Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Concept mapping and the fundamental problem of moving between knowledge structures

A concept map provides a ʻsnap shotʼ of a studentʼs understanding that is frozen in time by drawing it out on paper or on a computer screen. However, to represent the dynamic state of student learning, concept maps either need to emphasise dynamism (through the phrases that are chosen to act as links within the propositions that form the map), or need to be viewed as a single perspective on a more complex situation that can only be fully appreciated by considering movement between knowledge structures (e.g. through sequential mapping over time, or by indicating relationships between map structures that represent complementary learning contexts). The recognition of the importance of movement between knowledge structures needs careful management, whether teaching is conducted as a face-to-face activity or (increasingly) as a digital/online activity. Existing models of e-learning development (such as the TPACK model) can be modified to accommodate a multiple perspectives view. When the purpose of teaching is the promotion of studentsʼ ability to move between knowledge structures (rather than acquiring a single structure), the purpose of producing a concept map changes and becomes part of a wider dynamic process of learning, rather than providing a static record of what has already been learnt.
D Intensive Goods Trade and Competitiveness of Turkey in the European Union Market-first draft -

This paper aims to measure trade competitiveness of Research and Development (R&D) intensive goods of Turkey in the European Union (EU) market, using different trade indices. Concentration Ratio (Michaely, 1958), Export-Import Commodity Composition Index (Muscatelli, 1991), Intra-Industry Trade Index (Grubel, Lloyd, 1971) and Sectoral-Bilateral Trade Intensity Ratios (Seymen, 2009) are calculated to analyze the technology composition of manufacturing goods trade between Turkey and the EU27. Revealed Comparative Advantage Index (Balassa, 1965), Marjinal Intra-Industry Trade Index (Brulhart, 1994), and Sectoral-Bilateral Competitiveness Index (Seymen, 2009) are employed to gain insight about the bilateral competition between two parties. Thus, once the general situation related to the R&D intensive goods trade between Turkey and the EU is detected, it will be possible to draw some policy implications through a future study in the following phase, by identifying the value added structures, exterior input dependence and vertical-horizontal specialization levels of the goods revealed to have competitive advantage in this study.
Relationship between the neutron time delay distribution and the rigidity spectrum of primary cosmic rays up to 16.8 GV

Neutron monitors are the premier instruments for precisely tracking time variations in the Galactic cosmic ray flux at GeV-range energies above the geomagnetic cutoff at the location of measurement. In addition to the count rate, recording and analyzing the time delays between successive counts allows us to infer variations in the cosmic ray spectrum as well. In particular, we can determine the leader fraction L, defined as the fraction of neutrons that did not follow a previous neutron detection in the same tube from the same nuclear interaction, from time delay histograms. By analyzing data taken during 2001–2007 by a ship-borne neutron monitor latitude survey we confirm a strong dependence of L on the geomagnetic cutoff up to 16 GV. The data of the Princess Sirindhorn Neutron Monitor located in Thailand at a higher vertical cutoff of 16.8 GV have also been analyzed for the period 2007–2014. We have developed Monte Carlo simulations of cosmic ray interactions in the atmosphere and in both neutron monitors. Both data and simulations show that the absolute value of L depends significantly of the configuration of the detector and that experimental conditions such as the electronic dead time must be well monitored. The simulation results show a change in L with the geomagnetic cutoff as observed by the latitude survey, confirming that this change in L can reasonably be attributed to changes in the cosmic ray spectrum.
Topological characterization of world cities

The topological organization of several world cities are studied according to respective representations by complex networks. As a first step, the city maps are processed by a recently developed methodology that allows the most significant urban region of each city to be identified. Then, we estimate many topological measures on the obtained networks, and apply multivariate statistics and data analysis methods to study and compare the topologies. Remarkably, the obtained results show that cities from specific continents—especially Africa, Anglo-Saxon America, and Oceania—tend to have particular topological properties. Such developments should contribute to a better understanding how cities are organized and related to different geographical locations worldwide.
GA and PSO applied towind energy optimization

