Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
The relationship between school violence and student proficiency

School violence has recently become a central concern among teachers, students, students' parents and policymakers. Violence can induce behaviors on educational agents that go against the goals of improving the quality of education and increasing school attendance. In fact, there is evidence that school environmental characteristics and student performance and behavior at school are related. Although school violence may have a direct impact on students’ performance, such impact has not yet been quantified. In this paper, we investigate this issue using Brazilian data and show that, on average, students who attended more violent schools had worse proficiency on a centralized test carried out by the Brazilian Ministry of Education, even when we controlled for school, class, teachers and student characteristics. We also show that school violence affects more the students from the bottom of the proficiency distribution. Furthermore, we find out that besides the direct effect on student proficiency, it seems that school violence has an indirect effect on it operating through teacher turnover. Indeed, we show that the occurrence of violent episodes in a school decreases the probability of a class in that school having only one teacher during the academic year, and increases the probability of that class having more than one teacher (teacher turnover).
Production of L-Lactic Acid from Raw Cassava Starch by Rhizopus oryzae NRRL 395

Lactic acid, which is commonly used in food, chemical and pharmaceutical industries, has recently received much attention for the production of biodegradable plastic. L-lactic acid production by Rhizopus oryzae NRRL 395 from raw cassava starch as a sole carbon source was studied. The optimum production medium was as follows (g/l) : raw cassava starch, 120; (NH 4) 2 SO4, 3.0; KH2PO4, 1.0; MgSO4.7H2O, 0.25; ZnSO4.7H2O, 0.04; pH 6.0. The maximum L-lactic acid production in shake flasks was 68.32 g/l on day 5 with the shaking speed of 200 rpm at 30°C. L ‐ lactic acid yield and productivity were 0.59 g/g substrate and 0.57 g/lh, respectively. In a jar fermentor, the maximum L-lactic acid production was 54.62 g/l on day 4 of cultivation at the agitation speed of 400 rpm and the aeration rate of 1.5 vvm. The L ‐ lactic acid yield was 0.49 g/g substrate with the productivity of 0.56 g/lh.
Nano Fabrication of Oxide Patterns Using Atomic Force Microscopy on Titanium: Towards the Development of Nano Devices

In this paper related to the field of nano technologies, we report on nano lithography for the fabrication of oxide patterns on titanium thin film using Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM). The patterns consist of lines, dots, and surfaces. Their morphology is assessed in terms of width and height as a function of the growth conditions, e.g., for lines, bias voltage and sweep velocity, and for dots bias voltage and duration of application of the bias voltage. We show that the results present a satisfactorily reproducibility. This opens the way to further developments: nano devices among which simple and double junctions are currently in development, the final goal being the development of single electron devices (SETs).
A Naturalistic Observation of Spontaneous Touches to the Body and Environment in the First 2 Months of Life

Self-generated touches to the body or supporting surface are considered important contributors to the emergence of an early sense of the body and self in infancy. Both are critical for the formation of later goal-directed actions. Very few studies have examined in detail the development of these early spontaneous touches during the first months of life. In this study, we followed weekly four infants in two naturalistic 5-min sessions (baseline and toys-in-view) as they laid alert in supine from the age of 3 weeks until they acquired head control. We found that throughout the 2 months of observation, infants engaged in a high rate of touch and spent about 50% of the time moving their hands from one touch location to the next. On most sessions, they produced up to 200 body/surface contacts and touched as many as 18 different areas (mainly upper body and floor) both hands combined. When we did not consider the specific areas touched, the rates of touches were higher to the body than to the floor, but the duration of contacts and the most touched areas were higher for the supporting surface than for the body. Until the age of 9 weeks, we found no consistent differences in the rate of touch between head and trunk. Infants also did not display significant differences in their rate of touch between right and left hand or between conditions. However, we discovered that in the earlier weeks, infants engaged more often in what we called “complex touches. ” Complex touches were touches performed across several body/floor areas in one continuous bout while the hand maintained contact with the body or floor. Single touches, in contrast, corresponded to one touch to one single body or floor area at a time. We suggest that infants are active explorers of their own body and peripersonal space from day 1 and that these early self-generated and deeply embodied sensorimotor experiences form the critical foundation from which future behaviors develop.
Prospects for On-Farm Self-Employment and Poverty Reduction: An Analysis of the South African Income and Expenditure Survey 2000

