Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Hydraulic and pollutant treatment performance of sand based biofilters Conductivité hydraulique et rendement épuratoire de filtres de biorétention à base de sable

Biofilters (also called biofiltration or bioretention systems) have been proven to be an effective option for the treatment of pollutants in urban stormwater. The aim of this study was to independently test an alternative sand based filter media, which could be reliably and easily specified and constructed from inert material, and which would (i) sustain adequate plant growth, (ii) maintain hydraulic conductivity, and (iii) achieve effective pollutant removal. Twenty biofilter columns were constructed for this experiment, using two fine sands of different initial drainage rates, tested in vegetated and non-vegetated configurations. The results showed that, independently of the type of sand used, plant growth was sustained in all biofilters, and that after one year (i.e. at the time of the last sampling event), the pollutant treatment performance of vegetated columns was comparable to loamy sand based biofilters, which are typically used in current practice. However, the results also showed that after one year of exposure to stormwater, the hydraulic conductivity of the filters had greatly deteriorated, in particular for the vegetated configurations. The results of this study demonstrated that sand based biofilters, built according to these simple filter media specifications, could be used as a viable option for stormwater treatment. The main advantages of this alternative specification are its reproducibility and reduced variability.
GENETIC PARAMETERS OF EARLY NEO-NATAL PIGLET SURVIVAL AND NUMBER OF PIGLETS BORN

INTRODUCTION Breeding programs to improve sow productivity invariably include number born as one of the most important traits. Both the national swine improvement program in Canada and the regional evaluation program in the province of Ontario have provided breeders with litter size genetic evaluations based on total number born for close to 10 years. The use of total number born rather than number born alive dates was a decision made at the outset of the program to use the trait with the higher heritability. With this definition of litter size, in addition to improvements in the total number of piglets born, breeders in Canada were also noticing that as the number of piglets born increased, the frequency of stillbirths and early neo-natal mortality also seemed to be increasing. Lecour (2000) reported a similar problem in French pigs. Johnson et al. (1999) found that the number of stillborn pigs increased with litter size after selection on ovulation rate and 50-day embryonic survival. Other studies have looked at the relationship between survival to weaning and piglet birth weights (Wise et al., 1997; Leenhouwers et al., 2001, 2000; Knol et al., 2001) and universally report higher piglet survival rates to weaning with higher birth weights. However, pig breeders in Ontario typically do not collect individual piglet birth weights. Our study was initiated with the objective of determining if there is a detectable genetic relationship between number born and neo-natal piglet survival defined as stillbirths and survival in the first 24 hours after farrowing in Ontario breeders’ herds.
Growth of Empowerment in Career Science Teachers: Implications for Professional Development

The purpose of this research is to identify those pivotal experiences of career science teachers that have promoted their advancement along the teacher professional continuum. The research uses behavior over time (BOT) graphing to capture the empowering professional growth opportunities teachers recall experiencing over the entire course of their careers and looks for patterns in those teacher experiences. The study proposes that the professional development offered to teachers should recognize and address their needs and increase their sense of empowerment. This research is specifically focused on the NSF Teacher Professional Continuum program goals of encouraging research on effective professional development models and on advancing the knowledge base on enhancement and retention of STEM teachers. 1. Objectives or purposes Much of the recent education research has focused on new teachers and why large numbers of teachers are leaving the profession (Ingersoll and Smith, 2003). Few studies have concentrated on experienced teachers in an attempt to identify factors that may have contributed to their retention. The researchers in this study used techniques of narrative inquiry, as well as behavior over time (BOT) graphing, to capture the experiences fifty teachers identified as having positively or negatively impacted their feelings of empowerment. The purpose of this research is to identify those pivotal experiences of career science teachers that have promoted their advancement along the teacher professional continuum and have helped them to persist in their careers. For the purposes of this paper, the researchers investigate one particular dimension of empowerment ‐ professional growth ‐ as it is related to overall empowerment and is (occasionally) nurtured by professional development. 2. Perspective(s) or theoretical framework What is empowerment and why is it important? Though the term empowerment is used frequently in contemporary educational discourse, no one accepted meaning is shared among all educators. However, some common themes are emerging in the literature. Empowerment is most often viewed as a process through which people become powerful enough to engage in, share control of, and influence events and institutions affecting their lives. In part,
Multi‐decadal variability of flood risk

