Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Heavy metals distribution in different soil series of district Swabi, Khyber Pakhunkhawa, Pakistan

The present research was carried out with the main aim to evaluate the levels of heavy metals in some contaminated or expected to be contaminated by industrial effluents and some non contaminated soils of district Swabi. A total of 30 soil samples were collected from 15 different selected soil series of Swabi area at 0-15 cm and 15-30 cm depths and analyzed for various chemical properties using standard analytical techniques and for extractable heavy metals Zn, Cu, Fe, Cr, Co, Ni, Cd and Pb using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer. All soil samples were found non saline having EC values between 0.13-0.56 dsm -1 . Soil reaction or pH value ranged from 7.21-8.60 except Mansabdar soil which had pH value of 9.21. It was found that swabi soil was moderately to strongly calcareous in nature, alkaline in reaction having deficient to marginal in organic matter content. Furthermore all soil samples were found almost adequate in Fe, Cu and Zn for most of agriculture crops. The higher concentrations of Ni (22.21 and 21.9 mg kg -1 ) and Cr (8.02 and 5.11 mg kg -1 ) at both surface and sub surface were recorded in Gadoom Amazai soils located near ghee mills and many other industries. Higher levels of heavy metals were observed in contaminated soils as compared with non contaminated soils. Decreased in concentration levels of metals were observed in majority of soils with increase in depth. No correlation was found between AB-DTPA extractable heavy metals and soil chemical properties and it might be due to samples collected from different locations with different thermodynamic characteristics. Keyword: Heavy metals, Swabi soils World Scientific News 105 (2018) 1-13
The Factors Influencing Tourists’ Online Hotel Reservations in Thailand: An Empirical Study

The travel agency plays an important role in travel industries which fulfil customers’ requirements, such as booking hotel reservations, whenever needed. Travel agencies work as an intermediary between customers and travel agent. This intermediary has now developed as an online travel agency due to the involvement of the internet. The internet has had a huge impact upon this intermediary. Travellers can easily research information from the internet and make a clear decision about hotel bookings. The effect of internet development has had a huge impact on hotel distribution and the price of their products, as well as on services in the hotel industry. It has been shown that distribution in tourism has been switching automatically into the modern era, from the traditional era World Wide Web. In light of this, the hotel industry made an important decision in adopting online distribution, and the provision of opportunities for third party wholesalers like Expedia and Travelocity to dominate the industries. The objective of this study is to examine the key factors which impact hotel bookings for visitors through online travel agencies. Convenience sampling methods have been used with a non-probability approach. The survey involved 750 questionnaires, with 710 people responding. However, the researcher used 680 questionnaires, and the remaining questionnaires were discarded. Furthermore, the investigation expands the analysis through numerous relapse investigations by considering web-based booking reservations as a dependant variable. The result show that travellers are more likely to focus on three factors, which are rooms, food and customer reviews.
The Regulating Influence of Rehabilitation and Awareness Campaign on the Relationships between Transportation, Stigma, Quality of Health and Health-seeking Behavior among Obstetric Fistula Patients in North-west Nigeria: A Pilot Study

This study evaluates a small sample size from positivist’s orientation regarding the regulating influence of rehabilitation and awareness campaigns on the relationships between transportation, stigma, quality of health and healthseeking behavior among obstetric fistula patients in north-west Nigeria. The study utilized a descriptive cross-sectional survey design, a simple random sampling method, and collected 100 completed questionnaires. The study employed six constructs for assessment. Data were analyzed utilizing the statistical package for social sciences, SPSS v22, which was complemented by meticulous perusal by the panel of experts to evaluate the reliability and the validity of the construct’s items. Consequently, the findings of the pilot study confirmed that all the adapted items of the constructs are reliable and valid, and they are suitable for application in the main study.
Is Human Capital Under-Produced?

If there are substantial positive externalities in the production of human capital, it is under-produced in a competitive equilibrium. We calibrate a growth model with leisure and with two sectors —human capital production and goods production —to estimate the size of such externalities. Then, we study the effects of subsidies on human capital production, as well as taxes, on welfare. The results suggest that increased subsidies or decreased income taxes or both, financed by increased consumption taxes, would increase the welfare in the United States.
Women in Institutional Boards and their Influence on Board Effectiveness

In this study it shows that female directors have a significant impact on board inputs and educational institution’s outcomes. From the literature, we find that female directors have better attendance records than male directors, male directors have fewer attendance problems the more gender-diverse the board is, and women are more likely to join monitoring committees. In this paper we open the “black box” of board behavior by drawing upon theories of gender differences and group effectiveness. The results suggest that gender-diverse boards allocate more effort to monitoring, women directors is positively associated with board strategic control. In addition, there are positive effects of women directors on board effectiveness as mediated through increased board development activities and decreased level of conflict. Policy Implications: Women’s ability to make a contribution to the board may be attributable to their different leadership styles. Their presence seems to increase board effectiveness through reducing the level of conflict and ensuring high quality of board development activities.
Estrogen receptor α increases basal and cigarette smoke extract‐induced expression of CYP1A1 and CYP1B1, but not GSTP1, in normal human bronchial epithelial cells

