Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Student Academic Performance: The Role of Motivation, Strategies, and Perceived Factors Hindering Liberian Junior and Senior High School Students Learning

The nature of motivation and learning strategy use is vital to improving student learning outcomes. This study was intended to explore the motivational beliefs and learning strategy use by Liberian junior and senior high school students in connection with their academic performance. It also solicited students’ self-reports about presumed factors hindering their learning. Utilizing a cross-sectional quantitative research design, 323 participants took part in the study from 2 counties. Motivated Strategies for Learning Questionnaire (MSLQ) was adapted and 12 potential learning hindrances were identified and used as instruments. Data analyses were conducted using SPSS 17.0. The results showed the motivational belief component of extrinsic goal orientation as the most preferred belief and test anxiety was the least possessed belief. Rehearsal strategies were found to be the most frequently used, while help seeking was reported to be the least strategy considered. The result also showed significant relationships between the two constructs. In addition, the study found some learning hindrances. A number of conclusions as well as some practical recommendations for action relative to the improvement of student performance have been advanced.
Physico-Chemical Characterization and Mine Soil Genesis in Age Series Coal Mine Overburden Spoil in Chronosequence in a Dry Tropical Environment

A pre-requisite to any revegetation plan, as well as restoration of degraded land is the knowledge of physicochemical characterization, which is crucial for prediction of ecological succession for mine overburden spoil, including soil texture, hydrological regimes, pH, organic carbon, nitrogen and extractable phosphorous. Effects of mining activities are markedly adverse, because many of the beneficial soil characteristics may require a long span of time to develop through pedogenic processes, in order to reach the native forest soil condition, which evaluates the degree of functional microbial processes for ecosystem recovery, and used as an index of the progress of soil genesis in mine overburden spoil. Mine spoil samples collected from six different age series overburdens showed progressive increase in clay (%) (r=0.982, p<0.001), water holding capacity and organic carbon, which indicates the development of soil structural stability, aggregation with the increase in age of overburden spoil. The pH of spoil samples was noted to be in acidic range (6.11-6.87). Approximately, 93.7% variability in clay (%) among different mine spoils can be explained due to the variation in organic carbon. The organic carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous content showed an improvement of 2 mg C/g spoil, 161 µg N/g spoil and 8 µg P/g spoil, respectively, over a period of 10 years. Thus, the net annual accumulation rate for carbon, nitrogen and phosphorous on hectare basis amounted to 255 kg C/ha/yr, 20 kg N/ha/yr and 1 kg P/ha/yr, respectively. Further, it was estimated that the mine overburden spoil to attain the soil features of nearby native forest soil, at study site through the process of reclamation, shall take approximately 28 years.
The mystery of regional unemployment differentials: a survey of theoretical and empirical explanations

This paper attempts to provide an integrated overview of theoretical and empirical explanations used in the applied literature on regional unemployment differentials. On the basis of 41 empirical studies, four different model types covering nine theoretical constructs of regional unemployment determination and 13 sets of explanatory variables are identified. The overall conclusion is that theoretical and empirical explanations help to reduce the weaknesses in each other. While theory is found to predict that the regional unemployment rate depends on labour supply factors (a collection of factors which affect natural changes in the labour force, labour force participation, migration and commuting), labour demand factors and wage-setting factors, it is the empirical studies that gain a more profound understanding of the explanatory variables involved. Conversely, whereas most empirical studies provide clear-cut explanations for the signs of the explanatory variables, it is theory that shows that some of these explanations might be out of proportion. By grouping many studies together, this paper shows that there are indeed clear-cut trends.
First direct detection of a Keplerian rotating disk around the Be star $\alpha$ Arae using the VLTI/AMBER instrument.

Aims. We aim to study the geometry and kinematics of the disk around the Be star $\alpha$ Arae as a function of wavelength, especially across the Br$\gamma$ emission line. The main purpose of this paper is to answer the question about the nature of the disk rotation around Be stars. Methods. We use the VLTI/AMBER instrument operating in the K band which provides a gain by a factor 5 in spatial resolution compared to previous VLTI/MIDI observations. Moreover, it is possible to combine the high angular resolution provided with the (medium) spectral resolution of AMBER to study the kinematics of the inner part of the disk and to infer its rotation law. Results. We obtain for the first time the direct evidence that the disk is in keplerian rotation, answering a question that occurs since the discovery of the first Be star $\gamma$ Cas by father Secchi in 1866. We also present the global geometry of the disk showing that it is compatible with a thin disk + polar enhanced winds modeled with the SIMECA code. We found that the disk around $\alpha$ Arae is compatible with a dense equatorial matter confined in the central region whereas a polar wind is contributing along the rotational axis of the central star. Between these two regions the density must be low enough to reproduce the large visibility modulus (small extension) obtained for two of the four VLTI baselines. Moreover, we obtain that $\alpha$ Arae is rotating very close to its critical rotation. This scenario is also compatible with the previous MIDI measurements.
On the Aesthetics and Ideology of the Indian Documentary Film

