nutritional values with increasing size. However, demersal-benthic species increased season- ally in protein content from 11 to 16% in summer to 10-19% in autumn. The energetic value of teleosts from the Southwestern Atlantic Ocean was not different from those of the Pacific or Indian Southern Ocean, but was higher than the energetic value of teleosts from the Northern Hemisphere. This study contributes to the understanding of the biochemical composition and energetic value of prey species over the seasons and their relevance as potential prey for top predators.
Modernity, mobility and the digital divides

The phrase ‘digital divide’ has been crucial over the last ten years in focusing attention and resources on the issues of access to and use of ICT, including e-learning, by a succession of excluded and marginal individuals and communities. This paper argues however that this is now a dangerously simplistic notion, especially in societies characterised by the postmodernity that has been catalysed by increasing mobility. The paper provides an introduction to some of the ideas and issues.