Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Technical efficiency of artisanal fisheries in Ijebu waterside of Ogun State, Nigeria

This study was carried out to analyze the technical efficiency of artisanal fisheries in Ijebu waterside of Ogun State, Nigeria. The objective was to analyze the socio-economic characteristics of the fisherfolks; estimate the technical efficiencies of artisanal fisherfolks and determine the factors influencing the technical efficiencies of artisanal fisheries in the study area. A multistage sampling technique was used to select a total of 400 fishers from the study area. Primary data were collected using structured questionnaire as interview guide, on the socio-economic characteristics, production inputs and output prices. Stochastic production frontier model was used to estimate the technical efficiencies of artisanal fishery system and the factors influencing the technical efficiencies of the fishers. The study revealed that majority of the fishers was still in their active age and fairly educated. The results of the maximum likelihood estimates of the parameters for the technical efficiency of the fisherfolks revealed that number of fishing gears, outboard engine, litres of kerosene used and quantity of bait used were found to be significant variables in the fish catch level. The inefficiency function of the sampled fisherfolks revealed that age of the fisherfolks, household size, gender and mode of operation were found to be significant factors determining the level of efficiency with a mean technical efficiency of 0.77. The study concluded that age, experience, household size, distance to the fishing ground and the mode of technology adopted were the significant variables influencing the level of technical efficiency of the fisherfolks in the study area.
The molecular characterization of Mycoplasma agalactiae isolates from Iranian goats when compared with other Iranian isolates and vaccinal strains

Mycoplasma agalactiae is the etiological agent of contagious agalactia, which is the first isolated mycoplasma from sheep and goats. The bacteria have been detected using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method in Iranian goats, but there has been no investigation of the molecular characterization of contagious agalactia agents in goats in Iran. Several studies have also characterized M. agalactiae strains. The aim of this study was to analyze the DNA sequence of M. agalactiae isolates from Iranian goats, and compare it with the other Iranian isolates and vaccinal strains obtained from GenBank. Therefore, PCR with a mycoplasmal cytoplasmic membrane protein 80 KDa (P80) gene was applied to Iranian isolates and the PCR product was purified and sequenced. After the computer alignment of these gene sequences was done, the next process was comparing the result with the specific species of M. agalactiae deposited in GenBank. However, a sequence identity matrix is represented (Bio Edit, Clustal W) and a phylogenetic tree is built by the neighbor-joining method. 1000 bootstrap simulations were given at the tree’s branching points and represent these points’ phylogenetic relationships. Sequence analysis of different M. agalactiae showed significant variability among the field isolates. In comparison with vaccine strains, which are used in Iranian goat herds, characterized isolates under this study has a poor homology.
A Study of Classics-Reading Curriculum, Classics-Reading Promotion, and Classics-Reading Effect Modeling Exploration in Elementary Schools

The purposes of this study are to test reliabilities and validities of classics-reading curriculum (CRC) scale, classics-reading promotion (CRP) scale, and classics-reading effect (CRE) scale and to examine the relationships between CRC, CRP, and CRE in elementary schools through applying CORPS framework. The pilot sample and formal sample contain 141 and 500 participants from elementary school faculties and classics-reading volunteers in the north, central, south, and east regions of Taiwan. The findings indicate that Cronbach α coefficients of curriculum cognition (CC), curriculum teaching (CT), inside-school promotion (IP), outside-school promotion (EP), learning effect (LE), and class management effect (CME) subscales are . 88, . 85, . 93, . 91, . 91, . 94, respectively, through exploratory factor analysis and they have good internal reliabilities and construct validities, respectively, through confirmatory factor analysis. Moreover, CC, CT, IP, and EP have positive influences on LE (standardized coefficients .34, .25, .14, and .22) and on CME (standardized coefficients .41, .14, .14, and .20), respectively. CC, CT, IP, and EP can explain 69% of LE and 61% of CME. The model is supported by the data. Lastly, this study proposes some suggestions regarding the classics-reading education for elementary schools.
Double-Crested Cormorant Culling in the St. Lawrence River Estuary: Results of a 5-Year Program

