Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Teachers’ Characteristics and Instructional Quality in Public Secondary Schools in Nigeria

Worldwide, the importance of quality instruction in schools cannot be underestimated. However, over the years, the instructional quality in Nigerian public secondary schools seems persistently low, and worrisome based on the academic performance of students in external examinations. This has continued to be a subject of concern to individuals, the public, government, and other stakeholders. This study investigates teachers’ characteristics and the instructional quality in public secondary schools in Nigeria. A hypothesis was formulated and tested in the study. Questionnaires were used to collect data from teachers and principals, as well as to assess the instructional quality in Nigerian public secondary schools. A total of 2,222 respondents (1,548 teachers and 774 principals) were sampled using both simple random and census sampling techniques respectively across the 774 Local Government Areas in Nigeria. The results show that teachers’ characteristics have a significant influence on the instructional quality in public secondary schools in Nigeria. The study recommends that government should prioritise teacher professionalism and employ only certificated teachers to teach in secondary schools in Nigeria geared toward achieving an improved instructional quality.
Testing the nexus between renewable energy consumption and environmental quality in Nigeria: The role of broad‐based financial development

This study investigates the nexus between renewable energy consumption and environmental quality in Nigeria, accounting for the role of financial development, and re‐examines the validity of the environmental Kuznet curve (EKC) hypothesis for Nigeria covering the period 1990 to 2016. To cover financial development more adequately, the current study uses the broad‐based financial development index constructed by the International Monetary Fund. The study employs second generation econometric approaches of Lee and Strazicich, and Bayer and Hanck combined cointegration tests to check for stationarity and cointegration among the variables, and then applies autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) and vector error correction model (VECM) Granger causality tests to explore the effect and causal relationship respectively. The results divulge that renewable energy consumption improves environmental quality, while financial development hurts the environment. Further, the results validate an inverted U‐shaped association between economic growth and environmental degradation in Nigeria. The VECM Granger causality results indicate a long‐run effect of the independent variables on CO2 emission, while the short‐run causality reveals a mixture of unidirectional and bidirectional causality among the variables. This study therefore recommends that policy makers consider the important roles of renewable energy and financial development in reforming energy policies to achieve environmental sustainability.
Chloroplast genome and phylogenetic analyses of Poncirus trifoliata (Rutaceae)

Abstract Poncirus trifoliata is an important medicinal plant that is used to treat human diseases. In this study, the complete chloroplast (cp) genome of P. trifoliata was assembled based on the Illumina sequencing reads. The cp genome of P. trifoliata was 160,260 bp and contained two short inverted repeat regions (27,029 bp) which were separated by a small single copy region (18,760 bp) and a large single copy region (87,442 bp). The cp genome encodes 113 unique genes, including 79 protein-coding genes, 30 transfer RNA genes and 4 ribosomal RNA genes. The topology of the phylogenetic tree showed that P. trifoliata is closely clustered with genus Citrus.
Phenotypic Identification and Technological Characterization of Lactic Acid Bacteria Isolated from L’ben, An Algerian Traditional Fermented Cow Milk

The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) involved in production of L’ben, an Algerian traditional fermented cow milk product, were isolated and identified. 10 samples of this product, collected from different regions of western Algeria, were analyzed. A total of 30 LAB strains were isolated and identified by phenotypic and biochemical analyses and API 20 Strep identification system. The results obtained showed that the isolates belong to the species: Enterococcus faecium (36,6%) , Enterococcus faecalis (30%), Enterococcus avium (13,3%), Leuconostoc mesenteroides (13,3%), Lactococcus lactis ssp cremoris (3,3%) and Lactococcus lactis ssp lactis (3,3%). Thereafter, growth kinetic and technological properties of these bacteria including: the acidification ability and the proteolytic activity were studied in a purpose of a possible industrial use. The obtained results were very heterogeneous; this led us to use the Principal Components Analysis “PCA” for strains grouping and comparison of their properties facilitated by graphics presenting all properties of each strain simultaneously to elect among all strains those with the most interesting technological profiles. Only four strains form a distinct group in the positive sense of the vectors of the variables formed and could become leavens for fermenting different kinds of milks, especially that of cow, which represents the ecosystem from which they originate.
Increasing Ascorbic Acid Content and Salinity Tolerance of Cherry Tomato Plants by Suppressed Expression of the Ascorbate Oxidase Gene

