Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
A spatial resolution threshold of land cover in estimating terrestrial carbon sequestration in four counties in Georgia and Alabama, USA

Abstract. Changes in carbon density (i.e., carbon stock per unit area) and land cover greatly affect carbon sequestration. Previous studies have shown that land cover change detection strongly depends on spatial scale. However, the influence of the spatial resolution of land cover change information on the estimated terrestrial carbon sequestration is not known. Here, we quantified and evaluated the impact of land cover change databases at various spatial resolutions (250 m, 500 m, 1 km, 2 km, and 4 km) on the magnitude and spatial patterns of regional carbon sequestration in four counties in Georgia and Alabama using the General Ensemble biogeochemical Modeling System (GEMS). Results indicated a threshold of 1 km in the land cover change databases and in the estimated regional terrestrial carbon sequestration. Beyond this threshold, significant biases occurred in the estimation of terrestrial carbon sequestration, its interannual variability, and spatial patterns. In addition, the overriding impact of interannual climate variability on the temporal change of regional carbon sequestration was unrealistically overshadowed by the impact of land cover change beyond the threshold. The implications of these findings directly challenge current continental- to global-scale carbon modeling efforts relying on information at coarse spatial resolution without incorporating fine-scale land cover dynamics.
Influence of Time Addition and Rates of Boron Foliar Application on Growth, Quality and Yield Traits of Sugar Beet

Sugar beet is considered the second source for sugar production in Egypt and in many countries all over the world. The Egyptian government encourages sugar beet growers to increase the cultivated area with sugar beet to increase sugar production and decrease the gap between sugar production and consumption. There are several advantages favoring sugar beet as a suitable crop in Egypt. The crop is annual grows during the winter season, with a relatively short duration period and allows for growing a summer crop during the same year. Proper plant nutrition is an important factor for improving productivity and quality of agricultural production. Root fresh weight, sucrose %, root and top yields significantly increased by increasing boron levels (Jaszczolt, 1998).
How Do Entrepreneurial Technology Firms Really Get Financed and What Difference Does it Make

This paper discusses an emerging heterodoxy in the academic literature on entre- preneurial technology finance that is based on the idea of "bootstrapping. " Bootstrap finance is a third approach (emphasizing funding technology ventures through revenue and other non-traditional sources), alongside the orthodoxies of traditional business finance (emphasizing debt) and contemporary venture finance (emphasizing venture capital and public equity). The paper also reports the results of an original empirical study of entrepreneurial technology firms in the bioscience-related industries in the United States. The data from the study show that "unorthodox" bootstrap financing is actually the dominant kind of financing in those high technology industries. The data are analyzed to explore industry effects, regional milieux effects, and entrepreneurial-status effects on the relative mix of bootstrap finance and the three traditional sources of finance: venture capital, public equity and debt finance. The effects on firm behavior and performance of variations in financing strategy are explored, with implications for managers of entrepreneurial technology ventures and educators concerned with technology entrepreneurship.
Impact of Social Assistance on Labor Market Mobility: The Case of Turkey

This paper assesses the extent to which social assistance programs in Turkey impact the labor market behavior of those who receive benefits. Theoretically, the possible channels through which the receipt of social assistance may disincentivize work are quite clear, even if the substantial literature analyzing these dynamics is somewhat inconclusive. The analysis confirms that even when controlling for the relevant factors, social assistance beneficiaries are significantly more likely than non-beneficiaries to be unemployed or informally employed, and therefore less likely to be formally employed. Furthermore, among the unemployed, the probability of moving into informal employment is found to be significantly larger for beneficiaries than for non-beneficiaries. The paper concludes that there are potential disincentive effects at play in the decision to work, but particularly in whether to work formally or informally. Finally, an interesting and perhaps counterintuitive finding is that beneficiaries who are inactive are less likely to stay inactive in comparison with non-beneficiaries, which suggests that social assistance may be playing an activation role rather than leading to increased dependency. This, coupled with the previous findings, would indicate that disincentives to work, based on current design parameters, may not be the primary concern. Rather, disincentives to formality may be the prevailing channel through which social assistance affects labor market outcomes. More attention to designing programs that are incentive-compatible with formal employment would be a useful next step for public policy in this area.
PHOSPHORUS-MOLYBDENUM RELATIONSHIP IN SOIL AND RED CLOVER (Trifolium pratense L.) ON AN ACID ANDISOL