Modeling indicated that lowering the doublecrested cormorant population from 17,361 to 10,000 pairs could be attained only by a combination of techniques: culling breeding birds in arboreal colonies to lower breeding stock and egg spraying in accessible ground nests to lower recruitment. The 5-year program was launched in 1989; culling was halted 4 years later because the population had fallen below the threshold of 10,000 breeding pairs. A greater vulnerability of males to shooting (203:100) probably accounted for the faster-than-predicted drop in numbers. Egg spraying spanned the entire 5-year period, during which 25,095 nests were treated with inert mineral oil. As predicted by the model, spraying lowered recruitment, but only after a 2-year lag. Culling should be considered a last-resort form of intervention whenever softer techniques (egg spraying, mechanical nest destruction, and carefully planned disturbances to the nesting colonies to enhance predation and abandonment) are not sufficient or practical to produce population control. Population control should be based upon careful planning (including detailed censuses, population modeling, and prior communication with the public) and be conducted under close scientific supervision.
Exploring water cycle dynamics by sampling multiple stable water isotopepools in a developed landscape in Germany

Abstract. A dual stable water isotope (δ2H and δ18O) study was conducted in the developed (managed) landscape of the Schwingbach catchment (Germany). The 2-year weekly to biweekly measurements of precipitation, stream, and groundwater isotopes revealed that surface and groundwater are isotopically disconnected from the annual precipitation cycle but showed bidirectional interactions between each other. Apparently, snowmelt played a fundamental role for groundwater recharge explaining the observed differences to precipitation δ values. A spatially distributed snapshot sampling of soil water isotopes at two soil depths at 52 sampling points across different land uses (arable land, forest, and grassland) revealed that topsoil isotopic signatures were similar to the precipitation input signal. Preferential water flow paths occurred under forested soils, explaining the isotopic similarities between top- and subsoil isotopic signatures. Due to human-impacted agricultural land use (tilling and compression) of arable and grassland soils, water delivery to the deeper soil layers was reduced, resulting in significant different isotopic signatures. However, the land use influence became less pronounced with depth and soil water approached groundwater δ values. Seasonally tracing stable water isotopes through soil profiles showed that the influence of new percolating soil water decreased with depth as no remarkable seasonality in soil isotopic signatures was obvious at depths > 0.9 m and constant values were observed through space and time. Since classic isotope evaluation methods such as transfer-function-based mean transit time calculations did not provide a good fit between the observed and calculated data, we established a hydrological model to estimate spatially distributed groundwater ages and flow directions within the Vollnkirchener Bach subcatchment. Our model revealed that complex age dynamics exist within the subcatchment and that much of the runoff must has been stored for much longer than event water (average water age is 16 years). Tracing stable water isotopes through the water cycle in combination with our hydrological model was valuable for determining interactions between different water cycle components and unravelling age dynamics within the study area. This knowledge can further improve catchment-specific process understanding of developed, human-impacted landscapes.
The tectonic evolution of a Neo‐Tethyan (Eocene–Oligocene) island‐arc (Walash and Naopurdan groups) in the Kurdistan region of the Northeast Iraqi Zagros Suture Zone

