jimnoneill/paper-to-field-training huggingface dataset:
A Study of Islamic and Conventional Banks in Malaysia دراسة البنوك الإسلامية والتقليدية في ماليزيا

Field: Economics, Econometrics and Finance (Social Sciences)

Many scholars have researched comparison of conventional and Islamic banking systems, with regards to their performance from time to time. This study compares their respective profitability in terms of volume and volatility of their deposits and loans in Malaysia in a six years period (2006-2011) that other writers have not discussed in detail. The results in this study indicate that there are positive and significant relationships between volume of loans and volume of customers’ deposits and profitability of banks. However, volatility of loans and deposits does not have a significant impact on banks’ profit-efficiency in Malaysia. The results of this research also reveal that Malaysian conventional banks were more profitable than Islamic banks during the period of study. The ROA and ROE are significantly different and mean of ROA and ROE in conventional banks are higher than those in Islamic banks. The main contribution of banks’ profits comes from the spread between the interest earned on loans and the return payable on customer deposits. Both of these are internal factors. Volume of loans and volume of deposits are found to have significant influence on banks’ profitability. Therefore, managers and banks’ administrators should either focus their attention on these two determinants or adopt some kind of policies that will lead banks to increase their volume of loans and deposits to boost banks profitability level. دأب كثير من العلماء على إجراء البحوث من حين لأخر للمقارنة بين انظمة البنوك الإسلامية والتقليدية فيما يتعلق بأدائها. هذه الدراسة تقارن بين ربحية كل منهما حسب حجم وتقلب إيداعاتها وقروضها في ماليزيا خلال فترة ست سنوات (2006-2011م) وهي جوانب لم يتطرق إليها الكتاب الآخرون بشكل مفصل. وتشير نتائج هذه الدراسة إلى وجود علاقات إيجابية ومعنوية بين حجم القروض وحجم ايداعات العملاء وربحية البنوك. ومع ذلك فإن التقلبات في القروض والايداعات ليس لها تأثير معنوي على الكفاءة الربحية للبنوك الماليزية. كما تشير نتائج هذا البحث إلى أن البنوك التقليدية بماليزيا كانت أكثر ربحية من البنوك الإسلامية خلال فترة الدراسة. كما أن العائد على الأصول والعائد على حقوق المساهمين مختلفان معنويًا، كما أن متوسط العائد على الأصول ومتوسط العائد على حقوق المساهمين في البنوك التقليدية أعلى من مثيلتها في البنوك الإسلامية. وتأتي المساهمة الرئيسية لأرباح البنوك من الفرق بين الفائدة المكتسبة على القروض والعائد المدفوع على إيداعات العملاء. وكلا العاملين يعتبران من العوامل الداخلية. ولقد تبين أن حجم القروض وحجم الايداعات لهما تاثير معنوي على ربحية البنوك. لذا يجب على المدراء والإداريين العاملين في البنوك أما تركيز اهتمامهم على المحددين المذكورين أو تبني بعض أنواع من السياسات التي ستساعد البنوك على زيادة حجم قروضها وإيداعاتها لرفع مستوى ربحيتها.
Identification of Darkly Pigmented Fungi Associated with Turfgrass Roots by Mycelial Characteristics and RAPD-PCR

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences (Life Sciences)

