Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Egyptian apricot stone (Prunus armeniaca) as a low cost and eco-friendly biosorbent for oxamyl removal from aqueous solutions.

In this work, activated carbon was prepared from apricot stone (ASAC) waste to remove the insecticide oxamyl from aqueous solutions. The effect of different parameters such as adsorbent dose, the initial oxamyl concentration and contact time were investigated. Adsorption isotherm, kinetics and thermodynamics of oxamyl on ASAC were studied. Equilibrium data were fitted to the Langmuir, Freundlich, Temkin and DubininRadushkevich (D-R) isotherm models. Langmuir isotherm provided the best fit to the equilibrium data with maximum adsorption capacity of 147.05 (mg/g). Kinetic studies were also undertaken in terms of pseudo-first-order, pseudo-second-order and intraparticle diffusion kinetic models for oxamyl on ASAC. The adsorption process follows the pseudosecond order kinetic with high coefficients correlation. The thermodynamic parameters ∆Go, ∆Ho and ∆So determined, showed that the adsorption of oxamyl onto ASAC was feasible, spontaneous and endothermic. The results showed that ASAC is an efficient adsorbent for the adsorptive removal of oxamyl from aqueous solutions. Original Research Article American Journal of Experimental Agriculture, 4(3): 302-321, 2014 303
Microbial quality and chemical composition of traditional ice cream collected from Kermanshah province, Iran.

Article history Received: 12 May, 2015 Revised: 3 Jun, 2015 Accepted: 4 Jun, 2015 Abstract The aim of the present study was to investigate microbial quality and chemical composition of sold ice cream in retail markets of different parts of Kermanshah city, west of Iran. A total 120 samples of traditional ice cream collected from different local markets (north, south, east, west and centre of city). Out of total 120 samples, 93 ice cream samples (77.5%) exceeded standard value of total bacterial count, which is 5×10 CFU/g. In case of total Enterobacteriacea count, 81 samples (67.5%) crossed the standard value which is 100 CFU/g. Similarly, 27 samples (22.5%) and 57 samples (47.5%) were found crossing the standard value of Staphylococcal count (100 CFU/g) and E. coil (0 CFU/g), respectively. The mean values of the main components of ice cream were 9.18±1.36% fat, 2.67±1.01% protein, 33.28±1.89 total solids (%), 0.64±0.01% ash and 9.56±2.29% sucrose. Our findings indicate that traditional ice creams produced in different parts of Kermanshah city has poor microbiological quality. It is imperative that bacteriological standards be enforced in order to prevent traditional ice cream-borne diseases.
LC-MS based identification of secondary metabolites from marine antagonistic endophytic bacteria

Halophytes occupy coastal and sub-coastal area of marine environment. They potential candidates for search of novel and new bacterial flora that have immense potential to yield novel therapeutic agents. Six different endophytic bacteria have been isolated from pneumatophores and roots of three halophytes (Salsola imbricata, Avicennia marina and Haplopeplis perfoliata) collected from western coastal area of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. After testing against five fungal pathogens all were active against oomycetes fungal pathogens, Phytophthora capsici and Pythium ultimum. Molecular identification of the bacteria was done on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences which revealed 95.9–99.4% sequence identity to related type strains and were placed in four major genera and two major classes: Actinobacteria (Streptomyces and Nocardioides) and α-Proteobacteria (Inquilinus and Labrezia). Active metabolites of these six bacterial endophytes including EA61, EA83, EA85, EA87, EA97 and EA220 were identified by subjecting to chemical analyses using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). LC-MS analyses showed presence of different active compounds in the culture extracts of these isolates. Some of these metabolites are already reported as synthetic molecules and has diverse biological functions as antimicrobial, anti-inflammatory and anthelmintic compounds such as such as Sulfamethoxypyridazine, Sulfamonomethoxine, Sulfamerazine and Dimetridazole, Sulfadiazin
Critical factors influencing the project success amongst manufacturing companies in Malaysia

