Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Determination of Ground Water Quality for Agriculture and Drinking Purpose in Sindh, Pakistan

The study was conducted to assess the quality of ground water from different Talukas of district Tando Muhammad Khan for drinking and agriculture purpose. Water samples for determining the water quality were collected in one liter polyethylene bags by observing standard sample collection method. It was ensured that sample collection sites must be at least 500 feet away from each other. Physical and chemical parameters of ground and surface water samples such as pH, Electrical Conductivity (EC), Turbidity, Colour, Taste, Odour, Alkalinity as CaCO 3 , Bicarbonate (HCO 3 ), Carbonate (CO 3 ), Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Hardness, Sodium (Na), Potassium (K), Chloride (Cl), Phosphate (PO 4 ), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS) and Arsenic (As) were determined. The study clarified that pH and odour was within the permissible limits in majority of samples whereas, Arsenic (As), Hardness, Sodium (Na), Total Dissolved Solids (TDS), Taste, Chloride (Cl) and turbidity were beyond the permissible limits set by WHO. The groundwater status in Tando Muhammad Khan district, TDS in 50% samples, Chloride in 54.16% samples, Sulphate in 44.8% samples, Calcium in 38.5% samples, Sodium in 54.16% samples, hardness in 21.88% samples were beyond the WHO’s permissible limits for human consumption.
Pricing and Hedging European Energy Derivatives: A Case Study of WTI Oil Options

This study extends the mean-reversion dynamic framework of (Pilipovic, Energy risk: Valuing and managing energy derivatives, 1997) and (Schwartz, The stochastic behavior of commodity prices: Implications for pricing and hedging, Journal of Finance52, 1997, 923) and focuses on developing a variety of continuous-time commodity-pricing and hedging models by analyzing the pricing and hedging errors found in an empirical investigation of options contracts on light sweet crude oil traded on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Thus, this study contributes to furthering the applicability of the models developed. The inclusion of the benchmark Black-Scholes pricing model generates systematic biases that are consistent with (Bakshi, Cao and Chen, Handbook of Quantitative Finance and Risk Management, 2010). The mean-reversion jump-diffusion and seasonality option-pricing model best describes the extreme price volatility experienced during a financial collapse, but the mean-reversion and seasonality option-pricing model offers the best pricing and hedging capability for other periods. The performances of hedging models are generally consistent with pricing errors.
A state-wide assessment of optimal groundwater hydrograph time series models

A number of groundwater hydrograph time series models have been proposed over recent years but, to our knowledge, there has been no systematic review of their performance and thus no means of selecting a model to suit the prevailing conditions. This paper presents an evaluation of the new groundwater hydrograph time series models presented in Peterson and Western (2011) against existing models on 620 bore hydrographs distributed throughout Victoria. Bores that monitor water level under natural conditions and having at least 20 years of data were used. The aim of this study is to rigorously demonstrate the strength of the Peterson and Western (2011) models (hence referred to as soil moisture store – transfer function noise model, or SMS-TFN) and ascertain which forms of the various soil moisture components within the model perform best and under what conditions. To assess the relative performance, the widely used HARTT model (Ferdowsian et al. 2001, Ferdowsian et al. 2002) and the standard transfer function noise model (von Asmuth et al., 2002) were also investigated. This investigation into the groundwater head time series modelling was assessed by evaluating the performance of eleven model variants of three classes of models (SMS-TFN, TFN, HARTT) using the Coefficient of Efficiency (CoE) and the Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) as the performance measures for the calibration and evaluation periods. The results showed that the SMS-TFN model (Peterson and Western, 2011), significantly improves the predictive model performance compared to the performance of the traditional TFN model. The SMS-TFN model with ground water recharge as the forcing component shows better model calibration and predictive performances than models with infiltration as the forcing component. These model variants produced the best median calibration period CoE of 0.655 (where 1.0 is a perfect fit) and the best evaluation period unbiased CoE of 0.270 (see Figure 1). The predictive performance of the HARTT model was shown to be highly variable and inconsistent across the bore hydrographs tested. If a sustainable linear time trend exits in the bore hydrograph, the model produced good results as indicated by performance measures during both calibration and validation periods. However, in the absence of such trends, the model performed poorly. This illustrates the potential risk in assuming a non-climatic time trend which may or may not exist in the bore hydrographs. More importantly, the SMS-TFN model with ground water recharge as the forcing component was shown to be the most robust model which can explain most of the bore hydrographs from climate data alone.
The Moderating Effect of Operations Efficiency on the Links between Environmental Performance and Financial Performance: The UK Evidence *