A select group of darkly pigmented turfgrass pathogens are referred to as ectotrophic root-infecting (ERI) fungi. Identification of ERI fungi, as well as darkly pigmented saprophytes, cannot be rapidly or reliably determined by traditional methods. The objectives of this study were (i) to determine if these darkly pigmented fungi could be presumptively identified by mycelial growth rates and characteristics, and (ii) to definitively identify these fungi based on DNA products generated through random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) polymerase chain reaction (PCR). Previously identified isolates of Gaeumannomyces cylindrosporus, G. graminis var. avenae, G. graminis var. graminis, G. incrustans, Magnaporthe poae, Ophiosphaerella herpotricha, O. korrae, and Phialophora graminicola were obtained. The species were separated into two groups based on their growth rate on half strength potato dextrose agar at 25°C. Slower-growing species [X = 2.5 ; range = 1.6 to 3.4 mm per day] were G. cylindrosporus, P. graminicola, O. herpotricha, and O. korrae, whereas fast-growing species [X = 5.5 ; range = 3.2 to 6.6 mm per day] were G. graminis var. avenae, G. graminis var. graminis, G. incrustans, and M. poae. Colony characteristics and growth rate were valuable in presumptively distinguishing most species. For example, O. korrae colonies had distinctively raised or dome-shaped mycelium, whereas O. herpotricha isolates produced a brownish black colored exudate in the center of 2-week-old colonies. Gaeumannomyces graminis var. avenae isolates were separated from G. incrustans and M. poae based on their very slow growth at 30°C. Initially, only single isolate of G. cylindrosporus, G. graminis var. avenae, G. graminis var. graminis, G. incrustans, M. poae, O. herpotricha, O. korrae, and P. graminicola were evaluated against 20 oligonucleotide primers (10-mers) for identifiable and reproducible DNA products. Primers were found that reliably produced bands unique to each species, excluding G. graminis var. graminis. Then, an additional 52 known ERI fungal isolates were screened against the species-specific 10-mers to confirm reproducibility and clarity of the DNA fingerprints. When fungal isolates were obtained from diseased turfgrass roots, clinical identification of ERI fungi was achieved in 2 to 3 weeks.
Conservative pneumothorax management: How big is too big?

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

Guidelines on primary spontaneous pneumothorax (PSP) management differ but commonly recommend intervention especially for larger PSPs. Evidence for recommending intervention over conservative management, even for large PSPs, appears scarce. We believe intervention is rarely required, that complications can and do ensue, and that conservative management of PSP has good outcomes without the risks associated with guideline-mandated intervention. Conservative management of large PSPs is outside current guidelines, despite a long international and local history of large PSPs being successfully managed in this way. We sought to examine the evidence base for compelling reasons to change our current conservative practice. We are conducting a Cochrane Review of management of PSP; this is ongoing. We have performed a retrospective review of PSP patients admitted to our hospital and mostly managed conservatively, with good outcomes, no complications, and no increased need for pleurodesis. Finally, here, we describe six consecutive PSP cases, all large, treated conservatively outside current guidelines but with no complications and good outcomes. Patient satisfaction with this treatment was high. Pain scores, hospital stays, subsequent need for surgery, and complication rates were low in this small series, although there were more outpatient follow up appointments during the recovery phase. Our review has found that current clinical guidelines on interventional PSP management have a limited evidence base. Our observations suggest that conservative management may be as safe and effective in many PSPs, regardless of size. We continue to study PSP cases prospectively.
Feature Extraction and Damage-Precursors for Prognostication of Lead-Free Electronics

Field: Engineering (Physical Sciences)

Damage pre-cursors based health management and prognostication methodology has been presented for electronic systems in harsh environments. The framework has been developed based on a development of correlation between damage pre-cursors and underlying degradation mechanisms in lead-free packaging architectures. The proposed methodology eliminates the need for knowledge of prior stress histories and enables interrogation of system state using the identified damage pre-cursors. Test vehicle includes various area-array packaging architectures subjected to single thermo-mechanical stresses including thermal cycling in the range of -40/spl deg/C to 125/spl deg/C and isothermal aging at 125/spl deg/C. Experimental data on damage pre-cursors has been presented for packaging architectures encompassing flex-substrate ball grid arrays, chip-array ball grid arrays, and plastic ball grid arrays. Examples of damage proxies include, phase-growth parameter, intermetallic thickness and interfacial stress variations. Damage proxies have correlated with residual life. The damage proxies have also been correlated with computational finite-element model predictions. Plastic and creep strain energy densities have been correlated to the identified damage proxies.
Evaluation of the Lactobacillus gasseri K7 and LF221 strains in weaned piglets for their possible probiotic use and their detection in the faeces

Field: Veterinary (Health Sciences)

