Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Democratization of Learning through Thematic Assignment.

This article describes the results of research on learning democratization in Sangihe. This study is the first year of a five-year plan. Long-term goal of this research is to create the democratic science learning in schools. Democratic learning model was developed through thematic assignment, involving the participation of parents and communities. This study covers three main stages, namely designing and developing instruction, implementation and evaluation. Democratization of learning was analyzed based on indicators of student’s activities, the role of teachers and parents. The results showed that the collaboration of teachers, students and parents in the development of the design can initiate the process of democratization. Implementation of thematic assignment instruction involving parent’s role, can motivate students and encourage the activities of student groups to increase from the first to tenth meeting. Thematic assignment on environmental issues, were easily understood by students and allow parents act as learning partners, motivator and facilitator. Dialogical assessment was encourages student groups to improve the learning activity from the initial to the next meeting. The final evaluation results showed that the study group interaction in a democratic climate can reduce individual differences and establish an open collaboration, so the groups learning outcomes fairly homogeneous.
The size and shape of the Milky Way disc and halo from M-type brown dwarfs in the BoRG survey

We have identified 274 M-type Brown Dwarfs in the Hubble Space Telescope's Wide Field Camera 3 (WFC3) pure parallel fields from the Brightest of Reionizing Galaxies (BoRG) survey for high redshift galaxies. These are near-infrared observations with multiple lines-of-sight out of our Milky Way. Using these observed M-type Brown Dwarfs we fitted a Galactic disk and halo model with a Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) analysis. This model worked best with the scale length of the disk fixed at $h$ = 2.6 kpc. For the scale height of the disk, we found $z_0 = 0.29^{+0.02}_{-0.019}$ kpc and for the central number density $\rho_0 = 0.29^{+0.20}_{-0.13}$ \#/pc$^3$. For the halo we derived a flattening parameter $\kappa$ = 0.45$\pm{0.04}$ and a power-law index $p$ = 2.4$\pm{0.07}$. We found the fraction of M-type brown dwarfs in the local density that belong to the halo to be $f_{h}$ = 0.0075$^{+0.0025}_{-0.0019}$. We found no correlation between subtype of M-dwarf and any model parameters. The total number of M-type Brown Dwarfs in the disk and halo was determined to be $58.2^{+9.81}_{-6.70} \times10^{9}$. We found an upper limit for the fraction of M-type Brown Dwarfs in the halo of 7$^{+5}_{-4}$\%. The upper limit for the total Galactic Disk mass in M-dwarfs is $4.34^{+0.73}_{-0.5}\times10^{9}$ $M_{\odot}$, assuming all M-type Brown Dwarfs have a mass of $80 M_J$.
Examining College Student Athlete Attitudes Towards Concussion Testing and Reporting Concussions

Background: Examining athletes’ attitudes toward concussion diagnosis, management, and treatment can lead to improved multi-faceted management of a concussion injury. Although attitudes towards concussion injuries have been studied, the examination of athletes’ attitudes towards baseline computerized neurocognitive testing is understudied and is warranted. Purpose: The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between concussion history and athletes’ effort provided during baseline testing and the utility of neurocognitive testing. Methods: College athletes (18-23 years) completing a baseline neurocognitive test (Immediate Post-Concussion Assessment and Cognitive Test: ImPACT) were asked to complete an anonymous 33-item online survey. Survey questions included demographics and inquired about athletes’ effort and utility of baseline and post-concussion neurocognitive testing. A series of chisquare analyses measured the association between sex, concussion history, and previous exposure to baseline testing on effort provided during testing and utility of the test. Level of statistical significance was p . 05). Running head: Examining College Student Athlete Attitudes Towards Concussion Testing and Reporting Concussions 3 Discussion: The majority of athletes report high effort on baseline neurocognitive testing and recognize the utility of this measure for safe return to play. Running head: Examining College Student Athlete Attitudes Towards Concussion Testing and Reporting Concussions 4
Evaluation of the Curvature of the Longitudinal Foot Arch in Children aged 7 and 8 – A Pilot Study

The foot is an essential part of the human body, and a key factor enabling mobility. The proper functioning of the foot depends on its morphological structure and on the proper shape of its arches – transversal and longitudinal. Having in mind that flat feet develop as a succession of different stages, it is important to systematically monitor the development of feet at various phases of a child’s growth. Therefore, this study aims to evaluate longitudinal foot arch curvature in children aged 7 and 8. The study involved 122 children (77 girls and 45 boys) aged 7 and 8 – students of a primary school in Bezrzecze near the city of Szczecin. Body height and weight, and the length and width of the feet were measured. A podoscope was used to determine the curvature of the longitudinal foot arch, which was then expressed on a scale compatible with the Szriter-Gudanow “KY” foot arch curvature index. This non-invasive method enables preventive measures to be taken at critical stages of a child’s life. The results for the tested groups of children revealed statistically significant relationships for body height and weight, and the length of the feet between the 7 and 8 year olds. Furthermore, it was observed that the vast majority of the tested children has normal curvature of the longitudinal arch of both the right and left foot.
Why Are Youth from Lower-income Families Less Likely to Attend University? Evidence from Academic Abilities, Parental Influences, and Financial Constraints

