Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Organic Matter Role in Illitic Soil Colloids Flocculation: II. Surface Charge

The ability to predict the effect of various factors on soil flocculation depends on a knowledge of the mechanisms by which those factors operate. The purpose of this study was to investigate the mechanisms that control the effects of organic matter content, pH, and bivalent cation type on soil flocculation. The electrophoretic mobility of an illitic soil before and after treatment with H2O2 was measured at a soluble Ca or Mg charge fraction of 0.0 to 0.9 at pH 6, and at pH 4 to 9 and a soluble Ca charge fraction of 0.0 or 0.5. The change in the net particle charge as pH was increased from 6 to 8 at a soluble Ca concentration of 0.65 and 2.26 mol m(-3) was determined from proton and Ca ion titrations. Electrophoretic mobility was independent of both Ca vs. Mg and organic matter content, which suggests that the influence of these factors on flocculation was caused by steric effects. The effect of pH on soil flocculation and electrophoretic mobility in the presence or absence of organic matter, on the other hand, was consistent with an electrostatic mechanism. The change in net particle charge from pH 6 to 8 became more positive as the soluble Ca concentration was increased, and this result was modeled in terms of competitive binding of H+ and Ca(2+) by soil functional groups.
Biomechanical but Not Strength or Performance Measures Differentiate Male Athletes Who Experience ACL Reinjury on Return to Level 1 Sports

Background: Performance measures such as strength, jump height/length, and change of direction (CoD) time during anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rehabilitation have been used to determine readiness to return to play and identify those who may be at risk of rerupture. However, athletes may reach these criteria despite ongoing biomechanical deficits when performing these tests. Combining return-to-play criteria with an assessment of movement through 3-dimensional (3D) biomechanics in male field sports athletes to identify risk factors for ACL rerupture has not been explored previously. Purpose: To prospectively examine differences in strength, jump, and CoD performance and movement using 3D biomechanics in a cohort of male athletes playing level 1 sports (ie, multidirectional field sports that involve landing, pivoting, or CoD) between those who reinjured the reconstructed ACL (RI group) and those with no reinjury (NRI group) after 2 years of follow-up and to examine the ability of these differences to predict reinjury. Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2. Methods: After primary ACL reconstruction (ACLR), 1045 male athletes were recruited and underwent testing 9 months after surgery including isokinetic strength, jump, and CoD performance measures as well as patient-reported outcomes and 3D biomechanical analyses. Participants were followed up after 2 years regarding ACL reinjury status. Differences were determined between the RI and NRI groups in patient-reported outcomes, performance measures, and 3D biomechanics on the ACLR side and symmetry between limbs. The ability of these measures to predict ACL reinjury was determined through logistic regression. Results: No differences were identified in strength and performance measures on the ACLR side or in symmetry. Biomechanical analysis indicated differences on the ACLR side primarily in the sagittal plane for the double-leg drop jump (effect size, 0.59-0.64) and greater asymmetry primarily in the frontal plane during unplanned CoD (effect size, 0.61-0.69) in the RI group. While these biomechanical test results were different between groups, multivariate regression modeling demonstrated limited ability (area under the curve, 0.67 and 0.75, respectively) to prospectively predict ACL reinjury. Conclusion: Commonly reported return-to-play strength, jump, and timed CoD performance measures did not differ between the RI and NRI groups. Differences in movement based on biomechanical measures during double-leg drop jump and unplanned CoD were identified, although they had limited ability to predict reinjury. Targeting these variables during rehabilitation may reduce reinjury risk in male athletes returning to level 1 sports after ACLR. Registration: NCT02771548 (ClinicalTrials.gov identifier).
Corporate Governance Disclosure and Financial Performance of Deposit Money Banks in Nigeria

Given that a key mechanism of corporate governance is corporate disclosure, this study, anchored on agency theory and stakeholder theory, examined the effect of corporate governance disclosure on the financial performance of deposit money banks quoted on the Nigeria Stock Exchange. Based on the provisions of the Code of Corporate Governance for Public Companies in Nigeria, 2011 and the Code of Corporate Governance for Banks and Discount Houses 2014, the study developed a disclosure checklist and employed content analysis method to extract corporate governance from 78 annual reports of thirteen Nigerian deposit money banks from 2011 to 2016. The study categorized corporate governance disclosure into three – corporate governance disclosure on board of directors, corporate governance disclosure on risk framework, and corporate governance disclosure on whistle blowing policy. It constructed an overall corporate governance disclosure index as well as sub-indices corresponding to the three categories of corporate governance disclosure. The study formulated ten hypotheses and ranked ordinary least square methods of multiple regressions to explore the relationship between corporate governance disclosure and the financial performance of deposit money banks in Nigeria. The result showed a positive and significant association between overall corporate governance disclosure and the financial performance of deposit money banks in Nigeria. The result of the OLS regressions also supported a positive effect of corporate governance disclosure on board of directors and whistle blowing policy on the financial performance of the deposit money banks in Nigeria. Contrary to expectation, the study failed to document a significant association between corporate governance disclosure on risk framework and financial performance of deposit money banks. This study has contributed empirically to the body of knowledge by providing broader understanding of the effect of corporate governance disclosure on the financial performance of a critical sector of the Nigerian economy. Methodologically, the study is one of the few that developed disclosure checklist based on the provisions of both codes of corporate governance of Securities and Exchange Commission and Central bank of Nigeria and employed ranked OLS.
Classical and Fuzzy Sliding Mode Control for a Nonlinear Aeroelastic System with Unsteady Aerodynamic Model