Drawing upon the resource-based-view of a firm, we investigate the moderating role of operations efficiency on the link between environmental and financial performance. Extant literature has highlighted that operations efficiency is closely associated with the environmental/financial performance of firms, but no empirical study has investigated how operations efficiency affects the link between environmental and financial performance. We argue that operations efficiency could act as a moderator of this relationship. To test the hypothesized relationships, we have used available secondary quantitative UK data, namely data on the environmental/financial performance of Britain's most admired companies. By employing moderated regression analysis, we have found strong evidence for the moderating impact of operations efficiency. Our results are useful to managers in that they show that improvements in operations efficiency in a company can also help improve environmental/financial performance and vice versa.
Prevalence of Mantoux test positivity among apparently healthy children in Maiduguri, Nigeria

Background: The impact of TB is highest in the developing countries of Asia and Africa especially among children in whom the diagnosis is challenging. Periodic skin testing by Mantoux method is recommended in children residing in high TB prevalence regions. Objective: To determine the prevalence of Mantoux test positivity among BCG-vaccinated and non-vaccinated under-five children in Maiduguri, Nigeria. Method: The study was descriptive and cross-sectional, conducted in Maiduguri, Nigeria, among apparently healthy 3-59 months old children who attended the child welfare clinics of the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital and two Primary Health Care centres from May to August 2008. All children who fulfilled the inclusion criteria were evaluated for history of BCG vaccination and Mantoux tested. Results: The study included 390 children, comprising 201 (51.5%) males and 189(48.5%) females; the male to female ratio was 1.1:1. Thirty one out of the 390 (7.9%) children had a positive Mantoux reaction, 27(87 %) of whom had induration of 10-14mm, while the remaining 4 (13 %) had induration of 15-20mm. The prevalence of Mantoux positivity among the vaccinated children was 10.1% and among the non-vaccinated children was1.1%, (p= 0.0034). No significant statistical difference for Mantoux positivity was observed between the sexes, (p= 0.087), and the different age groups, (p= 0.159). Conclusion: Although, positive Mantoux response is usually attributed to TB infection, the effect of previous BCG on Mantoux test reactivity especially in children should be taken into consideration in the interpretation of Mantoux test responses.
Turbulent and directed mass motions in various structures of the low corona

[1] A brief review on turbulent and ordered plasma motions in the solar corona is presented. Velocities in quiet coronal regions, coronal loops, coronal holes, and cavities around quiescent prominences are analyzed. Data based on interferometric observations of several total solar eclipses obtained earlier by the authors and in addition the values of turbulent velocities resulting from revising the 5303 line profiles were used. Published data based both on ground and space observations in visual and far ultraviolet (UV) spectral region are collected. The turbulent velocities in quiet loop structures and diffuse quiet corona seem to be similar, and the coronal plasma in the vicinity of the quiet protuberances is less turbulent than in the quiet corona or in the coronal holes. Velocities of directed motions for different structures in the corona are examined. It seems that the turbulent velocities are comparable by their magnitudes with the direct plasma velocities; however, at the same time they are slightly less.
Analysis the Effect of Service Quality, Customers Value, Customer Satisfaction and Customer Trust on Corporate Image