In this study, I use new Canadian data containing detailed information on academic abilities, parental influences, financial constraints, and other socio-economic background characteristics of youth to try to account for the large gap in university attendance across the income distribution. I find that 96% of the total gap in university attendance between youth from the top and bottom income quartiles can be accounted for by differences in observable characteristics. Differences in long-term factors such as standardized test scores in reading obtained at age 15, school marks reported at age 15, parental influences, and high-school quality account for 84% of the gap. In contrast, only 12% of the gap is related to financial constraints. Similar results hold across different income quartiles and when I use standardized test scores in mathematics and science. However, reading scores account for a larger proportion of the gap than other test scores.
Macroeconomic Analysis and Graphical Interpretation of Azerbaijan Economy in 1991-2012

The aim of this research is to analyze macroeconomic performance and discuss transition indicators in Azerbaijan economy for 1991-2012. After regaining independence in 1991, Azerbaijan implemented economic transition process toward market economy. In first years of independence serious economic recession was observed. However, after 1995, restructuring of the economy was started. In this sense, signing “Contract of the Century” was a turning point toward oil based high speed economic growth or oil boom period. Thus, by opening “Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan” pipeline in 2005, Azerbaijan’s macroeconomic indicators experienced with considerable growth for following years. On the other hand, Azerbaijan officially declared the end of economic transition process in its economy in 2009. Here, the author discusses political-economic and economic process in whole period as well as analyzes macroeconomic performance with and without oil & gas contribution. In addition, the author questions if economic transition was ended in Azerbaijan economy. After all, it is concluded that oil & gas production has serious impact over macroeconomic indicators and transition indicators for Azerbaijan implies the end of economic transition partly, not totally.
Sex Differences in Career Self-Efficacy.

The results of a study of the self-efficacy of 59 male and 71 female students, at a midsized western university, using a psychometric assessment instrument called the Career Attitude Survey (CAS) developed for the study, may be summarized as follows: (1) females but not males exhibited greater self-efficacy for traditional female occupations than nontraditional occupations; (2) females were more confident that they could combine home/family responsibilities with a traditional career than with a nontraditional career, whereas males showed no differences in confidence in their ability to combine family responsibilities with traditional or nontraditional occupations; (3) females considered traditional occupations, more frequently than nontraditional occupations, whereas males considered nontraditional occupations more frequently than traditional female occupations. (Self-efficacy was considered to be the belief in one's ability to perform a given behavior successfully.) The CAS included descriptions of 10 traditionally female occupations and 10 traditionally male occupations. Subjects used a five-point Likert scale to rate themselves along the three dimensions for each occupation. Internal consistency coefficients (alpha) for the CAS were . 8914, . 9123, and . 6324. (A 17-item bibliography concludes the document.) (CML) ** ****** **** ********* **** ********** * ********* ************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made Zrom the original document. ******* ***** * ***** *** ****** *********** ******** **** ******* i::************ Sex Differences in Career Self-Efficacy Sue A. Stickel Shippensburg University Rhonda M. Bonett University of Wyoming Paper presented at the 1989 Annual Meeting of the American Educational Research Association San Francisco March 27 31 U.S DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Once of Educational Research and Improvement EI)U TIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER IER,C) This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction Quality Points ot view or opinions mate° in this docu ment do not necessarily represent official OE RI position or policy "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTEE( BY TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 2 BEST COPY AVAILABLE
Mechanical properties of some bioplastics under different soil types used as biodegradable drip tubes