The purpose of this study is to investigate the critical factors that influence a successful project among manufacturing companies in Penang, Malaysia. In addition, this study is also aimed to explore if project change control play a role in moderating the relationship between the independent variables and dependent variable identified in this research. Through the literature review process, it was found that project mission, top management support, client consultation, technical task, personnel competency, client acceptance, trouble shooting, project plan monitoring and effective communication are among the critical factors identified. From the 79 respondents who responded to 79 successfully completed projects, this study revealed that project success in the manufacturing context was in two dimensions which this study classified as micro and macro project success. This study also demonstrated empirically that project personnel competency and project mission are critical factors influencing the micro project success and as for macro project success, top management support and project mission are two main critical factors.
SEARCHING FOR NATIVE EGG-PARASITOIDS OF THE INVASIVE ALIEN SPECIES HALYOMORPHA HALYS STÅL (HETEROPTERA PENTATOMIDAE) IN SOUTHERN EUROPE

Halyomorpha halys is an invasive species, originating from East Asia, which was accidentally introduced in some areas of North America and Europe, where severe damages to different vegetable crops and fruit plants were recorded. Several studies in different countries focused on the possibility to apply biological control by means of egg- parasitoids. The main egg-parasitoids in the original area are unfortunately non-specific and thus the application of classical biological control is questionable. On the other hand, the possibility of using augmentative biological control by native egg-parasitoids able to exploit the new host is an interesting possibility in both Europe and the USA. In a preliminary assay, frozen egg masses of H. halys were exposed in the field in Central Italy. Results showed that some eggs were exploited by parasitoids belonging to the species Anastatus bifasciatus and Ooencyrtus telenomicida . Therefore, different native egg-parasitoids species widespread in Europe were tested in the laboratory in order to explore their ability to parasitize H. halys eggs. To this end, no-choice tests were carried out in climatic chambers (26°C, 70%RH, 16:8 L:D) in order to evaluate the parasitization potential of females collected in the wild. Conducted tests pointed out that A. bifasciatus and especially O. telenomicida may be potential candidates for the biological control of H. halys . In particular, O. telenomicida was able to parasitize the 35.56% of the exposed host eggs in the lab tests. New adults successfully emerged from the 22.92% of the eggs, and on the whole, this egg-parasitoid caused a significant hatching reduction of the H. halys eggs (more than 70%). Conversely, Telenomus chloropus and Ooencyrtus pityocampae were less promising species as biocontrol agents of this agricultural pest. Preliminary trials in pear orchards consisting of field releases of laboratory-reared specimens of O. telenomicida, one of the potential candidates for biological control, showed that this parasitoid is actually able to discover egg masses of H. halys (sentinel frozen egg masses) and to successfully parasitize them.
Possible physical and thermodynamical evidence for liquid water at the Phoenix landing site

[1] The objective of the Phoenix mission is to determine if Mars' polar region can support life. Since liquid water is a basic ingredient for life, as we know it, an important goal of the mission is to determine if liquid water exists at the landing site. It is believed that a layer of Martian soil preserves ice by forming a barrier against high temperatures and sublimation, but that exposed ice sublimates without the formation of the liquid phase. Here we show possible independent physical and thermodynamical evidence that besides ice, liquid saline water exists in areas disturbed by the Phoenix Lander. Moreover, we show that the thermodynamics of freeze-thaw cycles can lead to the formation of saline solutions with freezing temperatures lower than current summer ground temperatures on the Phoenix landing site on Mars' Arctic. Thus, we hypothesize that liquid saline water might occur where ground ice exists near the Martian surface. The ideas and results presented in this article provide significant new insights into the behavior of water on Mars.
Indexing design knowledge based upon descriptions of design processes

