Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Rationales for Collaboration; Implications for the Irish Road Freight Industry

The European Union has made a commitment to promoting sustainable mobility through advanced transport logistics. One of the principal areas yet to be addressed is that of the potential barriers to advanced transport logistics and the attitudes of industry to this advancement. This paper addresses some of these concerns and argues that competition for high-value contracts can be very tough, especially where the contracts are from large organisations that often prefer to develop a relationship with only one transport service provider. The paper attempts to put the research into a theoretical framework of Resource-Advantage Theory. Empirical evidence is presented from key informant interviews, semi-structured interviews and a focus group on the motives for and challenges of forming collaborative ventures. The paper argues that joining forces to form a road haulage consortium can allow small-tomedium operators compete against larger players by improving services to the customer through reduced delivery times and wider geographical coverage. Collaboration has potential benefits not only for freight transport service providers in terms of efficiency and utilisation, but also for the wider society through increased quality of life.
Teaching writing in the primary school

espanolEl escribir correctamente en ingles se considera una habilidad importante para tratar temas relacionados con los negocios, la educacion y relaciones personales. La ensenanza de la expresion escrita en ingles esta asumiendo un papel importante en el aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras en la actualidad. El presente estudio fue planteado con el proposito de explorar si el metodo de ensenanza de la escritura propuesto por Anita Pincas permite a los ninos espanoles de educacion primaria mejorar su capacidad para la expresion escrita en ingles. Fue llevado a cabo con dos grupos de ninos espanoles de sexto curso que fueron divididos de la siguiente manera: i) haciendoles usar el metodo de ensenanza de la escritura (grupo experimental) y ii) con ausencia total de dicho metodo (grupo control). Se intervino en el primer grupo, ensenandoles a usar dicho metodo durante 4 sesiones, siguiendo las principales fases que Anita Pincas propone. Los ninos realizaron una prueba inicial (pre-test) y una prueba final (post-test) para poder observar sus diferencias y evaluar su mejora a traves de la comparacion de los errores cometidos. Los resultados indicaron que los ninos de ambos grupos mejoraron su capacidad de expresion escrita en el post-test, aunque esta mejora fue especialmente significativa en el grupo experimental, sobre todo en lo referido a la estructura del texto. Por lo tanto, se puede concluir que el metodo de Anita Pincas influyo positivamente en el progreso de las habilidades de escritura de los escolares. EnglishCompetence in written English is widely recognized as an important skill for topics related to business, education and personal relationships. Teaching writing is fast becoming more and more important in learning today. The present study was intended as an attempt to explore whether Anita Pincas' teaching method for writing enables Spanish primary school children to improve their writing skill in English. This study was conducted with two groups of sixth year Spanish children who were divided as follows: i) making them use the teaching writing method (experimental group) and ii) without the method (control group). The first group was trained by means of a 4-lesson intervention programme following the main phases that Anita Pincas proposes. To examine the effects of this method, one pre-test and one post-test were given to the children of each group to check their differences and evaluate their improvement through comparing the errors made. Results indicated that the children of both groups improved their writing skill, although this was especially significant in the experimental group concerning writing structure. Therefore, it can be concluded that Anita Pincas? method positively influenced the progress of schoolchildren's writing skills.
Promoting Amphibian Conservation through the College Classroom: Detection of Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis among Local Amphibians

Many global amphibian declines have been linked to the fungal pathogen Batrachochytrium dendrobatidis (Bd). The knowledge on Bd distribution provides a fundamental basis for amphibian conservation planning. Yet, such Bd distribution information is currently insufficient, in particular at a regional scale. The college classroom provides an excellent opportunity to expand the knowledge of Bd distribution. Here we provide an example of such research projects to detect Bd prevalence among local amphibians in a college course setting and present the results of work conducted in central Pennsylvania, USA. We collected toe clips and conducted PCR assays of six species, Plethodon cinereus, Desmognathus fuscus, Notophthalmus viridescens, Lithobates catesbeianus, L. clamitans, and L. sylvaticus (59 individuals). Four groups of students independently conducted entire projects, orally presented their findings, and submitted manuscripts to the professor at the end of the semester. This example demonstrates that it is feasible for an undergraduate class to complete a Bd-detection project within a single semester. Such a project not only contributes to Bd research but also promotes conservation education among students through hands-on research experiences. We found Bd infection in only one sample of N. viridescens, but no sign of infection in the rest of the samples. As a relatively high prevalence of Bd has been reported in surrounding areas, our results suggest spatial heterogeneity in Bd occurrence at a regional scale and thus, the need for continued efforts to monitor Bd prevalence.
Purification of CREB from Rat Brain. CREB was purified from rat brain nuclear extracts by DNA affinity chromatography using minor modifications to published procedures