Ascorbic acid is considered to be one of the most important antioxidants in plants and plays a vital role in the adaptation of plants to unfavorable conditions. In the present study, an ascorbate oxidase gene (Solyc04g054690) was over-expressed in cherry tomato cv. West Virginia 106 lines and compared with previously studied RNAi silenced ascorbate oxidase lines. Two lines with lower ascorbate oxidase activity (AO−15 and AO−42), two lines with elevated activity (AO+14 and AO+16), and the non-transgenic line (WVa106) were grown and irrigated with 75 mM and 150 mM NaCl in 2015 and 2016. Growth, yield, and chemical composition of the lines under salinity stress were evaluated. Lines with lower ascorbate oxidase activity resulted in higher plant growth parameters (plant height, leaf number, flower, and cluster number in 2015 and stem diameter and flower number in 2016), and improved fruit quality (firmness in 2016 and soluble solid content in 2015) and total yield per plant under salinity stress over both years. In addition, we show that ascorbic acid, lycopene, and carotene contents of fruits were higher in lines with lower ascorbate oxidase activity compared to lines with elevated activity and the non-transgenic line under conditions of moderate and high salinity in both years.
Motivations for attracting customers and their intention to participate in tourism events in Ho Chi Minh City

tourism events, intention to participate, motivations to attract customers The study examines the impact of factors influencing customers’ intention to attend a tourism event, by considering the motivation to attract customers to such an event. The authors collected 230 interview samples from different subjects, then conducted a quantitative method through factor, correlation, and regression analysis. The results show that the motivation to attract customers to tourism events has a great influence on their participating intention. In particular, factors affecting the motivation to take part in the event include influence group, communications, convenience, and content. The analysis results give several suggestions for event organizers to be able to gain more customer engagement.
Characterization of plastic degrading bacteria isolated from landfill sites

The use of plastic is growing day by day. Its durability and stability has made it an indispensable part of our life. Despite its superiority over other materials, it is posing a major threat to the environment because these long chain polymeric molecules take thousand years to decompose naturally. According to UNDP, more than 3.3 million tons of plastic are wasted in Pakistan each year. So, it is a much needed step to reduce its lifespan in order to protect the environment. Biodegradation is an environmental friendly method to degrade polyethylene as it does not generate any harmful byproducts. The speed of degradation depends upon the chemical nature of polymer, on the environmental conditions in which it is placed and on the amount of polymer. Statistically stated, 38% plastic is used for packaging and this rate of utilization is increasing 12% every year. 12% plastic is used for construction, 21% for indoors and the outdoors, 7% for automotive, 6% for electronics and 28% plastic is used in other sectors. When these plastics are introduced into the environment, they cause potential hazards [1]. Though, plastic is useful in many applications but it poses serious effect to the environment. Because plastic is durable that’s why it is highly persistent to decay. There is chemical bonding in its molecules which make is resilient to degrade. Plastic takes hundreds of years to degrade naturally [2]. Abstract
A Novel Virulence Phenotype Rapidly Assesses Candida Fungal Pathogenesis in Healthy and Immunocompromised Caenorhabditis elegans Hosts