This work continues development and evaluation of a practical approach to a Design Research Methodology developed previously [1] and extended to practical application in [2] and concentrates on new empirical techniques for research evaluation. The methodological challenge was to seek, without preconceptions, a research approach that enabled insight into the unobservable organisation of designers’ knowledge of guideline content. A number of designers’ perceptions of the similarity between items in a collection of aerospace guidelines were collected using a triad comparison. An analysis was developed that combines nonmetric multidimensional scaling analysis with hierarchical cluster analysis in order to represent the inherent structure of the perceived similarity in this data. This structure was established by examining the groupings and linear dimensions formed in the analysis outputs and relating these to guideline content. The results, which are not directly related to the standard engineering guideline organisation, may be a new indication of designers’ mental models; suggesting that perceived similarity ratings and the analysis methods we have developed could be a powerful tool in eliciting designers’ knowledge in general.
The Effect of Fundamental Variables and Macro Variables on the Probability of Companies to Suffer Financial Distress A Study on Textile Companies Registered in BEI

The objectives of this research are to know and to explain the effects of fundamental variables and macro variables on financial distress probability and understand variable contribution sequence. Based on eight variables used, the fundamental variables are Working Capital To Total Asset (WC/TA), Sales To Total Assets (S/TA), Return On Equity (ROA) , Debt Ratio (DR) , Shareholder Equity To Total Asset (SETA), while macro variables are Exchange Rate Sensitivity, Inflation Sensitivity and Interest Sensitivity. The population is 15 go public textile companies listed in Bursa Efek Indonesia (BEI) and did not have delisting during research period. The sampling technique used is census sampling technique. The data source is financial statement published by BEI in 2010-2012. The analysis model used is logistic regression and sensitivity analysis. The research type is explanatory research. Research finding shows that Working Capital To Total Asset (WC/TA), Total Debt To Total Asset (DR), Shareholder Equity To Total asset (SETA), and Inflation Sensitivity give significant effect on financial distress of companies and the highest effect is given by Debt Ratio (DR) and Inflation Sensitivity. Keywords : Financial distress, Logistic Analysis Regression, Sensitivity Analysis
The Cosmic-Ray Antiproton Flux between 0.62 and 3.19 GeV Measured Near Solar Minimum Activity

We report on the absolute antiproton flux and the antiproton to proton ratio in the energy range 0.62-3.19 GeV at the top of the atmosphere, measured by the balloon-borne experiment CAPRICE flown from Lynn Lake, Manitoba, Canada, on 1994 August 8-9. The experiment used the New Mexico State University WiZard/CAPRICE balloon-borne magnet spectrometer equipped with a solid radiator Ring Imaging Cherenkov (RICH) detector and a silicon-tungsten calorimeter for particle identification. This is the first time a RICH is used together with an imaging calorimeter in a balloon experiment, and it allows antiprotons to be clearly identified over the rigidity range 1.2-4 GV. Nine antiprotons were identified in the energy range 0.62-3.19 GeV at the top of the atmosphere. The data were collected over 18 hr at a mean residual atmosphere of 3.9 g cm-2. The absolute antiproton flux is consistent with a pure secondary production of antiprotons during the propagation of cosmic rays in the Galaxy.
14CH4 Emissions from Nuclear Power Plants in Northwestern Europe

We measured the 14C content of atmospheric methane at a 200-m-high sampling station in The Netherlands. Combined with trajectories and a transport model, it is possible to estimate the 14CH4 emissions from nuclear power plants in northwestern Europe. We demonstrate here two different methods of analyzing the data: forward modeling and an inverse method. Our data suggest that the emissions from pressurized water reactors are 260 ± 50 GBq per GW installed power per year, ca. 1.6 ± 0.4 times higher than generally assumed. We also find that, in addition to the known nuclear sources of 14CH4 (pressurized and boiling water reactors), there are two very strong sources of 14CH4 (520 ± 200 and 1850 ± 450 GBq yr−1, respectively), probably two test reactors near the sampling station.
Temporal variations in abiotic conditions exert little influence on diurnal activity of late-instar spruce budworm larvae on balsam fir