Appendix II Chapter 3 Methods General. Unless otherwise noted, reagents were purchased from the commercial suppliers Fisher (Fairlawn, NJ) and Sigma-Aldrich (St. Louis, MO), and were used without further purification. Protease and phosphatase inhibitors were purchased from Sigma-Aldrich or Alexis Biochemicals (San Diego, CA). Sequencing grade trypsin and chymotrypsin were obtained from Promega (Madison, WI) and Roche Applied Science (Indianapolis, IN), respectively. Sequencing grade endoproteinase Glu-C (protease V8) was purchased from Roche Applied Science (Indianapolis, IN). The MALDI matrix, cyano-4-hydroxycinnamic acid, was purchased from Fluka (Milwaukee, WI). Restriction enzymes were obtained from Fisher, with the exception of NdeI (Promega) and DpnI (New England Biolabs, Beverly, MA).
Arms Race, Economic Growth, and Government (Military and Non Military) Expenditure: Empirical Investigation for India and Pakistan

This study examines the relationship of economic growth with civilian and military portions of government expenditure for two neighboring countries and nuclear powers; India and Pakistan. Considering the rough bilateral relationship between the two countries, the paper also seeks to determine the existence of arms race between them. For this purpose, Johansen cointegration and Granger causality tests are applied while taking account of the limitations of time series data. Our cointegration results indicate a positive impact of military spending on economic growth for India and a negative impact for Pakistan. In case of government civilian expenditure and economic growth, the relationship is statistically insignificant for Pakistan while it is negative and significant for India. The Granger causality results show lack of any causal relationship of economic growth with government and military spending for Pakistan. In case of India, economic growth is Granger caused by government as well as military expenditure. Bidirectional causality is found between defense spending of India and defense spending of Pakistan. Keywords: Government expenditure, Military expenditure, Economic Growth, Arms race, Cointegration, Granger causality
Evaluation of Information and Communication Technology Utilization by Small Holder Banana Farmers in Gatanga District, Kenya

Abstract Purpose The study was carried out to identify information communication technologies (ICTs) used in production and marketing of bananas, to determine factors influencing intensity of use of ICT tools and to assess whether use of ICT has a significant influence on adoption of tissue culture bananas by small-scale banana farmers in Gatanga District, Kenya. Design/methodology/approach A multi-stage purposive sampling and proportionate allocation technique was used to select 116 respondents. A pre-tested questionnaire was used to collect data. SPSS and STATA were used for descriptive and quantitative analysis. Findings Radio, television and the mobile phone were found to be the most accessible ICTs and were often used to access information on production or/and marketing of bananas. The least accessible ICTs were computers, internet services and video cassettes. Socio-economic factors like age, gender, income and acreage of bananas planted had an influence on the intensity of use of ICT tools as a source of agricultural information by smallholder banana farmers. Use of ICTs was found to influence adoption of tissue culture (TC) bananas. Low levels of education and distance to internet services were found to be the most constraining to the use of ICT tools. Other constraints included: lack of money to buy internet services, digital cameras and computers. Farmers were of the opinion that radio and the mobile phone were the most useful ICT tools while television, print media, internet/email and video cassettes/DVDs were the least useful as a source of information on banana production. Practical implications This study elucidates the important role of ICTs in disseminating agricultural information. There is need for the government to demystify ICT training at all levels of education to improve local content development. Reduction of taxes on radio-wave licensing and improving accessibility to affordable and quality handsets will aid in intensifying the use of radio and mobile phones by farmers in acquiring information.
Global Journal of Sociology: Current Issues

This study was to analyze the empirical evidence about the difference perceptions of IFRS into accounting curriculum integration between female students with male students, and students who are under or equal to 20 years with a student over the age of 20 years. Survey I conducted by distribution of a set questionnaires using purposive sampling method to accounting unfergraduate students of some university with A Accreditation Jakarta. Research Results state that there is a difference between the perception of female students with male students about the integration of IFRS into accounting curriculum, and there is no difference in perception between students aged below or equal to 20 years with a student over the age of 20 years.
The cross self-confrontation method and challenges in researching the active information-seeking of young people