In the South African context, as well as elsewhere in sub-Saharan Africa, there is general agreement that small-plot agriculture “remains important for most rural households, mostly for domestic consumption”, and it is claimed that “people look to farming or natural resource harvesting as sources of livelihood”. Many have echoed Michael Lipton’s old call for “abandoning negative stereotypes of smallholder production, and embracing a positive view of the possibilities for land-based rural livelihoods” (Cousins 2005a; International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) 2002; New Economic Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) 2002; Commission for Africa 2005:44). Their policy conclusion is that the central thrust of anti-poverty strategy should focus on these promising possibilities for family farming by implementing a land reform that improves the access of the poor to productive assets including not only land but also micro-credit, access to inputs, marketing facilities, and extension advice. “Possibilities” are not the theme of this paper, partly because the theoretical underpinnings and flawed logic of these arguments for redistributive land reform and smallholder support have been criticised in earlier work (Sender and Johnston 2004).
Multiplex polymerase chain reaction for detection and characterization of shiga toxigenic Escherichia coli (STEC)

Escherichia coli is ubiquitous in the cow's environment that is contaminated by feces, and it is also a frequent cause of bovine mastitis. Thus, the present study was targeted at the rapid detection and characterization of shiga toxigenic E. coli (STEC) in bovine fecal and milk samples. Twenty two strains of E. coli (39.29%) were isolated from 56 diarrheic calves, while only 5 strains (20.83%) were isolated from apparently normal contact calves. Moreover, 20 strains of E. coli (25%) were isolated from milk samples collected from 80 animals suffering from mastitis and subclinical mastitis. E. coli serovars yielded from bacteriological examination of milk samples were similar to that of fecal samples. Serogroup-specific multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay could detect all the bacteriologically positive samples as well as 4 strains (7.98%), O157:H7 and 3 strains (5.36%), O111 from diarrheic calves and 2 strains (8.33%), O111 from normal calves. Such samples were proved to be negative by bacteriological examination. Multiplex PCR for detection of genes encoding accessory STEC virulence factors, such as shiga toxin type-2 (stx2) and intimin gene (eaeA) revealed the specificity of such gene to O157:H7 serovars and small number of other sero-groups.
Performance of Sugarcane Varieties under Organic Amendments with Poor Quality Irrigation Water

Sugarcane is known to be moderately sensitive to salinity. Excess of cations such as sodium and anions like carbonate, bicarbonate and chloride present in irrigation water, may affect the growth and yield of sugarcane. To realise this problems field experiments were conducted to screen the saline tolerant sugarcane varieties for poor quality irrigation water under different amendments. The field experiment - I was conducted on sandy loam soil with treated paper mill effluent as irrigation source and experiment - II was conducted on sandy clay loam soil with saline groundwater as irrigation source, during October 2006 - January 2008 in a split plot design, with three replications. The experiment consists of seven main plot treatments i.e. basal application of 500 kg ha gypsum -1
Galaxy luminosities, stellar masses, sizes, velocity dispersions as a function of morphological type