Gender‐specific estrogen receptor α (ERα) expression may plausibly influence lung carcinogenesis in females. Initial genome‐wide microarray studies confirmed that carcinogen metabolism genes (CYP1A1, CYP1B1) were those most responsive to cigarette smoke extract (CSE) in normal bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells. These two genes encoding phase I bioactivating enzymes and the GSTP1 gene encoding a phase II deactivating enzyme were then tested for induction by ERα. NHBE cells (native ERα−) were transfected with wild‐type ERα‐adenoviral constructs, and then exposed to CSE, 17β‐estradiol (E2), and/or the ERα inhibitor, ICI 182,780. The expression levels of CYP1A1, CYP1B1, and GSTP1 were then determined by RNA‐specific quantitative RT‐PCR and immunoassay. ERα increased the basal expression of CYP1B1 4.04‐fold (P < 0.01) at the mRNA level and 6.5‐fold at the protein level. ERα also increased the CSE‐induced mRNA expression of CYP1B1 2.26‐fold (P < 0.01), but not the protein expression. ERα did not alter the CYP1A1 mRNA levels, but did increase protein expression 2.0‐fold (P < 0.01) on CSE exposure, and 6.2‐fold (P < 0.01) upon E2 exposure. These effects could be inhibited by ICI 182,780. ERα did not alter the expression of GSTP1. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay (ChIP) assay confirmed ERα binding to CYP1B1 promoter near the transcription start site. These results suggest that ERα regulates the CYP1B1 expression at a transcriptional level, and CYP1A1 expression at a translational level. These data raise the possibility that inter‐gender differences in expression of ERα that are known to exist in human lung may contribute to inter‐individual expression differences in CYP1A1 and CYP1B1, and to differences in carcinogen metabolism and mutation. © 2005 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.
CENTRAL AND PERIPHERAL VISUAL CHOICE-REACTION TIME UNDER CONDITIONS OF INDUCED CORTICAL HYPERTHERMIA1

S u m m a ~ y . S i x right-handed male subjects performed a central and peripheral visual choice-reaction time ( R T ) task. After two initial practice periods, subjects performed counterbalanced manipulations of control, placebo, and heat conditions. In the heat condition, a helmet selectively raised comical temperatwe, measured in the external auditory meatus, by 7°F while the placebo condition utilized the helmet with no external heat applied. Analysis indicated that the elevation of cortical temperature caused an increase in RT and decreased rate of errors. This conservatism in subjects' response under induced cortical hyperthermia is contrasted with previous accounts of visual RT performance under manipulations of whole-body heat stress.
Factor Shares in the Long Run

The purpose of this study is to construct and then analyze a new dataset that systematically documents the labor share of national income for more than 200 countries over the past 70 years. Using new archival data on national accounts, we measure the long-run evolution of national income between factor shares (labor and capital). In addition to its implicit importance in the study of inequality, the data naturally lends itself to novel empirical analysis of international patterns in tax progressivity, trade integration, technology, and labor force composition. ⇤Center for International Development (Harvard Kennedy School) 79 John F Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA 02138 matthew fisher-post@hks.harvard. edu & World Inequality Lab (Paris School of Economics) 48 Boulevard Jourdan, Paris 75014 France matthew.fisher-post@psemail.eu †The author gratefully acknowledges research support and instructive guidance from Anders Jensen and Gabriel Zucman, and helpful comments and discussion from Facundo Alvaredo, Thomas Blanchet, François Bourguignon, Ignacio Flores, Jérémie Gignoux, Douglas Gollin, Loukas Karabarbounis, Brent Neiman, and Rafael Proença. I would be remiss not to acknowledge the kind support and historical data provided by Hermanus Smith and the National Accounts Section of the United Nations Statistics Division, as well as archival researchers at Harvard University’s Lamont Library Government Documents collection. Errors are mine.
Influence of maturity and storage conditions on some mineral contents of lettuce

The effects of maturity and storage conditions on mineral contents of lettuce were studied. Samples of lettuce transplanted 50, 60 and 70 days after sowing were collected from an experimental farm in Nigeria. The samples were stored in the laboratory in a polythene bag of 2 mm thickness and in an open shelf and analysed every two days using the AOAC nutritional guidelines. A one-way ANOVA showed significant differences in zinc, potassium, magnesium, and iron contents between fresh lettuce and lettuce stored in polythene bag and open shelf (P ≤ 0.05) but sodium and calcium contents were not significantly different (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in contents of zinc, sodium, and calcium for the storage periods of 1, 3, 5 and 7 days (P > 0.05) but their magnesium and iron contents were significantly different (P ≤ 0.05). Zinc, calcium and magnesium contents of lettuce 70 days after transplanting were significantly higher than those for 60 and 50 days while the concentrations for the same mi.
Response of root systems of northern conifer transplants to flooding

