Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Life table parameters of Neoseiulus californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae), on the European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Acari: Tetranychidae) in laboratory condition

The life table parameters of Neoseiulus californicus (Athias-Henriot), a generalist predator of spider mites and small insects were investigated in laboratory condition at two constant temperatures: 20 and 25°C, 60 ± 5% relative humidity and a photoperiod of 16:8 h (L:D). The European red mite, Panonychus ulmi (Koch), an important pest of apple orchards in Iran, was used as prey (all stages). The duration of the immature stages ranged varied from 7.52 to 5.12 days, at 20 and 25°C, respectively. The net reproductive rate ( R 0 ) increased with increasing temperature from 20.84 female offspring to 31.46 female offspring at 20–25°C, respectively. The values of the intrinsic rate of increase ( r m ) and ﬁnite rate of increase (λ) were obtained to be highest at 25°C (0. 237 day –1 and 1.26 day –1 , respectively), which was greater that those estimated at 20°C (0.161 day –1 and 1.17 day –1 , respectively). The mean generation time ( T ) decreased with increasing temperature from 18.86 days to 14.45 days at 20–25°C, respectively. In conclusion, results showed that N. californicus would be able to develop at temperatures range of 20–25°C feeding on P. ulmi and has the suitable potential to control it.
Examining the effects of feeling trusted by supervisors in the workplace: A self-evaluative perspective

Summary Trusting and feeling trusted are related but unique components of a trusting relationship. However, we understand relatively little about the effects of felt trust on work performance and organizational citizenship behavior. From a self-evaluative perspective, this study argued that when employees perceive that their supervisors trust them, their organization-based self-esteem is enhanced, leading them to perform better in the workplace. We tested our hypotheses on a sample of 497 teachers using two trust measures, that is, reliance and disclosure, and found support for them on the basis of the reliance (but not the disclosure) measure. The effect of felt trust especially reliance on the employees’ work performances were mediated by their organization-based self-esteem. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Multiple Time-Instances Features of Degraded Speech for Single Ended Quality Measurement

The use of single time-instance features, where entire speech utterance is used for feature computation, is not accurate and adequate in capturing the time localized information of short-time transient distortions and their distinction from plosive sounds of speech, particularly degraded by impulsive noise. Hence, the importance of estimating features at multiple time-instances is sought. In this, only active speech segments of degraded speech are used for features computation at multiple time-instances on per frame basis. Here, active speech means both voiced and unvoiced frames except silence. The features of different combinations of multiple contiguous active speech segments are computed and called multiple time-instances features. The joint GMM training has been done using these features along with the subjective MOS of the corresponding speech utterance to obtain the parameters of GMM. These parameters of GMM and multiple time-instances features of test speech are used to compute the objective MOS values of different combinations of multiple contiguous active speech segments. The overall objective MOS of the test speech utterance is obtained by assigning equal weight to the objective MOS values of the different combinations of multiple contiguous active speech segments. This algorithm outperforms the Recommendation ITU-T P.563 and recently published algorithms.
FACTORS AFFECTING EFFECTIVE IMPLEMENTATION OF SUSTAINABLE PROCUREMENT PRACTICES IN GOVERNMENT PARASTATALS IN KENYA: A CASE OF NATIONAL GENDER AND EQUALITY COMMISSION

Sustainable procurement is about socially and ethically responsible purchasing, minimizing environmental impact through the supply chain, delivering economically sound solutions and good business practice. In the Kenyan public sector the adoption of sustainable procurement practices has been a slow process. The study aimed at identifying factors affecting effective implementation of sustainable procurement practices in government parastatals in Kenya; case of National Gender and Equality Commission. Specifically the study aimed at evaluating how organizational structure, organizational resource capacity, legal and regulatory framework, cost of sustained products affects effective implementation of sustainable procurement practices in government parastatals in Kenya. Information on previous research and the underpinning theories including systems theory, resource based view, transactional cost theory and institutional theory were clustered into themes that frame the subject of the study. The researcher conducted the study using a case study of National Gender and Equity Commission, where descriptive data research method was used with a target population comprising of 81 employees and a sample of 44 respondents from within each group in proportion that each group bear to the population as a whole was taken using Slovin’s formula: n=N/ (1+Ne²). The research utilized primary data that was obtained using structured and semi structured questionnaires which were administered to all NGEC employees. Data was analyzed through quantitative techniques such as mean, percentages, standard deviation and variance, the research used statistical package for sciences (SPSS 19) for analysis. Data was then presented in form of tables for ease of interpretation, final reports was compiled after subjecting data thorough analysis. The study revealed that the organizational structure, organizational resource capacity, legal and regulatory framework and cost of sustained products affected effective implementation of sustainable procurement practices. The study recommends that the government needs to enact environmental legislations and policies that promote sustainable procurement and those that already have such policies need to be reviewed and revised to integrate sustainable procurement issues and other sustainability issues. Findings of the study intends to assist procuring entities to ensure successful implementation of sustainable procurement practices, also used by Public Procurement Oversight Authority and the Kenyan government in initiating regulatory framework that will be instrumental in the implementation of public procurement policies Key Words: Sustainable Procurement, Parastatals
INVESTIGATING TRUST IN E-COMMERCE: A LITERATURE REVIEW AND A MODEL FOR ITS FORMATION IN CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS

