Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Stability analysis and performance of promising sugarcane varieties for yield and quality traits

Four promising varieties of sugarcane, along with the commercial variety, GT54/9 were evaluated for yield, yield components, and quality traits. The environments were different ages of harvest time (11, 12, and 13 months old) of two plant cane crops (2-years) at El-Mattana Agriculture Research Station farm during (2018-2019 and 2019-2020 seasons). The stability analysis of studied traits was performed. The results indicated that the promising varieties, environments, and their interaction had a highly significant effect on all studied traits in both the seasons except the age at the harvest time on purity in both seasons, the effect of the interaction on sucrose as well as a pol in second season only and on fiber in the first season only. It is obvious from the results that none of the tested varieties was superior to GT 54/9 for cane and sugar yield and stable implying the necessity of widening the genetic base to produce improved promising varieties. The stability analysis showed that GT 54/9 variety was stable for stalk height, stalk diameter, brix, reducing sugar, and fiber and recorded the highest cane yield and sugar yield. G2003/49 was stable for cane yield, sugar yield, brix, pol, and fiber. It ranked third in cane yield and the second sugar yield. The variety G2003/47 was stable for stalk diameter, sucrose, sugar recovery, and fiber and ranked fourth for cane yield and the third rank for sugar yield. G2004/26 was stable for stalk diameter, cane yield, reducing sugar, and fiber. It occupied the second and third ranks for cane yield and sugar yield respectively. G84/47 variety was stable for cane yield, sugar yield, brix, sucrose and fiber and ranked last for cane and sugar yield.
AGRICULTURAL AND FOOD SCIENCE

The research was aimed at determining the physicochemical and sensory properties of the m. longissimus lumborum at DanAvl Hybrid (Landrace – Yorkshire) fatteners and derived from DanAvl Hybrid sows and DanAvl Duroc and Pulawska boars. Fatteners derived from DanAvl Duroc boars were characterized by better meat quality compared to DanAvl Hybrids and their hybrids with Pulawska breed as evidenced by higher pH in 24–96 h post mortem (p.m.), higher sensory evaluation of juiciness, tenderness and flavor as well as lower shear force at lower content of total protein and higher content of intramuscular fat (IMF). However, DanAvl Hybrid fatteners were characterized by poorer meat quality, i.e. higher color lightness (L*) and higher drip loss both from fresh and thawed meat compared to those derived from DanAvl Duroc and Pulawska boars. Meat of fatteners after Pulawska breed was characterized by the highest redness (a*), and that after DanAvl Duroc breed, the lowest yellowness (b*) and saturation (C*).
Marketing performance of service firms: Recognizing market sensing capability and customer interaction orientation

Purpose: This study examines the effect of market sensing and interaction orientation capabilities on the marketing performance of service based firms in Ghana. The study particularly explored the moderation effect of interaction orientation capability on the relationship between market sensing and firm performance of the service firms. Methods: This study adopted the survey approach focusing on a convenient sample of 200 employees of service firms. The hierarchical multiple regression analysis was used to establish the relationship between the variables of interest. Results: The study revealed that market sensing capability and interaction orientation significantly account for variations in the marketing performance of the service businesses. Furthermore, the findings showed that the interaction of market sensing and interaction orientation capabilities is vital for extracting a higher marketing. Implications: The research target of service firms limits the generalizability of the findings since the participants were not proportionally participated. In addition to insights on how marketing sensing and interaction orientation should fit the realization of marketing performance, the research offers other ideas to enhance measurement of marketing performance based on customer profits and customer relations.
Exploiting combining ability and maternal effects for genotypic selection of best hybrids in sweet corn and normal corn crosses

Twenty one sweet – normal corn crosses and twenty one normal – sweet corn crosses obtained by [3 × 7] sweet corn × normal corn and [7 × 3] normal corn × sweet corn crosses, respectively were scrutinized for the advantage of reciprocal cross effects in addition to the combining ability studies to screen superior hybrids for yield and quality related traits. Based on the mean reciprocal cross effect of common parental genotypes, NCL3 and NCT7 were identified as the best fit for seed and pollen parents for green cob weight, respectively. Potential heterotic combinations were discovered indirect and reciprocal crosses as well. Reciprocal cross effects were significant only for green cob weight, plant height and reducing sugars, however when screened at specific cross combinations levels, many crosses had appreciable hybrid vigour in reciprocal crosses. Thus maternal effect as an added approach for hybrid screening is advisable.
EJAL Article template