A lack of degradability and the closing of landfill sites, as well as growing water and land pollution problems, have led to concern about plastics. With the excessive use of plastics and increasing pressure being placed on capacities available for plastic waste disposal, the need for biodegradable plastics and biodegradation of plastic wastes has assumed increasing importance in the last few years. Awareness of the waste problem and its impact on the environment has awakened new interest in the area of degradable polymers. The biodegradation of five different types of commercial bioplastics available on the market as agricultural mulch film (Bioflex, Ecoflex, Mater Bi, Chitosan and Bi-OPL foil) was evaluated under different soil types (Sandy, Sandy Loam and Loamy soil) to study the material stability and life expectancy, and to establish which was better to be used in the production of biodegradable drip tubes for drip irrigation system. Weight loss, tensile strength (TS) loss and loss of percentage elongation (%E) were measured in 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 months. Bi-OPL appeared to possess a high resistance to soil types, as indicated by lower changes in tensile strength, weight losses and with maximum 26% decreased in elongation at break. At the end of the experiments, Chitosan films were completely degraded in all soil types and both surface and subsurface positions. The starch contained in Mater Bi samples was degraded after 60 days with 4% weight losses and leads to 3% observed losses in tensile strength. Weight losses of Ecoflex and Bioflex were greater after three months (more than 30%) than that previously (5% to 10%). The tensile strength of both Ecoflex and Bioflex films decreased about 4% and 3% respectively in loamy soil and loamy sand soil by Week 12, More than 40% of the elongation capacity of the films were lost by Month 3 in both soil types. The decrease of %E in both films was slightly faster in loamy and loamy sand soil than in sandy soil.
Job satisfaction, organizational commitment, and intention to leave: A study on visiting lecturers in Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM)

Employee retention, the opposite of turnover, has been of importance to both researchers and practitioners. This study intended to answer the following questions (1) how satisfied are the visiting lecturers of UUM, (2) how committed are they to UUM, (3) do they have intention to leave in the short or the long run, and (4) do job satisfaction and organizational commitment impact intention to leave? The study implemented a mixed methodology where both quantitative data and qualitative data were collected.Ninety eight (98) questionnaires were distributed and four interviews were conducted. Out of the 98 questionnaires, only 35 were returned and analysed.The quantitative data results showed that the majority of the visiting lecturers are satisfied (mean=6.2), quite committed (mean=5.7), their intention to stay is also noticeably high (mean5.2), and their intention to leave is quite low (mean3.05). In addition, the qualitative results also showed that the visiting lecturers were satisfied with their job. However, the interviewees showed some concern about the working culture (the absence of integration between local staff and visiting lecturers) and bureaucracy (time wasted to get things done). This study could serve as a reminder to UUM top management that taking care of the working culture and bureaucracy could contribute to more commitment and less turnover intention.It is worth mentioning that satisfying foreign lecturers who came from different cultures and who have different expectations could be a point of concern to UUM top management.It is important to merge the visiting lecturers into the system and make them feel they are part of the family so that they could be more committed and hence deliver more.
A Study on the Convergence of Meaning and Creativity of the Generated Concepts in Design

This paper discusses an approach to convergence in conceptual design. The main issue is the ambiguity with regard to the manner in which ideas are structured and formed from diverse concepts in this stage of design. In this study, we integrate the user’s perspective on the convergence of meanings into design methodology by applying a meaning-based framework in conceptual design. This methodology introduces a user-derived evaluation of ‘structure of meaning elements’ (SoME), based on their convergence. We test the proposed design methodology in a case study with three designers. This study reveals details of how concepts are converged in design and how concept formation can be achieved using design methodology. The significance of this study for design creativity lies in the comprehension of convergence and its connection with of creative processes in the conceptual design.
Visual soil structure quality assessment on Oxisols under no-tillage system

Methods for evaluation the soil structure quality based on field evaluations are useful to determine strategies for soil management, with the advantage of requirement the use of little equipment and the possibility of immediate interpretation. A new methodology was recently developed to temperate soils for this purpose, called Visual Soil Structure Assessment (Ball et al., 2007). It was tested the hypothesis that it is possible to apply and advance in the interpretation of the results from use of Visual Soils Structure Assessment in cultivated Oxisols. Therefore the goal of this study was to apply, evaluate and enhance the potential of the methodology developed by Ball et al. (2007) in two Oxisols under long-term, no-till in Parana State, Brazil, as well as in a soil under native forest, used as reference of soil structural quality. The proposed implementation and progress in terms of structural quality for the distinct layers provided an assessment of soil physical quality more practical and detailed. This is useful to support the selection of appropriate techniques for mechanical and biological management systems in order to achieve the physical quality of soil suitable for crop development. Visual scores of soil structure quality proposed by Ball et al. (2007) can be applied to Brazilian Oxisols cultivated under no-tillage system.
Comparison of Beta, Gamma Weibull Distributions for Characterising Tree Diameter in Oluwa Forest Reserve, Ondo State, Nigeria