The aim of this study was to analyze the impacts of service quality toward customer trust as well as to prove whether corporate image, customer satisfaction and customer value mediate the relationship between service quality and customer trust. Several findings of this study were: the improvement of services quality did not directly affect customer trust; improvement of service should be able to satisfy customers or improve customer value; furthermore, customer satisfaction would improve customer trust as well as customer value. It was also proven that customer satisfaction mediated the relationship between corporate image and customer trust and mediated customer value and customer trust.
Morphometric study on tadpoles of Bombina variegata (Linnaeus, 1758) (Anura; Bombinatoridae)

The tadpoles of Yellow-bellied toad ( Bombina variegata) can be easily rec - ognized from other Italian anuran species, except those of B. pachypus (though the two congeneric species are allopatric). In this paper we report morphometric data on B. variegata tadpoles from a Lombard population living near a torrent at 450 m a.s. l. On a sample of 264 tadpoles (stages 19-44, according to Gosner, 1960) we meas- ured the following five variables: snout-vent length, tail length, maximum tail height, total length and weight. We found a slight allometric relationship between snout-vent length and tail length, while, as expected, the weight is nearly proportional to the cube of linear measures. According to literature data, our results point to highly constant proportions during the development phases up to prometamorphic stages. The ratio between snout-vent length and tail length was about 0.75 during the whole growing phase, while from stage 42 the proportion increases as the resorption of the tail starts.
Cognitive Dissonance, Sentiment, and Momentum

Abstract We consider whether sentiment affects the profitability of momentum strategies. We hypothesize that news that contradicts investors’ sentiment causes cognitive dissonance, slowing the diffusion of such news. Thus, losers (winners) become underpriced under optimism (pessimism). Short-selling constraints may impede arbitraging of losers and thus strengthen momentum during optimistic periods. Supporting this notion, we empirically show that momentum profits arise only under optimism. An analysis of net order flows from small and large trades indicates that small investors are slow to sell losers during optimistic periods. Momentum-based hedge portfolios formed during optimistic periods experience long-run reversals.
IMPROVEMENT OF GRASS SILAGE QUALITY BY INOCULANT WITH LACTIC BACTERIA AND ENZYMES

The effect of applying lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and enzymes at ensiling of legume-grass and performance of fattening bulls was studied under farm conditions in experimental department of Lithuanian Institute of Animal Science. The silages were made from second cut legume-grass (72% red clover, 20% timothy, 8% other, DM content – 180 gkg). Legume-grass was harvested on 24-25 August 2002 and ensiled in bales. The inoculant "Feedtech" (2 Pediococcus acidilactici, 2 Lactobacillus plantarum and Cellulase) improved the quality of fermentation of the legume-grass (with low DM content) big bale silage. The water-soluble carbohydrates in both silages decreased with pH, more in the control, than the in inoculated. The application of an inoculant significantly enhanced the lactic acid content. However, acetic acid and ammonia-N concentration were lower with inoculated silage and inoculation was effective in reducing butyric acid fermentation and dry matter losses, and increasing silage intake and energy content in 1 kg DM of silage. Fattening bulls fed inoculated silage showed 8.3% higher live weight gains than bulls on untreated silage.
“If our English isn’t a language, what is it?” Indonesian EFL Student Teachers’ Challenges Speaking English

Research on students’ skill speaking English in a non-English speaking country such as Indonesia is limited. The purpose of this phenomenological study was to document Indonesian EFL student teachers’ experiences in speaking English at one public university in Jambi, Indonesia. Data came from demographic questionnaires and semi-structured interviews obtained from eight participants. We organized our analysis and discussion around Indonesian EFL student teachers’ perspectives and the contexts in which experiences they encountered emerge. Our analysis of the text revealed overarching themes and sub-themes including (1) language barriers (vocabulary, pronunciation, grammar, and fluency); (2) psychological factors (anxiety, attitude, and lack of motivation); (3) learning environment (lecturers, peers, and topics of speaking modules), and (4) practicing the language (self-practice, practicing the language with tutors and peers, practicing the language with media and technology, and maintaining a positive motivation). The findings indicated that all of themes and sub-themes appeared to be intricately interrelated.
Upward and downward statistical continuities