We provide fits to the distribution of galaxy luminosity, size, velocity dispersion and stellar mass as a function of concentration index Cr and morphological type in the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS). (Our size estimate, a simple analogue of the SDSS cmodel magnitude, is new: it is computed using a combination of seeing-corrected quantities in the SDSS data base, and is in substantially better agreement with results from more detailed bulge/disc decompositions.) We also quantify how estimates of the fraction of ‘early’- or ‘late’-type galaxies depend on whether the samples were cut in colour, concentration or light profile shape, and compare with similar estimates based on morphology. Our fits show that ellipticals account for about 20 per cent of the r-band luminosity density, , and 25 per cent of the stellar mass density, ρ*; including S0s and Sas increases these numbers to 33 per cent and 40 per cent, and 50 per cent and 60 per cent, respectively. The values of and ρ*, and the mean sizes, of E, E+S0 and E+S0+Sa samples are within 10 per cent of those in the Hyde & Bernardi, Cr≥ 2.86 and Cr≥ 2.6 samples, respectively. Summed over all galaxy types, we find ρ*∼ 3 × 108 M⊙ Mpc−3 at z∼ 0. This is in good agreement with expectations based on integrating the star formation history. However, compared to most previous work, we find an excess of objects at large masses, up to a factor of ∼10 at M*∼ 5 × 1011 M⊙. The stellar mass density further increases at large masses if we assume different initial mass functions for elliptical and spiral galaxies, as suggested by some recent chemical evolution models, and results in a better agreement with the dynamical mass function. We also show that the trend for ellipticity to decrease with luminosity is primarily because the E/S0 ratio increases at large L. However, the most massive galaxies, M*≥ 5 × 1011 M⊙, are less concentrated and not as round as expected if one extrapolates from lower L, and they are not well fit by pure deVaucouleur laws. This suggests formation histories with recent radial mergers. Finally, we show that the age–size relation is flat for ellipticals of fixed dynamical mass, but, at fixed Mdyn, S0s and Sas with large sizes tend to be younger. Hence, samples selected on the basis of colour or Cr will yield different scalings. Explaining this difference between E and S0 formation is a new challenge for models of early-type galaxy formation.
Production Improvement Function and Equity Capital of Firms in the Nigerian Manufacturing Industry

This paper investigates the extent to which Production Improvement Function, had affected the Equity Capital of firms in the Nigerian manufacturing industry. Three hypotheses were formulated and copies of questionnaire were distributed to eighty respondents in the eighty sampled manufacturing firms from the one hundred in the industry, that are quoted in the Stock Exchange(Fact Book 2009). Sixty two copies of the questionnaire were retrieved. These with the financial statements of the firms were used for the analysis. From its findings, the study revealed that production planning and control have significant impacts in enhancing the equity capital of firms in Nigerian manufacturing industry; while production scheduling has an insignificant influence on equity capital alone. This finding implies that production improvement function significantly affects the equity capital of firms and therefore provides evidence for the claims of Olusegun and Adegbuyi(2010); Olarenwaju(2010); Poterba(2006); and Ikan(2003). Based on these, the study recommends among others, that the Nigerian manufacturing industry should efficiently and effectively operationalize the all embracing production improvement function, especially in the area of production scheduling, in order to restore the industry as the base of all investment and hence development. Keywords : Production Improvement Function, Enhanced Equity Capital, production scheduling.
Epidemiological Study on Brown Dog Tick Rhipicephalus sanguineus at Sadat District, Egypt

This work aimed to study the epidemiological status of Rhipicephalus sanguineus ticks in dogs at Sadat district, Mid-Delta, Egypt. During the period elapsed in-between September- 2015 and August- 2016, a total of 380 dogs (190 stray dogs, 130 animal guard dogs and 60 household dogs) were examined for the presence of hard ticks. Results showed that; 89.4% (340/380) dogs were infected with one species of hard tick “R. sanguineus “. The most affected group was animal guard dogs (56.1%), followed by stray dogs (34.2%) and lastly, household dogs (10%). There was no significant variation between the dog breeds, or sex of dogs and the percent of infection (p>0.01), but an obvious significant difference was found between age and infection rate and site on the body and infection rate (p<0.01), the highest percent was in young ages less than 6 months, and external ear. Seasonal dynamics of R. sanguineus infection revealed that; it was more prevalent during summer 45% (63/140), than in spring 34% (55/162), in autumn 13% (5/43) and lowest prevalence was detected in winter 8% (3/35). The current study highlights the high prevalence of Rhipicephalus sanguineus infecting dogs in Egypt. Also, provide basic line information on such infection that might help to design a control program for this important canine hard tick. Further investigations on dog ectoparasites in Egypt are required.
Ecological traits of the amphipod invader Dikerogammarus villosus on a mesohabitat scale

