Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Problems and Prospects of the Foreign Direct Investment-based Organization in Bangladesh

The article examines the problems and prospects of foreign direct investment (FDI)-based organizations in Bangladesh. The article applied a mixture of statistical tools and techniques, including a stratified random sampling and a survey questionnaire to collect relevant data. The sampling frame and sample size were based on the organizations involved in FDI-based businesses in Bangladesh. Exploratory factor analysis was conducted to examine the structure and pattern of the data. Ordinal logistic regression and odds ratio were applied as well. Role of the Board of Investment along with economic freedom and the foreign investment act emerged as the most statistically significant factors which impact patterns of FDI in the country.
The Demand for Gasoline and Diesel Fuel in Agricultural Use in Virginia

A useful guide for the direction of future agricultural policy on energy requires, in part, detailed knowledge of the demand for different types of energy in different types of agriculture. Two approaches have been used in examining these demand relationships: (1) projecting total agricultural energy requirements, allocating these requirements among different agricultural subsectors, and estimating energy use in different agricultural enterprises; and (2) linear programming (LP) or constrained input-output (I/O) analyses to assess impacts of high energy prices and quantity restrictions on agricultural activities. However, these approaches usually require some stringent assumptions which limit the applicability of the results, and they provide little information about the economic factors that influence the demand for various types of energy. In short, the two approaches may be too restrictive to portray adequately the range of opportunity and response open to the agricultural sector. Emphasis needs to be given to those approaches which can provide information about the economic structure of energy use in the agricultural sector.
Why Did Poverty Decline in India? A Nonparametric Decomposition Exercise

This paper uses panel data to analyze factors that contributed to the rapid decline in poverty in India between 2005 and 2012. The analysis employs a nonparametric decomposition method that measures the relative contributions of different components of household livelihoods to observed changes in poverty. The results show that poverty decline is associated with a significant increase in labor earnings, explained in turn by a steep rise in wages for unskilled labor, and diversification from farm to nonfarm sources of income in rural areas. Transfers, in the form of remittances and social programs, have contributed but are not the primary drivers of poverty decline over this period. The pattern of changes is consistent with processes associated with structural transformation, which add up to a highly pro-poor pattern of income growth over the initial distribution of income and consumption. However, certain social groups (Adivasis and Dalits) are found to be more likely to stay in or fall into poverty and less likely to move out of poverty. And even as poverty has reduced dramatically, the share of vulnerable population has not.
The Comparison of the Balanus improvises （Crustacea： Cirripeia） Growth, Population Dynamics and Larval Recruitment in the Southern Coasts of the Caspian Sea

Population dynamics of the Balanus improvises (Crustacean: Cirripedia) was studied in three stations Amirabad, Khazarabad in the eastern part and Noor in the central part of the Southern Coasts of the Caspian Sea. Sampling procedure was carried out monthly from July 2007 to July 2008. In this study longitudinal diameter aperture (orifice or opercula diameter) of 4118 individuals as well as dry weight and ash free dry weight of 141 barnacles were measured. Barnacle population density decreased in all three stations during autumn and winter. Barnacle density in Khazarabad were significantly higher than the other two stations (P > 0/05). In this study, for dry weight and ash free dry weight maximum 247 and 122 mg and minimum 0/5 and 0/25 mg were obtained respectively. Emergence of a young cohort in March 2008, indicates the reproduction season and larval recruitment at this time. Also the frequency of the larval recruitment from April 2004 until mid-summer had increased. Opercula diameter of B. improvisus correlated with dry weight (R = 0/87, n = 115) and ash free dry weight (R = 0/77, n =115). In addition, two equations for correlation of opercula diameter with dry weight (W = 0/49 L, Re= 14) and ash free dry weight (W = 0/16 L, Re = 18/8) for this species were calculated.
2 0 Ju l 2 01 8 Minimal timing jitter in superconducting nanowire single photon detectors

Using two-temperature model coupled with modified time-dependent Ginzburg-Landau equation we calculate the delay time τd in appearance of growing normal domain in the current-biased superconducting strip after absorption of the single photon. We demonstrate that τd depends on the place in the strip where photon is absorbed and monotonically decreases with increasing of the current. We argue, that the variation of τd (timing jitter), connected either with position-dependent response or Fano fluctuations could be as small as the lowest relaxation time of the superconducting order parameter ∼ ~/kBTc (Tc is the critical temperature of the superconductor) when the current approaches the depairing current.
Protection from grazing: a way to restore vegetation in semiarid grasslands in Northern Greece.