We studied the phosphorous (P) and molybdenum (Mo) relationship in soil and red clover (Trifoliumpratense L.) in a non limed and limed acid Andisol of Southern Chile. In soil, we evaluated the effect of different liming (0 and 2000 mg kg-1), P (0, 200 and 400 mg kg-1), and Mo (0, 0.58 and 0.96 mg kg-1) doses supply on soil available Mo. In addition, the availability of P and Calcium (Ca) in treated soils was determinated. In red clover, we studied the Mo and P shoot concentrations and dry matter yield in response to the different treatments applied to the soil. Also, we measured the changes produced by Mo uptake in shoot Cu concentrations. The results showed that both, lime and more strongly P and Mo additions significantly (P ≥ 0.05) increased soil Mo availability. In contrast, soil available P was not significantly (P ≥0.05) affected by liming and Mo treatments. A significant high correlation (r = 0.579, at P ≥ 0.05) was observed among soil Mo availability and shoot Mo concentrations, as well as between soil available P and shoot concentration of P (r = 0.844, at P ≥ 0.01). In this study for all fertilization treatments, shoot Cu concentrations reached values which are considered as normal for forage species. We also shown that the simultaneous applications of high P and Mo rates could be produce red clover shoot Cu/Mo ratios that should provoke Mo-induced Cu deficiency (Molybdenosis) for the cattle. Red clover yield was no significantly different in limed and non limed soils. Nevertheless, red clover yield production increased at increasing rates of P and Mo in both, non limed and limed soil. The major practical implication of these results is that the application of Mo doses equal or superior to 200 g ha-1 to acid Andisols, are recommendable to obtain appropriate Mo shoot content on red clover. In addition, our results shown that P supply to these soils, rather than liming, is necessary to obtain sufficient values of shoot Mo concentrations in red clover.
Key Determinants of German Banking Sector Performance

What drives banking performance is a little-explored research topic, despite the copious literature. This paper reports findings that offer new insights into what drives net interest margin, a key performance indicator (KPI) for the German banking sector. We consider the link between performance and a few carefully chosen critical bank-specific factors using the most up-to-date econometric methods such as panel regressions using a Generalized Method of Moments with data from 11 recent years. The results show that credit risk, income diversification and size have significant negative effects on net interest margin, as predicted by theory. Meanwhile, capital adequacy has a positive effect, as does the liquidity risk. The paper also finds that the effects of concentration and macroeconomic variables on net interest margin are weak and statistically insignificant. In this study, it was found that credit risk, income diversification, size, capital adequacy and liquidity risk are significant factors contributing to a new understanding of German banking performance.
Observations of the Critical Heat Flux Process During Pool Boiling of FC-72

Experimental work was undertaken to investigate the process by which pool-boiling critical heat flux (CHF) occurs using an IR camera to measure the local temperature and heat transfer coefficients on a heated silicon surface. The wetted area fraction (WF), the contact line length density (CLD), the frequency between dryout events, the lifetime of the dry patches, the speed of the advancing and receding contact lines, the dry patch size distribution on the surface, and the heat transfer from the liquid-covered areas were measured throughout the boiling curve. Quantitative analysis of this data at high heat flux and transition through CHF revealed that the boiling curve can simply be obtained by weighting the heat flux from the liquid-covered areas by WF. CHF mechanisms proposed in the literature were evaluated against the observations. [DOI: 10.1115/1.4025697]
User Intentions to Adopt Mobile Payment Services: A Study of Early Adopters in Thailand