This paper provides a presentation on cross self-confrontation (CSC) as a useful qualitative method to address the challenges in studying active information-seeking of youth. There are two great methodological challenges and a major theoretical issue. First, youth information-seeking behaviour is characterised by frequent heuristic reasoning, very quick ways of dealing with digital media, making it difficult to give an exhaustive account of actions. This fundamental characteristic has never been discussed from a methodological point of view. Second, a well-known problem is that young people may have difficulties in articulating all their thoughts. Third, young information seekers are frequently compared to expert information seekers. Therefore, what they aren’t doing is well known and what they are doing is unknown. The CSC method presented is based on confronting individuals with their own activity and also with the activity of others with the help of video recordings. The method emerged from educational research known as stimulated recall and developed for work analysis in occupational settings, in allowing individuals to comment on the activities of others. Expected benefits are to assist memory, increase the participants’ reflexivity and provide significant knowledge about “personal touch”, “personal dexterity”. To discuss the potential methodological and theoretical benefits of studying youth information-seeking behaviour, we examine CSC using data from our former research project in Library and Information Science with 30 students aged 10-19 in France, working in tandem on imposed and self-generated information tasks. The results contribute to knowledge about using image and copying and pasting in the youth information-seeking process. Keywords : cross self-confrontation method, youth information-seeking behaviour, students, image, copy and paste.
Globalization of social entrepreneurship opportunities

Social entrepreneurship has emerged as an important research topic in the literature. This interest stems from social entrepreneurs' role in addressing serious social problems on a worldwide scale while enhancing social wealth, often without regard for profits. In this article, we explain the forces contributing to the formation and rapid internationalization of social ventures. We use the behavioral theory of the firm to distill key attributes of social opportunities and show how these attributes influence the timing and geographic scope of social ventures' international operations. Copyright © 2008 Strategic Management Society.
Coding Techniques for Repairability in Networked Distributed Storage Systems

The most commonly deployed multi-storage device systems are RAID housed in a single computing unit. The idea of distributing data across multiple disks has been naturally extended to multiple storage nodes which are interconnected over a network and are called Networked Distributed Storage Systems (NDSS). The simplest coding techniques based on replication are often used to ensure redundancy in these systems, but given the sheer volume of data that needs to be stored and the overheads of replication, other coding techniques are being developed. Coding Techniques for Repairability in Networked Distributed Storage Systems (NDSS) surveys coding techniques for NDSS, which aim at achieving (1) fault tolerance efficiently and (2) good repairability characteristics to replenish the lost redundancy, and ensure data durability over time. This is a vibrant are of research and this book is the first overview which presents the background required to understand the problems as well as covering the most important techniques currently being developed. Coding Techniques for Repairability in Networked Distributed Storage Systems is essential reading for all researchers and engineers involved in designing and researching computer storage systems.
Feasibility of the application of electronic nose technology to detect insect infestation in wheat

Wu, J., D.S. Jayas, Q. Zhang, N.D. G. White and R.K. York. 2013. Feasibility of the application of electronic nose technology to detect insect infestation in wheat. Canadian Biosystems Engineering/Le genie des biosystemes au Canada 55: 3.1-3.9. An Alpha MOS FOX3000 electronic nose (e-nose) equipped with 12 metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) sensors was used to evaluate the presence of insects in wheat. Samples of Canada western red spring (CWRS) wheat (cv. AC Barrie) infested with rusty grain beetle (RGB), Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens), and red flour beetle (RFB), Tribolium castaneum (Herbst), were placed in glass jars fitted for the collection of headspace volatiles. Different insect densities (0, 1, 2, 10 and 20 insects/kg) were tested for each insect species in combination with three moisture content levels for wheat (14%, 16%, and 18% wet mass basis). The headspace volatiles from insect-infested or non-infested wheat were sampled and injected into the e-nose. The response of e-nose sensors, in the form of a multi-dimensional matrix, was extracted and interpreted using AlphaSoft V8.0 software. The automated pattern recognition algorithms in the software (Principal Component Analysis, Discriminant Factorial Analysis, and Partial Least Square) were used to evaluate the samples.
Relationship between organizational commitment and turnover intentions of academics

In this study, it is aimed to determine the level of organizational commitment of academics working in Department of Physical Education and Sports and identify its relationship with the intention to cease of employment. Organizational Commitment Scale, consisting of 18 questions, developed by Meyer and Allen (1997), adapted to Turkish by Varol (2010) and Scale of Turnover Intentions developed by Rosin and Korabik (1995), adapted to Turkish by Tanriover (2005) have been carried out on 143 academics chosen via random sampling method in this relational screening model research. The result of the research has shown that sub-dimension of Emotional Commitment of academics’ constitutes the core element and intention to leave is low. Variables of gender and marital status are found to have no effect on the relationship between organizational commitment and intention to leave. On the other hand, academics with an administrative role display a meaningful difference. In regards to the correlation results within the scales, there is a negative and mid-level relationship between emotional commitment level and intention to leave, and a negative and low-level relationship between the level of normative commitment and case of employment.
EURAC SDI: A Near Real Time and Offline Automatic Metadata Generation Processing Chain

