Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Estimation of Soil Erosion Using RUSLE Model and GIS: The Case of Satinskyi Catchment, Western Rwanda

The problem of soil erosion in Rwanda has been highlighted in previous studies. They have shown that half of the country’s farmland suffers moderate to severe erosion, with the highest soil loss rates found in the steeper and highly rainy northern and western highlands of the country. The purpose of this study was to estimate soil loss in Satinskyi, one of the catchments located in Ngororero District of Western Rwanda. This has been achieved using the Revised Universal Soil Loss Equation (RUSLE) model, which has been implemented in a Geographic Information Systems (GIS) environment. The methods consisted of preparing a set of input factor layers including Slope Length and Steepness (LS) factor, Rainfall Erosivity (R) factor, Soil Erodibility (K) factor, Support Practice (P) factor, and Land Surface Cover Management Factor (C) factor, for the model. The input factors have been integrated for soil loss estimates computation using RUSLE model, and this has enabled to quantitatively assess variations in the mean of the total estimated soil loss per annum in relation to topography and land-use patterns of the studied catchment. The findings showed that the average soil loss in Satinskyi catchment is estimated at 38.4 t/ha/year. It was however found that about 91 % of the study area consists of areas with slope angle exceeding 15°, a situation which exposes the land to severe soil loss rates ranging between 31 t/ha/year and 41 t/ha/year. Apart from the steep slope, changes in land use also contribute to high rates of soil loss in the catchment.
Characterization and identification of three thermophilic Bacillus strain isolated from Domas Crater, Mt. Tangkuban Perahu, Indonesia

Safitri R, Kusumawardhani PD, Annisa, Partasasmita R, Asharina S, Maskoen AM. 2020. Characterization and identification of three thermophilic Bacillus strains isolated from Domas Crater, Mt. Tangkuban Perahu, Indonesia. Biodiversitas 21: 3444-3453. A community of thermophiles within the hot spring of Domas Crater, Mount Tangkuban West Java, has been cultivated and identified based on the 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence. The hot spring has a temperature of 45C-76 °C, pH 1-2, the isolate has been cultivated in Thermus medium at a temperature of 70 and pH 6. The three isolated strains were L61A, TS61A, and D41A identified based on the 16S ribosomal RNA gene sequence refer to the GenBank database and all of them belong to the Phylum Firmicutes, which are clustered within the taxonomic groups of Bacillus, the Bacillus, and Geobacillus genera. Nucleotide sequences were compared for homology with BLASTN search at the NCBI Web-site revealed that strains (L61A) had 99.93% similarity with Geobacillus uzenensis. TS61A strain has a 99.24% similarity with Bacillus wiedmannii. Whereas D41A has 99.79% similarity with Bacillus paramycoides. The characterization also includes the phenotypic and biochemical of strains. The bacillus genera were known as a source of thermostable enzymes, plant growth-promoting, probiotics, decomposers of various polysaccharide materials, and bioremediation.
Postictal Seizure State

The postictal state is an abnormal condition that lasts for a period that begins when a seizure subsides and ends when the patient returns to baseline. Marking the termination of a seizure and the return to baseline is straightforward only in a limited number of cases. The difficulty of distinguishing ictal from the postictal period may depend on the type of seizure. It is easier to determine the end of the seizure and the beginning of the postictal state for a generalized tonic-clonic or a generalized tonic seizure. In absence seizures, focal seizures with impaired awareness, and myoclonic seizures, it is harder to distinguish ictal from the postictal state. The practical implication of the postictal state is when it is safe for the patient to return to activity without risking his/her or other's safety. It may also have a localizing value. An ictal speech arrest followed by an immediate postictal return of speech points to nondominant hemisphere seizure onset. A postictal hemiparesis points to contralateral seizure onset.
A Homogeneity Test for Comparing Gridded-Spatial-Point Patterns of Human Caused Fires

The statistical evaluation of the spatial similarity of human caused fire patterns is an important issue for wildland fire analysis. This paper proposes a method based on observed data and on a statistical tool (homogeneity test) that is based on non-explicit spatial distribution hypothesis for the human caused fire events. If a tessellation coming from a space filling curve is superimposed on the spatial point patterns, and a linearization mechanism applied, the statistical problem of testing the similarity between the spatial point patterns is equivalent to the one of testing the homogeneity between the two multinomial distributions obtained by modeling the proportions of cases on each cell of the tessellation. This way of comparing spatial point patterns is free of any hypothesis on any spatial point process. Because data are spatially over-dispersed, the existence of many cells of the grid without any count is a problem for classical statistical homogeneity tests. Our work overcomes this problem by applying specific test statistics based on the square Hellinger distance. Simulations and actual data are used in order to tune the process and to demonstrate the capabilities of the proposal. Results indicate that a new and robust method for comparing spatial point patterns of human caused fires is available.
Detecting Malicious Fast-Flux Domains Using Feature-based Classification Techniques