Opportunistic pathogens are commensals capable of causing disease and are serious threats to human health. It is critical to understand the mechanisms and host contexts under which opportunistic pathogens become virulent. In this work, we present a novel assay to quickly and quantitatively measure pathogen virulence in healthy and immunocompromised nematode hosts. We found that Candida species, one of the most prominent fungal opportunistic pathogens of humans, decrease host fitness by reducing survival and impacting host reproduction. Most importantly, by measuring virulence in hosts that have intact or compromised immune function, we can reveal the pathogenic potential of opportunistic fungal pathogens. ABSTRACT The yeast Candida albicans is an opportunistic pathogen of humans, meaning that despite commensal interactions with its host, it can transition to a harmful pathogen. While C. albicans is the predominant species isolated in the human gastrointestinal mycobiome and is implicated in fungal infection, infections due to non-albicans Candida species are rapidly rising. Studying the factors that contribute to virulence is often challenging and frequently depends on many contexts, including host immune status and pathogen genetic background. Here, we utilize the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans as a perspicuous and efficient model host system to study fungal infections of Candida pathogens. We find that, in addition to reducing lifetime host survival, exposure to C. albicans results in delayed reproduction, which significantly reduced lineage growth over multiple generations. Furthermore, we assessed fungal pathogen virulence in C. elegans hosts compromised for innate immune function and detected increased early mortality, reduced brood sizes, and delayed reproduction relative to infected healthy hosts. Importantly, by assessing virulence in both healthy and immunocompromised host backgrounds, we reveal the pathogen potential in non-albicans Candida species. Taken together, we present a novel lineage growth assay to measure reduction in host fitness associated with fungal infection and demonstrate significant interactions between pathogen and host immune function that contribute to virulence. IMPORTANCE Opportunistic pathogens are commensals capable of causing disease and are serious threats to human health. It is critical to understand the mechanisms and host contexts under which opportunistic pathogens become virulent. In this work, we present a novel assay to quickly and quantitatively measure pathogen virulence in healthy and immunocompromised nematode hosts. We found that Candida species, one of the most prominent fungal opportunistic pathogens of humans, decrease host fitness by reducing survival and impacting host reproduction. Most importantly, by measuring virulence in hosts that have intact or compromised immune function, we can reveal the pathogenic potential of opportunistic fungal pathogens.
Uniaxial compression test of bulk soybeans under different pre-treatment temperatures

The study aimed at exploring the effects of different pre-treatment temperatures on bulk soybeans under uniaxial compression test. The initial pressing height of the samples was measured at 40 mm using a pressing vessel of diameter 60 mm with a plunger. The samples were pre-treated at temperatures from 45 to -36 oC, all at a constant time of 30 minutes. Sample laboratory temperature of 25 oC served as the control. The dependencies between the force and deformation curves were recorded at a maximum force of 160 kN and a speed of 5 mm min-1. Parameters calculated were mass of oil (g), oil yield (%), volume oil (l), oil expression efficiency (%), energy (J) and volume oil energy (kJ·l -1 ). The ANOVA results showed that deformation was not significant (P-value > 0.05) with temperature. Energy, oil expression efficiency and volume oil energy were significant (P-value < 0.05) with high coefficients of determination (R2) between 95 and 97 %. The study observed the optimum volume oil energy of 96.21 ± 10.78 kJ·l -1 at 75 o C compared to 25 oC of 128.65 ± 6.42 kJ·l -1 and -2 oC of 195.54 ± 18.35 kJ·l -1 .
Supervisor Informal Authority and Employee Financial Misconduct

We study the influence of middle managers (“supervisors”) on financial misconduct at financial advisory firms. Individual supervisor fixed effects explain twice as much variation in branch misconduct as firm fixed effects. Studying supervisors at different branches within the same firm-year, we find those with more qualifications, particularly in rules and ethics, oversee branches with less misconduct. Our results are concentrated in firms that theory suggests are most likely to delegate authority to supervisors—firms that have more competent employees and complex operations. Supervisor attention to employees with less experience and past misconduct helps explain why branch misconduct varies with supervisor qualifications. Our paper is the first to document a role for supervisor discretion, distinct from firm-level policies or executive characteristics, in influencing financial misconduct.
Preparing to Cocreate: Using Learning Circles to Ready Extension Professionals for Meaningful Stakeholder Engagement

Extension professionals are being asked to address complex public issues. Doing so requires cocreative approaches that engage, in a significant way, the people affected by these issues. Successful engagement, however, requires specific skills and a cocreative mind-set. Extension professionals in two states participated in learning circles to improve their engagement skills. Using a survey and interviews, we studied the impact of the learning circle experience on participants. We found that learning circles helped participants practice colearning, build relationships, and change their mind-sets in ways that could move their work toward more cocreative efforts.
Pedagogical Supervision and Change: Dynamics of Collaboration and Teacher Development

