Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of F 1 and F 2 Generations for Yield and Yield Components and Fiber Quality Parameters on Cotton ( Gossypium hirsutum L . ) Under Werer , Ethiopia Condition

Due to the difficulty of producing F1 hybrid seed, the use of heterosis in cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) has been limited. This study was conducted on fifteen F1, fifteen F2 and 6 parental genotypes obtained from partial diallel cross of 6 varieties with the objectives of comparing the parents, F1 and F2 generations and to identify the competitive potential of F2 hybrids over the best yielding cultivars for yield component and fiber quality parameters. It was evident to find the seedcotton and lint yield superiority of F1 hybrid over parents and F2 generations. F1 hybrids showed an overall seedcotton yield advantage of F1 over the parental means of 26.4 %, while F2 hybrids were 9.3%. Best F1 hybrids showed 19.5% yield advantage over the best check parent, while best F2 hybrids were only 2.5%. Almost the same pattern was observed for lint yield with the level of heterosis at 28.6, 10.2, 30.4 and 0.8 % for F1 and F2 mid-parent and best parent, respectively. Significant differences were not observed for fiber quality parameters except fiber strength. The result of this study demonstrated the potential of F1 rather than F2 hybrids and the need for further investigation on heterosis and inbreeding depression and development of economically feasible hybrid seed production technology.
Predicting the Distribution and Abundance of Emperor Fishes (Lethrinus spp.) in the Arabian Sea Using Two-Stage Generalized Additive Models and a Geographic Information System

The distribution and abundance of emperor fishes (Lethrinidae) along the Arabian Sea coast of Oman were analysed from commercial catch-per-unit-effort data for the periods 1996–2004 and 2005, respectively. Two-stage generalized additive models (GAM) were used to detect trends in abundance relative to environmental variables. The GAM that included month (positive in August and October), sea surface temperature (SST; positive at 25–27˚C) and longitude (positive between 57°50’ E–58°50’ E) explained the highly variable distribution and abundance patterns best. ArcGIS-9 was used as an auxiliary to visualize seasonal trends that could not be seen from the statistical GAM analysis. From the spatial grids, it appeared that abundance increased with warmer SST encountered in August/September to January but was lower during the SW monsoon in June–August when the SST decreased below 25°C. The results emanating from the analysis of the 2005 data confirmed those from the original 1996–2004 data, suggesting that predictions from the original models were relatively robust. The synthesis of methods used in this study is a major step towards developing statistically robust and spatially explicit methods for predicting fisheries performance.
Convergence Rates for Diffusions on Continuous-Time Lattices

In this paper we introduce a discretization scheme based on a continuous-time Markov chain for the Black-Scholes diffusion process. Our principal aim is to find the optimal convergence rate for the probability density function of the discretized process as the distance between the nodes of the state-space of the Markov chain goes to zero. The main theorem of the paper (theorem 4.1) states that the probability kernel of the discretized process converges at the rate O(h^2) to the probability density function pt(x, y) of the diffusion process. We also show that this convergence is uniform in the state variables x and y and that the proposed discretization scheme converges at a rate which is no faster than O(h^2).
Energetic particles modeled by a generalized relativistic kappa-type distribution function in plasmas

Energetic particles found in planetary magnetospheres and other plasmas often display a power law and an anisotropy (including loss cone and temperature anisotropy). In a recent study, a full relativistic kappa-loss cone (KLC) distribution fκL is initially introduced to model energetic particles, but fκL is only associated with loss cone anisotropy. We extend this previous study and develop a generalized relativistic kappa-type (KT) distribution fκT which incorporates either temperature anisotropy or both loss cone and temperature anisotropy. We carry out numerical calculations for a direct comparison between the new KT distribution, the previous KLC distribution and the kappa distribution fκ, respectively. We find that (a) analogous to fκL, fκT satisfies the power law not only at lower energies but also at relativistic energies; (b) analogous to fκ, fκT contains either temperature anisotropy or both loss cone and temperature anisotropy; (c) the regular kappa distribution is found to decrease faster than the KT distribution with kinetic energy Ek especially when θ2 increases (where θ2 is the thermal characteristic parameter), e.g. fκ/fκT ≲ 10−2 for Ek ≳ 2.0 MeV and θ2 ≳ 0.3; (d) no big difference occurs between both KT and kappa distributions through energies up to ∼500 keV for θ2 ≲ 0.03 and (e) the three distributions show different anisotropy behaviors even for the same overall anisotropy. The results suggest that the new generalized KT distribution may be applied in space plasmas and other plasmas including laboratory machines where highly energetic particles exist.
ORGANIZATION AND PERFORMANCE OF WATER RESOURCE USERS’ ASSOCIATIONS IN THE SOUTHERN RANGELANDS OF KENYA

