Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Network Ties Change During Firms’ Tipping Points: Cases Of Smes In Malaysia

SMEs play an important role in the expansion of the Malaysian economy. Scholars believe that network ties whether strong or weak offer various advantages to the entrepreneurs at different stages of the business development that allows entrepreneurs to access various resources and opportunities eventually achieving growth and competitive advantages Recent studies has theorized firm growth and development based on the critical problems or the concept of tipping points. This study makes significant contribution to our understanding of the way how these entrepreneurs utilize networks during dynamic business situations and at these tipping points or critical problems. There are two objectives of the study that are: 1) To identify the tipping points faced by the small entrepreneurs and the roles of network ties throughout these problems. Secondly, 2) To explore network ties change during firms’ tipping points. This study is a qualitative study that involves eight firms of SME manufacturing-based in the Malaysian Southern Part. An in depth interview technique has been utilized to gather date for this study. There were eight owner-managers involved and their strong and weak ties each for the case. This study not only contributes to the network and growth literature which predominantly employs a quantitative approach; but also provides empirical evidence to Malaysia SMEs’ entrepreneurial network studies, hence offering recommendations for policy and practice in the field of entrepreneurial support in Malaysia and other developing countries. 2357-1330 © 2020 Published by European Publisher.
REDUCING THE EFFECTS OF PLASTIC WASTE IN AGRICULTURAL APPLICATIONS BY DEVELOPING NEW OK SOIL BIODEGRADABLE PLASTICS

Current intensive farming practices require the use of large quantities of mulching film and fruit protection bags since they prevent the growth of weeds, regulate soil temperature, retain water and nutrients and protect crops from insects. For these practices, single-use conventional non-degradable polymers are used, creating a serious problem of waste management since it is time-consuming, expensive to recycle and, more importantly, is non-environmentally friendly contaminating the environment. By using biodegradable plastics, this problem could be solved by preventing the creation of waste. The objectives of our study were to produce an innovative biobased and biodegradable plastic film that entirely biodegrades in natural conditions on the field within a short time after their usage and to know it effects in tomato and peach crops. For this purpose, films have been produced for biomulching to which specific oligo elements has been added to test in tomato crops and for biobags to protect the fruits from insects and improve quality at harvest in peaches. Tests carried out on tomato showed that, these bioplastics improved soil quality by increasing (up to 13%) the concentration of oligo elements and by decreasing (65%) blossom end rot. In the case of peaches, by using biobags, a uniform colour (without red blush), a required characteristic in this type of commodity (Protected Designation of Origin ‘Calanda’) was obtained, with a decrease in both a* colour coordinate (more than 2 points) and carotenoid content (more than 3 µg g-1 fw). Moreover, bioplastics degrade completely after 6 within the soil.
DETECTION OF QUINOLINE USING AMMONIA PLASMA-FUNCTIONALISED MULTI-WALLED CARBON NANOTUBES AND APPLICATION TO REAL SAMPLES

Study on the growth of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNT) using plasma-enhanced chemical vapour deposition (PECVD) techniques has been carried out in this work. MWCNT screen-printed electrode (SPCE) based on silicon substrate was fabricated for quinoline detection using photolithography methods. The MWCNT working electrodes were modified under ammonia (NH3) plasma to enhance the surface sensitivity to detect quinoline. The electrocatalytic activity of modified electrode towards oxidation of quinoline was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and linear sweep voltammetry (LSV). Under experimental conditions, peak currents increased with an increase in the concentration of quinoline (dynamic range = 2.0 to 25.0 μM) and displayed good linearity (R2 = 0.9958). The limit of detection (LOD) was calculated to be 0.164 μM. The modified electrode was then applied to real samples sourced from both healthy and Ganoderma boninense infected oil palm roots crude extracts. A linear plot was obtained with a good linearity (R2 = 0.9879), indicating good sensing results.
Engineered Biochar Production and Its Potential Benefits in a Closed-Loop Water-Reuse Agriculture System