Recent research has highlighted the persistence of multi‐decadal epochs of enhanced/reduced flood risk across New South Wales (NSW), Australia. Recent climatological studies have also revealed multi‐decadal variability in the modulation of the magnitude of El Niño/Southern Oscillation (ENSO) impacts. In this paper, the variability of flood risk across NSW is analysed with respect to the observed modulation of ENSO event magnitude. This is achieved through the use of a simple index of regional flood risk. The results indicate that cold ENSO events (La Niña) are the dominant drivers of elevated flood risk. An analysis of multi‐decadal modulation of flood risk is achieved using the inter‐decadal Pacific Oscillation (IPO) index. The analysis reveals that IPO modulation of ENSO events leads to multi‐decadal epochs of elevated flood risk, however this modulation appears to affect not only the magnitude of individual ENSO events, but also the frequency of their occurrence. This dual modulation of ENSO processes has the effect of reducing and elevating flood risk on multi‐decadal timescales. These results have marked implications for achieving robust flood frequency analysis as well as providing a strong example of the role of natural climate variability.
Measuring Competition in Banking: A Disequilibrium Approach

The "Rosse-Panzar" revenue test for competitive conditions in banking is based on observation of the impact on bank revenue of variation in factor input prices. We identify the implications for the H-statistics of misspecification bias in the revenue equation arising when adjustment towards market equilibrium is partial and not instantaneous. In simulation, fixed effects estimation produces a measured H-statistic that is severely biased towards zero. Empirical results for the banking sectors of six developed countries corroborate our principal finding, that a dynamic formulation of the revenue equation is required for accurate identification of the H-statistics.
Genetic variation of seed physico-chemical properties of Gongronema latifolia accessions in relation to their seedling performance.

Genetic variation in physico-chemical properties of different accessions of Gongronema latifolia and contributions of such traits to seed emergence were investigated for two years in Nsukka. The study showed significant differences in the studied traits of the G. latifolia accessions. The accession, AC-05 had larger seeds as well as higher seed breadth and cotyledon thickness but lower level of absci sic acid (ABA) in both years. The seedling emergence capacity of the accessions in both years showed that the seedlings emerged earlier and more vigorous in the second year with reduced moisture content and ABA. Higher level of genotypic and phenotypic variance among the accessions on the measured traits occurred on the phenol content . Heritability estimates were higher in the chemical traits of the seeds than the physical traits with the exception of seed weight. Furthermore, the correlation coefficients suggest that accessions wit h larger seeds also have lower ABA and significantly higher vigorous emergence suggesting the impact of genetic factors in determining the performance of accessions. It was concluded that different accessions showed genetic differences in the seed traits which directly influenced emergence rate and vigour of seedlings over the two years.
METACOGNITIVE AWARENESS OF READING STRATEGIES IN EFL CONTEXT 1

It has been acknowledged that comprehending a text is a challenging process, as it requires a series of metacognitive strategies (Cubukcu, 2008). As academic achievement in a wide range of subject depends largely on the reading skill, it is critically significant for the students to be able to read critically and extract information from the text by executing the metacognitive strategies successfully. In this respect, this study aims to investigate university students’ metacognitive reading strategy awareness in academic context. The study employs the quantitative design and survey method and observes the level of using metacognitive reading strategies by 122 EFL student teachers who study at Aksaray University and were sampled through convenient sampling method. The data was collected through Metacognitive Awareness of Reading Strategies inventory developed by Mokhtari and Reichard (2002) that consists of 30 items and three subscales, namely, global reading strategies, problem-solving reading strategies, and support reading strategies. According to the results, students that are in senior and prep level have a higher metacognitive awareness than the other levels, but the difference is not statistically significant. The most commonly used metacognitive reading strategy in all groups is PROB. Participants’ use of metacognitive reading strategies differs in a statistically significant way in terms of their plans on academic career.
Homogenization of Doppler broadening in spin-noise spectroscopy

The spin noise of cesium atoms vapor with admixture of buffer gas is experimentally investigated by measuring the spin induced Faraday rotation fluctuations in the vicinity of D 2 line. The line, under these conditions, is known to be strongly inhomogeneously broadened due to the Doppler effect. Despite that, optical spectrum of the spin noise power, as we have found, has the characteristic shape of the homogeneously broadened line with the dip at the line center. This fact is in stark contrast with the results of previous studies of inhomogeneous quantum dot ensembles. In addition, the two-color experiments, where correlations of the Faraday rotation fluctuations for two probe wavelengths were measured, have shown, in a highly spectacular way, that these fluctuations are either correlated, or anticorrelated depending on whether the two wavelengths lie on the same side, or on different sides of the resonance. The experimental data are explained within the developed theoretical model which takes into account both kinetics and spin dynamics of Cs atoms. It is shown that the unexpected behavior of the optical Faraday rotation noise spectra and effective homogenization of the optical transition in the spin-noise measurements are related to smallness of the momentum relaxation time of the atoms as compared with their spin relaxation time.
Semiclassical estimates of the cut-off resolvent for trapping perturbations