This paper proposes a robust solution for the design and stability of nonlinear aeroelastic airfoils of fixed-wing drones that are widely exploited in many fields such as meteorology and surveillance. Therefore, conventional sliding mode and fuzzy sliding mode control algorithms are suggested for the stabilization of a multi-input-multi-output nonlinear aeroelastic model. The aerodynamic lift and moment are expressed based on the Wagner’s function for unsteady aerodynamics, and the flight dynamic model describes the plunge and pitch motions of the aircraft wing section with trailingand leading-edge control surfaces. The selected two-degree of freedom model that includes aerodynamic and structural nonlinearities interactions, exhibits instability phenomena such as flutter and Limit Cycle Oscillations (LCOs) beyond a critical free-stream velocity. The contribution of this work is to design control algorithms in order to improve the critical flutter speed for the aeroelastic model in which unsteady aerodynamics is introduced. The control laws permit to drive the plunge displacement and pitch angle trajectories to the origin in finite time, and to guarantee a chattering-free system. The obtained results confirm that the established controllers effectively accomplish suppression of LCOs and lead the state trajectories to the origin despite nonlinearities and gust loads.
Optimisation Study of Co Deposition on Chars from MAP of Waste Tyres as Green Electrodes in ORR for Alkaline Fuel Cells

Oxygen Reduction Reaction (ORR) catalysts, from waste automobile tyres obtained from Microwave assisted pyrolysis (MAP), were enriched with Co and Cu using the simple treatments sonochemical and electrochemical deposition. Catalytic activity was evaluated through onset potential and number of exchanged electrons measurements. Electrochemical data demonstrate an improvement in catalytic activity of the electrochemical modified char with Co. Char electrodes enriched with Co show a maximum positive shift of 40 mV with respect to raw char electrodes with a number of exchanged electrons per O2 molecule close to 4 (as for Pt) for the best sample. This corresponds to a reduction of the production of unwanted oxygen peroxide from 23% for raw char to 1%. Sample structure evolution before and after electrochemical deposition and electro-catalysis was investigated by scanning transmission electron microscopy and XPS. Such electrochemical treatments open new possibilities of refining waste chars and finding an economic alternative to noble metals-based catalysts for alkaline fuel cells.
Ownership Structure and Real Earnings Management: Evidence from Nigeria

Financial statements are expected to assist users in decision making by reporting the true and fair value of companies. However, there always exists the potential risks of manipulations of the reported results if the numbers were intentionally prepared to misrepresent the actual performance or conditions of the companies. Manipulating the reported earnings to achieve pre-set objectives is an art known as earnings management which can be classified into real or accrual manipulations. This study examines the effects of ownership structures (managerial, institutional, and foreign) on real earnings management in Nigeria. The analyses involve a sample of 72 non-financial firms with 360 firm-year observations for a period 2014-2018. Data was collected from the financial reports of these companies, Thompson Reuters, and Bloomberg databases. The multiple regression technique was employed for panel data analysis. The results show that managerial ownership increase management’s desire to manipulate the reported earnings, while institutional ownership have insignificant relationship with real earnings management. Also, the findings reveal that foreign ownership prevent managers’ from manipulating the financial statement. Thus, the study recommends that listed companies in Nigeria should consider higher percentage of foreign ownership to improve their monitoring and have quality financial statement.
Constant-Ratio Approximation for Robust Bin Packing with Budgeted Uncertainty