In this article we analyze two kinds of metaheuristic algorithms applied to wind farm optimization. The basic idea is to utilize CHC (a sort of GA) and GPSO (a sort of PSO) algorithms to obtain an acceptable configuration of wind turbines in the wind farm that maximizes the total output energy and minimize the number of wind turbines used. The energy produced depends of the farm geometry, wind conditions and the terrain where it is settled. In this work we will analyze three study farm scenarios with different wind speeds and we will apply both algorithms to analyze the performance of the algorithms and the behavior of the computed wind farm designs.
Effects of Fumaria parviflora L on Uremic Pruritus in Hemodialysis Patients: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Background: Uremic pruritus (UP) is a common, bothersome symptom in hemodialysis (HD) patients with end-stage renal disease. Immunohypothesis is currently favored as an explanation of the cause of UP. Fumaria parviflora L (FP) is a medicinal herb with several pharmacological properties, including prominent anti-inflammatory activity. Objectives: This study aimed to assess the efficacy of FP for reducing UP severity among HD patients. Methods: A total of 79 HD patients with pruritus were randomly assigned to receive either FP or a placebo for eight weeks. The visual analogue scale (VAS), the Duo score for calculating pruritus score, serum interferon-γ (IFN-γ) level, interleukin-4 (IL-4), and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein were measured in the patients before and after treatment. Results: At the end of the treatment phase, the pruritus score decreased in both groups (P < 0.001); however, the mean reduction in pruritus scores was significantly higher in the FP group than the placebo group according to VAS (-6.15 ± 2.12 vs. -2.25 ± 2.46, P < 0.001) and Duo scores (-22.03 ± 9.64 vs. -8.38 ± 6.28, P < 0.001). IFN-γ mean serum levels in the FP group significantly decreased (P < 0.001), but there was no significant change in these levels in the placebo group (P = 0.604). The elevation of the mean serum IL-4 level was significant in the FP group (P = 0.028) but not in the placebo group (p = 0.100). Conclusions: FP can significantly decrease the severity of UP in HD patients.
A technology of an antilipolytic dietary supplement based on phenolic compounds and biopolymers of pleurotus ostreatus

A rapid increase in the number of people suffering from abnormal weight gain is observed worldwide. Scientists have discovered a causal relationship between obesity and a number of serious diseases. At present, the only means used for correcting body weight is orlistat, which is a semi-synthetic medicine of non-Ukrainian production and a remedy that is not devoid of side effects. Our aim was to develop a technology of obtaining a dietary supplement that would produce antylipolitic effect and be based on substances of vegetable origin: phenolic compounds of rapeseed and a biopolymer complex of oyster mushrooms. It has been determined that the inhibitory activity of phenolic compounds of rapeseed that are immobilized on the biopolymer matrix of oyster mushrooms depends on the conditions of obtaining the latter. The highest levels of antylipolitic activity were found in antylipolitic preparations derived from the biopolymer complex that had been obtained through treating the raw material with water, acid, and a 7 % solution of sodium hydroxide. The selected duration of contact with the alkaline agent is 90 min. Rational conditions have been established for immobilization of the inhibitor on the carrier: saturation of the matrix with a 0.17% solution of phenolic compounds of rapeseed (hydrological module 6) at a temperature of +20-25°C for 20 minutes. Samples with an immobilized inhibitor have been found to surpass the intact form according to such properties as pH stability, thermal stability, stability under conditions simulating the gastrointestinal tract, and stability in storage. We have developed a technology of obtaining a dietary supplement of antylipolitic effect. The dietary supplement contains 1% of phenolic compounds of rapeseed while the rest of the structure consists of a biopolymer complex of oyster mushrooms that includes glucan, chitin, melanins, and protein. It is characterized by high levels of antylipolitic, antioxidant and enterosorption activities; moreover, it is able to stimulate growth of lactobacteria and bifidobacteria as well as to respond to the normalized indicators of microbiological safety.
Therapeutic Potential of Canine Bone Marrow Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells and its Conditioned Media in Diabetic Rat Wound Healing