Since 1995, Dikerogammarus villosus Sowinski, a Ponto-Caspian amphi- pod species, has been invading most of Western Europe' s hydrosystems. D. villosus geographic extension and quickly increasing population density has enabled it to become a major component of macrobenthic assemblages in recipient ecosystems. The ecological characteristics of D. villosus on a mesohabitat scale were investigated at a station in the Moselle River. This amphipod is able to colonize a wide range of sub- stratum types, thus posing a threat to all freshwater ecosystems. Rivers whose domi- nant substratum is cobbles and which have tree roots along the banks could harbour particularly high densities of D. villosus. A relationship exists between substratum par- ticle size and the length of the individuals, and spatial segregation according to length was shown. This allows the species to limit intra-specific competition between genera- tions while facilitating reproduction. A strong association exists between D. villosus and other Ponto-Caspian species, such as Dreissena polymorpha and Corophium cur- vispinum, in keeping with Invasional Meltdown Theory. Four taxa (Coenagrionidae, Calopteryx splendens, Corophium curvispinum and Gammarus pulex ) exhibited spa- tial niches that overlap significantly that of D. villosus. According to the predatory be- haviour of the newcomer, their populations may be severely impacted.
Does of mixed diffuse pollution degrease ground beetle diversity

Heavy metal pollution from industrial dischargeshas a pronounced effect on the environment(Clemetns & Newmann 2002). Most of thechemical concentration is deposited incontaminated soil taking living organisms intopermanent exposition to stressors (pressdisturbance) and usually creates a newequilibrium (Wootton 1998).
Importance of Farmland Habitats for Conservation of Plant Species

Abstract: Little attention has been paid, particularly in North America, to the importance of the mosaic of farmland habitats for the conservation of native plant species. We examined patterns in plant species richness, composition, and abundance at the scale of site, habitat (sites of a given habitat type pooled), and landscape for 10 farmland habitats (crop, hay field, pasture, old field, herbaceous fencerow, woody fencerow, roadside, ditch, plantation, woodlot) at 121 sites in eastern Ontario, Canada. At the site level, woodlots (3–79 ha) had the highest richness of overall (average 57.6 species), woody (23.4), and herbaceous species (25.0). Crop, herbaceous fencerow, and plantation habitats had few native species per site. Introduced species comprised>50% of herbs per site in seven habitats. Across habitats, 305 species were observed; 227 species were herbaceous, 70% of which were native and 31% of which were weeds. Wooded fencerows had the highest species richness in total (153) and for herbs (107). Woodlots had the most woody species (56). Percent native species was generally lower and percent weeds higher at the site level than at the habitat level. All habitats had unique species; woodlots had the highest number of unique species ( 74). Results of the multivariate analysis for abundant herbs revealed that woodlots and plantations were different, as were crop and ditch habitats. The results of our landscape‐level study show that plant species richness and composition varied substantially among the five landscapes studied, ranging from a row‐crop monoculture landscape to a diverse mosaic of crop and noncrop habitat landscape. The row‐crop monoculture landscape had 11% of total, 4% of native, 27% of introduced, and 27% of the weed species found in the landscape with a greater diversity of crop and noncrop habitats. The richness of introduced and weed species was asymptotic with the addition of ditch, hayfield, and pasture in the landscape, and native species richness increased steeply, particularly with the addition of marsh, wooded fencerow, and woodlot. Our results emphasize the importance of maintaining a diverse mosaic of habitats and of noncrop habitats in farmland for conserving herbaceous and woody native plants.
Galaxy Zoo 1: data release of morphological classifications for nearly 900 000 galaxies