Biochar’s potential to remove various contaminants from aqueous solutions has been widely discussed. The rapid development of engineered biochar produced using different feedstock materials via various methods for wastewater treatment in recent years urges an up-to-date review on this topic. This article centers on summarizing state-of-the-art methods for engineered biochar production and discussing the multidimensional benefits of applying biochar for water reuse and soil amendment in a closed-loop agriculture system. Based on numerous recent articles (<5 years) published in journals indexed in the Web of Science, engineered biochar’s production methods, modification techniques, physicochemical properties, and performance in removing inorganic, organic, and emerging contaminants from wastewater are reviewed in this study. It is concluded that biochar-based technologies have great potential to be used for treating both point-source and diffuse-source wastewater in agricultural systems, thus decreasing water demand while improving crop yields. As biochar can be produced using crop residues and other biomass wastes, its on-farm production and subsequent applications in a closed-loop agriculture system will not only eliminate expensive transportation costs, but also create a circular flow of materials and energy that promotes additional environmental and economic benefits.
Potential Benefits of Silicon Nutrition to Hydroponically Grown Sweet Basil

Sweet basil (Ocimum basilicum L.) is a globally cultivated and consumed herb known for its unique aroma and flavor. Sweet basil grows best in warm temperatures, and productivity and marketability decrease when grown under cool conditions (<10 °C). Silicon (Si) is not considered an essential plant nutrient, but it can be beneficial to Si macroaccumulator plants by alleviating several biotic and abiotic stresses. Recent studies have shown that some microaccumulator species may also benefit from Si. In this study, we examined the effects of different levels (0, 25, and 75 ppm Si) of Si amendments on hydroponic basil grown at 23 °C. Si (75 ppm) significantly increased shoot height and weight with no negative impact on plant morphology. All Si-treated basil plants absorbed Si in small quantities and affected the uptake of phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur, iron, manganese, copper, zinc and molybdenum. After an unintentional frost event, basil plants treated with 75 ppm had significantly higher survival rates and reduced cold injury symptoms. We concluded that Si amendments can have a positive impact on hydroponically grown sweet basil, and that such amendments may reduce plant damage due to occasionally cooler growing temperatures.
Factors affecting the parasitic contamination of edible locally produced dry season leafy vegetables cultivated in south east Enugu, Nigeria

Background/Aim: Outbreaks of human infections associated with consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables have occurred with increased frequency during the past decade. This study evaluated parasitic contamination of locally produced dry season vegetables cultivated in Enugu metropolis, Enugu State, Nigeria. Materials/Method: Vegetables, water and soil samples selected from vegetable farms were investigated. A total of 160 vegetable samples, 15 soil samples and 15 water samples were investigated. The samples were washed separately in saline and the resulting solution was subjected to standard sedimentation and flotation techniques. Physiochemical analysis of soil and water samples was done using the standard DREM technique. Furthermore, the water samples were investigated for C. parvum using the modified Ziehl-Neelsen staining technique. Results: Parasitic contamination of the different vegetables were Teifeairia occidentalis 242 (18.1%), Amaranthus hybridus 193 (15.1%), Cucurbita maxima 192 (15.0%), Solanum species 191 (14.9%), Ocimum grattisimum 136 (10.6%), Solanun nigrum 114 (8.9%), Gongronema latifolium 101 (7.9%), Talinum triangulare 73 (5.7%) and Murraya koenigii 39 (3.0%). The parasites identified included; Ascaris lumbricoides , Taenia spp, Fasciola hepatica , Schistosoma spp, Trichuris spp, Enterobius vermicularis , Toxocara . spp, Giardia lamblia , Entamoeba spp and Cryptosporidium parvum . Entamoeba species was the highest contaminating parasite 529 (41.3%) while Schistosoma haematobium was the least,14 (1.1%). Physiochemical analysis revealed a strong positive correlation between parasite load in water and total suspended solutes (TSS) (r = 0.59, p = 0.021) and turbidity ( r = 0.55, p = 0.032) and also a strong positive correlation between parasite load in the soil and organic matter (OM), (r = 0.71, p = 0.003) and silt (r = 0.63, p = 0.011). Conclusion: These vegetables should be considered as potential sources of parasitic infections, especially when they are not properly cooked (the type called ‘Half Done’) or consumed raw like the local salad (abacha) because of the high risk of parasitic infections such as giardiasis, amoebiasis, enterobiasis, cyptosporidiosis, ascariasis, etc. Public enlightenment is necessary to enhance the adoption of effective food safety approaches by agronomic practices of vegetable farmers which will in turn reduce foodborne illnesses. Keywords: Parasite, contamination, vegetables, Enugu
COMBINATIONS OF ACTIONS FOR ACCIDENTAL DESIGN SITUATION: A REVIEW, ANALYSIS, AND PROPOSITIONS