The response of root systems of four conifer species (Pinusstrobus, Pinusresinosa, Piceaglauca, and Piceamariana) to saturated soil conditions was examined in growth chamber experiments using 2- to 4-year-old nursery transplants potted into Plexiglas cylinders using a soil-containing mix. None of the conifers appeared adapted to grow roots into flooded soil, with the deepest roots of any species reaching only 10 cm below a water table after allowing time for maximum growth (30 days, 23 °C). Accordingly, anatomical observations of root cross sections indicated that none of the species had a significant internal air-filled pore space. There was a major difference between the pine and spruce genera in the response of aerobically grown roots to flooding. In both spruce species, no root tips survived flooding treatments longer than 1 day, whereas in both pine species, 35% or more tips survived even the longest (7-day) treatment. This difference could not be readily related to differences between these species .
Effects of Stress on Susceptibility of Naive Channel Catfish in Immersion Challenge with Edwardsiella ictaluri

Abstract The effects of stress on the susceptibility of fingerlings of channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus to Edwardsiella ictaluri during immersion challenges were evaluated. Channel catfish fingerlings were exposed to a standardized confinement stressor for 30 min. Infections were established in stressed and nonstressed channel catfish fingerlings by exposure to E. ictaluri under aerated static conditions for 24 or 48 h. Stress and increased time of static bacterial exposure significantly decreased the survival of channel catfish fingerlings after immersion challenge. This study established a relationship between a behavioral stressor (confinement) and increased susceptibility of channel catfish to E. ictaluri infection. From estimates ofexperimental error, a relationship between the precision of the challenge system and the number of replicate aquaria per treatment was established. This analysis indicated that the immersion challenge is associated with a high degree of variability, which limits the eff.
Part V Addressing Livelihood Challenges Through Research: Insights from South Asia

The present contribution is an attempt to understand the conditions that impede some households and social groups in securing a decent livelihood by drawing on ‘purported’ facilitating institutions. It is generally agreed that access to livelihood assets is negotiated through institutions. However, the way in which these institutions operate in everyday practice and in specific contexts is less well understood. The four case studies presented here therefore analyse how customary norms and state regulations work. The article argues that a deeper understanding of the working of institutions, which in turn influence who is excluded from and who is entitled to access a particular livelihood asset, also provides a bridge to evidence-based development
Geographical variation in the pollen of Acacia (Mimosaceae) in Sudan

Abstract The pollen grains of 14 Acacia species from different parts of Sudan are described. The number of grains in each polyad is 16 except in A. albida which has 32 grains in each polyad. The pollen diameter, and pore number and diameter, follow a geographical pattern of variation both between species and topoclines within species. Pollen grains are smaller with fewer and smaller pores in arid northern Sudan than humid southern Sudan. Patterns of morphological variation in sculpturing of the exine, which are constant for species, are reported.
Disturbance Rejection Associated with a Highly Oscillating Second-order-like Process; Part I: Feedforward Second-order Compensator

This paper investigates using a feedforward second-order compensator for disturbance rejection associated with a highly oscillating second-order-like process. The compensator is tuned using the MATLAB control and optimization toolboxes and five different error-based objective functions for compensator gain in the range from 5 to 25. The more suitable objective function for disturbance rejection using the second-order compensator used with the highly oscillating second-order-like process is assigned and the effect of the compensator gain on the performance of the control system in the time domain is shown. The unit step disturbance input time response of the control system has a maximum value less than 3.54, minimum value of the time response greater than -3.83 and a steady-state error as low as 0.0055 at a compensator gain of 20.
Mammal occurrence and roadkill in two adjacent ecoregions (Atlantic Forest and Cerrado) in south-western Brazil.

This paper examines the frequencies of mammal roadkill in two adjacent biogeographic ecoregions (Atlantic Forest and Cerrado) of Brazil. Mammals were recorded during a seven-year period and over 3,900 km of roads, in order to obtain data for frequencies of species in habitats (sites) and frequencies of species killed by cars on roads. Sites (n = 80) within ecoregions (Cerrado, n = 57; Atlantic Forest, n = 23) were searched for records of mammals. Species surveyed in the entire region totaled 33, belonging to nine orders and 16 families. In the Cerrado, 31 species were recorded in habitats; of these, 25 were found dead on roads. In the Atlantic Forest ecoregions, however, we found 21 species in habitats, 16 of which were also found dead on roads. There was no overall significant difference between ecoregions for frequencies of occurrence in habitats or for roadkills, but there were differences between individual species. Hence, anteaters were mostly recorded in the Cerrado ecoregion, whereas caviomorph rodents tended to be more frequent in the Atlantic Forest ecoregion (seen mainly by roadkills). The greater number of species (overall and threatened) and the greater abundance of species records in the Cerrado suggest that this ecoregion has a greater biodiversity and is better conserved than the Atlantic Forest ecoregion, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul, south-western Brazil.
Evaluation of several commercial biocontrol products on European and North American populations of Phytophthora ramorum

