Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Differences in Activities, Teacher Questioning, Teacher Modelling and High Level Thinking Skill Based on Races in Kudat, Sabah

The purpose of this study was to identify whether or not there are significant differences in the variables of student centralization, teacher questioning, teacher modelling and high level thinking skill of students based on the race of primary school students in Kudat, Sabah, Malaysia. This quantitative study used a survey method involving 250 respondents from the stated population. This study referred to the Absorption Learning Model (Swartz, Fischer and Parks, 1998) as its basis. Data analysis was done using one way ANOVA analysis with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 22. Based on the students in Kudat district, the results showed that Dusun students as Islamic minorities were mostly interested in the questionnaire and modelling of teachers in the class. In addition, all students from every ethnic group have the same tendency towards the continuity of socialisation from outside the classroom such as student centring activities and high-level thinking skills for Islamic Education subjects. It is hoped that this study will provide useful inputs for improving teachers' infusion teaching practices on racial diversity and religious background in Kudat and other regions.
EFFECT OF SOIL APPLICATION WITH NITROGEN LEVELS AND POTASSIUM SILICATE FOLIAR SPRAY ON GROWTH AND YIELD OF BLACK CUMIN (Nigella sativa L.)

This study was carried out during the winter seasons of 2014-15 and 2015-16 at the Experimental Farm of Environmental Agricultural Sciences Faculty, Arish University, North Sinai Governorate, Egypt. The main effects and their interactions of four different nitrogen levels (0, 50, 75 and or Kg/fed) and four foliar application rates of potassium silicate spray (0, 4, 6 or 8 cm/L) on growth, yield component and chemical content of seeds (nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium), and fresh leaves content of chlorophyll a and b as well as seed content of fixed oil of black cumin (Nigella sativa) were investigated under sandy soil conditions. A split plot design was used where nitrogen levels were randomly arranged in main plots and the potassium silicate spray rates were randomly distributed in the sub plots, Drip irrigation was used. Distance between lines was 50 cm and between plants in the same row was 30 cm (28000 plant per fed). The obtained results obviously showed that the highest value of plant height, number of branches/plant, fresh and dry weights of herb, number of capsules for each plant, number of seeds/capsule, seed yield, weight of 1000 seeds, seed content of N, P, K, leaves chlorophyll content (a and b) and seed fixed oil percentage were increased as N application level increased up to 100 kg N/fed alone or 8 ml/L potassium silicate spray alone. The interaction results indicated that the highest value of all previous traits was recorded with plants fertilized with 100 kg N/fed with 8 ml/L potassium silicate as foliar spray.
Health Risk Assessment of Women in Submarines: Reproductive and Developmental Toxicity Evaluation of Major Submarine Atmosphere Components (CO, CO2, and O2) in Rats (Rattus norvegicus) - Phase 1 (Range Finding Study)

Abstract : Recent congressional approval allowing women to serve in the submarine service necessitates additional investigation into the suitability of existing submarine breathing air standards for women. This study evaluates the general, reproductive and developmental health effects upon male and female rats exposed to mixtures of three critical submarine atmospheric components (CO, CO2, and O2) at concentrations that represent current submarine. The study is divided into three consecutive phases including a range finding phase, a 28-day exposure phase with reproductive assessment and a 90-day 2-generation reproductive/developmental evaluation. This technical report presents the findings of the first phase of the study that included controls and three different mixtures of CO, CO2 and low O2. The exposure concentrations at all doses were well tolerated by the rats and will be used in the subsequent phases. Pathological findings were unremarkable, or incidental to exposure, and blood analysis results were within normal clinical parameters. There were no identified effects to reproductive tissues from exposure to the mixtures. Due to the short duration of the exposures in this range-finding phase of the study, no definitive conclusions should be drawn at this time regarding the toxicities, or lack thereof, of these mixtures.
The mitochondrial redox regulation of steroidogenesis