Present study was conducted to explore the possibility of treating the diabetic rat wounds by canine bone marrow derived mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and its conditioned media (CM). Canine bone marrow stem cells were isolated ascetically from dog and cultured in vitro. Stem cells conditioned media was collected from third passage cells at 120 hours of culture. Streptozotocin was used for induction of diabetes in rats. Six groups were made for the wound healing therapy in which group I, II and III were non-diabetic while group IV, V and VI were diabetic with six animals in each group and one wound was created in each animal. Group II and V received stem cells in culture media and group III and VI received conditioned media while group I and IV were kept as respective controls given only stem cell culture media. Stem cells and its conditioned media were injected at the periphery of wounds. Wound healing was assessed by wound contraction, photographic evaluation at different time interval (0, 3rd, 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th day) and histomorphological examination on day 28. The outcomes of wound healing experiment suggested that canine bone marrow stem cells as well as its conditioned media can be exploited xenogenically very well for diabetic rat wound healing.
Does Climate Shock Aggravate Household Food Insecurity in Rural Ethiopia? Evidences from Panel Data Estimation

Ethiopian rural households are vulnerable to various climate shocks that affect agricultural production and thereby the household food security. Rural households frequently experience drought which may adversely affect food security and livelihood of rural households in the country. Thus, assessing the past challenges on food security due to climate shocks may have paramount importance in reducing the future vulnerability by providing appropriate measures towards mitigation and adaptation of future climate shocks. Using a longitudinal household dataset drawn from the Ethiopia Rural Household Survey, this study examines the effect of climate shocks on the Ethiopian rural households’ food security. By employing a fixed effects econometric analysis technique, climate shock is found to be negatively and significantly associated with food security over time. A negative climate shock variable implies that, households vulnerable to drought tends to be more food insecure than their counterparts. It has also been found that a household food security is hugely determined by the household’s resource endowment. Among the variables representing human capital endowments, large family size is found to be negatively associated with household food security. Among the basic physical resource endowments, land and livestock play a vital role in determining the household food security in rural Ethiopia. Moreover, our study identified that, credit use is an important financial capital influencing household food security in the study area. Overall, our principal result is that unfavorable climatic conditions combined with lack of necessary households’ resource endowments; adversely affect the rural household food security in Ethiopia. Given the vital role the households resource endowments have in reducing food insecurity, the findings suggest that policies that can contribute to the improvement of households’ resource endowments should not be undermined. Keywords: Climate shock, Drought, Ethiopia, Food security, Resource Endowments
BACKSCATTER FROM A SCALE-SIMILARITY MODEL: EMBEDDED LES OF CHANNEL FLOW, DEVELOPING BOUNDARY LAYER FLOW AND BACKSTEP FLOW

The scale-similarity model was proposed by Bardina et al. (1980) some 30 years ago. It was found not to be sufficiently dissipative. Much later, Davidson (2009) found a way to make it strictly dissipative. This was simply achieved by selecting those instants when the scale-similarity term in the momentum equation has the same sign as the viscous diffusive term (the latter term is indeed dissipative). In Davidson (2009) this technique was also used the other way around: by selecting time instants when the scale-similarity term has the opposite sign to the viscous diffusion term it acts as a backscatter term, which destabilizes the momentum equation. This feature is exploited in the present work to promote the generation of resolved turbulence. It is used to promote the creation of resolved turbulence in embedded LES of channel flow, and LES of developing boundary layer and backstep flow. The present method reduces the gray area problem described by Spalart (2009). The proposed method can also be used to promote transition from laminar to turbulent flow. 1 BACKSCATTER FROM THE SCALESIMILARITY MODEL The momentum equations for LES, with a turbulent viscosity and an additional SGS stress tensor, τik, from the scale-similarity model, read Dūi Dt + 1 ρ ∂ p ∂xi = ∂ ∂xk ( (ν + νSGS) ∂ ūi ∂xk )
Role of peers in student academic achievement in exogenously formed university groups