Scientists dealing with geospatial information usually work with huge sets of heterogeneous geographic data derived from different sources. Without a well-defined and organized structure they face problems in finding and reusing existing spatial data. Due to the increasing amount of collected data, the risk of data redundancy arises, which may cause data inconsistency, space issues and search difficulties. A spatial cataloguing system can facilitate a more efficient spatial data search as well as allowing data exchange with different institutions. Our proposed solution is implementing a spatial cataloguing system along with an automatic rule-based approach metadata generator that processes remote sensing data in Near Real Time (NRT) and simultaneously derives metadata. This paper will further describe how to extract the relevant metadata from the processed data and how we converted this heterogeneous metadata information into a common standardized format. A real-world scenario applied in The European Academy (EURAC) Research Institute for Applied Remote Sensing (IARS) illustrates the procedure of data processing and metadata generation.
The Moderating Effect of Organizational Support on the Relationship between Job Stress and Employee Performance in Jordan

The present study aims to investigate the effect of job stress on employee's performance by evaluating the moderating effect of organizational support. The study was conducted in the House of representatives in Jordan. A sample of 134 employees including managers and non managers were randomly selected. A self administered questionnaire was distributed among them. The response rate was 67 percent. Relevant statistical analytical techniques, including factor analysis, reliability, and regression for analysis were used. Findings of the study revealed that there is significant positive relationship between job stress and employees performance in the House of representatives. Organizational support plays moderating role in the relationship between job stress and employees performance. Keywords : Job stress; Employee performance; House of representatives; Jordan
Family Participation and Involvement in Early Head Start Home Visiting Services: Relations with Longitudinal Outcomes Executive Summary

Home visiting is an intervention approach widely used to provide individualized services to families living in poverty and children facing risks for poor development. Home visiting programs are typically designed to promote child health and developmental outcomes by preventing child maltreatment, increasing parent support of learning and development, or both (PEW Center on the States, 2010). The research literature on home visiting is growing but remains limited regarding within-program variations in home visiting services, either descriptively or in relation to longitudinal outcomes for children and families enrolled in these programs. Disciplines Educational Assessment, Evaluation, and Research | Educational Sociology | Education Policy Comments This is a final report from Solving Social Ills Through Early Childhood Home Visiting (2012: 68 pp. Posted with permission. Authors Carla A. Peterson, Dong Zhang, Lori Roggman, Beth Green, Rachel Chazan Cohen, Jane B. Atwater, Lorraine McKelvey, and Jon Korfmacher This report is available at Iowa State University Digital Repository: http://lib.dr.iastate.edu/hdfs_reports/2
Ab Initio study on the dimerization of lignol model species

Lignocellulosic biomass is considered a viable alternative to fossil resources for energy and chemical production. Despite its benefits as renewable and carbon neutral resource, low crudeoil prices hamper the economic prospects of its utilization as energy carrier. In order to reduce costs of bio fuel production from lignocellulosic biomass, all its components need to be converted to valuable products. One idea in this direction is the ‘lignin-first’ bio-refining concept, in which the lignin fraction of lignocellulosic biomass is removed in such a way that mainly soluble lignin monomers and oligomers are formed, leaving the cellulosic and hemicellulosic parts undissolved behind [1][2]. The sugar part is subsequently fermented to bio-ethanol or hydro-treated and converted through steam-cracking to fuels and base chemicals, while the lignin monoand oligomers are converted to various high-value products. Since the lignin fraction is this primary interest in this process, its composition has a significant impact on the economics. Being able to control the lignin composition would allow to generate ‘customized’ lignin mono and oligomer pools to increase profits. Hence, it is necessary to develop a thorough understanding of lignin synthesis in plants to create such engineering opportunities.
GERMINATION IN VITRO OF SEEDS OF A THREATENED ARBOREAL SPECIE IN THE MUNICIPAL DISTRICT OF ABAÍRA (BA)

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of culture media and disinfestation treatments on germination and the contamination in vitro of Zeyhera montana seeds. The trial was comprised of two experiments: in the first, the seeds were surface sterilized with alcohol 70% (1 min) + NaOCl 0.25, 0.5 or 1% active chlorine (5 or 10 min). The seeds were placed in flasks containing MS, MS rooting, Knudson B, Knudson C, Agar or WPM culture media. In the second experiment, the seeds were inoculated on the culture media which showed the best results in the previous experiment. Germination was slow and disuniform. The best results were 75% and 40% germination on Knudson C and MS rooting media, respectively.