Mitochondrial steroidogenic cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzymes rely on electron transfer from the redox partner ferredoxin for catalytic activity. Previous \(in\) \(vitro\) data suggests these co-factors are key regulators of CYP enzyme activity. However, this has never been studied \(in\) \(vivo\). Zebrafish have emerged as model to study human steroidogenesis as they have conserved steroidogenic genes, molecular mechanisms and endocrine tissues. This project aimed to establish zebrafish as an \(in\) \(vivo\) model for endocrine development and its disorders, and to investigate the influence of mitochondrial redox regulation on steroid hormone production. This study involved the identification and characterisation of zebrafish mitochondrial steroidogenic CYP enzymes and their ferredoxin co-factors. Through implementation of recent genomic editing methods including Transcription Activator-Like Effector Nucleases (TALENs) and the Clustered Regulatory Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeat Cas9 nuclease (CRISPR/Cas9) system, and steroid hormone analysis from whole zebrafish extracts by liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry, essential mitochondrial redox components required for zebrafish glucocorticoid production were identified. Overall, this work has helped established zebrafish as a model to study the pathophysiological consequences of steroid hormone disease and provided insights into the mechanism of mitochondrial redox regulation of steroid hormone production.
Competency in Career Management among Technical University Students

Challenge to place themselves in jobs, require graduate that have high competency in career management to compete and fulfill the human resource demand. Thus, this research is to find the differences of the technical student in their career management competency between courses field and university. Samples are final year students from University of Tun Hussein Onn Malaysia (UTHM) and University of Technical Malaysia (UTeM), with sample size (n) are 581. A questionnaire was used as the instruments to measure the career management competency among students. The data were analyzed using independent t-test and One Way ANOVA to answer the research questions. Research findings revealed there is a significant difference in career management competency between students’ courses field, p < . 05 and university, p < . 05, with mean difference value =0.13. The implication of this study can give a positive picture to the student how to manage their career own then the right path.
Gender Wage Gap and FirmsíDynamic Monopsony: Voluntary versus Involuntary Separations

We exploit a national administrative dataset to estimate labor supply elasticities at the firm level, distinguishing for the first time the source of separation (quits versus layoffs), which is crucial as only the former is consistent with employees responses to changes in wages. Our results suggest that labor supply elasticities increase by around 18% when all separations (i.e., without identifying its source) are used instead of voluntary separations (i.e., quits). Hence, it transpires that previous literature, which due to data constraints, did not identify the source of separations, presented results which were upward biased, thus overestimating labor market competitiveness. We also find that between firm differences in the gender-specific elasticities are more relevant than within firm di¤erences when voluntary separations are used, a result that should be considered by governments in the design of their gender gap policy agenda.
Identifying Indicators of Systemic Risk

We operationalize the definition of systemic risk provided by the IMF, BIS, and FSB and derive testable hypotheses to identify indicators of systemic risk. We map these hypotheses into a two-stage hierarchical testing framework, combining insights from the early-warning literature on financial crises with recent advances on growth-at-risk. Applying this framework to a set of candidate variables, we find that the Basel III credit-to-GDP gap does not indicate systemic risk coherently across G7 countries. Credit growth and house price growth also do not pass our test in many cases. By contrast, a composite financial cycle signals systemic risk consistently for all countries except Canada. Overall, our results suggest that systemic risk may be consistently measured only once the turning points of indicators have been observed. Therefore, pre-emptive countercyclical macroprudential policy may smooth the financial cycle in boom phases, which then indirectly mitigates the amount of systemic risk in the future.
Notes on reproduction and conservation of Testudo graeca ibera Pallas 1814 (Reptilia: Testudinidae) in Zagros, western Iran