\nLactobacillus gasseri LF221 and K7 are human isolates that were recognised in previous studies as potential probiotics. In the present study, the detection of LF221 or K7 strains in the faeces as well as their effects on the faecal coliform and lactobacilli counts and on the production parameters were studied in 18 weaned piglets. The animals were divided into three groups: an untreated control group and two groups dosed for 14 days, Lb. gasseri K7 or LF221. The experimental period lasted 25 days. For the discrimination among strains LF221, K7 and other faecal microflora, a combined approach that included culturing on selective media, testing of antimicrobial activity and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis was used. The administration of a single probiotic strain (a daily dose of $5 \\times 10^{10}$ cfu per piglet) did not significantly influence the viable counts of the coliforms ($P > 0.05$). A significantly higher number of lactobacilli in comparison with the control group was found in the K7 group after 15 days of probiotic bacteria administration ($P = 0.02$) but not in the LF221 group. The probiotic treatment did not have a significant influence on feed intake ($P > 0.05$) and weight gain ($P > 0.05$). The feed conversion efficiency in the K7 treated group during the whole period was significantly more favourable ($P < 0.05$) than in the non-treated control group (1.51 and 1.87, respectively). All the piglets remained healthy and no case of diarrhoea was observed. The LF221 and K7 strains survived the passage through the intestines and were successfully detected in the faeces. The colonies identical to the LF221 and K7 strains were isolated only from the faeces of animals fed with the LF221 or K7 strain, respectively. \n
SPL Sound Pressure Level

Field: Engineering (Physical Sciences)

This paper describes a study of sound generated by supersonic jets such as those emanating from the exhausts of high-performance military aircraft. Four different nozzles are employed: one convergent nozzle and three convergent-divergent nozzles with design Mach numbers of 1.3, 1.5 and 1.65. All four nozzles have been built as laboratory-scale test articles and large-eddy simulations have been applied to jet flows from the C-D nozzle with a design Mach number of 1.5. They are all studied at their design Mach number and at an underexpanded condition. The convergent-divergent nozzles are also studied at an overexpanded condition. CFD and shadowgraph both show that these nozzles produce a shock at the nozzle throat which is present whether the nozzle is operated at design or off-design. Acoustic measurements also show that shock-associated noise is generated even at the design condition. Examination of the curve of OASPL as a function of fully-expanded Mach number has found no minimum at or near the design Mach number.
Postharvest Light Irradiation Induces Anthocyanin Accumulation in Fresh‐Cut Lily Bulb (Lilium davidii var. unicolor) Scales

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences (Life Sciences)

During the storage and processing time of the lily bulb, violet‐red discoloration of the scales often occurs, which is mainly caused by the biosynthesis of anthocyanin. To investigate the effect of light irradiation on the accumulation of anthocyanin in fresh‐cut lily bulb scales, here, we examined the effect of 12 days of light irradiation and shading at 20°C on the accumulation of anthocyanin. We found that the violet‐red color change of the lily bulb scales treated with 20°C/light irradiation was greater than that of the scales subjected to 20°C/shading treatment. This difference was based on variations in the L ∗ , a ∗ , and b ∗ values, as well as the degree of browning on the surface of the scales. The anthocyanin content in fresh‐cut lily bulb scales treated with light irradiation was 5.08 times higher than that in the shaded treatment on Day 6, and this higher content persisted until Day 12. The activities of chalcone synthase (CHS), chalcone isomerase (CHI), dihydroflavonol reductase (DFR), and anthocyanin synthase (ANS) which belong to the anthocyanin synthetases family were enhanced by light irradiation treatment. RT‐qPCR analysis showed that the expression of CHS , CHI , DFR , and ANS was consistent with enzyme activity. Furthermore, light irradiation increased the expression of HY5. Thus, these results suggested that light irradiation treatment induced the accumulation of anthocyanins in fresh‐cut lily bulb scales to a greater extent than shadowing treatment. These results will contribute to understanding the mechanism of violet‐red color change induced by light irradiation in lily bulbs.
Resistance training, skeletal muscle and growth.

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

Resistance training in youth and its effectiveness, possible effect on growth and safety considerations, has received considerable public and scientific attention in recent years. Although few early studies questioned the usefulness of resistance training in children, numerous recent studies have demonstrated its effectiveness in both children and adolescents. Nevertheless, the optimal intensity and volume of training for youths of different ages requires further study. The increase in strength following resistance training in youths, especially in prepubertal children, is believed to be due mainly to neural adaptations and only minimally, if at all, to muscle hypertrophy. Few studies have examined the long-term effect of resistance training on growth. The few which have, found that, contrary to the common misconception that resistance training may retard growth. Scientific evidence indicates that resistance training results in increased serum IGF-I and that there is no detrimental effect on linear growth. Finally, numerous studies have demonstrated that with appropriate supervision and precautions, resistance training can be safe and effective for children and adolescents.
Echocardiography of the Aortic Root