Intercultural communicative competence (ICC) is the ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with other cultures to negotiate meaning. A high level of ICC is required for a successful communication across numerous cultures. Since English has recently been accepted as the main intercultural communication language among different cultures, teaching/learning English has gained popularity. As long as learners master English and understand its cultural contexts, they are better at intercultural communication, which results from the ICC level. Hence, there is a relationship between the development of ICC and the development in the target language. Based on this idea, the current study aims to investigate the ICC levels of undergraduate English language teaching students to find out the effect of language competence on intercultural communicative competence, and also whether there is a change throughout the four-year teacher training program. A total of 238 first-year and fourth-year undergraduate ELT students were surveyed. The collected data revealed a high level of ICC regardless of study year. It also yielded a significant difference between first-year students’ ICC and fourth-year students’ ICC, which means mastering in English positively affects the ICC level. In accordance with the results, some implications were shared. © 2020 EJAL & the Authors. Published by Eurasian Journal of Applied Linguistics (EJAL). This is an open-access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution license (CC BY-NC-ND) (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
Contests within and between Groups: Theory and Experiment1

We examine behavior in a two-stage group contest where intra-group contests are followed by an inter-group contest. Rewards accrue to the winning group, with winners of the intra-group contest within that group receiving a greater reward. The model generates a discouragement effect, where losers from the first stage exert less effort in the second stage than winners. In contrast to previous frameworks of sequential contests, we show that a prior win may be disadvantageous, generating lower profits for first stage winners as compared to losers. We consider exogenous asymmetry between groups arising from a biased group contest success function. Although the asymmetry occurs in the second stage, its effect plays out in the first stage, with higher intra-group conflict in the advantaged group. Experimental results support the qualitative predictions of the model. However, losers from the first stage bear a higher burden of the group contribution than deemed strategic.
STUDIES ON KINETICS AND ADSORPTION EQUILIBRIUM OF LEAD AND ZINC IONS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTIONS ON SARKANDA GRASS LIGNIN

In this study, the adsorption of Pb2+ and Zn2+ ions from aqueous solutions onto lignin obtained from unmodified Sarkanda grass was analyzed. To ensure optimal process conditions, the retention of lead and zinc ions was tested at different experimental parameters (pH of the initial solution and adsorbent, the dose of adsorbent, the concentration of aqueous solutions and contact time). The experimental results have been interpreted using the classic Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, as well as two kinetic models (the Lagergren pseudo-first order and the Ho and McKay pseudo-second order models). Based on the analysis of the experimental data, it has been concluded that unmodified Sarkanda grass lignin can be recommended as an efficient alternative, considering its practical applicability, in the retention of Pb2+and Zn2+ ions from aqueous solutions, both in terms of the amount of adsorbate and pollutant species retained, as well as in terms of adsorption time.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: A CASE STUDY BASED ON ARCHIE CARROLL’S PYRAMIDAL CONCEPTION

This work aims to analyze the dimensions of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) regarding the pyramidal conception (economic, legal, ethical and discretionary-voluntary) proposed by Archie Carroll (1979), based on the perception of the stakeholders of a company, which provides accounting services in the southwest of Paraná, Brazil. Hence, this study investigated clients, employees and managers through a qualitative research, a case study one, using observation techniques, documentary analysis, surveys and interviews. The most noticeable dimensions in the employees and clients’ perception, in order, were economic, ethical and legal, while the less noticeable was the discretionary-voluntary. This research has limitations concerning clients and employees. In other words, it does not consider other stakeholders such as the government, community, sponsors, associations and political groups. Another limitation is about the choice of the pyramidal methodology, as it is a fraction of the study which was performed in order to understand CSR in a three-dimensional way. However, this research is relevant towards the development of this article as it identifies social groups’ perception in relation to the theme.
Predicting the Roles of Attitudes and Self-Efficacy in Readiness Towards Implementation of Inclusive Education Among Primary School Teachers

Teachers' preparedness is a critical component in implementing inclusive education. It is pertinent to understand whether mainstream instructors are ready for inclusion as the number of children with special needs increases steadily over the years. The Zero Reject Policy has accelerated the implementation of inclusive education in Malaysia. While this is an essential step forward, assessing teachers' readiness for change is critical. This study aims to find out the predictive factors (attitudes and self-efficacy) on the preparedness of mainstream primary school teachers towards the implementation of inclusive education. This study is of a correlational research design where questionnaires were distributed to 367 teachers randomly selected from a cluster of nine schools in Hulu Selangor, Malaysia. The results show that teachers have moderate levels of readiness, attitudes and self-efficacy. There are also significantly positive relationships and predictive correlations between attitudes and readiness as well as self-efficacy and readiness. This implies that attitudes and self-efficacy should be considered in gauging teachers' readiness in the implementation of inclusive education. Taken together, findings in this study could inform further inclusive education research in Malaysia and could be taken into consideration in the design and execution of teacher training courses on Inclusive Education.
Exploring the Effects of Online Privacy Trade-offs on Cognitive Bandwidth