This paper is devoted to the study of a semiclassical "black box" operator $P$. We estimate the norm of its resolvent truncated near the trapped set by the norm of its resolvent truncated on rings far away from the origin. For $z$ in the unphysical sheet with $- h |ln h| < Im z < 0$, we prove that this estimate holds with a constant $h |Im z|^{-1} e^{C|Im z|/h}$. We also obtain analogous bounds for the resonances states of $P$. These results hold without any assumption on the trapped set neither any assumption on the multiplicity of the resonances.
Assessing ecological responses to environmental change using statistical models

Summary 1. There is a clear need to improve our ability to assess the ecological consequences of environmental change. Because of the complexity of ecosystems and a need to disentangle the effects of multiple pressures, predictions are often reliant on models and expert opinion. These require validation with observed data; in this respect, long-term data sets are particularly valuable. 2. Innovative statistical methods (nonparametric regression and additive models) are presented for identifying nonparametric ecological trends and changes in seasonality in response to environmental change. These are illustrated through the example of Loch Leven, a shallow freshwater lake. Monitoring data for 35 years are examined, spanning periods of enrichment, ecological recovery and changing climate. 3. Models are developed for phosphorus and nitrogen; temperature and rainfall; Daphnia grazers; and chlorophyll a, with the ecological objectives of examining trends in water quality and the corresponding trends in nutrient availability, grazer abundance and climate. 4. The analysis highlighted a generally decreasing availability of P over the study period, and generally increasing nonparametric trends in nitrate concentration and rainfall. Increasing spring temperatures were also evident, as were significant nonparametric changes in density of summer grazers. 5. Significant reductions are highlighted in spring and summer chlorophyll a, related to the return of Daphnia to the loch. However, no response in chorophyll a to the later declining trends in P is apparent, but seasonality has changed. 6. Synthesis and applications. The analysis highlights the value of nonparametric statistical models for assessing complex ecological responses to environmental change. The models outlined can examine key ecological impacts of climate change, particularly effects on the timing of seasonal events and processes. The models are illustrated using long-term water-quality data from Loch Leven to explore patterns in key environmental drivers and ecological responses affecting freshwater ecosystems. Analysis of chlorophyll a, in particular, highlighted the value of examining the seasonal trends separately, with different trends evident for winter and spring and a changing seasonal pattern.
Measuring baryon acoustic oscillations with future SKA surveys

The imprint of baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) in large-scale structure can be used as a standard ruler for mapping out the cosmic expansion history, and hence for testing cosmological models. In this article we briefly describe the scientific background to the BAO technique, and forecast the potential of the Phase 1 and 2 SKA telescopes to perform BAO surveys using both galaxy catalogues and intensity mapping, assessing their competitiveness with current and future optical galaxy surveys. We find that a 25,000 sq. deg. intensity mapping survey on a Phase 1 array will preferentially constrain the radial BAO, providing a highly competitive 2% constraint on the expansion rate at z ~ 2. A 30,000 sq. deg. galaxy redshift survey on SKA2 will outperform all other planned experiments for z < 1.4.
Similarities and differences of credit access by Vietnamese and Chinese firms

Using a World Bank Enterprise Survey 2005 in Vietnam and China, this research investigates the similarities and differences in credit access of Vietnamese and Chinese businesses. The authors found that Chinese banks evaluate loan application based on business performance while Vietnamese banks do not. The results indicate that credit quota in China creates more discrimination than the DAF program in Vietnam. Both Chinese and Vietnamese businesses get rid of trade credit in the informal market, the probability of credit access simultaneously increase in combination with the use of trade credit in both Vietnamese and Chinese businesses. The authors also found that Central North in Vietnam and Southwest in China are the two regions with relatively underdeveloped economic but have more possibility of credit access than other regions across Vietnam and China. Therefore, further research is recommended to deeply investigate the comparative advantages of these regions and the possibilities to replicate this lesson to other regions.
Assessment of vegetation characteristics and production of Boswellia papyrifera woodlands in north western lowlands of Ethiopia

2 ha -1 . Based on their population structures, the woodland species can be categorized as Group I contained species with a progressively declining numbers of trees with increasing diameter in Gemed site and Group II was comprised of both Adi-Goshu and Lemlem-Terara sites with a bell-shaped or irregular distribution. In addition, Boswellia papyrifera is known to occur in various parts of Ethiopia including Tigray, Amhara and Benshangul Gumuz regions. Therefore, the total production of gum olibanum and gum arabic in the three sites was recorded approximately 12,112.98 tons with the net income of 129.34 million Birr since 1999. Therefore, Ethiopia will be more benefited from the export of these products, provided efforts are made to develop and manage these resources in a sustainable way.
Three condensed importance of interfunctional communication for the acceptance of CRM system