Abstract Spruce budworm, Choristoneurafumiferana (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), larvae can cause extensive defoliation in balsam fir (Abies balsamea [Linnaeus] Miller) and exhibit high temporal and spatial variability in individual behaviour. We gathered field data to determine the influence of daily and hourly variation in abiotic conditions on daytime activity patterns of late-instar budworm larvae on balsam fir. In both years of our study, less than 10% of larvae were observed feeding during the daytime. Most larvae observed were either resting, spinning silk, or roaming, although the proportion of individuals engaged in each activity varied between years, with more larvae in the first year roaming (48%) and in the second year either resting (38%) or spinning silk (42%). Daily and hourly variation in abiotic conditions had a limited influence on activity patterns. Our results indicate that in nature, mid- to late-instar budworm larvae maintain fairly consistent activity patterns across a wide range of abiotic conditions. We suggest that site-specific conditions such as variation in host-plant quality and/or budworm population density may be more important than weather in determining the relative frequencies of different larval activities in space and time. Résumé Les larves de la tordeuse des bourgeons de l’épinette, Choristoneura fumiferana (Clemens) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), peuvent causer une sérieuse défoliation chez le sapin baumier et font montre d'une importante variation temporelle et spatiale dans leur comportement individuel. Nous avons accumulé des données de terrain afin de déterminer l'influence de la variation journalière et horaire des conditions abiotiques sur les patrons d'activité journalière des stades avancés des tordeuses sur le sapin. Durant les deux années de notre étude, moins de 10% des larves ont été vues en train se nourrir durant la journée. La plupart des larves se reposaient, tissaient de la soie ou erraient, bien que la proportion des individus occupés à chacune de ces activités ait varié d'une année à l'autre; la première année, il y avait plus de larves à errer (48%) et la seconde année à se reposer (38%) ou à tisser de la soie (42%). La variation journalière et horaire des conditions abiotiques avait une influence limitée sur les patrons d'activité. Nos résultats indiquent qu'en nature les larves de tordeuses des stades moyens à avancés maintiennent des patrons d'activité assez constants sur une gamme étendue de conditions abiotiques. Nous croyons que les conditions spécifiques au site, telles que la variation de la qualité de la plante-hôte et(ou) la densité de la population de tordeuses, peuvent être plus importantes que les conditions climatiques pour déterminer les fréquences relatives des différentes activités larvaires dans l'espace et le temps.
Optimal Investment Strategies under Stochastic Volatility - Estimation and Applications

This paper studies the impact of stochastic volatility (SV) on optimal investment decisions. We consider three different SV models: an extended Stein/Stein model, the Heston Model and an extended Heston Model with a constant elasticity variance (CEV) process and derive the the long-term optimal investment strategies under each of these processes. Since volatility is not a directly observable quantity, extended Kalman filter techniques are adopted to deal with this partial information problem. Optimal investment strategies based on the CEV volatility model are obtained by adopting the Backward Markov Chain approximation method since analytical solutions are no longer available. We find in the empirical investigation that the Heston model is favored as a more parsimonious model compared with the other two models. All three investment strategies based on the three SV models contain a positive intertemporal hedging term in addition to the static mean-variance portfolio. However, in their details the three investment strategies differ from each other. We also ? nd that the investment strategies are sensitive to the CEV parameter.
Survival of Scotch thistle seed buried at three depths in four New Zealand soils

Scotch thistle (Cirsium vulgare) is a stout biennial thistle growing to 1.5 m tall. Introduced more than a century ago and now abundant throughout New Zealand, it is mostly a problem in pastures. The viability of seed buried for 1‐16 years at three depths was evaluated in four different soils. Seed samples buried in nylon mesh bags were removed after 1, 2, 3, 5, 11 and 16 years burial and their viability determined by germination in the glasshouse. In the 0‐20 mm layer it took from 1‐4 years, depending on soil type, for the viable seed numbers to fall to 1% of the original amount. At the 40‐60 and 190‐210 mm depths the amount of viable seed recovered after 16 years burial was considerably greater than at 0‐20 mm. Predicted intervals for the remaining viable seed to fall below 1% ranged up to 50 years, depending on soil type.
ACINETOBACTER CALCOACETICUS AMELIORATED PLANT GROWTH AND INFLUENCED GIBBERELLINS AND FUNCTIONAL BIOCHEMICALS