Water insecurity is a threat to pastoral livelihoods and sustainability. The Water Act of Kenya, 2002, created the Water Resource Users’ Associations (WRUAs) to enhance water resource conservation access at the local level. Nevertheless, environmental degradation has increased in recent times, further exacerbating water crisis and threatening livelihoods. This study sought to assess the status of community based water resource conservation in the Southern rangelands of Kiserian, Kajiado County, Kenya. Kiserian WRUA members were purposively sampled for this survey. Data was mainly collected through administration of a semi-structured questionnaire. Focus group discussions and key informant interviews were also conducted to validate the data obtained from the questionnaire. Chi-square and descriptive statistics were used to analyze the data using SPSS version 20. Results indicated that access to information on water conservation and training were significantly associated, with membership to the WRUA (χ2=0.56, p≤0.05) and (χ2=0.71, p≤0.05), respectively. Majority (79.5%) of the Kiserian WRUA members had participated in tree planting within the catchment. Half (50%) of the WRUA members were mainly motivated to join the association because of perceived benefits like improved access to water at lower prices and participation in catchment protection. The main challenges facing the WRUA were inadequate funding from the government and other stakeholders (93.2%) and lack of support from county leadership (34.1%). It was concluded that WRUAs, especially in the rangelands of Kajiado, Kenya, played a key role in catchment conservation and water access for resilient livelihoods among pastoralists. This study therefore recommends awareness to increase WRUA membership and allocation of sufficient funding from the government and other related stakeholders to WRUA conservation activities, if catchment conservation for improved water access in the area is to be realized.
Synergistic Stabilizing Effect of Combination of Maleimido Phenyl Thiourea Derivatives and Some Commercial Stabilizers against Thermal Degradation of PVC

Four novel antimicrobial maleimido phenyl thiourea stabilizers 1-4 were synthesized from N[4-(chlorocarbonyl) phenyl] maleimide with phenyl thiourea and its derivatives (p-methyl, o-chloro and pcarboxy). The effect of mixing maleimido phenyl thiourea stabilizer 2 with each of the reference stabilizers: dibasic lead carbonate (DBLC), cadmium-barium-zinc stearate (Cd-Ba-Zn stearate) or n-octyltin mercaptide (n-OTM) on the stabilization efficiency against thermal degradation of rigid PVC at 180C, in air, has been investigated. Mixing was effected in the range of 0-100 wt% of stabilizer 2 relative to each of the reference stabilizers. The stabilizing efficiency was evaluated by measuring the length of the thermal stability period (Ts), the period during which no detectable amounts of hydrogen chloride gas could be observed, and also from the rate of dehydrochlorination as measured by continuous potentiometric determination on the one hand, and the extent of discoloration of the degraded polymer samples on the other. The results show a true synergistic effect from the combination of stabilizer 2 with any of the reference stabilizers. Mixing of the stabilizers improves the Ts values, decreases the rate of dehydrochlorination, and lowers the extent of discoloration of the polymer. The maximum synergism was attained when the stabilizer 2 is mixed with either of the three reference stabilizers in equivalent weight ratio (50%/50%). The observed synergism may be attributed to the different mechanisms by which the investigated and the reference stabilizers work.
A COMPARISON OF SPACE-BORNE AND AIRBORNE LIDAR OBSERVATIONS OF COMPLEX , HIGH CLOUD FIELDS DURING CLASIC