A real valued function $f$ defined on a subset $E$ of $\mathbb{R}$, the set of real numbers, is statistically upward continuous if it preserves statistically upward half quasi-Cauchy sequences, is statistically downward continuous if it preserves statistically downward half quasi-Cauchy sequences; and a subset $E$ of $\mathbb{R}$, is statistically upward compact if any sequence of points in $E$ has a statistically upward half quasi-Cauchy subsequence, is statistically downward compact if any sequence of points in $E$ has a statistically downward half quasi-Cauchy subsequence where a sequence $(x_{n})$ of points in $\mathbb{R}$ is called statistically upward half quasi-Cauchy if \[ \lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}\frac{1}{n}|\{k\leq n: x_{k}-x_{k+1}\geq \varepsilon\}|=0 \] is statistically downward half quasi-Cauchy if \[ \lim_{n\rightarrow\infty}\frac{1}{n}|\{k\leq n: x_{k+1}-x_{k}\geq \varepsilon\}|=0 \] for every $\varepsilon>0$. We investigate statistically upward continuity, statistically downward continuity, statistically upward half compactness, statistically downward half compactness and prove interesting theorems. It turns out that any statistically upward continuous function on a below bounded subset of $\mathbb{R}$ is uniformly continuous, and any statistically downward continuous function on an above bounded subset of $\mathbb{R}$ is uniformly continuous.
International Capital Mobility and Unemployment Dynamics: Empirical Evidence from OECD Countries

We use a panel of 20 OECD countries over a 30-year period to investigate empirically the implications of international capital mobility for aggregate unemployment dynamics. To this aim, we employ standard regression analysis and dynamic simulations to illustrate the channels through which international capital mobility impacts unemployment adjustments to productivity shocks and in turn quantify its effect on unemployment volatility. We find that capital mobility plays a significant role in generating unemployment responses to idiosyncratic productivity shocks which are wider but less persistent. Moreover, the evidence we provide suggests that the responsive- ness effect dominates the persistence effect, implying a net increase in unemployment volatility due to higher international capital mobility. Finally, if we simulate the effects of an increase of international capital mobility of the same order of magnitude of that occurred in the OECD countries after the mid-80s, we obtain a rise in the volatility of unemployment rate which is comparable to that observed in those countries in the same years.
Evaluation of autotrophic and mixotrophic regimen Chlorella pyrenoidosa cells in various wastes water for its biochemical composition and biomass production

The present study investigates the possibility of integrating an existing industrial large scale biomass production with the treatment of waste water in which a mixture of organic and inorganic rich pollutants was used as a medium. This study suggests that the replacement of a defined medium with a complete mixotrophic medium gives a significant statistical difference in terms of growth parameters i.e. biomass production and specific growth rate. The green microalga C. pyrenoidosa was cultivated under different mixotrophic conditions for evaluation of biomass production. Inorganic defined fog’s medium supplemented, with raw dairy wastewater led to 1.37g/L biomass production in comparison to 1.2g/L obtained with pure glucose revealing 14.16% increase. The study also involves the supplementation of raw dairy wastewater as an organic carbon source in an inorganic medium comprising municipal treated water and reverse osmosis (RO) treated wastewater and attained 2.4g/L and 1.6g/L of biomass respectively, as compared to 0.3g/L and 0.16g/L obtained in the wastewaters alone revealing 700% and 900% increase respectively. Mixotrophic regimen cells as analyzed by a 2D Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy for its biochemical content revealed that fog’s blended raw dairy waste (RDW) regimen cells had maximum Carbohydrate/Amide ratio. The study suggests that the mixotrophic regimen C. pyrenoidosa cells can show appropriate growth in a mixture of waste waters and the same comes out to be a cost effective and feasible alternative commercial medium for biomass production without requiring any expensive organic carbon sources in the culture medium.
YABANCI D İ L Ö Ğ RETMEN ADAYLARININ B İ LG İ VE B İ LG İ SAYAR OKURYAZARLIK ÖZ-YETERL İ KLER İ FOREIGN LANGUAGE TEACHER CANDIDATES’ INFORMATION AND COMPUTER LITERACY PERCEIVED SELF EFFICACY