This research project has been trying to connect theories and findings from both the research on economic trade-offs and online privacy trade-offs. Within these fields it was found that monetary trade-offs can limit cognitive function under certain conditions, and that limited cognitive function can result in higher disclosure of personal information online. Thus, it is explored if online trade-offs involving privacy could result in a negative spiral of increasing privacy concerns, limited cognitive function and subsequently higher information disclosure, basically forming a ‘privacy trap’ alike the much discussed ‘poverty trap’. Using an experimental approach it is explored how online privacy trade-offs are able to limit cognitive bandwidth and cause cognitive scarcity. The cognitive function of inhibitory control is used as a measurement of cognitive bandwidth. Data were collected using an online survey including a hypothetical scenario, several measurement scales and an embedded Simon task. Participants (n=104) could be classified into three groups: associates of a privacy advocacy group, a Bachelor of Arts class, and a mixed group of co-students, family and friends of the author. The results of the study show no significant effect of the hypothesized variables on cognitive bandwidth. However, age is found to negatively affect inhibitory control and positively affect privacy risk belief. Information sensitivity and personal experiences of privacy violation have a positive effect on risk belief. Risk belief positively affects willingness to pay for non-disclosure, i.e. the degree to which participants were willing to pay a hypothetical sum of money to protect their privacy. Belief of personal protection sufficiency seems to somewhat positively affect risk belief and willingness to pay. Additionally, mediatory relationships between certain variables were discovered. At a methodological level, this research indicates that willingness to pay could be used as an alternative measure to behavioural intention scales in online privacy trade-offs. Lastly, a few methodological improvements are recommended for future research into the aspects of online trade-offs involving privacy.
Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease-related hepatocellular carcinoma growth rates and their clinical outcomes

Aim: Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)-associated hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is projected to become the leading indication for liver transplantation. Previous studies indicate that tumor growth rates (TGR) may predict survival and were helpful in determining HCC surveillance intervals. Therefore, we aimed to determine its usefulness in predicting clinical outcomes and treatments. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study of hepatitis B, C and NAFLD-HCC cases. TGR was measured using 2-consecutive pre-treatment contrast-enhanced imaging studies ≥ 25 days apart. A multivariate regression model was used to determine predictors of TGR. In addition, the Cox regression model was used to evaluate the relationship between TGR and overall survival. Results: From 2000–2019, the study cohort comprised 38, 60, and 47 HBV, HCV, and NAFLD patients, respectively, with TGRs. NAFLD-HCC tumor size was inversely correlated to the extent of liver disease as measured by Child-Pugh score (7.2 cm in non-cirrhosis; 3.7 cm, 2.6 cm, and 2.1 cm in Child A, B, and C, respectively; P < 0.001). After adjusting for baseline characteristics, the TGR per month was fastest in HBV (9.4%, 95%CI: 6.3%-12.5%) compared to HCV (4.9%, 95%CI: 2.8%-7%) and NAFLD patients (3.6%, 95%CI: 1.6%-6.7%). Predictors of TGR included elevated AFP, low albumin, and smaller tumor size. Fast TGR in viral etiologies had higher mortality [adj. hazard ratio (HR) = 2.6, 95%CI: 1.2–5.7, P = 0.02] than slow TGRs, independent of treatments. Fast TGR in NAFLD had a trend towards higher mortality (HR = 3.6, 95%CI: 0.95–13.3, P = 0.059). Conclusion: NAFLD-HCC patients have more indolent growths than viral-related HCC TGRs. The addition of TGR as a biomarker may assist in stratifying treatment options.
Don't Let RPCs Constrain Your API

As data becomes increasingly distributed, traditional RPC and data serialization limits performance, result in rigidity, and hamper expressivity. We believe that technology trends including high-density persistent memory, high-speed networks, and programmable switches make this the right time to revisit prior research on distributed shared memory, global addressing, and content-based networking. Our vision combines the code mobility of RPC with first-class data references in a global address space by co-designing the OS and the network around pervasive data identity. We have initial results showing the promise of the proposed co-design.
How COVID-19 Risk Information Affects Beliefs and Behaviors: Experimental Evidence from Bangladesh