Understanding Indian documentary film as aesthetic practice and as a set of historical traditions has usually taken second place to political and ideological judgments about filmic significance. However these judgments usually refer to the Indian context exclusively, and ignore the wider global context. We can distinguish two broad trends in the history of documentary film, one that critiqued naïve realism and treated the cinema as a means of self-empowerment for the masses, and the other, that regarded the masses as the object of modernization practices. Both these trends have a shared history, of course, namely, the rise of the masses as a political force, which posed the problem of how the masses/”the people” should be represented, as subject or as object. Assumptions about realism flowed from the historical resolution of this issue in a given context, and changed quite slowly. In the Indian context, they provided the basis for a system where the funding and circulation of documentaries occurred within a complex web of identity and patronage. These assumptions are increasingly coming under scrutiny, due to the pressure of at least three developments: market forces that foreground popular appeal rather than verifiable fact; historical events such as the emergence of the Hindutva documentary that mobilize the presence of invisible worlds to political advantage; and the growing influence of global circuits of funding and exhibition, along with a proliferation of more diverse local spaces, that provide room for a greater range of artistic practice. This article, written as a conversation, discusses these developments and offers some arguments about the ideology and aesthetics of the documentary cinema.
The anatomy of the king crab Hapalogaster mertensii Brandt, 1850 (Anomura: Paguroidea: Hapalogastridae): new insights into the evolutionary transformation of hermit crabs into king crabs

The emergence of king crabs from a hermit crab-like ancestor is one of the most curious events in decapod evolution. King crabs comprise two taxa, Lithodidae and Hapalogastridae, and while lithodids have formed the focus of various anatomical studies, the internal anatomy of hapalogastrids has never been studied although this group might represent a more ancestral morphological condition within king crabs than lithodids do. To better understand the evolutionary transformation of pagurid-like hermit crabs into king crabs, we studied the hemolymph vascular system and associated organs of representatives of Hapalogaster and present here the first micro-computer tomography data pertaining to the internal anatomy of hapalogastrids. Our results for Hapalogastridae are compared with existing and new data on Paguridae and Lithodidae and are discussed in the light of the process of carcinization or evolutionary transformation into a crab-like habitus. Hapalogaster resembles both pagurids on the one hand and lithodids on the other, not only with regard to external morphological characters but also in terms of certain internal anatomical features. In this and other respects, Hapalogaster represents an evolutionary intermediate form that connects pagurids and lithodids.
Comparative effects of composted and uncomposted Organic wastes on Chickpea growth

Organic matter serves as a very significant source of plant nutrients. Intensively misused soils want an exterior resource of stabilized organic matter, such as compost, in order to counteract progressive soil organic matter deterioration. The present study demonstrated the effects of composted and uncomposted organic wastes on growth of chickpea plants. Peanut shells and saw dust were used as organic wastes as treatments at the rate of 10tons/ha. All treatments were promoted the physical and biochemical parameters of experimental plants. Composted organic materials enhanced more growth as compared to uncomposted materials. Organic soil amendments can improve soil fertility and plants growth.
Qualidade de ovos comerciais submetidos a diferentes condições de armazenamento

Considerando a importância do ovo na alimentacao humana, como ingrediente de alto valor nutritivo, e importante avaliar diferentes condicoes de armazenamento, visando manter a qualidade do alimento por mais tempo. Com o objetivo de avaliar diferentes condicoes de armazenamento de ovos comerciais, analisaram-se 126 ovos submetidos a sete formas de armazenamento: banhados em oleo, com plastico filme e papel laminado em temperatura ambiente e em temperatura de geladeira, e o controle armazenado de forma in natura . Avaliaram-se o peso do ovo, altura do albumen, peso da gema, pH do albumen, pH da gema, peso da casca, unidade Haugh e gravidade especifica. Houve diferenca (P<0,05) entre os tratamentos nas variaveis de gravidade especifica e peso de albumen apos sete dias de armazenamento. Para avaliacao apos 14 dias de armazenamento, observou-se diferencas significativas (P<0,05) entre os tratamentos para as variaveis de gravidade especifica, altura do albumen, peso da gema e Unidade Haugh . Conclui-se que o tempo e metodo de armazenamento tem influencia sobre parâmetros de qualidade de ovos comerciais. Os ovos apresentam maior manutencao da qualidade quando armazenados durante sete dias banhados em oleo vegetal e envolvidos em papel laminado quando armazenados durante 14 dias.
Analysis of ΔO 2 /ΔCO 2 ratios for the pollution events observed at Hateruma Island, Japan