Morphology is a powerful indicator of a galaxy’s dynamical and merger history. It is strongly correlated with many physical parameters, including mass, star formation history and the distribution of mass. The Galaxy Zoo project collected simple morphological classifications of nearly 900 000 galaxies drawn from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey, contributed by hundreds of thousands of volunteers. This large number of classifications allows us to exclude classifier error, and measure the influence of subtle biases inherent in morphological classification. This paper presents the data collected by the project, alongside measures of classification accuracy and bias. The data are now publicly available and full catalogues can be downloaded in electronic format from http://data.galaxyzoo. org.
The Influences of Transformational Leaderships on Employees Performance (A Study of the Economics and Business Faculty Employee at University of Muhammadiyah Malang)

This study aims at investigating the effect of direct transformational leadership on employee motivation, jobs satisfaction, and employee performance. Then investigating the effect of direct employee satisfaction and motivation on employee job performance and employee's performance, and to know that job satisfaction gives direct influence on employee performance. Than in this study also investigates the influence of indirect transformational leadership on employee performance through employee motivation and job satisfaction. The research was conducted all employees at FEB UMM. The technique of data collecting used questionnaires with Likert scale, whereas the method of analysis used to answer the purposes of this study was Partial Least Square (PLS). The finding of this study reveals that transformational leadership gives positive and significant effect on employee motivation and employees' job satisfaction, but no significant effect found on employee performance. The finding also shows that employee motivation gives positive and significant effect on job satisfaction, but no significant effect on employee performance. Then, job satisfaction also shows positive and significant effect on employee performance. Then, transformational leadership has no significant effect on employee performance through employee motivation, so that employee motivation cannot mediate the effect of transformational leadership on employee performance. While transformational leadership has significant effect on employee performance through job satisfaction, so job satisfaction expressed can mediate the effect of transformational leadership on employee performance.
Sensory and microbiological evaluation of brown rice based weaning food

Weaning foods were formulated using varying amounts of raw materials by considering nutritive and caloric values of each ingredient in order to meet the nutrient requirement of infants. The brown rice, mungbean, apple pulp and walnut flour were blended separately in different ratios with each other along with 3 g of skim milk powder. The blended mixtures of weaning foods were packed in aluminium laminates to monitor the changes in sensory and microbial composition and were stored for a period of 6 months at ambient temperature (32 ± 2 C). On the basis of organoleptic evaluation of weaning foods, treatment T5 (70:20:5:5:BR:MB:APP:WP) was adjudged as the best treatment having highest mean score of 7.98, 7.71 and 7.68 for colour, taste and overall acceptability, respectively. The highest total plate counts of 0.49×10(c.f.u/g) was recorded in treatment T1(100:0:0:0:BR:MB:APP:WP) followed by 0.42×10 (c.f.u/g) in treatment T2(85:5:5:5:BR:MB:APP:WP) and by 0.36×10 (c.f.u/g) was in treatment T3(80:10:5:5:BR:MB:APP:WP) and the lowest of 0.14×10 (c.f.u/g) was recorded in treatment T7(60:30:5:5:BR:MB:APP:WP) but within the safe limits (not more than 10,000/g) as per legal standards for cereal.
Allelopathic effect of scentless mayweed extracts on carrot

The aim of the study was to examine allelopathic effect of water extracts prepared from fresh biomass of scentless mayweed [Tripleurospermum inodorum (L.) C.H. Schultz] on germination and initial growth of carrot. The experiments were conducted to evaluate: i) the effect of extracts from different plant parts (root, stem, leaf and aboveground biomass) in 1, 5 and 10% concentration in Petri dishes, and ii) the effect of extracts from aboveground biomass in aforementioned concentrations in pots with soil. In Petri dishes, reduction of germination compared to the control was not significant and ranged from 0.5 to 11.1%. Extracts had more pronounced effect on growth and fresh weight of carrot seedlings. Root length was inhibited in all treatments and varied greatly depending on concentration and plant part, while shoot length was both promoted and stimulated. Fresh weight of seedlings was reduced in all treatments and amounted up to 30.5%. Plant parts differed in their allelopathic potential, and root extract exhibited the highest inhibitory effect. In experiment with soil, extracts from fresh mayweed biomass reduced germination for up to 16.1%. Extracts had no significant effect on fresh weight of carrot seedlings, while length of root and shoot were both stimulated and inhibited.