We estimate the influence of classmates’ ability characteristics on student achievement in exogenously formed university student groups. The study uses administrative data on undergraduate students at a large selective university in Russia. The presence of high-ability classmates has a significant positive effect on individual grades in key economics and mathematics courses as well as on overall academic performance. While a simple linear-in-means model reveals moderate peer effects, non-linear specifications give strong evidence that students at the top of the ability distribution derive the greatest benefit from high-ability classmates. Less able students are not affected by peers and have no significant influence on peers’ outcomes.
HEADSTARTING AS A MANAGEMENT TOOL: A CASE STUDY OF THE PLAINS GARTERSNAKE

The use of headstarting and related techniques as management tools for threatened and endangered species remains controversial, due in part to a lack of empirical data on their effectiveness. Here, we present data on pre-natal mortality, growth, and survival during headstarting as well as growth, survival, and reproduction following release for an unprotected population of plains gartersnakes. We combine these data with data on growth and survival of comparably sized wild-caught snakes to provide an overall evaluation of the potential effectiveness of headstarting. Depending on rearing conditions, proportions of live births varied from 0.79 (‘worst-case’) to 0.94 (‘best-case’), survival during headstarting ranged from 0.74 (‘worstcase’) to 0.88 (‘best-case’), and second-year survival following release ranged from 0.11 (‘worst-case’) to 0.40 (‘best-case’). In comparison, survival of free-ranging snakes was 0.16 in their first year and 0.40 in their 2 CORRESPONDENCE: e-mail, rbking@niu.edu 282 HERPETOLOGICA [Vol. 62, No. 3
Refined Risk Assessment and Banking Stability

Current banking regulatory frameworks are based on the belief that refined assessment of credit risks improves banking stability. This paper investigates this claim in a general setting by comparing a simple banking system with a sophisticated banking system which is capable of assessing default risks of entrepreneurs more accurately. By charging actuarially fair loan-interest rates, the sophisticated system finances fewer entrepreneurs. Relative to the simple system, both their repayments and liabilities are lower. Expected aggregate profits of entrepreneurs are higher but consumers receive lower deposit rates. Refined risk assessment may increase the systemic default risk of a banking system if bank equity is too low. Requiring higher bank equity ratios and forcing banks to refine their risk assessment techniques tend to increase stability if taken together, but may not be successful if only the latter is implemented. We draw implications for the policy debate, sparked by the financial crisis.
The Relationship between Auditor Reputation and the Cost of Equity Capital(With an Emphasis on Client Size)

Article history: Providing high quality and favorable audit services alongside providing a proper image of accuracy of management's claims can be effective in determining the risk of investment in the firm. The cost of equity capital is the minimum rate of return that shareholders demand on the firm in proportion to the investment risk. This study examines the relationship between auditor reputation and the cost of equity capital (with an emphasis on client size) in Iran. Natural logarithm of the audit fee revenue of exchange firms is used to determine auditor reputation and Gordon model is used for calculating the cost of equity capital. In this study, 93 firms listed in Tehran Stock Exchange since2006 to 2011have been reviewed. Methods of research are correlational and causal post event and hypothesis testing methods are correlation and regression. Eviews 7 and SPSS 16 software were used to test the hypotheses. Our findings show that there is a negative relationship between auditor reputation and the cost of equity capital. By taking the client (firm) size into account, a positive relationship between auditor reputation and the cost of equity capital is observed.
Postactivation Potentiation of Bench Press Throw Performance Using Velocity-Based Conditioning Protocols with Low and Moderate Loads

Abstract This study examined the acute effects of the bench press exercise with low and moderate loads as well as with two predetermined movement velocity loss percentages on bench press throw performance and surface electromyographic (sEMG) activity. Ten trained men completed 5 main trials in randomized and counterbalanced order one week apart. Mean propulsive velocity (MPV), peak velocity (PV) and sEMG activity of prime movers were evaluated before and periodically for 12 minutes of recovery under five conditions: using loads of 40 or 60% of 1 RM, until mean velocity dropped to 90 or 70%, as well as a control condition (CTRL). MPV and PV were increased 4-12 min into recovery by 4.5-6.8% only after the 60%1RM condition during which velocity dropped to 90% and total exercise volume was the lowest of all conditions (p < 0.01, Hedges’ g = 0.8-1.7). When peak individual responses were calculated irrespective of time, MPV was increased by 9.2 ± 4.4 (p < 0.001, Hedges’ g = 1.0) and 6.1 ± 3.6% (p < 0.001, Hedges’ g = 0.7) under the two conditions with the lowest total exercise volume irrespective of the load, i.e. under the conditions of 40 and 60% 1RM where velocity was allowed to drop to 90%. sEMG activity of the triceps was significantly greater when peak individual responses were taken into account only under the 60%1RM condition when velocity dropped to 90% (p < 0.05, Hedges’ g = 0.4). This study showed that potentiation may be maximized by taking into account individual fatigue profiles using velocity-based training.
Analysis of rhizobacterial community in field grown GM and non-GM maize soil samples using PCR-DGGE.