Acinetobacter calcoaceticus, a plant growth promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) and gibberellins producing strain was investigated for the presence of organic acids in its culture and interactive effect on cucumber plant’s growth, phytohormonal levels and functional biochemicals. A. calcoaceticus culture’s analysis showed the presence of three organic acids viz. malic, succinic and citric acids. The quantity of malic acid was significantly high compared to succinic and citric acids. Besides that, the free phosphate level was highest at the fifth day of bacterial culture growth. In A. calcoaceticus and plant’s association experiment, the strain has significantly ameliorated cucumber plants to higher growth. The PGPR culture application had higher shoot length; plant biomass and chlorophyll contents compared to controls (distill water-DW and nutrient broth-NB). The bacterial culture treated plants has higher amino acid and crude protein contents compared DW and NB. In amino acid analysis, threonine, alanine and proline quantities were significantly higher in PGPR treated plants than control plants. A. calcoaceticus treated plants had low endogenous abscisic acid contents but contrarily higher GAs (GA1, GA4, GA9 and GA20) compared to controls (DW and NB). The PGPR has activated the GAs biosynthesis pathway while promoting the cucumber plant’s growth. Application of such eco-friendly PGPR can be a viable alternative to synthetic fertilizers.
Genetic variability and association of traits in mid-altitude sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) germplasm of Ethiopia.

Aim: The study was carried out to assess the genetic variability and association of traits with respect to seed yield and its components in (mid - altitude) sesame germplasm of Ethiopia. Study Design: A 9 x 9 Simple Lattice Design (SLD) with two replications was used. Place and Duration of Study: Melkassa Agricultural Research Centre Ethiopia, during the July December, 2011 main cropping seasons. Methodology : The data recorded on 14 quantitative traits were analyzed for phenotypic and genotypic coefficient of variances, heritability and genetic advance, correlation coefficient, path Original Research Article
Globalization and the Labor Share in National Income

Contradicting the conventional wisdom of constant factor shares, the portion of national income accruing to labor has been trending downward in the last three decades. This decline must have contributed to rising inequality as labor income is more evenly distributed than capital income. This study contributes to the literature on income inequality by exploring the role of globalization in driving the labor share. In particular, we focus on the impacts of trade openness and foreign direct investments (FDI) on the labor share. Using country-level panel data for 1980–2010, the study finds that trade is a significant and robust determinant of labor share. Generally speaking, export depresses while import increases the labor share. The impact of FDI, however, is insignificant. These results are similar for both developed and developing countries.
TH / P 2-24 Impurity Transport in ITER-like Plasmas

Neoclassical impurity transport is compared with transport calculated from the reactive drift wave model of turbulent transport for an ITER-like scenario. The turbulent transport is inwards for both main ions and impurities, but the impurity ion inward transport is much weaker than the main ion inward transport. The neoclassical impurity transport for low charge number (Z) is outwards because of temperature screening, but inwards if the impurities are in the collisional regime (high Z). The total impurity transport, determined by a balance between turbulent and neoclassical transport, depends sensitively on the charge number of the impurity and the ratio of the ion density and temperature scale lengths, η
Real Exchange Rate Volatility and Asset Market Structure

We examine the influence of financial asset market structure for the volatility of the real exchange rate. Adding distribution costs to two-country two-sector models has been shown to increase the volatility of the terms of trade and thus the real exchange rate. We argue that incomplete markets are a necessary condition for the terms of trade and real exchange rate to display realistic levels of volatility. We also illustrate that for some parameter values, how one models incomplete markets also matters for international business cycle properties of the these models.