Abstract. Pollution events extracted from the in situ observations of atmospheric CO 2 and O 2 mixing ratios at Hateruma Island (HAT, 24° N, 124° E) during the period from October 2006 and December 2008 are examined. The air mass origins for the pollution events are categorized by using back trajectory analysis, and the oxidative ratios (OR = −O 2 :CO 2 molar exchange ratio) for selected pollution events are calculated. We find that there is a significant difference in the average oxidative ratios between events from China (OR = 1.14 ± 0.12, n = 25) and Japan/Korea (OR = 1.37 ± 0.15, n = 16). These values are in a good agreement with the national average oxidative ratios for the emissions from fossil fuel burning and cement production (FFBC) in China (OR FFBC = 1.11 ± 0.03) and Korea/Japan (OR FFBC = 1.36 ± 0.02). Compared with the observation, simulations of the atmospheric O 2 and CO 2 mixing ratios using Lagrangian particle dispersion models do a good job in reconstructing the average oxidative ratio of the pollution events originating in China but tend to underestimate for events originating in Japan/Korea. A sensitivity test suggests that the simulated atmospheric oxidative ratios at HAT are especially sensitive to changes in Chinese fuel mix.
Life Satisfaction and Grandparenthood: Evidence from a Nationwide Survey

This paper tests whether there is a potential payoff to grandparenthood in terms of life satisfaction. Using the new nationwide survey for the UK, which consists of over 5,000 grandparents and 6,000 non-grandparents aged 40 and above, and a flexible multiple-index ordered probit model with varying thresholds, we find that being a grandparent to at least one grandchild is associated positively and statistically significantly with individuals reporting to be very satisfied with life overall. Parents with no grandchildren are no more satisfied with life compared to non-parents of the same age. The findings suggest that even though children may not contribute significantly to parents' satisfaction with life overall, there may well be long-term benefits to having children, provided that our children go on and have children of their own.
Non Linear Speed of Adjustment to Lead Leverage Levels and the Timing Element in Equity Issues: Empirical Evidence From the UK

The dynamic trade-off view of capital structure is based on partial adjustment models that find that firms adjust towards target levels. In this paper, we estimate the speed of adjustment based on the first difference of the lead leverage levels (actual lead) and lag leverage levels (actual lag) to the first difference of simulated lead (target) leverage levels and lag levels (actual lag leverage) for UK firms. Consistent with the literature we find that firms adjust the lag (current) leverage levels faster to lead levels when they are above lead levels relative to periods when they are below lead levels. This is due to managerial actions in minimizing present value of bankruptcy costs when firms are over-levered. Bringing in the market timing view of capital structure, we measure deviation of market prices to predicted theoretical values, and find that speed of adjustment is influenced by equity mispricing. We find that firms adjust faster to lead levels when lag levels are above lead levels and the extent of deviation above theoretical values is not excessive relative to when deviations of prices from theoretical levels are too high. Furthermore, looking at firms below lead levels, we find that firms adjust faster to lead levels when equities prices below theoretical values severely deviate; suggesting that firms increase debt issues when equity prices are acutely suppressed. This indicates managers are consistently looking at windows of opportunities when issuing or repurchasing to ensure successful timing attempts. Thus, our findings suggest that although market timing could also work within a trade-off framework where managers are timing based on the deviation from theoretical prices as well as moving towards simulated lead levels, the extent of the integration of both explanations of capital structure remains puzzling.
Stock Market Reactions on Returns and Trading Volume: The Impact of the Global Financial Crisis

Objective: This study empirically examines the short term under- and overreaction effect in the Karachi Stock Exchange, Pakistan, in the context of the 2008 Global Financial Crisis considering the period from September 2007 to 2009. Background: Investors’ probable reaction to an anticipated or unforeseen event is gaining immense importance in order to understand the complex market behavior. The arrival of good or bad news can tend to bring about a rise or decline in the stock price even if the news does not directly impact company’s performance. Method: The sample data for the stock price, trading volume and KSE 100 index are obtained from the Karachi Stock Exchange (KSE) and Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) websites for the period September 2007 to 2009. To reach our objective, we used event studies. Results: There is evidence of significant overreaction in the first two weeks and significant under- reaction in the 12th and 24th week following specifically in the financial sector. For the non-financial sector, the returns stay positive and insignificant for both the winner and loser portfolios thereby negating any evidence of significant overreaction. Contributions: We wants to contribute to the existing literature, testing the under- and overreaction hypothesis in an emerging market. Our study also attempts to draw attention to any evidence of returns reversal in the loser and winner portfolios based on the trading volume. Investors may capitalize on the trading volume information to earn contrarian profits.
Studies of backward particle production with A Fixed-Target Experiment using the LHC beams