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

The echo pattern of the aortic root is elicited by locating the typical echo of the mitral valve and then angulating the transducer medially and sometimes cephalically. The characteristic echo pattern of the aortic root consists of paired undulating signals three to five cm apart. These signals move anteriorly during systole and posteriorly during diastole. Their position is central in relation to echoes arising from the mitral and tricuspid valves, corresponding to the anatomic position of the aortic root. The movement pattern is identical to the mitral annulus, which also represents a portion of the fibrous skeleton of the heart. Lesser echoes originating between the undulating margins of the aortic root were identified as arising from the valve cusps by correlating their motion with the production of the cardiac sounds. Further support was gained by recording abnormally intense and distorted signals in patients with calcific aortic stenosis. Anatomic validation of the aortic origin of these echoes was obtained by means of ultrasonic contrast injections made during radiologic studies of the aortic root. Saline was injected in the supravalvular position during continuous echocardiographic recording and was detected as a cloud of echoes limited by the parallel signals of the aortic root. Systolic movement of the aortic cusps was accompanied by the delivery of non-contrast blood from the left ventricle which produced defects in the contrast image paralleling the excursion of the linear signals from the cusps.
Phosphoglycerate kinase gene from Zymomonas mobilis: cloning, sequencing, and localization within the gap operon

Field: Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology (Life Sciences)

The Zymomonas mobilis gene encoding phosphoglycerate kinase (EC 2.7.3.2), pgk, has been cloned into Escherichia coli and sequenced. It consists of 336 amino acids, including the N-terminal methionine, with a molecular weight of 41,384. This promoterless gene is located 225 base pairs downstream from the gap gene and is part of the gap operon. Previous studies have shown that the specific activities of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase and phosphoglycerate kinase do not change coordinately in Z. mobilis, although the two enzymes appear to be under the control of a common promoter. The translated amino acid sequence for the Z. mobilis phosphoglycerate kinase is less conserved than those of eucaryotic genes. A comparison of known sequences for phosphoglycerate kinase revealed a high degree of conservation of structure with 102 amino acid positions being retained by all. In general, the amino acid positions at the boundaries of beta-sheet and alpha-helical regions and those connecting these regions were more highly conserved than the amino acid positions within regions of secondary structure.
Non-Hodgkins lymphoma of bilateral eyelids with basal cell carcinoma of nose: a rare case report

Field: Medicine (Health Sciences)

Malignant tumours affecting the eyelid mainly include basal cell carcinoma. Non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma may occur in almost any part of the body and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of extra lymphoid tumours. Non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma of the eyelid is rare. Rare diseases should be considered in differential diagnoses because they have the tendency for rapid systemic involvement and they may require treatments that are different from the other common diseases. Basal cell carcinoma occurs most frequently at sun-exposed sites, most commonly in the head and neck regions. The aim of any therapy selected for BCC treatment involving the head and neck is to ensure complete removal, functional preservation, and a good cosmetic outcome. Here, we reported a case of a 70-year-old female with non-Hodgkin lymphoma of eyelids followed by basal cell carcinoma of the nose treated with multimodality approach.
Prices of Highway Resurfacing Projects in Economic Downturn: Lessons Learned and Strategies Forward

Field: Engineering (Physical Sciences)

It was observed that economic downturns were typically associated with oil price shocks. Based on historical construction data from highway resurfacing projects in Kentucky, this paper investigates the relationship between oil price, Kentucky diesel price index (KDPI), Kentucky asphalt price index (KAPI), and construction cost of highway resurfacing projects. It was found that the bidding price of a commonly used asphalt mixture was significantly affected by four factors: KDPI, KAPI, number of bidders, and a recession factor primarily attributable to the “sticky prices” effect. The KDPI and KAPI can be estimated from the oil price by regression models. The sensitivity of the asphalt mixture and resurfacing project costs to oil price variation was analyzed. On the basis of the analysis result, it is suggested that the highway agencies may avoid the oil price peak typically preceding a recession and take advantage of the oil price plunge after the recession starts. However, in the long run, the agencies and the highway construction industry need to find a solution that is less dependent on oil products.
Analysis of Peasant Farmers in Rabbit Production in Sokoto State, Nigeria