In recent years, new generation botnets tend to use an evasion technique based on Domain Name System (DNS) called Fast-Flux Service Network (FFSN) to hide the actual location of their malicious servers. Detection of FFSN continues to be a challenging issue because of the similar behavior between FFSN and other legitimate infrastructures, such as Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) and Round Robin Domain Name System (RRDNS). In this paper, we present a novel approach based on analyzing the passive DNS traffic traces to detect malicious FFSNs. By analyzing DNS traces, we extracted ten key features and employed on the popular machine learning algorithms to build classifiers aim to classify a domain as either malicious flux service or legitimate. The seven among the ten features are first introduced in this study. The effectiveness of selected features is illustrated by comparing the distribution of 95% confidence interval for the mean and standard errors between legit, malware and fast-flux domain names on each feature. The statistical results show that there are discernible biases in the distribution of the feature values between benign and malicious domain names. The experimental results show that our proposed approach achieves the higher detection accuracy and lower false positive rate than the previous methods.
Role of Big Data Science in the Emerging World

The present study describes the emerging roles of big data sciences across the globe which has conquered different sectors. The big data science has become one of the important component of the information sciences which has gained tremendous attention in recent past, Hence they have reached millions of users across the globe. Based on these fundamental facts, the present mini review is presented to highlight the reported studies of big data science applications and gives new facelift and calls for much more applications ahead
Reform Chatter and Democracy

This paper explores the dynamics of media chatter about economic reforms using text analysis from about a billion newspaper articles in 28 languages. The paper shows that the intensity of reform chatter increases during economic downturns. This increase is more significant in democracies. Using instrumental variable techniques, the analysis finds the relationship to be causal. The paper also documents that reform chatter is followed by actual reforms, suggesting that democracies benefit from a "self-correcting" mechanism stemming from changing popular attitudes toward reform.
A Systematic Literature Review on Using Machine Learning Algorithms for Software Requirements Identification on Stack Overflow

Context. The improvements made in the last couple of decades in the requirements engineering (RE) processes and methods have witnessed a rapid rise in effectively using diverse machine learning (ML) techniques to resolve several multifaceted RE issues. One such challenging issue is the effective identification and classification of the software requirements on Stack Overflow (SO) for building quality systems. The appropriateness of ML-based techniques to tackle this issue has revealed quite substantial results, much effective than those produced by the usual available natural language processing (NLP) techniques. Nonetheless, a complete, systematic, and detailed comprehension of these ML based techniques is considerably scarce. Objective. To identify or recognize and classify the kinds of ML algorithms used for software requirements identification primarily on SO. Method. This paper reports a systematic literature review (SLR) collecting empirical evidence published up to May 2020. Results. This SLR study found 2,484 published papers related to RE and SO. The data extraction process of the SLR showed that (1) Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling is among the widely used ML algorithm in the selected studies and (2) precision and recall are amongst the most commonly utilized evaluation methods for measuring the performance of these ML algorithms. Conclusion. Our SLR study revealed that while ML algorithms have phenomenal capabilities of identifying the software requirements on SO, they still are confronted with various open problems/issues that will eventually limit their practical applications and performances. Our SLR study calls for the need of close collaboration venture between the RE and ML communities/researchers to handle the open issues confronted in the development of some real world machine learning-based quality systems.
Self-Concept and Self-Efficacy in Math: Longitudinal Interrelations and Reciprocal Linkages with Achievement

Abstract This study examined temporal interrelations among math self-concept and math self-efficacy and their differential relations to two commonly applied math achievement indicators, that is, math achievement test scores and school grades in math. It based on a longitudinal design with four annual assessments of self-concept, self-efficacy, school grades, and achievement test scores in math during secondary school (Years 6 to 9, N = 3,209 German students). Prior math self-concept was positively related to subsequent math self-efficacy, but prior math self-efficacy was unrelated to subsequent math self-concept. Considering math grades, reciprocal relations could be found for math self-concept. Math self-efficacy and math grades showed a unidirectional relation with former math grades being related to later math self-efficacy. Considering math test scores, reciprocal relations could be found for math self-efficacy. The relation between math test scores and math self-concept was unidirectional, former math test scores being related to later math self-concept. The relations among self-concept, self-efficacy, and the two types of achievement indicators in math did not vary across time waves which covered adolescent years. Gender invariance was demonstrated with regard to the interrelations of math self-concept and math self-efficacy as well as for their relations to both math achievement indicators.
Formulation and pharmacokinetic evaluation of rifampicin solid lipid nanoparticles