The paper discusses two main design strategies when checking for reliability and considers accidental action combinations according the various codes. If accidental actions can be identified, one of the possible design strategies is checking the “key element”. This strategy minimizes the possibility of local failure and subsequent progressive collapse. The combination of actions for accidental design situation for checking of the “key-element” resistance was proposed. In addition, the values of the combination factors for variable loads and partial factors for permanent loads in accordance with required reliability class RC for structural element and values of accidental loads was proposed. The second strategy is checking modified structural systems in accidental design situation from unidentified accidental actions. For this case, a comparison of several probabilistic models was performed, as well as a probabilistic assessment of the accidental action combinations according the various codes.
Parametric Hamilton’s equations for stochastic systems

In the context of instanton method for stochastic system this paper purposes a modification of the arclength parametrization of the Hamilton’s equations allowing for an arbitrary instanton speed. The main results of the paper are: (i) it generalizes the parametrized Hamilton’s equations to any speed required. (ii) Corrects the parametric action on the occasion that the Hamiltonian is small but finite and how it adjusts to the probability density function (pdf). (iii) Improves instanton approximation to pdf by noise and propagator renormalization. As an application of the above set up we evaluate the instanton and predict the statistics of two models: Ornstein–Uhlenbeck and passive scalar gradients in a Lagrangian model for turbulence, namely the scalar gradient recent fluid deformation closure.
‘A rich white kid sport?’ Hometown socioeconomic, racial, and geographic composition among U.S. women’s professional soccer players

ABSTRACT This analysis merges data on women listed on National Women’s Soccer League (NWSL) season rosters between 2013 and 2018 with 2000 U.S. Census data to examine socioeconomic, racial, and geographic indicators for players’ hometowns, measured as the places they attended high school. We compare hometown indicators against national averages and between players based on career longevity and national federation subsidization status. Findings show that players’ hometowns are whiter and less black or Latino, more suburban, and less socioeconomically disadvantaged than the national average, with higher per capita, median household, and median family incomes. Subsidized players, compared to the non-subsidized, and multi-year players, compared to single-year players, come from hometowns that are less black and less socioeconomically disadvantaged, with higher per capita and median household incomes. A lower percent of subsidized player hometowns are city centres compared to those of the non-subsidized.
Phytoremediation of water contaminated with Oxybenzone: Implications for plant-mediated uptake and transformation of a widely used UV-filter

Occurrence of personal care products poses threats to the aquatic environment. Phytoremediation of the UV filter Oxybenzone (OBZ) was investigated. Hairy root cultures of Armoracia rusticana were applied as a model and major metabolites were identified as OBZ-Glucoside & OBZ-Malonyl-Glucoside. OBZ was removed efficiently by Cyperus alternifolius without obvious plant stress and a third metabolite was found as 2,4OH-benzophenone. Co-exposure to OBZ with TiO 2 enhanced the uptake of OBZ, and toxicity tests showed that TiO 2 reduced the negative effects of OBZ. This thesis provides insights for phytoremediation of environmentally critical UV-filters.
Consequences of multiple imputation of missing standard deviations and sample sizes in meta‐analysis