Field: Agricultural and Biological Sciences (Life Sciences)

The study evaluated the analysis of peasant farmers in rabbit production in Sokoto south local government area in Sokoto state, Nigeria. The procedure involved multi stage sampling t echniques of the sample size and the use of questionnaire was employed. The entire respondents were rabbit farmers. This study examined current trend on small and ultra - small - holder rabbits units in Sokoto south of Sokoto state Nigeria. The methodology com bined questionnaire survey with on - farm monitoring and recording of data in relations to socio - economic characteristics of rabbits keepers, management, constraints and marketing outlets .the result obtained was presented in frequency and percentage table. The study shows that 70% were male while 30% were female. The study also review that 44%, 36%, 12% and 8%represent the ages of rabbits farmers of 25 - 35years, 36 - 45years, 46 - 45years and 56years and above respectively within the study area, it was also revie w that 64%, 20%, and 16% represent the marital status which includes that of single married and widow. the distributions of years of farmers experience in rabbits production is also represented by 20%, 40%, 10%, and 30% of 1 - 6years, 7 - 12years and 19 years and above of experience respectively. It also reveals that the source of breeding stocks by the farmers, i.e. from own stock, other farmers, market and research institutions which was represented by 40%, 20%, 36% and 4% respectively. And with respect to ho using many farmer place their cage outside the house (70%) and also the major disease experience by the farmer is manage (52%) which serves as one of constrains facing the rabbit farmer meanwhile mating of does follows seasonal pattern due to seasonal heat stress. About (52%) farmer noted that does perceptivity and conception rates were markedly low during the dry season. From this study it highly recommended that the farmer should put down the use of personal experience in putting the animal and the extens ion agent should reach out to the rabbit farmers for proper and adequate information and the farmer should make used of stocks from the research institute for stocks replacement/breeding.
Opportunity Knocks? Professionalism and excellence in university teaching

Field: Social Sciences (Social Sciences)

Abstract This paper proposes that excellence in teaching resides in a reflective, self‐critical, theoretically informed approach. A training programme for new teachers is used as an example of how the approach advocated can be put into practice. Evidence is presented which indicates that academic teachers pursuing such an approach develop conceptions of teaching which can contribute to improved practice; and which may also contribute to changing thinking about teaching and learning in departments. It is argued that encouraging reflective pedagogy has the potential of engaging academics in making the cultural changes necessary to professionalise and enhance the status of teaching. Finally, it is suggested that, although the methodology used by the inspection teams of the Teaching Quality Assessment (TQA) is problematic, the impetus provided can be used as an opportunity to explore and establish creative and worthwhile ways of improving the quality of teaching.
Systematic prediction of new inorganic ferroelectrics in point group 4

Field: Materials Science (Physical Sciences)

The latest release of the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database contains a total of 87 entries corresponding to 70 different materials in point group 4. The structures reported for 11 materials in space group P 4 satisfy the criteria for ferroelectricity, as do four in P 4 1 , one each in P 4 2 and P 4 3 , 12 in I 4, including seven that form three families, and another three in I 4 1 . Three previously known ferroelectrics were also listed in I 4 and one in I 4 1 . In addition, the listing for point group 4 contains 22 entries for nonferroelectric materials and three with misassigned space groups. Among the newly predicted ferroelectrics in point group 4, assuming the validity of the underlying structural reports, are Ce 5 B 2 C 6 , modulated NbTe 4 , Na 3 Nb 12 O 31 F, Ca 2 FeO 3 Cl, K 4 CuV 5 O 15 Cl, TlBO 2 , CrOF 3 , PbTeO 3 , VO(HPO 3 )(H 2 O).3H 2 O, MgB 2 O(OH) 6 , β-tetragonal boron, CuBi 2 O 4 , WOBr 4 , Na 8 PtO 6 , SbF 2 Cl 3 , Ba 1.2 Ti 8 O 16 , Ni[SC(NH 2 ) 2 ] 4 Cl 2 , Ca 2 SiO 3 Cl 2 , the mineral caratiite, NbAs, β-NbO 2 and Ag 3 BiO 3 .