The foreseen capability to cover the far backward region at a Fixed-Target Experiment using the LHC beams allows one to explore the dynamics of the target fragmentation in hadronic collisions. In this report we briefly outline the required theoretical framework and discuss a number of studies of forward and backward particle production. By comparing this knowledge with the one accumulated in Deep Inelastic Scattering on target fragmentation, the basic concept of QCD factorisation could be investigated in detail.
Variations in Integrated Galactic Initial Mass Functions due to Sampling Method and Cluster Mass Function

[abridged] Stars are thought to be formed predominantly in clusters. The clusters are formed following a cluster initial mass function (CMF) similar to the stellar initial mass function (IMF). Both the IMF and the CMF favour low-mass objects. The numerous low-mass clusters will lack high mass stars. If the integrated galactic initial mass function originates from stars formed in clusters, the IGIMF could be steeper than the IMF. We investigate how well constrained this steepening is and how it depends on the choice of sampling method and CMF. We compare analytic sampling to several implementations of random sampling of the IMF, and different CMFs. We implement different IGIMFs into GALEV to obtain colours and metallicities for galaxies. Choosing different ways of sampling the IMF results in different IGIMFs. Depending on the lower cluster mass limit and the slope of the cluster mass function, the steepening varies between very strong and negligible. We find the size of the effect is continuous as a function of the power-law slope of the CMF, if the CMF extends to masses smaller than the maximum stellarmass. The number of O-stars detected by GAIA might help in judging on the importance of the IGIMF effect. The impact of different IGIMFs on integrated galaxy photometry is small, within the intrinsic scatter of observed galaxies. Observations of gas fractions and metallicities could rule out at least the most extreme sampling methods. As we still do not understand the details of star formation, one sampling method cannot be favoured over another. Also, the CMF at very low cluster masses is not well constrained observationally. These uncertainties need to be taken into account when using an IGIMF, with severe implications for galaxy evolution models and interpretations of galaxy observations.
Evaluation of Quality Parameters in Gluten-Free Bread Formulated with Breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) Flour

Flour from the fruit of breadfruit trees (Artocarpus altilis) holds the potential to serve as a wheat flour replacement in gluten-free product formulations. This study evaluated the impact of breadfruit flour and leavening agent on gluten-free bread quality. Breadfruit flour was first milled and characterized by the researchers prior to being used in this study. Experimental formulas were mixed with varying breadfruit flour inclusion (0%, 20%, 35%, and 50%) and leavening agent (yeast and baking powder). Quality parameters including density, specific volume, pH, water activity, color, and texture were assessed, and proximate analysis was performed to characterize the nutritional value of the bread. Significant differences (p<0.05) were found in loaf density, specific volume, color (crust L∗ and b∗; crumb L∗, a∗, and b∗), pH, water activity, and crumb firmness. Additionally, a consumer sensory study was performed on the most well-liked formulations. Consumer testing yielded significant differences (p<0.05) between the yeast-leavened control (0% breadfruit flour) and yeast-leavened breadfruit bread (20% breadfruit flour). Nonceliac consumers rated the breadfruit treatment as significantly less acceptable than the control for all sensory characteristics assessed. These results indicate that breadfruit flour can be used at ≤20%, when leavened with yeast, to produce quality gluten-free bread. Future studies should be conducted to assess the impact of breadfruit variety and milling practices on breadfruit flour properties before further attempts are made to investigate how breadfruit flour impacts the gluten-free bread quality.
The effects of disk and dust structure on observed polarimetric images of protoplanetary disks

Context. Imaging polarimetry is a powerful tool for imaging faint circumstellar material. It is a rapidly developing field with great promise for diagnostics of both the large-scale structures and the small-scale details of the scattering particles. Aims. For a correct analysis of observations we need to fully understand the effects of dust particle parameters, as well as the effects of the telescope, atmospheric seeing, and assumptions about the data reduction and processing of the observed signal. Here we study the major effects of dust particle structure, size-dependent grain settling, and instrumental properties. Methods. We performed radiative transfer modeling using different dust particle models and disk structures. To study the influence of seeing and telescope diffraction we ran the models through an instrument simulator for the ExPo dual-beam imaging polarimeter mounted at the 4.2m William Herschel Telescope (WHT). Results. Particle shape and size have a strong influence on the brightness and detectability of the disks. In the simulated observations, the central resolution element also contains contributions from the inner regions of the protoplanetary disk besides the unpolarized central star. This causes the central resolution element to be polarized, making simple corrections for instrumental polarization difficult. This effect strongly depends on the spatial resolution, so adaptive optics systems are needed for proper polarization calibration. Conclusions. We find that the commonly employed homogeneous sphere model gives results that differ significantly from more realistic models. For a proper analysis of the wealth of data available now or in the near future, one must properly take the effects of particle types and disk structure into account. The observed signal depends strongly on the properties of these more realistic models, thus providing a potentially powerful diagnostic. We conclude that it is important to correctly understand telescope depolarization and calibration effects for a correct interpretation of the degree of polarization.