The adoption and use of M-payment services has become critical for entities involved in the mobile commerce industry in Asian countries. This paper reports on research that investigated the factors affecting consumer intentions to adopt mobile payment (Mpayment) services in Thailand. The study developed a model based on an extended version of the technology acceptance model (TAM) that was modified using constructs that were explained in terms of Hofstede’s cultural dimensions allowing the findings to be reported in context using the Thai national setting. Arguably, the alignment of cultural dimensions with the extended TAM constructs is one that distinguishes the contribution of the paper from previous studies. Responses from 256 early adopters of M-payment services were empirically analyzed using structural equation modelling (SEM) to test a set of research hypotheses. The results indicate that consumer adoption of M-payment services in Thailand was determined by four factors—compatibility, subjective norm, perceived trust, and perceived cost. Surprisingly, the construct of perceived risk and the two major TAM constructs—perceived usefulness (PU) and perceived ease of use (PEOU) were found not to have a direct effect on behavioral intention.
Hydrodynamic simulations of mechanical stellar feedback in a molecular cloud formed by thermal instability

We have used the AMR hydrodynamic code, MG, to perform 3D hydrodynamic simulations with self-gravity of stellar feedback in a spherical clumpy molecular cloud formed through the action of thermal instability. We simulate the interaction of the mechanical energy input from 15 Msun, 40 Msun, 60 Msun and 120 Msun stars into a 100 pc-diameter 16,500 Msun cloud with a roughly spherical morphology with randomly distributed high density condensations. The stellar winds are introduced using appropriate non-rotating Geneva stellar evolution models. In the 15 Msun star case, the wind has very little effect, spreading around a few neighbouring clumps before becoming overwhelmed by the cloud collapse. In contrast, in the 40 Msun, 60 Msun and 120 Msun star cases, the more powerful stellar winds create large cavities and carve channels through the cloud, breaking out into the surrounding tenuous medium during the wind phase and considerably altering the cloud structure. After 4.97 Myrs, 3.97 Myrs and 3.01 Myrs respectively, the massive stars explode as supernovae (SNe). The wind-sculpted surroundings considerably affect the evolution of these SN events as they both escape the cloud along wind-carved channels and sweep up remaining clumps of cloud/wind material. The `cloud' as a coherent structure does not survive the SN from any of these stars, but only in the 120 Msun case is the cold molecular material completely destabilised and returned to the unstable thermal phase. In the 40 Msun and 60 Msun cases, coherent clumps of cold material are ejected from the cloud by the SN, potentially capable of further star formation.
Use of lipids to study the trophic ecology of deep-sea xenophyophores

Xenophyophores, widespread giant deep-sea protists, dominate the megafaunal organ- isms visible on the seafloor in some areas. Owing to the extreme fragility of their tests (external part), little is known about them, and their diet is largely a matter of speculation. The extensive accumula- tion of fecal pellets (stercomes) within their tests attests to the degree to which xenophyophores feed on particulate matter. During the EUMELI 2 cruise, xenophyophores were recovered intact at the sur- face of box-cores from an abyssal mesotrophic site in the northeastern Atlantic. They were identified as Syringammina corbicula. In our study, we compare the lipid composition of xenophyophores col- lected at the top of cores with sediment from the same mesotrophic environment devoid of these pro- tists. The distribution of lipid classes was obtained by the use of the Iatroscan (TLC-FID) technique, and the molecular composition of several lipid classes containing fatty acids and sterols was investi- gated. Of special interest are the triacylglycerols of xenophyophores, energy storage lipids in ani- mals, resulting in part from fatty acids found in their diet. They contained a higher level of bacterial fatty acids than those in the reference sediment. It would seem that, in addition to particle trapping, xenophyophores also feed on microbes. Our study points to the occurrence of a specialized bacterial flora, probably growing on the stercomes, which might serve as a secondary food source different from the microflora found in the control sediment.
Influence of pollution along a natural gradient and in a mesocosm experiment on biomass-size spectra of benthic communities