: This study is aimed to determine foreign languages teacher candidates’ self-efficacy for information literacy and computer literacy. Besides, relation between self-efficacy for information and computer literacy was also investigated. Two instruments were used for the study: information literacy and computer self efficacy scales. The results showed that information literacy and computer literacy self efficacy of the teacher candidates were quite high and there was a positive relationship between their information and computer literacy self efficacy. It was also found out that their information literacy self efficacy did not differ significantly by their gender and grades. However, their computer literacy self efficacy did not differ significantly by their grades, it did differ significantly by their gender
Generalized Gribov-Lipatov Reciprocity and AdS/CFT

Planar N = 4 SYM theory and QCD share the gluon sector, suggesting the investigation of Gribov-Lipatov reciprocity in the supersymmetric theory. Since the AdS/CFT correspondence links N = 4 SYM and superstring dynamics on AdS5� S 5 , reciprocity is also expected to show up in the quantum corrected energies of certain classical string configurations dual to gauge theory twist-operators. We review recent results confirming this picture and revisiting the old idea of Gribov-Lipatov reciprocity as a modern theoretical tool useful for the study of open problems in AdS/CFT.
IPO UNDERPRICING AND AUDIT QUALITY: EVIDENCE FROM THE ALTERNATIVE INVESTMENT MARKET IN THE UK

This paper aims to investigate the relationship between audit quality and IPO underpricing for IPO firms that went public on the Alternative Investment Market (AIM) of the London Stock Exchange in the UK. Prior research has examined this relationship; however, there has been no work investigates this relation for IPO firms that went public on the AIM market. Based on a sample of 413 IPOs, the findings of the current study reassure prior literature that high quality auditors are associated with a lower level of IPO underpricing. The findings show that high quality audit firms help to reduce the level of information asymmetry around the IPO and, therefore, this leads to reduce the level of IPO underpricing. Further, size, liquidity ratio, and high litigation industries are found to contribute the IPO underpricing on the AIM market.
Assessing the Impact of Strategic Human Resource Management on Tangible Performance: Evidence from Nigerian SMEs

Human resource management (HRM) is the most sustainable competitive advantage of the firm. The study examines the impact of strategic human resource management on tangible firm performance. Therefore, to test this relationship, the study employs cross sectional approach to collect data from a sample of 250 SMEs in Lagos Nigeria. Using multiple regressions, the result shows that strategic human resource management (SHRM) has a significant positive influence on tangible performance. Base on the aforementioned result, the study recommended that implementing these sets of practices within SMEs can induce firms to perform better.
Multiscale and Multicriterial Hydrological Validation of the Eco-hydrological Model SWIM

The hydrological validation described in this paper follows a bottom-up approach, when at first 12 mesoscale subbasins, covering the main subregions of the basin, are validated, and then the information gained from the mesoscale is used to validate the hydrological processes of the whole basin. Special attention was paid to the use of spatial information (maps of water table depth) in addition to usual point data (water discharge at gauge stations) to validate the model. While the primary purpose of distributed hydrological models is to reproduce both water fluxes in subbasins and hydrotopes along with river discharge, they are often validated using only observed river discharge. The paper describes a method to reproduce and validate also local hydrological processes such as water table dynamics inside subbasins, using contour maps of the water table and observed groundwater level data as additional input for the validation. The investigation was carried out with the ecohydrological model SWIM (Soil and Water Integrated Model), which integrates hydrology, vegetation, erosion and nutrient dynamics at the watershed scale. It was developed to investigate the impacts of climate and land use changes on the hydrological processes and water quality at the mesoto macroscale. The study area is the German part of the Elbe basin (80,256 km). It is representative of humid / semi-humid landscapes in Europe, where water availability during the summer season is the limiting factor for plant growth and crop yields.