Abstract Meta‐analyses often encounter studies with incompletely reported variance measures (e.g., standard deviation values) or sample sizes, both needed to conduct weighted meta‐analyses. Here, we first present a systematic literature survey on the frequency and treatment of missing data in published ecological meta‐analyses showing that the majority of meta‐analyses encountered incompletely reported studies. We then simulated meta‐analysis data sets to investigate the performance of 14 options to treat or impute missing SDs and/or SSs. Performance was thereby assessed using results from fully informed weighted analyses on (hypothetically) complete data sets. We show that the omission of incompletely reported studies is not a viable solution. Unweighted and sample size‐based variance approximation can yield unbiased grand means if effect sizes are independent of their corresponding SDs and SSs. The performance of different imputation methods depends on the structure of the meta‐analysis data set, especially in the case of correlated effect sizes and standard deviations or sample sizes. In a best‐case scenario, which assumes that SDs and/or SSs are both missing at random and are unrelated to effect sizes, our simulations show that the imputation of up to 90% of missing data still yields grand means and confidence intervals that are similar to those obtained with fully informed weighted analyses. We conclude that multiple imputation of missing variance measures and sample sizes could help overcome the problem of incompletely reported primary studies, not only in the field of ecological meta‐analyses. Still, caution must be exercised in consideration of potential correlations and pattern of missingness.
Examining the effect of potential tourists’ wine product involvement on wine tourism destination image and travel intention

ABSTRACT Product involvement refers to consumers’ perceived relevance of the importance of a product category based on their inherent needs, values and interests. The literature has examined the mechanism of product involvement and tourist behaviour, but has paid less attention to the role of destination image in the effect of product involvement on tourist behaviour. In China, various cultural tourism destinations are favoured by consumers because of product involvement. However, no studies have focused on the influence of cultural product involvement on potential tourists’ intention to visit cultural destinations. This study proposes a model in the context of Chinese culture, to explore the relationships among wine product involvement, destination wine image, destination cognitive image, destination affective image and potential tourists’ willingness to travel. The partial least squares technique and multiple mediation analyses are used to analyse data from 378 potential tourists from China. The findings show that the influence of the potential tourists’ wine product involvement on travel intention involves a mixed process about their cognitive and affective image perceptions. Wine product involvement indirectly increases their travel intention by strengthening their perceived destination wine image, destination cognitive image and destination affective image.
Spiritual needs and practice in chronically ill children and their families in the Isan region of Thailand

ABSTRACT This research is a qualitative study of the spiritual needs and practice of chronically ill children and their families in the Isan region of Thailand. The purposive sampling was 17 chronically ill children aged 10–18 years old and primary caregivers. Three instruments were used: a questionnaire, in-depth interview with questions adapted from the Spiritual Assessment Scale (SAS) by O’Brien, and non-participant observation. Field note-taking and voice recordings were used for data recording. Triangulation was used before analysis to test for credibility. Content analysis and thematic analysis techniques were used for data analysis. The five specific themes were stated by both children and caregivers. In addition, the spiritual needs and practice identified in this study were strongly related to Buddhism. All children and caregivers respected and believed in Buddha, and so Buddhism and Thai Isan traditions were crucial to their spiritual needs and were reflected in their religious practice.
Forest Disturbance History from ‘Legacy’ Pitch Pine (Pinus rigida) at the New River Gorge, West Virginia