Abstract Customer relationship management (CRM) is an IT-based system that manage customer long-term relationship, and also inter-functional relationship within the organization with the ultimate purpose of creating customer value by sharing concise, sufficient, accurate, timely, and reliable information. The purpose of this paper is to analyze how different kinds of communication: inter-personal interaction (IPI), written interaction (WI), and collaboration (CB) affect (i) the perceived ease of use (PEU), (ii) the perceived usefulness (PU) and ultimately (iii) the acceptance of CRM? And proposes a research model representing the relationships among WI, IPI, CB, PEU, PU, and involvement. Data collected through online survey from 210 large companies in Pakistan are analyzed. Result shows that IPI instead of collaboration has significant positive effect on PEU and PU and play important role in the acceptance of CRM system. But, WI should be viewed with more caution, because it showed negative relationship. Moreover, PEU and PU of CRM system have direct significant positive influence on involvement of marketing in the planning, implementation, and usage of CRM system that result in CRM system acceptance. The study provides theoretical and practical contributions, and also future research areas are highlighted for potential researchers.
Title : Learners ’ perceptions of their successes and failures in foreign language learning

Research into learners’ attributions for their successes and failures has received considerable attention. However very little has been carried out in the area of learning foreign languages. This study is timely in view of the current interest by the government in promoting foreign languages. The aims of the study were (1) to investigate secondary students’ attributions for their success and failures in learning foreign languages (2) to examine the ways in which these vary according to age, gender, perceived success and specific language studied. The sample consisted of 285 students between the ages of 11 and 16 studying French, German and Spanish in five secondary schools in the UK. A simple open questionnaire was administered by language teachers, consisting of a personal evaluation by students of their perceived level of success as learners of specific foreign languages and their attributions for success and failure in those domains. The resulting responses were analysed by means of a grounded theory approach allowing categories to emerge from the data. The resultant categories were then tabulated according to student age, gender, and language learnt, together with level of perceived success. Over one thousand attributional statements gave rise to 21 attributional categories for doing well and 16 categories for not doing well at language learning. A far wider range of attributions were identified than is generally shown in the research literature, six of which were most commonly called upon as reasons for both success and failure. Clear differences
PROBING THE OUTSKIRTS OF THE EARLY-STAGE GALAXY CLUSTER MERGER A1750

We present results from recent Suzaku and Chandra X-ray and Multiple Mirrior Telescope optical observations of the strongly merging “double cluster” A1750 out to its virial radius, both along and perpendicular to a putative large-scale structure filament. Some previous studies of individual clusters have found evidence for ICM entropy profiles that flatten at large cluster radii, as compared with the self-similar prediction based on purely gravitational models of hierarchical cluster formation, and gas fractions that rise above the mean cosmic value. Weakening accretion shocks and the presence of unresolved cool gas clumps, both of which are expected to correlate with large-scale structure filaments, have been invoked to explain these results. In the outskirts of A1750, we find entropy profiles that are consistent with self-similar expectations, and gas fractions that are consistent with the mean cosmic value, both along and perpendicular to the putative large-scale filament. Thus, we find no evidence for gas clumping in the outskirts of A1750, in either direction. This may indicate that gas clumping is less common in lower temperature (kT ≈ 4 keV), less massive systems, consistent with some (but not all) previous studies of low-mass clusters and groups. Cluster mass may, therefore, play a more important role in gas clumping than dynamical state. Finally, we find evidence for diffuse, cool (<1 keV) gas at large cluster radii (R200) along the filament, which is consistent with the expected properties of the denser, hotter phase of the warm–hot intergalactic medium.
The Impact Of Delivery Mode On The Apgar Scores In Term and Preterm Breech Delivery

Objective: In this study, Apgar scores were evaluated in patients with term and preterm breech delivery according to forms of delivery. Methods: Patients data with breech delivery were retrospectively reviewed between January 2003 and December 2010 in Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinic. Results: Total number of delivery was 22,666, 3.72% of them (850 cases) was breech delivery. Patients with breech delivery, mean age was 29.0±6.9, while 23.8%, were over age 35. The average age of vaginal breech delivery group was 30.6±7.2, when the cesarean breech delivery group was 28.6±6.7. 29% of the patients was primigravid, 71% of the patients was multigravid that delivered breech. Cesarean and vaginal breech delivery rate were found 76.8%, 23.2%, respectively. Average birth weights of nulliparous was 2,536±768 gr, while the multiparous was 2,750±943 gr. Uterine anomaly were detected 3.1% of the cases. The most common uterine anomaly was uterus septus. First and fifth minute Apgar scores of cesarean breech delivery were higher than vaginal breech delivery. Conclusion: In our study, Apgar scores in preterm and term breech vaginal delivery group was significantly higher than cesarean delivery group.