During longtime fieldwork in the Zagros Mountains, we studied tortoises of the western Iranian plateau. In this paper we focus on Testudo graeca ibera. We present the first information about mating behavior, timing of mating, egg shape, and hatching of this subspecies. In general, our results on reproduction in T. g. ibera are different from previous reports. Additionally, we report anomalous reproductive behavior in T. g. ibera.
Histological alterations in the testes and ovaries of the sharptooth catfish (Clarias gariepinus) from an urban nature reserve in South Africa

Summary Fish from two urban impoundments known to be polluted will have a higher incidence of gonadal histological alterations compared to fish grom a laboratory-bred referende group. The aim of the study was to examine possible reproductive health effects in male and female Clarias gariepinus, based on a histological assessment, and to compare the results to a laboratory-bred reference group (RG). Previous studies have shown histological alterations in both the gills and livers of catfish inhabiting these systems; and water and sediment analyses indicated levels of selected endocrine disrupting chemicals and metals. A sample size of 81 male and 81 female C. gariepinus specimens were collected from both impoundments. Testis and ovary samples were processed using standard techniques and prepared for light microscopy analysis. Histological alterations were semi-quantitatively assessed, and the results were classified according to the severity of the histological response identified. An internal examination of fish from the MD and RVD revealed abnormal gonadal structure in a number of specimens. The histological assessment of the RG revealed normal testicular and ovarian tissue structure. However, primary histological alterations identified in the gonads of fish from MD and RVD included melano-macrophage centers, vacuolation of germ cells and interstitial tissue, the presence of testicular oocytes, and cholesterol granulomas in the ovaries. It is recommended that laboratory exposures, using environmentally relevant concentrations of detected contaminants, be done using C. gariepinus to establish cause and effect relationships.
Male reproductive success and population control in the Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata

The traits that determine male reproductive success in Ceratitis capitata (medfly) are largely unknown. This comes despite decades of research into the reproductive behaviour of this agricultural pest. An understanding of what makes a successful male is of great importance in this lekking species, as one male has the ability to dominate access to females. In addition species-specific pest control techniques such as the Sterile Insect Technique (SIT) and Release of Insects carrying a Dominant Lethal (RIDL) rely on the mating competitiveness of mass-reared ‘sterile’ males to disrupt natural mating systems and reduce population numbers. However, it is well known that the mass-rearing process required to generate these individuals produces less competitive males, despite this an understanding of the sexual selection processes that are involved is severely lacking. In this thesis I used the medfly as a model organism to investigate the context-dependent nature of male reproductive success. In Chapters 2 and 3 I investigate the effect of manipulating the adult sex ratio on pre- and post-mating reproductive traits. Chapter 2 uses proximate manipulation of the adult sex ratio to show how the relationship between pre- and post-mating success is affected by the levels of male competition. Chapter 3 shows that selection lines are unable to select for the traits that predict male reproductive success under altered levels of male competition. Chapter 4 describes the attempts to produce RIDL genetic constructs with embryonic lethality. Chapter 5 demonstrates that RIDL lines of medfly display characteristics that make them suitable for wild population control and may exceed the performance of existing SIT lines. Chapter 6 shows that manipulation of the larval diet can alter the gut microbiota of adults; however these manipulations have no effect on reproductive behaviour. Instead there was a significant effect of high-sugar larval rearing on mating success and body mass. This effect persisted for a single generation in offspring of these flies, even when they were reared on an inferior starch-based larval diet. Finally Chapter 7 summarises the thesis and discusses the implications of this work and future directions for both research in the reproductive behaviour of the medfly, and the future of RIDL technology in medfly population control.
Inactivation of indicator bacteria in treated municipal wastewater and biosolids by gamma irradiation

Summary: Increasing growth of the world’s population, waste minimization policies and agricultural needs make the recycling of domestic wastewater quite a desirable practice. Factors like environmental and public health risks must be taken into account when considering treated wastewater for field irrigation and biosolids for land application. Wastewater disinfection is achieved via chlorination or UV-irradiation. In this study, an alternative disinfectant, gamma radiation is investigated. It is found that 60 Co-gamma irradiation could be effectively used for the disinfection of effluents from the municipal wastewater treatment plants, and gamma radiation dose of at least 5000 Gy was required for the inactivation Enterococcus sp. , the most resistant bacteria among
Genetic parameters and provenance variation of Pinus tecunumanii in 78 international trials.