Estimates of high-cloud optical depths retrieved fr om analyses of lidar data acquired during the Cloud an Land Surface Interaction Campaign (CLASIC) by the space-borne Cloud-Aerosol Lidar Infrared Pathfinder Satellite Observations (CALIPSO) lidar and by the Cloud Physics Lidar (CPL) flown on the high-altitud e ER-2 aircraft are compared. Differences in the opti cal depths and in the integrated attenuated backscatter derived by the two instruments are interpreted by considering the large difference in signal-to-noise ratios and possible errors in CALIPSO’s calibration during these daytime observations, along with differences in the contributions of multiple scattering to the two instruments and the inferred presence of oriented crystals in the relatively complex cloud fields.
Effects of resistance training on binge eating, body composition and blood variables in type II diabetics

This study examined the effects of 12 weeks of resistance training (RT) on binge eating, body composition and blood variables and their correlations in 34 sedentary adults with type II diabetes. The participants aged 58.94 ± 10.66, had body weight of 71.62 ± 11.85 and BMI of 29.64 ± 4.27. Blood samples were collected for analysis of serum leptin, glucose, insulin, LDL, HDL, total cholesterol and triglyceride. The binge eating was assessed by the binge eating scale and the body composition by bioelectrical impedance. The training included three weekly sessions for 12 weeks, with three sets from 12 to 15 repetitions for the main muscle groups, and interval from 1 to 2 minutes between the sets. A significant decrease was found for the binge eating, body weight, BMI, fat percentage, and fat weight. As for the blood variables, there was a significant reduction in leptin; non- significant reductions in glucose, total cholesterol, LDL and triglycerides; as well a significant increase in HDL and non-significant increase in insulin. In conclusion the 12 weeks of RT proved to be enough to decrease the binge eating, to positively adjust the body composition and to modify the blood profile, demonstrating an association at a lower or higher level between these variables.
An Alternating Direction Method for Mixed Gaussian Plus Impulse Noise Removal

A combined total variation and high-order total variation model is proposed to restore blurred images corrupted by impulse noise or mixed Gaussian plus impulse noise. We attack the proposed scheme with an alternating direction method of multipliers (ADMM). Numerical experiments demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed method and the performance of the proposed method is competitive with the existing state-of-the-art methods.
Disentangling regional and local tree diversity in the Amazon

We analyzed the most extensive data set of tree inventory plots spread over the complete Amazon basin and Guiana shield. We aimed to separate the regional and local tree alpha-diversity to investigate the drivers of diversity at the relevant scale. Our results are consistent with the partitioning of total tree alpha-diversity into regional and local components, which are controlled by evolutionary- and ecological processes, respectively. Regional diversity is correlated with palaeo-climatic stability (31%), and long-term large-scale ecosystem dynamics (14%), as represented by the age of the geological formation. Both mechanisms contribute to high diversity in the central to western Amazon. Actual rainfall seasonality is correlated with regional tree diversity to a certain extent (19%), but we argue that this is of little consequence for the evolutionary drivers of the regional species pool. Frequency of disturbance is the main process driving local diversity, although its explanatory power is relatively small (17%)
Modeling the diurnal cycle of shallow convection and cloudiness in trade wind boundary layer over the Indian Ocean

Most previous large-eddy simulation (LES) studies of trade wind cumuli (Sommeria 1976; Stevens et al. 2001; Siebesma et al. 2003) have examined shallow convection under undisturbed conditions, where constant radiative forcing and surface fluxes were assumed. As a consequence, thermodynamic and cloud fields reached a quasi-steady state. However, both observations (e.g., Brill and Albrecht 1982; Wood et al. 2002) and modeling studies (e.g., Ackerman et al. 2000; Johnson 2005; McFarquhar and Wang 2006) show that cloudiness in the trade wind boundary layer has a significant diurnal variation driven by diurnally varying external forcings. The external forcings acting on the trade wind boundary layer include solar radiative forcing, surface fluxes and large-scale forcing. In this study it is examined how these forcings drive the diurnal cycles of shallow convection and cloudiness. Using a onedimensional trade-wind boundary layer model, Brill and Albrecht (1982) previously found that solar radiative heating in clouds primarily produced the diurnal variation. A three-dimensional LES model, which more realistically represents the physical processes in the trade-wind boundary layer, was used here to gain a better understanding of the changes in the temperature and moisture structure, circulations and turbulent fluxes induced by the diurnally varying solar radiation.
A double molecular disc in the triple-barred starburst galaxy NGC 6946: structure and stability