Biomass-size spectra of benthic communities at 6 sites in Frierfjord/Langesundfjord. Norway, and in 4 experimental mesocosm basins at Solbergstrand, Nonuay, are presented, as evaluated during the GEEP Workshop. Fjord sites were selected to represent a pollutant gradient based on known sources of pollution. Three of the mesocosm basins were exposed to different dosing levels of a mixture of diesel oil and copper for ca 3 mo; the 4th basin served as control. Communities from the fjord sites showed differences in size-structure that could be related, in part, to their proximity to pollution sources. Mesocosm communities revealed no significant differences in size-structure attributable to dosing level.
Effect of antioxidants supplementation on plasma hormonal profiles in Hallikar cattle during different seasons

Present study was carried out to ascertain the influence of different seasons on hormonal profiles in Hallikar cattle. Two groups (control and supplemented) of healthy female Hallikar cattle with six animals in each group selected from Madabal Village of Ramanagara District, Karnataka, India, were utilized for the present study. Selected animals were exposed to environmental stressors during three different seasons (winter, summer and rainy) by allowing them for grazing daily. Animals of control group received no supplementation but supplemented group received oral supplementation of vitamin E and selenium, during the study period. Blood samples collected from all the animals at monthly interval during three different seasons were processed to obtain the plasma which were stored at - 80 oC until they are utilized for determination of hormones like triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), insulin and cortisol using radioimmunoassay technique. In the present study, triiodothyronine and thyroxine levels reduced significantly (P<0.05) during summer season compared to other seasons in control group animals. In both control and supplemented group, plasma insulin levels declined significantly (P<0.05) and plasma cortisol levels increased significantly (P<0.05) during summer compared to other seasons. Form the study, it was concluded that the summer stress reduces the thyroid and pancreatic activity leading reduced secretion of thyroid hormones and insulin. Further, the summer stress stimulates the adrenal cortical activity leading to enhanced secretion of the cortisol in Hallikar cattle.
Revisiting the mining controversy of Bangka Island, Minahasa Regency, North Sulawesi, Indonesia

Bangka Island in North Sulawesi is home to several endemic and endangered terrestrial and marine wildlife and at the same time a well-known tourist destination is facing a serious threat to irreversible environmental destruction due to mining activities. Although finally ordered closure by Indonesian Supreme Court, the initial mining activities have greatly impacted the highly critical environment of Bangka Island. The authors examined the documents (including government-issued permits as well as related laws and regulations) and interviewed key respondents as to their knowledge of the supposed mining activity and their perceived impacts. Results revealed that there were lapses in the Indonesian government’s side in issuing permits. The respondents (N=35) are fully aware of the said mining activity and its potential impact on the livelihoods (mainly fishing and tourism) that highly depend the to the fragile island ecosystem of Bangka Island.
Effect of Integrated Crop- Management Packages on Yield and Yield Components of Faba Bean (Vicia faba L.) Cultivars in Southern Ethiopia

Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is one of the most important pulse crops grown by farmers in Hula Woreda, southern Ethiopia. However, the actual farm yield of 1.2-1.6 t ha-1 is much lower than the potential yield, which is 1.5-3.5 t ha-1 on farmers’ fields under improved management and 2-5 t ha-1 in research station. This lower yield is due to poor management of the crop including lack of proper weed control, planting methods and fertilizer application. Hence, a field trial was conducted in Hula Woreda, during 2011 cropping season to determine the effect of integrated crop-management packages on yield and yield components of Gebelcho and local faba bean varieties. Varieties were factorially combined with nine management packages in RCBD design with three replications. Varieties were significantly different for days to flowering, days to maturity, leaf area index, nodule number, nodule dry weight, crop biomass, grain yield and yield components. Variety Gebelcho exceeded the local variety by 11% for leaf area index, 14% for nodule number, 21% for nodule dry weight, 7% for crop biomass, and 24% for grain yield. Gebelcho also gave more number of pods plant-1, number of seeds pod-1 and 100 seed weight than local variety. Varieties did not differ significantly for crop stand count, plant height, weed count and weed biomass. Management packages differed significantly for crop growth attributes, weed count, weed biomass, grain yield and yield components. More number of pods plant-1, number of seeds pod-1, 100 seed weight and grain yield were obtained from the improved (package 1) than control (package 9). Economic analysis showed that, Gebelcho (improved cultivar) and package 1 (row planting, twice weeding and application of 100 kg DAP ha-1) gave higher net benefits of Birr 12400 and 12715 ha-1 with 980% and 109% marginal rates of return, respectively, and these were identified to be the best options.
Mediator effect of statistical process control between TQM and business performance in Malaysia Automotive Industry