Long term studies in the Mediterranean region have shown no clear distinction between the benefits of conservation and the negative effects of heavy grazing as concerns ecosystem stability, expressed through the species diversity. Grazing animals represent a key factor to avoid the activation of successional processes, which causes the replacement of herbac eous communities with shrub communities. Thus, it is of interest to investigate the effects of protection from grazing on biodiversity at different successional stages. The study was conducted in two grasslands located near Thessaloniki, in a semiarid area of northern Greece. The first grassland was at an early stage of succession (ESS) while the second one was at a late stage of succession (LSS). Changes in ground cover, species composition, species richness and relative abundance were studied in each of two grasslands that were protected from grazing for 7 years (measurements were taken at years 5, 6 and 7). The results showed an increase of the percentage of perennial grasses and legumes in the LSS, while the proportion of annual legumes and forbs was higher in the ESS. Species biodiversity tended to increase as the protection period from grazing increased. Moreover, after seven years of protection from grazing, habitat stability was higher in LSS than in ESS and consequently the influence of grazing was higher on ESS. Our results provide an example of grassland recovery under natural conditions in a low elevation semiarid area, and they suggest that short-term protection from grazing may provide an effective natural management practice to restore vegetation.
The Freedom of Information Act Trial

This Article examines the paucity of Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) cases that go to trial and courts’ preference for resolving these disputes at the summary judgment stage. Using traditional legal analysis and empirical evidence, this Article explores whether we should expect FOIA cases to go to trial and how the scarcity of FOIA trials compares to the trial rate in civil litigation generally. It concludes that the unusual use of summary judgment in FOIA cases has unjustifiably all but eliminated FOIA trials, which occur in less than 1% of FOIA cases. It further examines how conducting FOIA trials in appropriate cases might increase the frequency of pro-transparency case outcomes as intended under the Act, using both empirical analysis and qualitative conclusions from interviews with attorneys who have litigated FOIA trials.
A Randomized Controlled Trial of a Neurofeedback-based Training for Improvement in Social Phobia Disorder

Objective: to examine the effectiveness of using neurofeedback to improve patients' social phobia. Design and setting: randomized controlled trial, conducted at a counseling center in west china. Participants: 30 patients reporting social phobia were recruited in this study. Interventions: participants were assigned randomly to either a neurofeedback or a non-neurofeedback group. All patients in both groups received the same traditional training except for neurofeedback. The neurofeedback group received 45 minutes of neurofeedback, twice a week for six sessions. Measures and finding: the measure of this study was the Social Phobia Inventory (SPIN), which was administered before and after the program. Using a 2 A— 2 MANOVA, the changes in mean SPIN were significantly higher in the neurofeedback group than in the non-neurofeedback group. Conclusions: a training program involving neurofeedback significantly improved the social phobia. Implications for practice: Consultants involved in social phobia patients care who are interested in complementary therapies should be encouraged to obtain learning in neurofeedback technique and teach patientsâ€™ families in clinical settings.
Deconstructing bathymetric body size patterns in deep-sea gastropods

Attempts to understand body size as an adaptation to the deep sea have relied primar- ily on measuring and interpreting size-depth relationships. The numerous studies documenting bathymetric size trends during the last 30 yr report widely divergent results. Body size has been found to significantly increase or decrease with depth in different taxa, but often shows no statistical pattern. Some of this variation is attributable to methodological inconsistencies and/or differences in how taxa or functional groups respond to environmental gradients associated with depth. Here, we show that the shape of the size-depth relationship also depends on the depth zone inhabited. We measured shell size for gastropods (81 species, 3423 individuals) collected in the western North Atlantic from depths of 200 to 5000 m. This database makes it possible to assess size within species and among taxa, and to document how body size changes across the continental margin and abyssal plain. Quantile regression shows that maximum size attained among all gastropods increases with depth in the bathyal zone, and then decreases in the abyss. This overall unimodal pattern appears to be generated partly by within-species clines. Size tends to increase with depth in species with upper- to mid-bathyal distributions, and to decrease with depth in species with lower-bathyal to abyssal dis- tributions, independent of feeding type and mode of larval development. The shift from predomi- nantly positive to negative specific size-depth clines at the bathyal-abyssal transition and the preva- lence of smaller individuals in the abyss may reflect a fundamental change in ecological opportunity.
A morphological algorithm for improving radio-frequency interference detection

A technique is described that is used to improve the detection of radio-frequency interference in astronomical radio observatories. It is applied on a two-dimensional interference mask after regular detection in the time-frequency domain with existing techniques. The scale-invariant rank (SIR) operator is defined, which is a one-dimensional mathematical morphology technique that can be used to find adjacent intervals in the time or frequency domain that are likely to be affected by RFI. The technique might also be applicable in other areas in which morphological scale-invariant behaviour is desired, such as source detection. A new algorithm is described, that is shown to perform quite well, has linear time complexity and is fast enough to be applied in modern high resolution observatories. It is used in the default pipeline of the LOFAR observatory.
Controls of terrestrial ecosystem nitrogen loss on simulated productivity responses to elevated CO2