The late-type spiral galaxy NGC 6946 is a prime example of molecular gas dynamics driven by "bars within bars". Here we use data from the BIMA SONG and HERACLES surveys to analyse the structure and stability of its molecular disc. Our radial profiles exhibit a clear transition at distance R ~ 1 kpc from the galaxy centre. In particular, the surface density profile breaks at R ~ 0.8 kpc and is well fitted by a double exponential distribution with scale lengths R_1 ~ 200 pc and R_2 ~ 3 kpc, while the 1D velocity dispersion sigma decreases steeply in the central kpc and is approximately constant at larger radii. The fact that we derive and use the full radial profile of sigma rather than a constant value is perhaps the most novel feature of our stability analysis. We show that the profile of the Q stability parameter traced by CO emission is remarkably flat and well above unity, while the characteristic instability wavelength exhibits clear signatures of the nuclear starburst and inner bar within bar. We also show that CO-dark molecular gas, stars and other factors can play a significant role in the stability scenario of NGC 6946. Our results provide strong evidence that gravitational instability, radial inflow and disc heating have driven the formation of the inner structures and the dynamics of molecular gas in the central kpc.
Novel Dysprosium and Terbium Doped Taggants for Hydrocarbon Identification

Taggants are synthesized fluorescent materials that have longer lifetime and are able to discriminate against background interference arising from hydrocarbons. Doped taggants were prepared with dysprosium and terbium rare earths in a stable borosilicate and tellurite glass host. The composition of the doped borosilicate glass were (60-x) ZnO + 20B 2 O 3 + 20SiO 2 + xLa 3+ (where La 3+ = Tb and Dy), while the composition of doped tellurite glass composition was (80-x) TeO 2 + 20LiCO 3 + xLa 3+ (where La 3+ = Tb and Dy) with values of x corresponding to mol% increase from 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, and 2.0 and subsequent decrease of ZnO and TeO2 composition. The fluorescence emissions of dysprosium doped borosilicate and tellurite glass was 574 nm while Terbium doped borosilicate and tellurite glasses at 544 nm. The UV/Vis absorption characterization showed dysprosium doped borosilicate glass as having the strongest absorption spectra with several excitation peaks and maximum absorption (λmax) at 350 nm while fluorescence compatibility test for cyclohexane and crude oil identified Dysprosium borosilicate glass and terbium tellurite glass as the optimum taggants showing compatibility with the hydrocarbons.
Time variations of δ15N of organic nitrogen in deep western subarctic Pacific sediment over the last 145 ka

We present δ15N data of organic nitrogen (δ15NON) from a deep western subarctic Pacific (WSAP) sediment core over the last 145 ka. To remove the effect of inorganic nitrogen (IN) on bulk nitrogen (BN), we used the contents of IN and BN, and the isotopic ratios of IN (δ15NIN) and BN (δ15NBN). The contribution of IN to BN was largest 59% and δ15NIN had lower values than δ15NBN. However, the large contributions of IN to BN and the distinct isotopic values did not largely change any variability associated with δ15NON in the δ15NBN. Thus, it is possible to use δ15NBN in carrying out paleoceanographic research with δ15N at least in the open WSAP. The δ15NON values have been affected by long‐term diagenesis making the values lower with depth in the sediment, but the values during less productive colder periods were generally lower compared to those during neighboring productive warmer periods. The results might indicate that δ15NON during the less productive colder periods (i.e., glacial periods) were lower than that during the productive warmer periods (i.e., interglacial periods). Previous studies have reported that the biological production in WSAP, where it is limited by iron at present, during glacial periods was at more reduced level than during interglacials despite there being more eolian dust supply during glacial periods. This indicates that the increase of biological production with enhanced iron supply derived from eolian dust during the glacial periods did not occur. If this is the case and alternatively the iron input from the subsurface layer to the surface‐mixed layer by ventilation process is more important as suggested by recent works, the variations in δ15NON would be explained by the variations in the Fe/NO3− ratio in the upwelled water. Although δ15NON has been affected by long‐term diagenesis in the sediment, the usage of this isotopic ratio provides new implication regarding the past ocean circulation in the open WSAP.
Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis of factors associated with the presence of