This study compared the accuracy of the Beta, 2-parameter Gamma (2P) and 3-parameter Weibull (3P) distributions, fitted with the method of moments, for characterising the tree diameter of the reserve. Comparison was based on the Kolmogorov-Smirnov statistic (K-S), bias, mean absolute error (MAE), and mean square error (MSE). Distributions with location parameter were fixed as the minimum inventoried diameter of each plot. A total of eight (8) temporary sample plots (TSPs) of size 50m x 50m were laid in the natural stand of the reserve. Systematic line transect was used in the laying of the plots. All trees with DBH ? 10.0cm in the selected plots were enumerated, identified and measured. The results from the goodness-of-fit statistics revealed that the Weibull (3P) distribution performed slightly better than the Beta distribution used in this study. The mean values for the K-S, bias, MAE, and MSE of the Weibull distribution were 0.11449, 0.00015, 0.00847, and 0.00022, respectively; as such ranked best. The Gamma (2P) distribution provided the worst fit to the dataset, with relatively large values for the goodness-of-fit statistics. It fits for the entire plot were far from the reverse J-shaped of natural forests, which implies that the Gamma (2P) distribution is inappropriate for determining the structure of the natural stand. Keywords: diameter characterisation, probability distribution, moments, natural forest
Estimation of genetic parameters for some quantitative traits in large seeded bean (Phaseolus vulgarisL.) lines by factorial analysis of generation means

Understanding the nature of gene action in the breeding materials is helpful for breeders in formulating breeding strategy. In order to understand the type of gene actions operating in the breeding materials, six generation means (P1, P2, F1, F2, BC1 and BC2) from two crosses among large seeded bean lines grown at Awassa 2002 were used to estimate the genetic effects of some quantitative traits. The result revealed that for seed yield (gm/plant), pods/plant and pod length additive genetic model was not sufficient to explain most of the genetic variation for the expression of these traits. Epistatic effects contributed to the inheritance of these traits in the two crosses used. For seeds/pod and plant height epistatic gene effect was present in one of the two crosses. The nature of epistasis operating in the inheritance of seed yield (gm/plant), pods/plant, pod length, and plant height is duplicate type whereas it is complimentary type for seeds/ pod. This indicates that particular allelic combinations at several loci determine the performance of these traits. Thus, population improvement and gamete selection breeding methods may help to improve these traits. Realized heterosis (over mid-parent) was observed for seed yield(gm/plant), pods/plant and plant height in one of the two crosses with no inbreeding effect in F2 indicating that the heterosis is largely caused by non-allelic interaction even though over dominance was also observed. Pods/plant could be an important trait for plant selection in segregating generations as it revealed a significant positive correlation and high direct effect with seed yield.
Dividend Policy and Bank Performance in Ghana

The main thrust of this study is to find out the relationship between dividend policy and performance of banks in Ghana. The study used panel data constructed from the financial statements of 16 commercial banks in Ghana for a period of 5 years, from 1999-2003. These financial statements were obtained from the Banking Supervision department of Bank of Ghana. STATA was used for the data analysis. From the results of the study, the average dividend paid by banks over the study period was 24.65%. Also, it is apparent that banks that pay dividend increase their performance. The results also reinforce earlier findings that leverage, size of a bank and bank growth enhance the performance of banks. The age factor presents mixed results. Generally, the result is in tandem with earlier studies that dividend policy has an effect on firm value.
Spring honey bee losses in Italy.

Honey bee poisoning incidents and monitoring schemes Background: During last years several cases of bee losses have been reported during the period of corn sowing in different European countries. In Italy an institutional system for bee losses survey does not exist and therefore some Italian regions decided to organise an official network to collect data and analyse dead bee samples. Results: Collected data indicate that the higher number of bee losses events occurred in intensively cultivated flat areas, located in the North of Italy, mainly during or after corn sowing. The chemical analyses of dead bees revealed the presence of three neonicotinoid residues: imidacloprid was found in 25.7% of the sample, thiamethoxam in 2.8%, clothianidin in 25.7%, both imidacloprid and thiamethoxam in 4.7%. The visual examination and the virological analyses excluded pathological causes. Conclusion: The spatial and temporal correlation between hive damages and corn sowing and the presence of residues of active ingredients used for seed dressing (imidacloprid, thiamethoxam and clothianidin) in almost half of the samples confirms the connection between spring mortality and the sowing of corn seed dressed with neonicotinoids. Keywords: honeybee mortality, neonicotinoids, seed dressing, corn sowing, dust dispersion.
Characteristics of Top Tier Finance Journal Publications

This paper examines the characteristics of “top tier” finance journal publications relative to “second tier” finance publications. We study ten leading finance journals and classify the top four journals as “top tier” and the remaining six as “second tier” journals. Using a sample of 3,156 different articles with 7,103 different authors and a Logit model, the results highlight the following characteristics: papers presented at WFA, AFA, and seminars, and have multiple colleague comments tend to be published in the top tier journals. Also, authors who graduated from or are affiliated with the top business schools tend to publish in the top tier journals.