Abstract. The availability of nitrogen is one of the primary controls on plant growth. Terrestrial ecosystem nitrogen availability is not only determined by inputs from fixation, deposition, or weathering, but is also regulated by the rates with which nitrogen is lost through various pathways. Estimates of large-scale nitrogen loss rates have been associated with considerable uncertainty, as process rates and controlling factors of the different loss pathways have been difficult to characterize in the field. Therefore, the nitrogen loss representations in terrestrial biosphere models vary substantially, adding to nitrogen cycle-related uncertainty and resulting in varying predictions of how the biospheric carbon sink will evolve under future scenarios of elevated atmospheric CO2. Here, we test three commonly applied approaches to represent ecosystem-level nitrogen loss in a common carbon–nitrogen terrestrial biosphere model with respect to their impact on projections of the effect of elevated CO2. We find that despite differences in predicted responses of nitrogen loss rates to elevated CO2 and climate forcing, the variety of nitrogen loss representation between models only leads to small variety in carbon sink predictions. The nitrogen loss responses are particularly uncertain in the boreal and tropical regions, where plant growth is strongly nitrogen-limited or nitrogen turnover rates are usually high, respectively. This highlights the need for better representation of nitrogen loss fluxes through global measurements to inform models.
Increasing Latina/o College Completion

In this essay, the authors accomplish three tasks: (a) identify common limitations of programs designed to increase the success rates of Latina/o college students; (b) describe the common characteristics of programs that exhibit effective practice; and (c) provide a framework to guide colleges and universities in designing effective program components that address the common factors impeding Latina/o student success in college.
Effect of Thidiazuron on In-Vitro Proliferation Capacities of Some Banana (Musa spp.) Cultivars with Weak Multiplication Potential

The multiplication and the distribution of plant material is one of the objectives of plant tissue culture laboratory of African Research Centre on Bananas and Plantains (ARCBAP). Some banana (Musa spp.) cultivars including Topala, Fougamou, Gros-Michel shows low proliferation when cultured in vitro. Other cultivars like Dwarf-Kalapua, Pelipita and Kalapua 2 take long time (two months) to be differentiated in in vitro multiplication. All these cultivars have interested agronomic characteristics and have partial or total resistance to Black Leaf Streak Disease (BLSD). In the aim of increasing proliferation rate, shoot tips of those cultivars were cultured on Murashige and Skoog nutrient salts supplemented with different concentrations of thidiazuron (0.05-2 µM) in comparison with the standard medium containing 2 mg/l of BAP. Growth parameters (length and diameter of the stem) and proliferation parameters (number of shoots, leaves and roots formed) were measured six weeks after introduction of explants on the medium during introduction and proliferation phases. Results showed that proliferation was better whichever the cultivar with low thidiazuron concentration (0.05 to 0.8 µM). The plant growth in treatments did not show any significant difference as compared to the control, however, plant development was ameliorated in all cultivars at thidiazuron concentration of 0.05-0.4 µM. Positive correlations were observed between shoot proliferation and leaf or root formation in Fougamou, Gros-Michel and Pelipita cultivars, except for cultivar Topala.
Full-Text Search Engine using MySQL

In this article we will try to explain how we can create a search engine using the powerful MySQL full-text search. The ever increasing demands of the web requires cheap and elaborate search options. One of the most important issues for a search engine is to have the capacity to order its results set as relevance and provide the user with suggestions in the case of a spelling mistake or a small result set. In order to fulfill this request we thought about using the powerful MySQL full-text search. This option is suitable for small to medium scale websites. In order to provide sound like capabilities, a second table containing a bag of words from the main table together with the corresponding metaphone is created. When a suggestion is needed, this table is interrogated for the metaphone of the searched word and the result set is computed resulting a suggestion.
Reading Aloud Speed as a Factor in Oral Fluency and General Language Proficiency

A study investigated the validity of a second-language student's actual speed of delivery of a passage read aloud as an indicator of second-language fluency. The study, conducted in Hong Kong with 83 secondary school students, used the oral dialogue test in a standardized secondary school-leaving examination. The dialogues were timed and the rate of speed of delivery correlated with the students' overall subject grades and scores from the written and oral language portions of the standardized test. Results indicate that time taken to read the dialogue correlated very positively with examiners' dialogue-reading scores, as was expected, but also correlated highly with all other grades and scores. It is concluded that speed of delivery has an important relationship to both oral language skills and general language ability, and that its use as a factor in language tests is justifiable. A sample dialogue is appended. (MSE) *********************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made * * from the original document. * *********************************************************************** HOM3KONO PAPERS IN LINGUISTICS MC CANCRIAGE lEACH/NG 13 (1990) ISSN 1015-20511 READING ALOUD SPEED AS A FACTOR IN ORAL FLUENCY AND GENERAL LANGUAGE PROFICIENCY? get David Coniam Hong Kong Examinations Authority C:
Functional analysis and single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy of citrate transport systems from Klebsiella pneumoniae