The Walash and Naopurdan groups are incorporated into the lower allochthonous thrust sheet in the Iraqi Zagros Suture Zone (IZSZ). 40Ar–39Ar dates on magmatic feldspar separates from both Walash and Naopurdan volcanic rocks indicate an Eocene–Oligocene age (43.01 ± 0.15 to 24.31 ± 0.60 Ma). The Walash and Naopurdan groups form a thrust sheet that is structurally overlain by an upper allochthon of Cretaceous arc‐related rocks (106–92 Ma) now known as the Hasanbag igneous complex (formerly known as the Gemo–Qandil Group). The Walash and Naopurdan lower allochthon is thrust over the foreland basin Red Beds series. Volcanic and subvolcanic units in the Walash and Naopurdan groups were studied from the Mawat, Galalah–Choman, Leren, and Qalander–Sheikhan provinces. Most of these rocks are basaltic to andesitic for both the Naopurdan and Walash suites. The petrographic study shows that these rocks are affected by metamorphic alteration under greenschist facies conditions, but preserve primary porphyritic textures with some relict igneous plagioclase, pyroxene, and hornblende. The enrichments in LREE/HREE and high Th/Nb and Nb/Zr show that the Walash and Naopurdan rocks have distinct subduction‐related signatures: specifically island‐arc tholeiite for the Naopurdan and calc‐alkaline to alkaline for the Walash suites. Hence the Walash and Naopurdan suites are back‐arc and arc systems, respectively, that developed 43–24 Ma. Accordingly, the IZSZ contains a full record of Neo‐Tethys pre‐collision‐related volcanism in dual subduction settings, from the Early Cretaceous (Hasanbag igneous complex) to the Eocene–Oligocene (Walash–Naopurdan suites). Final continent–continent collision started when the last of the Neo‐Tethys Ocean was subducted beneath the Iranian continent, resulting in its collision with the Arabian Plate, probably during the Middle Miocene. This reinforces a continuity of events along the entire edge of the Arabian Plate from Turkey, through Iraq and Iran, and into Oman.
Government Payments and Farmland Concentration

Over the last twenty five years commodity crop farms have steadily declined in number and grown in average size, and production has shifted to larger operations. During the same period, the share of agricultural payments going to large farms has increased, in large part because payments are tied to actual or historical crop production. This study evaluates whether payments from federal farm programs may have contributed to the concentration of farmland. Using zip code-level data constructed from the micro files of the 1987-2002 Agriculture Censuses the study estimates the association between government payments per acre and subsequent growth in weighted median farmland area. A semi-parametric generalized additive model controls for location and initial concentration levels, and narrows comparisons to nearby zip codes with similar average farm sizes. Findings indicate, both with and without spatial controls, that government payments are strongly associated with subsequent concentration growth.
Learning from the Post-It ® : Building collective intelligence through lightweight, flexible technology

M's Post-It ® notes proven popular not only as a simple and ubiquitous reminder tool, but as a medium for collaborative brainstorming and various other conceptual activities. In this paper we analyze the properties of Post-It notes that contribute to their success and discuss how they can be enhanced in the virtual environment. We then present a collaborative tool that builds on the Post-It paradigm.
Stability of coupled-physics inverse problems with one internal measurement

In this paper, we develop a general approach to prove stability for the nonlinear second step of hybrid inverse problems with one internal measurement. We work with general functionals of the form F = σ|∇u|p, 0 < p ⩽ 1, where u is the solution of the elliptic partial differential equation ∇ · σ∇u = 0 on a bounded domain Ω with boundary conditions u|∂Ω = f. In the case p = 1 this problem has application to current density impedance imaging, where F = σ|∇u| represents the magnitude of the current density field. We prove stability of the linearization and Hölder conditional stability for the nonlinear problem of recovering σ from one internal measurement.
Sensitivity Analysis of Bipartition Dissimilarity under Tree Rearrangement Operations

Trees are a powerful structure for representing hierarchical relations in a natural way. Comparison of trees is a recurrent task in various computer science related fields. The widely used Robinson-Foulds distance for comparing leaf labeled trees is overly sensitive to very small changes in the tree. The measure of bipartition dissimilarity refines Robinson-Foulds metric by comparing the quality of the tree bipartitions instead of their quantity. Sensitivity analysis is used in this paper which shows that bipartition dissimilarity has smaller sensitivity to small modifications in the tree.
Study of the Effects of Dietary Supplementation of Linseeds, Fenugreek Seeds and Tomato-Pepper Mix on Laying Hens Performances, Egg Yolk Lipids and Antioxidants Profiles and Lipid Oxidation Status