Abstract Five commercially available biological control products were tested in vitro with seven isolates of Phytophthora ramorum from North American (NA1, NA2), and European (EU1) populations. The in vitro tests included dual culture methods and detached leaf assays on wounded Rhododendron and Camellia leaves. Variability in response to biocontrol agents among isolates of P. ramorum from North American and European populations was examined. In dual culture tests, both Bacillus subtilis products (Companion® and Serenade®) resulted in better inhibition of the NA1 group than NA2 and EU1. Actinovate® (Streptomyces lydicus) was the least effective of the three bacterial biocontrol agents and there was no difference in percent inhibition among P. ramorum lineages. Two products containing Trichoderma spp. were tested: Plant Helper® (T. atroviride) caused 100% inhibition of all lineages of P. ramorum, while SoilGard™ (T. virens) was only about 30% effective. There was great variability among P. ramorum isolates in their response to biocontrol agents. All treatments reduced P. ramorum lesion size on both Rhododendron and Camellia. Combined treatments of Actinovate® with one other BCA did not perform as well as either treatment used individually. Best results were obtained with Serenade® on Rhododendron and Camellia foliage, especially against the NA1 group. Lack of a linear relationship between percent inhibition of P. ramorum by BCAs in vitro and foliar treatments on detached Rhododendron and Camellia leaves indicates that in vitro testing is a poor predictor of BCA performance on plant material.
Perception of Teachers on Instructional Supervision at Basic Schools in Hohoe Municipality of Ghana

The study investigated the perception of teachers towards school supervision at the basic school level in the Hohoe Municipality of the Volta Region of Ghana. The research question was how teachers in the Hohoe Municipality perceived school supervision as basis for classroom instruction. The study used the descriptive survey design to explore the perception of teachers towards instructional supervision. The proportional sampling, purposive and simple random sampling techniques were employed in selecting 200 respondents for the study, comprising 150 teachers, 40 headteachers and 10 circuit supervisors. The survey covered 20 basic schools in the Hohoe Municipality. A questionnaire was constructed to collect data. Data were analyzed using frequencies and percentages. The study revealed that some teachers perceived school supervision as a mere fault–finding mission and interference in their duties as well as an opportunity to settle personal scores with supervisees. That notwithstanding, other teachers view supervision as an efficient way of enhancing their professional development and an activity basically pointing to the holistic improvement of teaching and learning process. The study recommended that supervisors should not use supervision as fault finding mission but rather fact finding. Teachers should see supervisors as critical partners who complement their roles. Also workshops and seminars should be organized periodically to sensitize teachers on the usefulness of supervision in an effort to curb the negative impression some of them may have about it.
Luteinizing hormone and sexual steroid plasma levels after treatment of European sea bass with sustained-release delivery systems for gonadotropin-releasing hormone analogue

Work was supported by grants from NATO (ref. CRG94) to M.C. and Y.Z. , a Spain-Greek joint Research and Technology Programme (ref. 2000GR0006) to M.C. and C.C. M. , and from the European Commission (ref. FAIR CT97-3785) to S.Z.
A Pedometer-based Intervention with Daily Walking Steps and its Relationship with Nutritional Status among Overweight/Obese University Students in Kuala Terengganu

Introduction: The aim of this study was to determine the effects of pedometer-based intervention and the relationship between daily walking steps and nutritional status among overweight/obese university students in Kuala Terengganu. Materials and methods: The study was an 8-week intervention study that included 23 overweight/obese university students. After 7 days of baseline activity, anthropometric data such as weight, height and waist circumference and a one-day dietary record were taken. The participants were divided into a control and case group. The control group (n=15) was instructed to continue with their normal activities and habits throughout the 8 weeks. The case group (n=8) was instructed to walk based on the targeted number of steps. Data such as body weight, waist circumference and a one-day dietary record were taken after the intervention. Results: Both case and control group show significant differences in body mass index (BMI) with p=0.017 and p=0.047 respectively. However, there is a large and significant difference between walking steps and BMI before and after intervention for the case group. There were no differences in any other study parameters during the 8-week study. Conclusion: In conclusion, short-term intervention with a pedometer increased physical activity and positively affected the BMI of overweight/obese participants. The use of a pedometer was efficient in measuring daily physical activity (r= 0.756, p< 0.05).