Results from 78 international trials of Pirzus tec~trzutmmii in Brazil, Colombia, South Africa and Venezuela are presented. Measurements at ages 3, 5 and 8 were available, and all trials were measured at least once. Genetic material includes samples of essentially the entire range of F1 tecunnrnnnii, and includes 24 high-elevation and 16 low-elevation provenances from Mexico, Guatemala, Belize, Honduras and Nicaragua. Highand lowelevation provenances were tested separately. Volume growth of the species is commercially acceptable, with means across all provenances and families of approximately 14 m3ha-'. year-' on sites in Brazil and Venezuela, 15 m3,ha-',year-' in South Africa and 25 m3,ha-'year-' in the highlands of Colombia at 8 years of age. Provenance variation for volume growth is important, with the best provenances 10 to 15% better than the mean. Mean single-site estimates of heritability for volume growth are approximately 0.15, and substantial genetic variation exists among families within provenances. Potential genetic gain for age 8 volume from selection within provenance is around 35%. Quality traits such as straightness, stem breakage and forking also appear to be heritable, but these traits seem to be under a lower degree of genetic control, with heritabilities around 0.05. There was no evidence of strong adverse genetic correlations. Genotype x environment interaction for volume growth is stronger at the family level than at the provenance level. and higher for tests located in different countries than in the same countries. Selection for agc 8 volume using age 5 data would be 89% as effective as selection at age 8. CAMCORE members have made over 200 selections of I? iec~rrlirrnar~ii for advancedgeneration breeding.
Winter Ecology and Conservation Threats of Scaly-sided Merganser Mergus squamatus in Poyang Lake Watershed, China

First multiple surveys were conducted along eight river sections within the Poyang Lake watershed, Jiangxi Province, China, to examine winter ecology of the scaly-sided or Chinese Merganser (Mergus squamatus) and to assess threats to its conservation. Transect lines and point counts were combined to estimate the population size of the scaly-sided Merganser during the period November 2010 to March 2011. Along all eight surveyed river sections in four rivers, the riparian environment was mountain forest or close to mountain forest on one or both sides of the rivers. The scaly-sided Merganser was often found in the rivers with scattered shoals. The largest number of scaly-sided Mergansers seen during each of the five months varied from 61 to 91. Groups of Chinese Merganser were classified as male, female, mixed sex, solitary female and solitary male. Mixed sex groups were the most frequently encountered (64 sightings) and comprised 71.91% of all groups sighted (89 groups). Solitary mergansers accounted for 22.47% (male, 15.73%; female, 6.74%) of all sightings and were also frequently encountered. Solitary Merganser and groups with 2-9 individuals account for 22.47% and 64.04% of total group number (n=89). Feeding, swimming, resting and maintenance were the most frequent behavior patterns. For the first time, mergansers were observed copulating in winter in the Wuyuan River section. The sex ratio was 1:0.74 (Females + sub-adults: males, n=432). Threats to the conservation of the scaly-sided Mergansers included sand mining, fishing, riparian vegetation destruction and water pollution. Taiyangsheng, Taopi, Qinghu and Wuyuan sections should be prioritized for protection because these areas have relatively large and stable population. We recommend specific conservation strategies designed to protect this endangered species.
Essays on macro and international finance