Chronic HCV infection and lymphoproliferative disorders: mixed cryoglobulinemia syndrome, MGUS and B-cell nonHodgkin lymphoma. / Caviglia GP;Sciacca C;Abate ML;Olivero A;Rosso C;Touscoz GA;Ciancio A;Rizzetto M;Smedile A. In: JOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY AND HEPATOLOGY. ISSN 0815-9319. 30(2015), pp. 742-747. Original Citation: Chronic HCV infection and lymphoproliferative disorders: mixed cryoglobulinemia syndrome, MGUS and B-cell nonHodgkin lymphoma.
The 1-hydroxy-2-methyl-butenyl 4-diphosphate reductase gene from Taxus media: Cloning, characterization and functional identification

Laboratory of Natural Products and Metabolic Engineering, Chongqing Sweet potato Research Center, Key Laboratory of Eco-environments in Three Gorges Reservoir Region (Ministry of Education), School of Life Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People’s Republic of China. College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Southwest University, Chongqing 400715, People’s Republic of China. Department of Biology, Chongqing University of Science and technology, Chongqing 400042, People’s Republic of China. Agricultural and Animal Husbandry College, Tibet University, Linzhi of Tibet 860000, People’s Republic of China. Institute of Plant and Microbial Biology, Academia Sinica, Taipei 11529, Taiwan.
Effect of Different Sowing Dates on Insect Pest Population of Chillies (Capsicum annuam L)

Different strategies have to be involved for keeping the pest in check and stabilizing the productivity of the cropping system. Date of planting is one of the crop habitat diversifications that are to be looked into, to minimize the incidence of insect pests on chilli crop so that its yield can be enhanced. The present study was conducted to observe the activity of insect pests of chilli crop using variety P-777 at Kunri, Mirpur Khas Sindh during 2014 which was based on a randomized complete block design (RCBD) with four sowing dates, i.e. January 15th (SD1), January 30th (SD2), February 15th (SD3) and February 28th (SD4) and replicated thrice. The observation of insect pests was recorded at weekly intervals from first week of transplanting up to maturity. The results showed that the maximum mean aphids, thrips, jassids whitefly and fruit borer population of 0.527, 3.68, 0.46, 5.49 and 0.427 leaf-1 were found in SD4 and minimum of 0.36, 1.83, 0.01, 3.41 and 0.27 leaf-1 were present in SD1. However, the maximum bud mites population (0.381 leaf-1) was observed in SD1 followed by 0.26 mites leaf-1 in SD2 and minimum was found in SD3 and SD4 respectively. As regards to green pod yield, the finding of this study showed that maximum pod yield of 2.71 t ha-1 was produced in SD1 followed by 2.50 t ha-1 in SD2 and minimum yield of 1.72 leaf-1 was achieved in SD4. It is inferred that early sowing (January 15th or January 30th) resulted in lower incidence of aphids, thrips, whitefly and fruit borer except mites. Such low level of insect pest caused less crop injury which resulted in enhancing the green pod yield of chilli. So, it is suggested that for early sowing at Kunri region of Mirpur Khas the appropriate planting time can be January 15th and January 30th. Keywords: Chillies, Insect Pest Population, and Different Sowing Dates
R-band imaging of the host galaxies of RGB BL Lacertae objects

We present optical R-band images of 100 BL Lacertae objects in the ROSAT-Green Bank (RGB) sample obtained at the Nordic Optical Telescope (NOT). For 62 objects we could not find any previously published images in the literature, of these 35 are new BL Lacs discovered during the RGB BL Lac survey. We were able to resolve the host galaxy in 62% of the objects. We analyze the host galaxies using a two-dimensional fitting procedure and tabulate the best-fit core magnitude and host galaxy parameters (magnitude, effective radius, ellipticity, position angle and shape parameter β) for each object. With two exceptions, all objects are better fit by a model representing an elliptical galaxy (β = 0.25) than by a disk galaxy model (β = 1.0). In the two exceptions the disk host fit is only marginally better than the elliptical host fit, however, and we do not find a single clear example of a disk-dominated host galaxy. The host galaxies have an average brightness MR = −23.9 ± 0.8 and average effective radius reff = 13.2 ± 0.8 kpc. Their bulk properties are indistinguishable from normal elliptical and radio galaxies. The median β is 0.18, well below the value 0.25 that is normally used to describe ellipticals. However, the difference may be caused by as election effect due to the dependence of β on host galaxy luminosity.