The present study aims to analyse how pedagogical supervision can contribute to the change and innovation of the dynamics of collaboration and professional development of teachers in an educational community. After a decade of innovation and change in Portuguese schools, with the implementation of new collaborative supervision practices, it was interesting to carry out an analysis of their potentialities and constraints, about teacher professional development, focusing on collaborative work between peers. In the research, carried out in schools in the district of Porto, mixed methodological, qualitative and quantitative procedures were used. As a qualitative strategy, interviews with supervisors were conducted and analysed, and as a quantitative strategy, surveys were applied and analysed by teachers, aiming at the triangulation of the information collected. The results prove the potential of supervision, regarding the change in collaborative supervision practices, in peer work, with real construction of learning communities and improvement of school success. Both supervisors, as middle managers, and teachers positively highlight teamwork, especially in sectoral meetings and in the observation of classes between peers, valuing feedback, reflection, action research and the improvement of pedagogical intervention in the classroom. However, despite the recognition of the advantages of peer training supervision, the constraints of supervision still understood as evaluative are confirmed, showing the confusion between supervision and teacher performance evaluation. Indeed, some teachers continue to associate supervision with evaluative and bureaucratic procedures, which affects interpersonal relationships between supervisors and teachers, especially about class observation. Overall, supervisory action, based on democratic management practices and collaborative work, is considered essential for the reinforcement of continuous teacher training and the evolution of the dynamics of schools, as educational communities.
Effects of distribution, behavior, and climate on mule deer survival

Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) populations in North America are a valuable economic wildlife resource, with the managed harvest of this species reflecting societal values and recreational opportunities in many parts of the western United States. Managing mule deer populations while allowing for harvest requires an understanding of the species’ population dynamics, including the specific factors associated with population change.We conducted a 7-year (2005–2012) study designed to investigate habitat use and survival of mule deer in eastern Oregon, USA.We used known-fate data for 408 adult female radiocollared mule deer to estimate monthly survival rates and to investigate factors that might affect these rates, including seasonal distribution, temporal effects (seasonal, annual, and trends across season and year), movement behavior, and local weather and regional climatic covariates. Variation in survival rates of female mule deer was best explained by an additive effect of migration behavior, differences in survival during the fall migration period compared to the rest of the annual cycle, and precipitation levels on winter ranges of individual deer. Estimates of annual survival were higher for migrants (0.81–0.82), compared to residents (0.76–0.77). Survival was lower for migrants and residents during fall migration (Oct–Nov) and higher amounts of winter precipitation increased survival of both groups. The results of our study suggest that migrating to potentially higher quality summer foraging areas outweighed the cost of traveling through unfamiliar habitats and energy expenditure associated with migration. 2018 The Wildlife Society.
A SCRUM AGILE INTEGRATED DEVELOPMENT FRAMEWORK

With design methodologies, as Integrated Product Development, industry is continuously looking to improve their product development processes. Staying ahead concurrence forces them to deliver new and more complex products in shorter time. When it comes to fast delivery and requirement changes, product development can be inspired by agile methods. Although the application is difficult, the idea to implement these methods for development of products other than software comes out. To ease its implementation, this paper proposes to use IPD as a framework for agile product development.
KOMPARASI ALGORITMA K-MEANS DAN K-MEDOIDS UNTUK MENANGANI STRATEGI PROMOSI DI POLITEKNIK TEDC BANDUNG

