Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Creating a Psychological Foundation for the Evaluation of Pre-Packaged Software in Second Language Learning.

This paper attempts to merge specific psychological theories of knowledge acquisition, the impact of pictures on cognitive processes, and theories of effective pedagogical approaches to foreign language learning, in order to assess commercially available software for its effectiveness, specific impact on learning, and classroom uses. The first section discusses the theoretical framework of the project, including three questions key to the exploration: (1) Can the potential effectiveness or use of these software programs be systematically evaluated based upon a psychology of language learning? (2) What is the psychological impact of the linking of text, sound, and pictures; does the ability to do so through the use of multimedia somehow make the computer a more potent tool for learning than ever before; and does the way the program links these elements further determine how they impact the learner? and (3) Is it possible to articulate an integrated use of these tools within a curriculum based upon the answers to these questions? The second section examines the following commercially available software packages, and considers how they may be impacting the learner: "Talk Now! ," "Learnware," "The Rhythm of French," "Transparent Language," "The Rosetta Stone," "French Your Way," "Encuentros", and "A la rencontre de Philippe. " Contains 22 references. (DLS) Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Irnprovement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 13 This document has been reproduced as received from the person or organization originating it. ID Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. Creating a Psychological Foundation for the Evaluation of Pre-Packaged Software in Second Language Learning Rachel E. Saury, Ph.D., Director Arts & Sciences Center for Instructional Technologies University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA res4n@virginia.edu "PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE THIS MATERIAL HAS BEEN GRANTED BY
Property rights and land disputes: theory and evidences from the Highland of Ethiopia

This paper investigates the link between insecure property rights and land disputes using household panel data from Ethiopia. We offer two main contributions. First, we develop a theoretical framework of land disputes. Our model predicts that in difficult times (i.e. when water is scarce), bargaining is more likely to breakdown—and dispute to arise— if property rights are ill-defined. Second, guided by our theoretical framework, we empirically assess the causal relationship between land tenure security and clashes. Our identification strategy relies on the rollout of a land certification program in Ethiopia and on the exogenous variation in water availability, a trigger of land disputes. We find that having tenure ∗University of Geneva, Geneva School of Economics and Management. †University of Geneva, Geneva School of Economics and Management. ‡University of Verona, Department of Economics; and ETH Zurich, Center for Development and Cooperation (NADEL).
Evaluation of Effective Thermal Conductivity for Mineral Cast Structural Materials Using Steady-State and Transient Methods

Thermal conductivity is a thermophysical property that represents the rate at which heat energy can be transported through the material. For any alternate material chosen for machine tool structures, the study of its thermal characteristics is imminent. Thermal conductivity is one major characteristic to be analysed. Mineral cast structures made of epoxy-granite are found to exhibit good mechanical properties, such as high stiffness and damping ratio. The material also has lesser weight, compared to conventional materials used for machine tool structures. Hence, these materials are emerging as an alternate to conventional cast iron machine tool structures. This study attempts to determine the effective thermal conductivity of epoxy granite material using steady-state and transient plane source (TPS) methods. The results obtained using the experimental methods are compared with geometrical models and the suitability of the methods is evaluated. It is observed that both methods are suitable for measuring effective thermal conductivity of two-phase materials. Compared to TPS method, the steady-state method is a slow and material-consuming technique but provides more accurate results. The effective thermal conductivity of the developed material is compared with some commercial polymer composites and observed that the developed material has greater thermal conductivity.
Do Main Banks Extract Rents from their Client Firms? Evidence from Korean Chaebol

Using a unique data set on all industrial firms listed on Korea Stock Exchange and KOSDAQ stock market from 1991 to 2000, we find that cash ratios for chaebol firms are lower than for non-chaebol firms. Controlling for access to the bond market and financial services arms does not change this result. We do however find that there is a shift in the degree of bank power over the last decade. Consistent with the main bank monopoly hypothesis during the corporate restructuring process after the financial crisis in 1997, the interest differential charged to chaebol firms is significantly higher than the earlier period, suggesting extraction of rents against chaebol client firms by main banks.
Phosphotidylcholine as a new strategy in biocompatible material