This study assessed the impact of Bacillus thuriengensis genetically modified maize (GM Bt maize) on functional community of rhizobacteria. Denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis technique (DGGE) was used. Results indicated that band patterns of GM and non-GM samples were similar to each other at 30 days after sowing (DAS) and 1 day after harvest (DAH). Sequence analysis showed that uncultured bacteria, Actinobacterium, Bradyrhizobium spp. , and Sphingomonas spp. , were common in the soil samples indicating that these were a stable community and species. These findings showed that the GM maize did not alter the soil microbial community which is significant in the assessment of the impact of GM maize on rhizobacteria.
A Study on the Miniaturization of Microstrip Square Open Loop Resonators

A miniaturization technique that allows the size of microstrip square open loop resonators to be reduced by more than 80% is presented and studied. The technique is based on the loading of the resonator with a series surface mount capacitor. It is shown that this technique allows the design of microwave bandpass filters with a wider stopband when compared with conventional designs. It is also proved that the insertion loss of the miniaturized filter is not degraded, but in fact can be maintained or even enhanced by the miniaturization process; this is true whenever the quality factor of the lumped capacitor is higher than the quality factor of the microstrip resonator. Finally, the feasibility of using the effect of the capacitor loss in the miniaturized resonator quality factor as a method to measure the effective series resistance of surface mount capacitors is studied, and recommendations towards its implementation are presented.
Structure of macroinvertebrate communities in riffles of a Neotropical karst stream in the wet and dry seasons

OBJETIVOS: Este estudo avaliou os efeitos das variaveis quimicas e fisicas e da sazonalidade na diversidade e estrutura da fauna de macroinvertebrados em corredeiras de um riacho carstico Neotropical; METODOS: As coletas foram realizadas durante as estacoes seca (Setembro 2003) e chuvosa (Marco 2004), em cinco pontos de amostragem. Em cada ponto foram coletadas cinco unidades amostrais utilizando um amostrador Surber. Variaveis quimicas e fisicas tambem foram avaliadas; RESULTADOS: Temperatura, pH, ortofosfato e nitrogenio total foram muito similares entre as estacoes, enquanto os valores de comprimento da corredeira, condutividade, alcalinidade, amonia, fosforo total e a quantidade de folhico variaram. O numero total de organismos coletado foi 25114 pertencentes, a pelo menos, 50 familias. Insetos constituiram o grupo dominante nas amostras. Trechos temporarios foram amostrados na estacao chuvosa, com o intuito de complementar o inventario faunistico; CONCLUSOES: A sazonalidade ambiental foi um fator importante na estruturacao da fauna de macroinvertebrados, onde uma diferenca significativa entre a composicao dos macroinvertebrados aquaticos nos periodos amostrados foi observada. Os resultados deste estudo demonstram a influencia da sazonalidade na variacao temporal da comunidade.
A Theory of Capital Structure with Strategic Defaults and Priority Violations

We reformulate the classic CSV model of financial contracting from Townsend (1979) and Gale & Hellwig (1985) to tackle criticisms raised against it voiced by Hart (1995), such as lack of optimal behavior at the repayment stage and an inability to allow for outside equity. As a result, we obtain a theory of capital structure that accommodates empirical regularities such as bankruptcies, strategic defaults of debt obligations, and violations of absolute priority rules as parts of the equilibrium description.