Penelitian ini membahas mengenai perbandingan antara Algoritma K-Means dan Algoritma K-Medoids dalam klasterisasi, dan hasilnya dapat diusulkan menjadi pertimbangan untuk memutuskan dalam menangani strategi promosi di Politeknik TEDC Bandung dalam kegiatan Penerimaan Mahasiswa Baru. Peneliti melakukan pengamatan langsung dan juga melalui sesi wawancara di bagian Promosi Penerimaan Mahasiswa Baru Politeknik TEDC Bandung untuk mengumpulkan data-data dan informasi yang dibutuhkan. Wawancara tersebut dilakukan langsung dengan mahasiswa tahun akademik 2015 sampai dengan tahun akademik 2017 mengenai seberapa mudah mereka mendapatkan informasi tentang Penerimaan Mahasiswa Baru di Politeknik TEDC Bandung. Proses klasterisasi memerlukan beberapa data sebagai data masukan yang meliputi Nama Pendaftar, Tempat dan Tanggal lahir, Alamat, Agama, Nomor Telepon, Asal Sekolah, Program Studi Pilihan, dan Pembawa Informasi, yang diperoleh dari data promosi tahun akademik 2015 sampai dengan tahun akademik 2017. Setelah dilakukan pembersihan dan perbaikan data, dapat diperoleh suatu dataset yang harus dibuat lebih detail, seperti data Alamat yang kemudian dipecah lagi menjadi Kecamatan, Kota dan Propinsi agar dapat memberikan informasi yang lebih spesifik dalam pengelompokkan data. Ada juga beberapa data yang tidak digunakan sehingga oleh peneliti dibuang agar lebih efektif dalam melakukan pengujian seperti Nama Pendaftar, Tempat dan Tanggal lahir, Agama, dan Nomor Telepon. Dalam penelitian ini juga peneliti menambahkan atribut baru seperti Jenis Sekolah yang dapat dibagi menjadi dua yaitu SMA dan SMK. Atribut ini dibuat agar dapat terlihat lebih jelas mengenai jenis sekolah yang mana yang lebih banyak mendaftar ke Politeknik TEDC Bandung.
Foliar fertilizers for the management of phoma leaf spot on coffee seedlings

The growing demand for alternative strategies for plant disease management has sought a reduction in the use of fungicides via the employment of resistance inducers and foliar fertilizers, among others. Therefore, this study aimed at evaluating the following foliar fertilizers for the management of phoma leaf spot: a foliar fertilizer based on macro-and micronutrients (Fmm: 10% N, 4% S, B, 5% Fe and 5% Zn); one based on cobalt and molybdenum (Fcm: 2% Co and 3% Mo); manganese phosphite (FMn: 30% P2O5 and 9% Mn); and the FMn+Fmm, Fcm+Fmm and FMn+Fcm+Fmm associations compared to a boscalid fungicide and a control with no treatment. The disease severity, the chlorophyll a and b contents, the net photosynthetic rate (LPR), the phenylalanine ammonia lyase (PAL) activity and the lignin content in leaves were assessment. Based on the severity, the area under the disease severity progress curve (AUSPC) and the efficiency of disease control in relation to untreated plants were calculated. The experimental design was in randomized blocks with eight treatments and three replications. Treatments FMn+Fmm and Fcm were the most effective in reducing the AUPSC in comparison with the control and promoted an increased activity of PAL. FMn was the treatment that promoted the highest increase in the LPR. There were no effects of the treatments on the lignin content compared to the control.
Spatial distribution and association of banana (Musa spp.) Fusarium wilt (Fusarium oxysporum f.sp. cubense) epidemics with biophysical factors in southwestern Ethiopia

Abstract Field surveys were conducted in 2014 and 2015 to determine the distribution and association of wilt incidence with biophysical factors. Spatio-temporal analysis of wilt epidemics in the farms revealed a wide distribution of the disease. Cropping year, district, cultivar, crop density, planting date, weeding, sucker and bud management, source of moisture and planting materials, presence/absence of wilt in neighboring farms, disease management practices, farmers awareness towards wilt diseases, planting date and cropping system were significantly associated with disease incidence in a multiple-variable model. A wilt incidence of ≤30% had high probability of association to good weed, sucker and male bud management practices, high level of farmers awareness towards wilt, low population density, disease-free suckers, rainfed production, absence of wilt in neighboring farms and good disease management schemes. Findings of this study showed Fusarium wilt is a major constraint and need for on-farm trainings to concerned bodies about wilt management schemes.