Biomaterial has a wide variety of usages in medicine and chemistry. The biomaterials used in medicine and chemistry are often polymers. Polymers used as biomaterial must be compatible to the environment and they must not be poisonous and in case they are broken down they must not provide poisonous products in biological environment. The biomaterial used for each case has certain and specific chemical and physical characteristics. The proteins are absorbed as form of the biomaterial. This protein layer provides suitable environment to absorb later proteins, lipids and other materials. We have offered a new and effective method to increase the bioadaptability of biomaterial. We studied active chemical groups in order to cover the cases of covalent link production. The protein absorption steps can occur if Gibbs energy is decreased. Key words: Biomaterial, compatibility, contact lenses.
A research framework for the adoption and usage of executive information systems by organisational executives: an exploratory study

To improve the performance of executives’ work, a number of organisations have implemented executive information systems (EIS). Although the use of EIS is important in executives’ work, majority of executives are unwilling to use EIS applications. By using social factors, habits and facilitation conditions variables from Triandis’ framework, this paper extends TAM to derive variables to address the problem of the low usage of EIS by executives. This paper reports on research in progress in Australia on the adoption and usage of EIS by executives. The preliminary results suggest that executives’ experience in EIS positively relates to their experience in computer-based information systems. The results also suggest a high degree of perceived usefulness, perceived ease of use as well as positive attitude towards using EIS. Further, the results also suggest that executives consider social factors in using EIS in their work. Finally, the results suggest facilitating conditions variables such as EIS development process, EIS management process and organisational environment are strongly related to the adoption and usage of EIS by executives.
A 5-methylcoumarin glucoside and a coumestan derivative from Mutisia orbignyana.

The ethanolic extract of the aerial parts from Mutisia orbignyana afforded two major compounds: mutisifurocoumarin (1) and 5-methylcoumarine-4-β-glucoside (2). The completely assignment of 1H and 13C NMR data of compound (2) is presented for the first time as well as some reassignments of 13C NMR spectrum for compound (1), applying 2D NMR techniques. In addition, the antiproliferative effect on colon cancer cells (CaCo2) and the scavenging effect using the ABTS test were measured The results showed an interesting scavenging activity and a non proliferative effect on colon cancer cells. /El extracto etanolico de las partes aereas de Mutisia orbignyana presento dos compuestos mayoritarios: mutisifurocumarina (1) y 5-metilcumarina-4-β-glucosilada (2). El asignamiento completo de RMN de 1H y 13C del compuesto (2) es presentado por primera vez, asi como tambien algunos reasignamientos del espectro de RMN13C del compuesto (1), en ambos casos se aplico tecnicas de RMN 2D. Ademas, se midio el efecto antiproliferativo sobre celulas cancerosas de colon (CaCo2) y el efecto como inhibidores de radicales libres usando la prueba ABTS, tanto de extractos como de compuestos puros. Los resultados muestran un interesante efecto antiradicalario en ABTS y un efecto no-proliferativo sobre celulas cancerosas de colon. (Less)
Analysis of Datamining Technique for Traffic Accident Severity Problem: A Review

— This paper is discussing about the road accident severity survey using data mining, where different approaches have been considered. We have collected research work carried out by different researchers based on road accidents. Article describing the review work in context of road accident case’s using data mining approach. The article is consisting of collections of methods in different scenario with the aim to resolve the road accident. Every method is somewhere seeming to productive in some ways to decrease the no of causality. It will give a better edge to different country where the no of accidents is leading to fatality of life.
Voting in international environmental agreements : experimental evidence from the lab

This paper experimentally analyzes the effects if signatories to an international environmental agreement (IEA) apply different voting schemes to determine the terms of the agreement. To this end, unanimity, qualified majority voting, and simple majority voting are compared with respect to the resulting pollution abatement level and social welfare. At first sight in line with theoretical predictions, the experiment shows that the change of the voting scheme implemented in an IEA does not significantly change social welfare. However, changing the majority required to determine the terms of an IEA alters the 'depth and breadth' of cooperation. The coalitions under the unanimity rule are relatively large and implement moderate effort levels while the coalitions with majority votes implement very high effort levels but attract only few participants.
Empirical Testing of Modified Black-Scholes Option Pricing Model Formula on NSE Derivative Market in India

The main objectives of this paper are to incorporate modification in Black-Scholes option pricing model formula by adding some new variables on the basis of given assumption related to risk-free interest rate, and also shows the calculation process of new risk-free interest rate on the basis of modified variable. This paper also identifies the various situations in empirical testing of modified and original Black-Scholes formula with respect to the market value on the basis of assumed and calculated risk-free interest rate.
Antecedents and Outcomes of Dynamic Capabilities: The Effect of Structure