ABSTRACT: The mesosphytic forests of eastern North America represent a forest region characterized by dramatic 20th century changes in disturbance regimes, notably the exclusion of fire. Tree-ring reconstructions of forest disturbance can inform restoration and management plans by placing these changes into a historical context. This study examined forest disturbance with regard to land use change and drought in the New River Gorge region of West Virginia. I developed a 182-year pitch pine (Pinus rigida) growth chronology (1833–2014) using samples collected from 33 trees along 2 km of southand southwest-facing slopes at Babcock State Park. Samples cut from fire-scarred pitch and Virginia pine (Pinus virginiana) were used to generate a fire chronology for the site. Temporal trends in pitch pine growth variability were assessed using regime shift and growth release detection methods. There was no change in pitch pine growth during the transition from the early settlement to industrial era (ca. 1885), while a significant decrease in annual growth variability characterized the post-industrial era (1963–2014). Seventeen fire events were recorded between 1887 and 1968. Growth releases displayed a temporal relationship with fire and there was a strong, but not significant, association between drought and fire years. These results suggest a coupled system in which anthropogenic fires driven by periodic drought maintained pitch pine before and during industrialization. Reintroducing fire to the post-industrial forest may not meet management objectives as decades of fire exclusion have altered forest fuels and species composition such that its effects would be difficult to predict.
Teams and Project Performance: An Ability, Motivation, and Opportunity Approach

This article analyzes the relationships between project performance and the team’s ability, motivation, and opportunity (AMO). We contribute to the project management literature by exploring which combinations of AMO factors are best for project performance at different levels of complexity. We test our hypotheses on a sample of 285 projects. Our study shows that in simple projects, ability is the key factor both as a main effect and as a constraining factor that acts as a bottleneck for project performance. In the case of complex projects, the multiplicative model is superior given the significant interaction effects of motivation.
Opening the Door: Immigrant Legalization and Family Reunification in the United States

We examine how the large, one-time legalization authorized by the Immigration Reform and Control Act (IRCA) has affected the scale and character of immigration to the U.S. since the late 1980s. Exploiting cross-country variation in the magnitude of the legalization shock, we find that each IRCA admit accounts for the subsequent admission of 1 to 2 family members, mostly immediate family. There is little evidence that the legalization increased subsequent unauthorized migration; in fact, fewer temporary visa overstays have somewhat offset the additional family admissions. The marginal family-sponsored admit has not been negatively selected and has not increased fiscal burdens.
A brain‐infecting parasite impacts host metabolism both during exposure and after infection is established

1Scripps Institution of Oceanography, University of California San Diego, San Diego, CA, USA 2Department of Paraclinical Sciences, Norwegian University of Life Sciences, Oslo, Norway 3Department of Marine and Environmental Sciences, Nova Southeastern University, Dania Beach, FL, USA 4Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology, University of California Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, CA, USA 5Department of BioSciences, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
Craig–Gordon model validation using stable isotope ratios in water vapor over the Southern Ocean

Abstract. The stable oxygen and hydrogen isotopic composition of water vapor over a water body is governed by the isotopic composition of surface water and ambient vapor, exchange and mixing processes at the water–air interface, and the local meteorological conditions. These parameters form inputs to the Craig–Gordon models, used for predicting the isotopic composition of vapor produced from the surface water due to the evaporation process. In this study we present water vapor, surface water isotope ratios and meteorological parameters across latitudinal transects in the Southern Ocean (27.38–69.34 and 21.98–66.8∘ S) during two austral summers. The performance of Traditional Craig–Gordon (TCG) (Craig and Gordon, 1965) and the Unified Craig–Gordon (UCG) (Gonfiantini et al., 2018) models is evaluated to predict the isotopic composition of evaporated water vapor flux in the diverse oceanic settings. The models are run for the molecular diffusivity ratios suggested by Merlivat (1978), Cappa et al. (2003) and Pfahl and Wernli (2009), referred to as MJ, CD and PW, respectively, and different turbulent indices (x), i.e., fractional contribution of molecular vs. turbulent diffusion. It is found that the UCGx=0.8MJ, UCGx=0.6CD, TCGx=0.6MJ and TCGx=0.7CD models predicted the isotopic composition that best matches with the observations. The relative contribution from locally generated and advected moisture is calculated at the water vapor sampling points, along the latitudinal transects, assigning the representative end-member isotopic compositions, and by solving the two-component mixing model. The results suggest a varying contribution of the advected westerly component, with an increasing trend up to 65∘ S. Beyond 65∘ S, the proportion of Antarctic moisture was found to be prominent and increasing linearly towards the coast.