We consider robust variants of the bin packing problem with uncertain item sizes. Specifically we consider two uncertainty sets previously studied in the literature: budgeted uncertainty (the $\UG$ model) in which at most $\Gamma$ items deviate, each reaching its peak value, while other items assume their nominal values. The second uncertainty set, the $\UO$ model, bounds the total amount of deviation in each scenario. We show that a variant of the next-fit-decreasing algorithm is a $2$ approximation for the $\UO$ model, and another variant of this algorithm is a $2\Gamma$ approximation for the $\UG$ model. Unlike the classical bin packing problem, it is shown that (unless $\PP=\NP$) no asymptotic approximation scheme exists for the $\UG$ model, already for $\Gamma=1$. This motivates the question of the existence of a constant approximation factor algorithm for the $\UG$ model. Our main result is to answer this question by proving a (polynomial-time) $4.5$ approximation algorithm, based on a dynamic-programming approach.
Cultivating success: personal, family and societal attributes affecting women in agritourism

Abstract The public’s burgeoning interest in authentic place-based experiences and local foods, as well as farmers’ interest in increasing their incomes continue driving the development of agritourism. Although women often initiate agritourism, scant information identifies the factors contributing to or hindering their success. Therefore, this study combines feminist and systems approaches to identify the factors affecting women achievements in their functions as farmers and entrepreneurs and in various aspects of their lives. With such an aim, 216 women farmers in North Carolina (USA) were surveyed in 2017. Descriptive and inferential statistics of data collected indicate that women felt moderately successful in their farmer and entrepreneur roles, while self-fulfillment and business continuance appeared as the most important dimensions of their success. Significant models indicate that attributes at the personal, farm household, and society levels predict women’s perceived functional success and the importance of different life aspects to their success. Study results move the literature of women in agritourism beyond entrepreneurial motivations by providing a thorough understanding of how gendered nuances in agriculture affect farm women’s success in a holistic manner. This study also contributes to the sustainability of the agritourism practice by identifying attributes that increases chances of success among women farmers.
Correlation and Path Analysis Studies for Quantitative Traits in F3 Generations of Groundnut (Arachis hypogaea L.)

In groundnut, correlation and path coefficient analysis was carried out to identify the suitable selection indices in F3 generations of nine crosses viz., J-87 x ICGV-00440, KDG-128 x ICGV6100, K-1563 x TLG-45, JVB-2336 x CS-319, RG-510 x ICGV-86590, TG-26 x NRCG-CS-574, TAG-24 x IVK-I-16-21, TPG-41 x CSMG-210-11 and JL-501 x 461-C. Correlation analysis revealed that the traits viz., pod yield per plant had positive and highly significant correlation with number of matured pods per plant, kernel yield per plant, 100-kernel weight, shelling outturn, sound mature kernel and harvest index. These characters can be considered as selection criteria for higher yield as they were mutually and directly associated with pod yield per plant. Out of thirteen characters studied, kernel yield per plant had exerted maximum positive direct effect on pod yield per plant. Indirect effect of harvest index through kernel yield per plant was high. Therefore, number of matured pods per plant, kernel yield per plant, shelling outturn and harvest index should be considered as selection criteria for improving pod yield per plant in groundnut.
Restaurant Authenticity: An Analysis of Its Influence on Restaurant Customer Perceptions and Behaviors

ABSTRACT This study developed a conceptual model to test the influence of restaurant authenticity on customer perceptions and behaviors at restaurants serving a destination’s authentic regional cuisine. The framework for the study was grounded in social cognitive theory, the Mehrabian-Russell model, consumer-based model of authenticity, congruence theory, and associative network theory. Overall, 804 surveys were completed at restaurants in the American Southeast serving authentic Southern cuisine. All relationships in the model were significant and restaurant authenticity had the strongest influence on peak experience. Academic contributions from the study added to the literature on restaurant authenticity, which is limited. For restaurant practitioners, the findings suggest that it may be beneficial to develop a loyalty program in authentic regional restaurants which can allow individuals to stay connected with a restaurant on an ongoing basis and help establish a personal connection.
Complete assignments of 1H and 13C NMR spectra of four hispanane diterpenoids

An NMR study of four hispanane diterpenoids is described. In addition to conventional 1D NMR methods, 2D shift‐correlated experiments [1H,1H‐COSY, 1H,1H‐TOCSY, 1H,13C‐HSQC‐1J(C,H). 1H,13C‐HMBC‐nJ(C,H) (n = 2 and 3)] and 2D 1H,1H‐NOESY were used for the complete and unambiguous 1H and 13C chemical shift assignments of these diterpenoids. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A New Step toward Mastering Double-Under Skill with Supporting Application of Image Processing