This study aims to optimize RIF loaded solid lipid nanoparticles (RIF-SLNs) to sustain its release and enhance its oral absorption and bioavailability. RIF loaded SLNs were formulated by a modified micro emulsionbased technique using two different lipids (Cetyl palmitate and Glyceryl monostearate) and two different surfactants (Tween®80 and Poloxamer 188). Particle size, polydispersity index (PDI), zeta potential, entrapment efficiency (E.E), drug loading capacity (L.C), in vitro drug release, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were determined for RIF loaded SLNs formulae. Pharmacokinetic study was performed on optimized RIF-SLNs, marketed RIF and pure drug suspension in Wistar rats. The particle size, PDI, E.E% and L.C% of optimized formula were recorded as 0.183 μm, 0.420, -34.7 mV, 80.8% and 0.216%, respectively. In vitro release studies suggested that all SLNs formulae possessed a burst release created from the unloaded drug and adsorbed drug molecules at SLNs surface then sustained release due to diffusion of drug from lipid matrix over a period of 120 h. From the release kinetics data, the release rate of RIF from all formulae fitted into Higuchi’s diffusion model. Pharmacokinetic study showed significant enhancement in RIF-SLNs relative bioavailability 5.86 and 2.33 folds in comparison with pure RIF suspension and marketed RIF. RIF loaded SLNs were formulated successfully by a modified micro emulsion-based method. Also, oral drug delivery can be enhanced by SLNs which showed improvement in the oral bioavailability of the drug.
THE IMPACT OF URBAN CONCENTRATION ON ECONOMIC GROWTH: AN EMPIRICAL INVESTIGATION FOR A SAMPLE OF COUNTRIES

Researchers have recently shown widespread interest in the urban concentrations and the resulting economic impacts on global cities. Opinions differ among researchers as some believe in the existence of such effect while the others do not. The study investigates the impact of urban concentration on economic growth by using panel data for 16 countries during 1970-2014. In order to verify the strength of the results, this paper uses two measures for urban concentration, namely urban primacy and urban density. Results show that urban concentration has a positive impact on economic growth and no evidence was found that support the non-linear effect of urban concentration on economic growth. This finding supports many previous empirical studies that highlight the importance of agglomeration economies on economic growth.
Negatively correlated abundance suggests competition between red abalone (Haliotis rufescens) and red sea urchins (Mesocentrotus franciscanus) inside and outside established MPAs closed to commercial sea urchin harvest in northern California

ii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS . iv LIST OF TABLES . vii LIST OF FIGURES . viii LIST OF APPENDICES . ix INTRODUCTION . 1 METHODS . 6 HSU Rocky Reef Monitoring Project . 6 Sites . 7 Divers and Equipment . 8 Swath Surveys . 9 Abalone/Urchin Size Surveys . 10 Data Analysis . 11 Tables . 13 RESULTS . 16 Three-Way ANOVA’s . 16 Size . 30 Density-effect . 32 Predators . 38 DISCUSSION . 39 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS . 46 vi REFERENCES . 48 APPENDICES . 52
“The Theater of the Mind”: The Effect of Radio Exposure on TV Advertising

Contemporary society requires communication strategies that integrate different media channels in order to improve advertising performance. Currently, there are not many scientific research studies of the various mass media, comparing the results of audiovisual advertising to purely audio or visual messages aimed at detecting the best combination of media, especially from a neurophysiological perspective. This study aims to investigate the effects of previous exposure to an advertisement via radio on the consumers’ response to the same advertisement shown on television (TV) or as a banner on a website. A total of seventy participants in a between-subjects experiment watched several television commercials during the advertising break of a documentary or saw some banners during a web surfing task. Half were first exposed to the same advertisements via radio. The results have shown that participants who previously listened to the radio advertisements spent a longer time looking at the brand and had a higher engagement when watching the same advertisements on television. Moreover, they had a different kind of visual attention to the website banners. This pattern of results indicates the effect of mere exposure—that is, the exposure to a radio advertisement enhances the effectiveness of the same advertisement via television or web, offering useful insights for media planning campaigns. Even if mere exposure has been extensively studied, cross-media research is scarcely explored, whereas this study detected the effects of mere exposure in a cross-media communication strategy, showing that it can be measured through psychophysiological methods.
Phytochemical profile and medicinal potentials of Lannea Coromandelica stem