In today’s highly competitive market, Total Quality Management (TQM) is vital management tool in ensuring a company can success in their business. In order to survive in the global market with intense competition amongst regions and enterprises, the adoption of tools and techniques are essential in improving business performance. There are consistent results between TQM and business performance. However, only few previous studies have examined the mediator effect namely statistical process control (SPC) between TQM and business performance. A mediator is a third variable that changes the association between an independent variable and an outcome variable. This study present research proposed a TQM performance model with mediator effect of SPC with structural equation modelling, which is a more comprehensive model for developing countries, specifically for Malaysia. A questionnaire was prepared and sent to 1500 companies from automotive industry and the related vendors in Malaysia, giving a 21.8 per cent rate. Attempts were made at findings significant impact of mediator between TQM practices and business performance showed that SPC is important tools and techniques in TQM implementation. The result concludes that SPC is partial correlation between and TQM and BP with indirect effect (IE) is 0.25 which can be categorised as high moderator effect.
Mass cannibalism in the Linear Pottery Culture at Herxheim (Palatinate, Germany)

The Early Neolithic central place at Herxheim is defined by a perimeter of elongated pits containing fragments of human bone, together with pottery imported from areas several hundred kilometres distant. This article offers a context for the centre, advancing strong evidence that the site was dedicated to ritual activities in which cannibalism played an important part.
Relationship between CME Speed and Geomagnetic Storm Intensity

In this paper, we discuss the solar origin and interplanetary consequences of the coronal mass ejection of March 29, 2001 that was responsible for the most intense geomagnetic storm (DST ∼ −377 nT) of the current solar cycle to date. A comparison of the CME of March 29, 2001, with a set of geo‐effective halo CMEs associated with X‐class flares showed that the strength of the geomagnetic storm at the earth is well correlated with the speed of the halo. Our study shows that the fast ejection is responsible for building up the ram pressure at the earth's magnetosphere. This may serve as a useful tool in the forecasting of intense geomagnetic storms.
Miocene Decapod Crustacean from the Guri Member of the Mishan Formation, Bandar-Abbas, Southern Iran

One decapod crustacean species, Portunus withersi (Glaessner, �933), from Guri Member (early Miocene) from the Mishan Formation of Hormozgan Province, Southern Iran is reported. This species previously was described in the Fars area, but this is the first report from this area. This species confirms the early Miocene age; the lower boundary of the Guri Member is coincident with the lower Miocene. Recognition of the age of this member is very important because the lower boundary of the Guri member ranges from early to middle Miocene from the west to east in the Zagros Basin. This member north of Bandar-Abbas is older than it is in the west of the Basin. This paper introduces only the second report of Cenozoic crustaceans from the Zagros Basin. Thin sections of the carbonate unit have been studied in order to interpret the sedimentary environment. Studied allochems confirmed an open lagoon and some patch reefs with high flow of sea water Abstract Bulletin of the Mizunami Fossil Museum, no. 38 (2012), p. 1-7, 7 figs. © 20�2, Mizunami Fossil Museum
Stability analysis of a general SIR epidemic model

A proper structure of mathematical model is required to understand the large size dynamics of the spread of an infectious disease. In this paper, we discuss a general SIR epidemic model which represents the direct transmission of infectious disease. The reproduction number R0 is determined and the local and global stabilities of both the disease-free and the endemic equilibrium are derived