In the time of globalization and constantly increasing velocity, firms face new challenges. One way for firms to address these challenges is dynamic capabilities. This stream of research has made important advances since the seminal paper of Teece, Pisano and Shuen (1997) over the last fifteen years. The paper examines these advances investigating the most influential articles of both conceptual and empirical nature. At the core of this study is the analysis of how organizational structure affects dynamic capabilities. Organizational structure is an important but underplayed area within the literature of dynamic capabilities. Contradictory claims, found in literature sources, concerning the effect of organizational structure on dynamic capabilities are noted in this article. The origins for the opposing findings are explored. This analysis is used to highlight fundamental deficits of the stream of dynamic capability research. Future research directions that could contribute to resolving the identified drawbacks are suggested. DOI: http://dx.doi. org/10.5755/j01.ss. 81.3. 5790
THE IMPACT OF CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY ON FIRM PERFORMANCE: EVIDENCE FORM A MENA COUNTRY

This paper investigates the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on organization performance. It uses cross sectional data from non-financial companies in Egypt that derived from the Kompass Egypt data base. Regression analysis was used to explain the relationship and the effect of CSR on organization financial performance. The findings of this study found that there is a positive and significant effect of CSR on firm performance. Also, all CSR dimensions have significant relationship with firm financial performance. Furthermore, one of the conclusions of this study is that larger and older firms have a positive effect on financial performance (profitability) which will lead to enhance use of better CSR practice.
ANALYSIS OF THE INFLUENCE OF SERVICE QUALITY, SERVICE FAIRNESS ON PUBLIC SATISFACTION AND TRUST: A STUDY ON THE USERS OF PUBLIC SERVICES IN THE POPULATION AND CIVIL REGISTRATION DEPARTMENT OF JAYAPURA CITY GOVERNMENT OF PAPUA PROVINCE, INDONESIA

This research is to examine and prove empirically the influence of service quality and service fairness on public satisfaction and trust. This research is an explanatory research that aims to explain the causal relationship between the variables by using quantitative approach. The population of this research was all the public users or the public receiving services at the Department of Population and Civil Registration of Jayapura city government. The sampling was done by multiplying the number of variables with number 25. The analysis method used to answer the hypothesis in this research was GSCA (Generalized Structured Component Analysis). The results of the study showed that (1) the service quality and service fairness significantly influenced the public satisfaction, (2) the public satisfaction also had a significant influence on the public trust, (3) the service quality and (4) service fairness had no significant influence on the public trust, (5) The testing results of indirect relationship showed that the public satisfaction was significant as the mediation of the relationship between the service quality and public trust, and (6) the public satisfaction was the mediation of the relationship between the service fairness and public trust.
Influences of triple junctions on stress-assisted grain boundary motion in nanocrystalline materials

Stress-assisted grain boundary motion is among the most studied modes of microstructural evolution in crystalline materials. In this study, molecular dynamics simulations were used to systematically investigate the influences of triple junctions on the stress-assisted motion of symmetric tilt grain boundaries in Cu by considering a honeycomb nanocrystalline model. It was found that the grain boundary motion in nanocrystalline models was highly sensitive to the loading mode, and a strong coupling effect which was prevalent in bicrystal models was only observed when simple shear was applied. In addition, the coupling factor extracted from the honeycomb model was found to be larger and more sensitive to temperature change than that from bicrystal models for the same type of grain boundary under the same loading conditions. Furthermore, the triple junctions seemed to exhibit unusual asymmetric pinning effects to the migrating grain boundary and the constraints by the triple junctions and neighboring grains led to remarkable non-linear grain boundary motion in directions both parallel and normal to the applied shear, which was in stark contrast to that observed in bicrystal models. In addition, dislocation nucleation and propagation, which were absent in the bicrystal model, were found to play an important role on shear-induced grain boundary motion when triple junctions were present. In the end, a generalized model for shear-assisted grain boundary motion was proposed based on the findings from this research.
EUTROPHICATION OF RESERVOIRS IN VENEZUELA: RELATIONSHIPS BETWEEN NITROGEN, PHOSPHORUS AND PHYTOPLANKTON BIOMASS