This thesis consists of three chapters. The first two chapters study the macroeconomic and financial stability implications of income inequality and discuss how a low interest rate environment can alter its consequences. The third chapter studies how macroeconomic and financial instability can arise from foreign shocks in the presence of global banks. Chapter 1 presents an analytical model of mortgage and housing markets. The framework departs from standard lending models with exogenous lending constraints by incorporating collateral into a rational default model. The model predicts that following an increase in income inequality house prices decline and aggregate default risk rises in equilibrium. I then show that low real rates mitigate the depressing effect of inequality on house prices at the cost of amplifying aggregate default risk in the mortgage market. Chapter 2 studies how income inequality is associated with house prices, mortgage debt and mortgage delinquency using panel data of US states. In order to isolate the effect of income inequality from that of the declining real rates, I use year fixed effects in the specifications, in addition to state fixed effects and covariates that vary both by year and state. I find that the data verifies the predictions of the theoretical framework presented in Chapter 1 of this thesis. Chapter 3 analyses the role of global banks in international transmission of shocks when countries have different domestic financial market structures. In particular, (i) bank capital requirements and (ii) firm borrowing constraints are different across countries. I show that a financial shock might give rise to a global decline in real output if the shock originates in the country with loose firm borrowing constraints. Moreover, tight borrowing constraints and high bank capital requirements are associated with limited economic contraction and fast recovery following a financial shock, independent of its origin.
Mineral content in semiarid grassland systems affected by community structure and soil characteristics.

Les concentrations des nutriments dans la vegetation et leurs rapports avec la composition botanique et les caracteristiques pedologiques ont ete analyses pendant deux annees consecutives dans des pâturages semi-arides (centre-ouest de I'Espagne) affectes par un gradient topographique. Un effet significatif de la position dans le coteau a ete observe sur la production de biomasse epigee, sur les caracteristiques du sol et sur les teneurs en nutriments dans les tissus vegetaux. Par rapport aux zones superieures et moyennes du gradient, les zones inferieures du coteau montrent une plus forte production de biomasse epigee, une plus faible proportion de dicotyledones, une plus forte proportion de graminees, de plus fortes concentrations en N, Ca, Mg et Na dans les groupes botaniques et de plus faibles concentrations en P et K dans les composants botaniques. Une analyse de regression multiple pas a pas a demontre que la composition botanique et sa teneur specifique en mineraux ont une plus forte influence sur les teneurs en N, P, K, Ca et Mg dans la communaute herbacee que les caracteristiques pedologiques. Tenant compte des composants botaniques dans la communaute, on a pu observer que plusieurs proprietes pedologiques (matiere organique, azote total, carbone total, sable grossier) sont significativement correlees avec les teneurs en N. Ca, Mg et Na des graminees, des legumineuses et des dicotyledones, ce qui indique une augmentation des concentrations dans les tissus vegetaux avec un statut eutrophique croissant du sol des zones amont aux zones aval du coteau. Les teneurs en P et K des legumineuses et des dicotyledones varient selon les niveaux de P ou de K dans le sol, lesquels decroissent des parties amont et intermediaires jusqu'aux zones aval.
Aliens; a catastrophe for native fresh water fish diversity in Pakistan.

Pakistan has introduced several alien exotic fish species e.g. grass carp ( Ctenopharyngodon idella ), bighead carp, (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis ), silver carp, ( Hypophthalmichthys molitrix ), common carp ( Cyprinus carpio), gold fish (Carassius auratus),and three species of tilapia ( Oreochromis aureus, Oreochromis mossam bicus, Oreochromis niloticus)in warm watersalongwithtwo trout species: the rainbow trout ( Onchorynchus mykiss) and the brown trout (Salmo trutta fario ) in colder regions for specificpurposes like sport fishing, yield enhancement and biological control of aquatic weeds andmosquitoes. The exotic species arebecoming invasive in the freshwater biomes of the Punjab and other provinces of Pakistanby reason oftheirpotent reproductive po tential and feeding competitions with the native freshwater fish fauna. Resultantly the native fish species viz; Channa marulius, Wallago attu, Rita rita, Sperata sarwari, Gibelion catla, Cirrhinus mrigala andLabeo rohita,which are of economic value areunder threat.