This study aimed at improving the egg quality through cholesterol reduction and enrichment with natural pigments, which could prevent lipids oxidation. Eighty 27 week-old Novogen White laying hens were divided into four groups and given 100 g/hen/d of a standard diet (Control, C), standard diet containing 4.5% ground linseed (Linseed diet, L), linseed diet containing 1% dried tomato and 1% sweet pepper (LTP) or linseed diet containing 2% ground fenugreek (LF). LTP and LF were associated with higher feed consumption (P 0.05) by dietary treatment. LF was associated with lower (P 0.05). Egg yolks carotenoids concentrations in yolks from hens on L and LTP diets were not different (P>0.05) and both were higher (P 0.05) and both were higher (P 0.05) by dietary treatment. Egg yolks antioxidant activity of the C groups was lower (P 0.05). There was a significant enrichment of eggs with carotenoids and an enhancement of their antioxidant status in response to linseed supplementation. There was no beneficial effect of further supplementation with sweet red pepper and dried tomato or fenugreek seed. Further investigations are needed to evaluate the impact of these supplements on fatty acids profile and lipid oxidation status of eggs after their storage.
Optimization of Scheduling in FMS using Heuristic Approaches: A Case Study

The flow shop scheduling problems are experiencing a huge eminence in this modern era of industrialization. In the present scenario we find almost every industry to be focusing prominently on the scheduling of the machines working in them, as it is a significant factor in deciding the net productivity. Nowadays almost each and every manufactur system is involved in following a preplanned schedule of machine operation considering the demand criterion put forth. Flexible manufacturing system being one of them is also following the same path. The largely increasing number of machines and jobs involved in the manufacturing operations has marked a huge complexity in their scheduling. Thus a proper scheduling technique is the only solution which can prove as an aid to the situation. Moving forth in the same direction, this thesis presents a few pr methods to solve a flow shop scheduling problem. Some major heuristics algorithms are the CDS algorithm, Palmer’s algorithm, and NEH algorithm are considered in this paper for finding the most optimized result. A comparison between the heuristics algorithms has also been included in this thesis to make some conclusions upon their individual and cumulative efficiencies. The input parameters given in the problem are considered to be the basis while calculating the make span. To reduce the time involved in the whole process and the chances of human error in the calculations, a java programming code has also been generated. | Volume – 2 | Issue – 4 | May-Jun 6470 | www.ijtsrd. com | Volume Journal of Trend in Scientific and Development (IJTSRD) International Open Access Journal
Regional tectonic controls on basement architecture and oil accumulation within the Muglad basin, Sudan

Summary The Muglad basin, Sudan, is a good example of polyphase rifting with at least three major phases of basin development. Each phase has resulted in the generation of source rock, reservoir and seal geology with structural traps often closely linked to basement highs. In this contribution we investigate the tectonic processes that have contributed to basin development at both macro and micro scales. The macro perspective investigates the basin’s evolution as part of an Africa wide rift system and how it is intimately linked to global plate tectonics and to changes in plate interactions. These changes in plate interactions have caused significant modifications in the orientation and magnitude of the African stress field which in turn has controlled the development of the rift system. On the micro basin scale, the methods used to investigate structure include the compilation of structural maps for different time periods of the individual rift basins into regional structural maps, the role and importance of stratigraphic unconformities within basins and geophysical mapping of the basement morphology of the Muglad basin using an integrated interpretation approach.
Investigation Of Dineserv Dimensions On Customer Satisfaction & Loyalty : EVIDENCES FROM THE RESTAURANT INDUSTRY IN SUDAN

This study attempts to identify the underlying key dimensions of service quality and its impact on consumers‟ satisfaction and loyalty within the restaurant context in Sudan using DINESERV model. The study is quantitative and descriptive in nature. Data was collected through self-administered questionnaires from 4 restaurants. Based on the analyses, four factors, Assurance, Empathy, Tangibility and Reliability are the most significant dimensions have positive influence on customer satisfaction while Assurance and Empathy, Tangibility are the most significant dimensions that have positive influence on customer loyalty. The results also confirmed the links between service quality dimensions, satisfaction and loyalty respectively. The findings of study could be employed by the restaurant managers to improve their marketing strategies.
Chapter 9 Modelling Limit Order Book Volume Covariance Structures