Venezuela has more than 110 operating reservoirs. However, limnological information is only available for about 20%, despite the fact that several of them are subject to negative impacts (eutrophication) caused by anthropogenic activities in their drainage basins. We analyzed the relationships between nutrients and phytoplankton biomass (as chlorophyll a). A total of 14 reservoirs from the north-central and northeastern regions of Venezuela were assessed. The reservoirs showed different degrees of eutrophication, with the most enriched located in unprotected drainage basins. The systems could be separated according to low ( 20µg/l) total phosphorus concentrations. Furthermore, in reservoirs with low NO 3 :NH 4 ratios, Cyanobacteria were dominant, whereas other phytoplankton groups were dominant in high NO 3 :NH 4 ratios. Our results showed a significant linear relationship between chlorophyll a concentrations and nutrients, phosphorus and nitrogen. This is because both nutrients can be limiting for phytoplankton growth, at least in some systems. Following these results, we suggest that the control or mitigation of eutrophication in Venezuelan reservoirs should be based on an improved management of the drainage basins, rather than simply that of the reservoirs
A Grey-based rolling procedure for short-term forecasting using limited time series data

In a globally competitive environment, it is necessary for enterprises to grasp the price trend of material for drawing up an effective overall manufacturing plan. However, material prices are often dramatically unstable making it difficult to obtain accurate, short-term predictions using long historical observations. Facing the challenge, forecasting with new limited data is considered more effective, efficient, and of considerable interest. Grey theory is one useful approach that can effectively handle uncertain problems under small data sets, and the AGM(1,1) is a forecasting model based on this theory that can obtain better forecasting outcomes. However, this technique is initially suggested for use with very short-term forecasting. To improve this drawback for a longer forecasting, this study aims to extend the applicability of the AGM(1,1) by combining the AGM(1,1) with the rolling framework technique into a useful model referred to, here, as AGMRF. The forecasting performance of AGMRF is confirmed in this study using aluminum price data collected from the London Metal Exchange (LME). The results are compared with the other four methods, GM(1,1), AGM(1,1), LR, and BPN, and show that the proposed procedure can effectively deal with the problem Che-Jung Chang, Der – Chiang Li, Chien – Chih Chen, Wen – Li Dai ________________________________________________________________ when the sample size is limited.
Interpretation of a Local Museum in Thailand

This paper considers the interpretation of a local museum in Thailand using the local museum of Thai Bueng Khok Salung as a case study. Data collection was carried out from 9 September 2015 to 22 January 2018. The collected data were derived from related documents, previous studies, in-depth interviews and observations. This present research aimed to investigate the interpretation of the case study through the management of “persons, places, and things”. The findings revealed that there are two major types of interpretation at the museum: the interpretation for the people in the community (that is, indigenous curators, local visitors, and local people) and the interpretation for the people outside the community (that is, general visitors and specific-purpose visitors). The results of the study indicate an appropriate and effective interpretation system for the specific community context which encourages people—both locals and foreigners—to be aware of the value of the community. Consequently, as a result of their awareness, people would increasingly cherish their community and work in collaboration with other people for the sustainable development of the community.
Ecological patterns in the trophic-size structure of large mammal communities: a ‘taxon-free’ characterization

Questions: Are different types of terrestrial mammalian-dominated ecosystems characterized by specific taxon-free patterns in the trophic structure of the mammalian community? If so, are these patterns an intrinsic property of the ecosystems? If this is indeed true, the trophic structure of present-day mammalian communities can be used for the synecological reconstruction of past terrestrial mammalian-dominated communities. Data: 110 Recent large mammal communities, 86 from Africa and 24 from Asia, and one large mammal assemblage from the early Pleistocene locality at Venta Micena (Guadix-Baza Basin, southeast Spain). Search method: Stepwise discriminant analysis generated mathematical algorithms that characterize definite patterns in the trophic structure of the mammalian communities from each type of ecosystem. Algorithms adjusted with African communities were applied to the Asian and Pleistocene ones, whose species are completely different from those of Africa, to test if these patterns are independent of specific historical circumstances and taxonomic composition. Conclusions: Terrestrial mammalian-dominated ecosystems are characterized by definite taxon-free patterns in the trophic structure of the mammalian community. These patterns are an intrinsic property of the ecosystems, independent of their specific historical circumstances and taxonomic composition. Therefore, the trophic structure of present-day mammalian communities can be used for the synecological reconstruction of past ones. The sedimentologic and taphonomic information for the early Pleistocene community of Venta Micena is indicative of a wooded savanna; this type of ecosystem is also indicated by the trophic structure of the mammalian community. This congruence supports the hypothesis that the ecological patterns identified here are an intrinsic property of past ecosystems, at least as far as Pleistocene land mammal-dominated communities are concerned.