In the history of humanity, great ancestors of Indian sub-continent used plants that possessed unique medicinal properties. They identi ied the plants from jungles and derived crude drugs out of them for treating infectious diseases. This treatment process was a tradition. In the recent century, this plant-based drug extraction, processing and re ining began scienti ically by pharmaceutical industries. In this new era, plants with medicinal features are being used in curing broad spectrumof diseases. Lannea Coromandelica (L.C.) is amedicinal plant that belongs to this category. Tribals extensively used it in treating various infectious diseases and common injuries. There have been very few studies on the leaves, barks, lowers, gums and mucilage of this tree. But no preliminary phytochemical composition of L.C. stem has been studied. Therefore, the current work focusses on the screening of the phytochemical pro ile of the stem of L.C. by the sequential ethanolic extract. Stems of L.C. were procured from Mettur, Tamil Nadu. Thirteen different components were qualitatively analyzed using standard procedures from 100g of L.C. stem extract. In this study, seven components were identi ied, and their percentage was estimated. Using GC-MS, 50 components were identi ied of which Pentadecanoic acid, 14-methyl-methyl ester (1.0%) was the major component. The presence of these components in L.C. stem extract can be used in the treatment of different ailments through their antioxidant, anti-arthritic, anti-diabetic, antiin lammatory and antimicrobial activities.
Innovative Credit Guarantee Schemes with Equity-for-Guarantee Swaps

Abstract Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) faces much more severe financial constraints compared to large mature companies and it is more vulnerable to market imperfection. To alleviate SMEs’ financial constraints, Public Credit Guarantee Schemes (CGSs) have been introduced and widely used around the world. Having provided a thorough analysis of the effectiveness of the traditional CGSs, we introduce an innovative financing contract, referred to as equity-for-guarantee swap (EGS), with the aim of reducing SMEs’ financial constraints in a more effective way. We show that EGS effectively alleviates SMEs’ severe financial constraints as it transfers the information asymmetry between lenders and SMEs to that between insurers and SMEs We investigate how asset prices vary across time under the EGS contract and analyze insurers’ risk exposure, i.e. value-at-risk (VaR) and expected shortfall (ES), of participating in the EGS contract. Consistent with pecking order theory, SMEs tend to use debt financing first dispite the benefit of a boosted growth rate from private equity financing in our model.
The performance of ETFs on developed and emerging markets with consideration of regional diversity

This study evaluates the performance of Exchange-Traded Funds (ETFs) by using various tracking error calculation approaches. The aim of the paper is, on the one hand, an evaluation of the performance of ETFs relative to their benchmarking indexes and, on the other, an endeavour to specify any relationship between this performance and both geographical location and the degree of market development. The research was conducted on the basis of 18 different ETFs issued by iShares, six for each of three regions: both Americas, Asia and Europe. The sole criterion for ETF’s selection was the benchmark. All data were collected with daily frequency. They range from January 2013 to December 2019. The results indicate that ETFs do not mimic their corresponding indexes well. Calculated tracking errors do not equal zero and are often significantly negative. Furthermore, the value of tracking errors depends on the region and the degree of market development.
Lean Six Sigma in Jordanian Organizations

Purpose: The manufacturing sector with Lean Six Sigma is constantly improving (CI). CI is helping the organization to achieve and develop its efficiency and operational excellence. Synergizing all methods thus, helps to achieve better efficiency than using one method alone. This results in better quality. Thus, many companies have taken LSS for CI. Yet, inside LSS areas, there are clear restrictions. Very few think about the LSS cap. Design/Methodology/Approach: Data were gathered by questionnaires from 264 managers. The comparison analysis was performed and then a multiple regression model was used to test the hypotheses following confirmation of normality, validity and reliability. Findings: The results indicate that the Jordanian manufacturing organizations rely on high adoption of Lean Six Sigma variables; the lean six sigma variables, with absence of unused expertise and transport, have good relationships with business efficiency. All the reasons Lean Six Sigma affect business performance, except for industry in Jordan, which has expanded results from one industry and/or country to other industry and/or nations. Manufacturing companies can improve their business performance, other manufacturing industries can also be introduced. Practical Implications: All organizations aim to reduce the amount of waste that contributes to the protection of natural resources and to social responsibility of companies. Originality Value: The research helps experts and judges to recognize new processes and methods of development that add value and promote competitive advantages.
Islamic Moderation as A Resolution of Different Conflicts of Religion

Some tragedies and humanitarian conflicts that are both heartbreaking and worrying have been taking place in different parts of Indonesia. The cause of the conflict can be political factors, economic disparity, cultural disparity, ethnic and religious sentiments. Thus, it becomes very urgent for groups that are easily exposed to the conflict to understand Islamic moderation as a conflict resolution of differences in religious beliefs. This research is library research with qualitative research methods and descriptive approaches. Analysis of the data on the subject uses an inductive approach with data sourced from books, journals, newspapers, and scientific papers that are related to the object being studied. The results showed that the current national problems such as economic inequality, cultural disparity, ethnic and religious sentiments as well as the threat of conflict could only be resolved through cooperation with the principle of mutual understanding among religious communities. Thus through moderation of Islamic plurality, diversity, or diversity that has become a necessity can be utilized as universal energy to break down the problems of the Indonesian nation today.