Limit order volume data have been here analysed using key multivariate techniques: principal components, factor and discriminant analysis. The focus lies on understanding of the covariance structure of posted quantities of the asset to be potentially sold or bought at the market. Employing the methods to data of 20 blue chip companies traded at the NASDAQ stock market in June 2016, one observes that two principal components account for approximately 85–95% of order book variation. The most important factor related to order book data variation has furthermore been the demand side (variability). The order book data variation, moreover, successfully classifies stock price movements. Potential applications include improving order execution strategies, designing trading algorithms and understanding price formation.
Creek habitats as sources for the spread of an invasive herb in a New Zealand mountain landscape.

Landscapes typically comprise various habitats that differ in their susceptibility to invasion by exotic species. Highly invasible habitats such as riparian corridors can act as a conduit for rapid movement across the landscape and as a propagule source to facilitate spread into adjacent, less invasible habitats. If this is so, there should be a decline in invader frequency and/or abundance with distance away from the source; the local abundance of invasive species in the source habitat should be positively correlated with local abundance in the adjacent habitat; and, having accounted for variation in local source population size, the slope of the decline in invader abundance with distance away from the source habitat should reflect the ease with which adjacent habitat can be invaded. Here, we test these predictions to assess whether creek habitats function as a source to facilitate the spread of the invasive plant Hieracium lepidulum Stenstr. (Asteraceae) in upland catchments of the South Island, New Zealand, by surveying H. lepidulum abundance in creek margin and adjacent beech forest and subalpine habitat in 17 creek catchments. Our results imply that propagule pressure from populations in creek margins and other disturbed areas is driving catchment-wide H. lepidulum invasion, but forest and subalpine habitats currently differ in the way H. lepidulum spreads from source populations. Our results suggest that H. lepidulum invasion is at an earlier stage in subalpine areas, that there are few barriers to invasion across this habitat, and that subalpine habitats will become more heavily invaded than forests. These findings can be used to underpin monitoring strategies and management prioritisation for this invader.
Impact of Corporate Governance on Diversification in Finance Companies: Evidence from Malaysia

The board of directors performs a very important role in formulating and monitoring the strategy of a company. Recent development in technology and the change in business environment as well as change in the nature of demand by customers has necessitated the change in the products and services offered by finance companies. Based on data from finance companies listed on Bursa Malaysia over the period 2007 to 2011 this paper examined the impact of board attributes and ownership structure on the corporate strategy of finance companies in Malaysia. The result indicates that expertise of directors and past performance is significant and negatively related with diversification. The study contributes to the literature on corporate governance of finance companies in relation to their diversification strategy and has highlighted the corporate governance mechanisms and regulatory measures appropriate for the sector in order to enhance monitoring so as to achieve sustainable economic development.
Spark ignition engine modeling for in-cylinder pressure and temperature prediction using simulink

Mathematical model for four-stroke gasoline engines based on a cylinder-by-cylinder engine modeling method that incorporates physical formulas such as engine geometry and empirical formulas such as combustion duration are applied in this study. In-cylinder pressure and temperature can be calculated for gasoline four-cycle engine. Modeling is done by treating each step in the cylinder as a volume control, solving the conservation equations of energy with submodules for combustion, heat transfer and dynamic analysis. Calculations in cycles are performed at each crank angle, so that the correct angle of ignition, variations in velocity, amount of intake mass and fuel burning speed can be predicted. Adjustment for the combustion parameter such as burn duration and form factor of the Wiebe function to increase the model accuracy was performed. It is shown that the optimization of the Wiebe function parameters able to improve the sum squared error of the engine pressure estimation by 58.17% compared to the result from generalized parameter functions, and the parameter of form factor and burn duration are influential by around twice of (1.86 and 2.55 times, respectively) the efficiency factor.