22 INTRODUCTION 22 MATERIALS AND METHODS 24 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 30 REFERENCES 35 CHAPTER 3 CitS probed by single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy 37 ABSTRACT 38 INTRODUCTION 38 MATERIALS AND METHODS 39 RESULTS 44 DISCUSSION 51 REFERENCES 5438 INTRODUCTION 38 MATERIALS AND METHODS 39 RESULTS 44 DISCUSSION 51 REFERENCES 54
HOST SUITABILITY OF CALADIUM VARIETIES TO MELOIDOGYNE INCOGNITA

Eight commercial varieties of caladium (Caladium × hortulanum) were evaluated for resistance or susceptibility to the root-knot nematode, Meloidogyne incognita, in tests conducted in greenhouse and growth room. Relative levels of resistance among varieties was evaluated in terms of nematodes present in soil and second-stage juveniles hatched from eggs extracted from roots at 4-5 months after nematode inoculation. Lowest numbers of nematodes were produced on 'White Christmas' and 'Pink Glow'. 'Crimson Wave' and 'Autumn Beauty' appeared to be the most susceptible varieties, usually supporting consistently high numbers of nematodes. Nematode numbers on 'Avalon Rose', 'Fire Nymph', 'Dawn', and 'Fire Chief' were generally intermediate, but often not different (P =0.05) from those present on the most susceptible varieties. Results demonstrate the existence of differing levels of relative resistance against M. incognita in caladium germplasm.
STUDY AND ORIENTATION OF THE MT. OCHE 'DRAGON HOUSE' IN EUBOEA, GREECE

Abstract: In southern Euboea, Central Greece, there are several megalithic buildings known as ‘drakospita’ (or dragon houses) whose builders and purpose are unknown. On 22 March 2002 and 4 July 2004 we visited the best-preserved of all drakospita on top of Mt. Oche, measured its dimensions and calculated its orientation based on the azimuth of sunset and moonrise. A Sirius-rise orientation corresponding to ca 1100 B.C., not inconsistent with previous archaeological dating based on artefacts found inside the structure, indicates a religious/astronomical purpose for the building. It could probably be argued that at least the famous drakospito at Mt. Oche was not only a place of worship but also an ancient astronomical observatory. Keywords: Dragon-house, drakospito, Euboea, astronomical observatory 1 INTRODUCTION p The Dryopes were a Prehellenic ancient tribe, men-tioned in Greek mythology by both Herodotus and Pausanias. Since their name is Indo-European, Dry-opes are thought to belong to the Indo-European part of the Prehellenic racial substrate. Initially, they occu-pied the area between the mountains Oete and Par-nassus, a dry land called Dryopis. They are thought to be related to Leleges, and they have been characterized as a tribe of bandits. The settlements of Leleges and Dryopes lasted until the end of the Neolithic Period, when the first Greek tribes started to appear. Pressed by them, the Dryopes supposedly immigrated to south-ern Greece,
Through the prism of metaphor: a case study of the US and UK political discourse on the Ukraine conflict

Much has been said about the role of metaphor in constructing the meaning of political discourse. The seminal work of G. Lakoff showed how a particular choice of metaphors allowed political agents to take a stand on important issues and achieve their rhetorical goals. This paper focuses on the identification of the most productive means for semantic configuration of the metaphors used by British and American media given the ideological perspectivization of North-American politics towards recent conflicts in Ukraine. Drawing on critical discourse analysis and conceptual metaphor theory, this paper argues that the metaphorical system offered by Lakoff is insufficient for conceptualizing the US policy regarding the Ukraine conflict, and claims that the choice of cognitive construals is governed by the context in which they are used and by the perspective adopted.
What Determines Export Participation of Private Domestic Manufacturing SMEs in Vietnam

This study provides for the new evidence of factors determining export participation of private manufacturingSMEs in Vietnam. Using a recent national survey in 2011 about private manufacturing SMEs, we find that whilemore years in business does not affect the probability of firm exporting, firm with smaller scale have a lowerlikelihood of exporting. The results also indicate that innovation has a positive effect on exporting probability offirms implying that encouragement of innovative activities play an important role in promoting exportingparticipation of private domestic SMEs.