The local prevalence of infections and the severity of its consequences are among the key determinants of the adoption of preventive behaviors for an infectious disease. As local COVID-19 infection statistics are not easily available in Bangladesh I find that most people either do not know or underestimate the local prevalence of COVID-19 infections. Most of them also overestimate the fatality rate. In a randomized experiment, I give the treatment group information about the coronavirus case number in their districts and the case fatality rate in Bangladesh and worldwide. Immediately after receiving the information, the treatment group perceives higher infection risk. Nine to fifteen days after the intervention, those who received information underestimate the local prevalence less and, consequently, still perceive higher infection risk than the control group. The treatment group also updates their belief about the fatality rate downward. Potentially due to this countervailing update of risk beliefs, the information does not have any effect on the self-reported preventive behaviors. JEL Codes: I12, I15, I18, O12
Risk perception in the internationalization of the food sector

Scientific Editor Ilan Avrichir The internationalization process of Brazilian organizations is gradually progressing. In international activities, the risk present in the domestic market increases due to the particular characteristics of the market in which the organization desires to introduce a product or service. Although under normal conditions it could said that it is necessary to analyze all the risks that could affect the organization, bounded rationality does not allow the manager to process all the information, be it through lack of knowledge or analytical capacity. Thus, the aim of this article is to understand the perceived risks associated with the internationalization of companies in the food sector. The guiding approach is a multiple case study, with semi-structured interviews, observation and document analysis. The results show diversity among organizations with regard to the concept of risk, differences between the kinds of risks considered and the influence of this perception on organizational practices. The contributions of the study include the construction of evidence coherent with the behavior theory of internationalization, which is more than a commercial and economic process, constituting a complex construction of reality influenced by the perception and attitudes of the managers involved.
High-Skill Immigration, Offshoring R&D, and Firm Dynamics *

Firms’ R&D activities increasingly rely on foreign inputs in the form of immigrant researchers and imported R&D services. This paper studies ﬁrms’ decision on using foreign inputs in R&D and its implication on ﬁrm performance and aggregate productivity. Using administrative data from Denmark, we document two facts: that the use of foreign inputs increases ﬁrms’ R&D efﬁciency and boosts ﬁrm performance, and that recruiting immigrants reduces the barriers that ﬁrms face in sourcing R&D services from abroad. We develop and estimate a ﬁrm dynamics model in which R&D can be done with a combination of domestic inputs, immigrant researchers, and imported R&D services. Two elements of the model— love for variety of ideas in R&D and an information channel of immigrants—rationalize the two facts and imply complementarity between different R&D inputs. Counterfactual experiments show that incorporating the use of foreign inputs in R&D is important for assessing the impacts of immigration, service offshoring, and R&D policies.
SAJM-02-2021-0015_proof 72..96

Purpose –While the usage of mobile financial services (MFSs) is increasing rapidly in developing countries, research on users’ attitudes and behavioral intention to adopt MFS is limited. Thus, this study aims to investigate customers’ attitudes and intentions to adopt MFS from a Bangladeshi perspective. Design/methodology/approach – Amixed research design was employed to conduct this study. Data of 196 respondents were analyzed using partial least squares (PLS) path modeling. For the quantitative part, data collectionwas conducted usingnon-probability sampling through a structured surveyquestionnaire.A focus group discussion with ten MFS users from divergent backgrounds was conducted to validate the quantitative findings. Findings – This paper integrated both the technology acceptance model (TAM) and innovation resistance theory (IRT) to validate the results. The authors found that perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU) and perceived trust (PT) positively contribute to customers’ attitudes toward MFS adoption. Besides, barriers to acceptance had unfavorable effects on users’ attitudes and usage intentions. Furthermore, a focus group discussion revealed valuable insights on the constructs used in this study. Practical implications – The study results have implications for both MFS providers and researchers. The outputs and recommendations presented in this paper will encourage the MFS practitioners to stimulate users’ attitudes and behavioral intentions by ensuring useful, easy to use, credible and risk-free mobile payment platforms. SAJM 2,1
Learning and Acyclicity in the Market Game

We show that strategic market games, the non-cooperative implementation of a matching with transfers or an assignment game, are weakly acyclic. This property ensures that many common learning algorithms will converge to Nash equilibria in these games, and that the allocation mechanism can therefore be decentralized. Convergence hinges on the appropriate price clearing rule and has different properties for betterand best-response dynamics. We tightly characterize the robustness of this convergence in terms of so-called schedulers for both types of dynamics.
Neurospora crassa formation in Relics of repeat-induced point mutation direct heterochromatin Material Supplemental

License Commons Creative . http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/3.0/ described at as a Creative Commons License (Attribution-NonCommercial 3.0 Unported License), ). After six months, it is available under http://genome.cshlp. org/site/misc/terms.xhtml for the first six months after the full-issue publication date (see This article is distributed exclusively by Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory Press