Rope skipping is a comparatively simple and easy exercise for people to perform solitarily anywhere. There are four stages for mastering double-under. The first two stages involve training the segmental motion, while the last two enhance the integration of the segmented motion mastered earlier. In the case of plyometrics like rope skipping, a learner may face tough challenges, requiring a fine adjustment of segmented motion at a faster pace and accurately in a short period of time. Therefore, this paper proposes a realignment of stage-organization with an additional step to address this challenge. We develop a supporting system so that learners can comprehend the essence and image of the target motion independently. The evaluation results indicate the effectiveness of our proposal.
Information Literacy Experience of Undergraduate Students during Their Involvement in the University Creativity Program

Indonesian universities have a long tradition of supporting their students in developing their innovative and creative ways of thinking during their times in university. One of the programs being continuously offered to the students is named student creativity program. It was initiated in 2001 to showcase students’ creative and innovative works. This study presented undergraduate students’ information literacy experience during their involvement in this program conducted by Diponegoro University, Indonesia. This research was based on the relational perspective of information literacy that emphasizes the relationship between people and information. Qualitative data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 15 undergraduate students from 8 different faculties. Thematic analysis was conducted to interpret various related aspects. Results revealed that the identified themes contributed to communities, brainstorming, and Googlization. All the themes illustrated the information literacy experience of undergraduate students as they contributed to the university creative program. This study provided new insights into students’ creativity programs and information literacy as a basis for designing future research. Although the majority of studies in Indonesia have focused on the conception of information literacy from a behavioral perspective, this research offered different ways on understanding the conception of information literacy. This research would be beneficial to university libraries in terms of enhancing their information literacy programs and faculties in terms of understanding how undergraduate students interact with information during their academic activities.
The effect of downhill running conditions on muscle damage in recreationally active adults

Background: Downhill running (DR) has been used extensively to investigate recovery from muscle-damaging exercise. There is no consensus on the optimal conditions (duration, severity, intensity) for a DR protocol. The purpose of this research was to determine the most effective DR conditions to induce muscle damage. Methods: The research was comprised a 3x3 within-between participant design. Recreationally active males’ (n = 12) muscle damage was assessed using gold standard indirect markers (force loss and muscle soreness) at baseline, 24 and 48h post one of three DR conditions (a. 45min at -10% gradient b. 45min at -12% c. 30min at -15%). DR was completed on a motorised treadmill at 70% velocity of VO 2 peak achieved during an incremental exercise test to exhaustion. Results: Isometric force (p = .005, η p 2 = 0.45) and muscle soreness (p = .002, η p 2 = 0.49) were impaired 24h post-exercise; no difference (p > .05) was evident between conditions. At 48h the impairments in force loss and muscle soreness were no longer evident (p > .05) across all conditions. There was no difference (p = .82) in HR between the DR conditions. Findings: Independent of duration and gradient all conditions resulted in a similar response in force loss and muscle soreness, indicating muscle damage had occurred. Interestingly, the 30-min protocol produced the same response in less time, without requiring individuals to work at a greater intensity. Therefore, the 30-min condition is suggested as the most appropriate protocol for use in the scientific investigation of muscle damage from DR.
Does Problem-Based Learning Affect Students’ Speaking Skill and Attitude toward ELL?

As a typical learning method which is grounded from a scientific approach, problem-based learning (PBL) does not only enhance students’ critical thinking but also helps them actively construct their knowledge and skill. The objectives of this study were to investigate the impact of PBL on (1) students’ speaking skill and (2) their attitude toward ELL. This study employed an embedded mixed-method design which combined one-group pretest-posttest and descriptive qualitative design. It involved a group of 41 students as the sample. The quantitative data were collected through pretest-posttest and questionnaire (closed-ended). Meanwhile, the qualitative data were obtained through observation and open-ended questionnaire. The findings of the study found that students demonstrated better speaking performance after being treated through PBL activities. Besides, they exhibited more positive behavioral, cognitive, and affective attitude toward ELL.
The Effect of Work-Family Enrichment on Job Satisfaction of Working Mothers

Job satisfaction is a crucial problem for working mothers because they must be able to manage two roles well so that it does not impact their work. Role accumulation theory explains how the dual role of a woman in managing their role so that the work they carry out can improve the quality of family life. This study aims to determine the effect of workfamily enrichment on work engagement and job satisfaction of working mothers at private universities in Bali. The population is all working mothers who work as lecturers at universities in Bali, totaling 153 people with predetermined population criteria. The sample in this study is the same as the population, but only 145 questionnaires can be used. The analysis tool uses SEM-AMOS. The results showed that (1) work-family enrichment has a positive and significant effect on job satisfaction, (2) work-family enrichment has a positive and significant effect on work engagement (3) work engagement has a positive and significant effect on job satisfaction. The implication of this research is to increase job satisfaction of working mothers, a high work-family enrichment is needed to encourage an increase in employee work engagement.