As a key issue for the successful proliferation of e-commerce, trust is fast becoming the focus of many IS research initiatives. This paper presents a review and categorization of the trust literature in e-commerce aiming to provide the state of the art as far as research is concerned. Five categories of trust in e-commerce are identified and analyzed into three major dimensions, namely determinants, approaches and consequences. Our analysis indicates a lack of research regarding processes for the development of trust and relationship building. The paper seeks to fill this gap by proposing a theoretical model for the formation of trust in customer-business relationships.
Identification and Real-Time Forecasting of Norwegian Business Cycles

We define and forecast classical business cycle turning points for the Norwegian economy. When defining reference business cycles, we compare a univariate and a multivariate Bry–Boschan approach with univariate Markov-switching models and Markov-switching factor models. On the basis of a receiver operating characteristic curve methodology and a comparison of the business cycle turning points of Norway’s main trading partners, we find that a Markov-switching factor model provides the most reasonable definition of Norwegian business cycles for the sample 1978Q1–2011Q4. In a real-time out-of-sample forecasting exercise, focusing on the last recession, we show that univariate Markov-switching models applied to surveys and a financial conditions index are timely and accurate in calling the last peak in real time. However, the models are less accurate and timely in calling the trough in real time.
Hot surface ignition and combustion characteristics of sprays in constant volumecombustion chamber using various sensors

Abstract In present study, ignition and combustion characteristics of hollow conical diesel fuel sprays are studied experimentally in constant volumecombustion chamber using hot surface ignition technique at various operating conditions. Sensor based measurement techniques like needle lift sensor, photo (optical) sensor and piezoresistive pressure transmitter sensor are used to measure the ignition, combustion and injection characteristics. In this study, hot surface temperatures (HST) varied from 623 to 723 K, cylinder air pressures (CP) varied from 20 to 40 bar and fuel injection pressures varied from 100 to 400 bar. It is found that ignition and combustion characteristics are significantly affected by fuel injection characteristics. Luminous ignition delays (ID) of the diesel sprays significantly reduced with the increase in hot surface temperatures and cylinder air pressures and variation is non-linear. Effect on ID mitigates as hot surface temperature and cylinder air pressure rise to higher values. Rate of heat release (at maximum pressure) rises with increase in hot surface temperatures but decreases with rise in cylinder air pressures. Rate of heat release increment is minimized as hot surface temperature increases. Also, rate of heat release reduces with increase in cylinder air pressure. Duration of burn/combustion reduced with increase in cylinder air pressures and hot surface temperatures. At higher surface temperature, the effect of surface temperature on duration of burn mitigates. Peak pressure increases with rise in hot surface temperatures. Hence, hot surface ignition effect on ignition and combustion characteristics of sprays substantially mitigates at higher surface temperature, which are typical operating conditions of small size high-speed direct injection diesel engines.
Genetic diversity in Indian sub-continental landrace cultivars of the genus Triticum L.

Narrowing genetic diversity is a limiting factor in wheat breeding. Popularity of semi dwarf cultivars, developed after green revolution, has resulted in genetic erosion as they replaced indigenous cultivars derived from landraces. These old cultivars have a wealth of useful genes that can be incorporated in the modern cultivars to improve their tolerance level against biotic and abiotic stresses. Genetic analysis of these indigenous and advanced cultivars by the SSR markers has shown greater diversity in this valuable Indian sub-continental germplasm and grouped them into seven units. The Triticum durum lines T2 and T3 were placed in group A, whereas their counterpart T1 was quite distinct. Of the selections, T4 to T9 that was clustered in Group B, T4 to T7 were of Triticum sphaerococcum , whereas the other two were of Triticum aestivum type. T. aestivum cultivar C-248 also appeared to be distinct and could not be grouped with any other cultivar. Based on genetic divergence, therefore, T1 can be used for enhancing diversity in T. durum and C-248 in T. aestivum . Keywords: Triticum , germplasm, simple sequence repeats, genetic diversity
All evidence is equal: the flaw in statistical reasoning

In the context of existing ‘quantitative’/‘qualitative’ schisms, this paper briefly reminds readers of the current practice of testing for statistical significance in social science research. This practice is based on a widespread confusion between two conditional probabilities. A worked example and other elements of logical argument demonstrate the flaw in statistical testing as currently conducted, even when strict protocols are met. Assessment of significance cannot be standardised and requires knowledge of an underlying figure that the analyst does not generally have and cannot usually know. Therefore, even if all assumptions are met, the practice of statistical testing in isolation is futile. The question many people then ask in consequence is—what should we do instead? This is, perhaps, the wrong question. Rather, the question could be—why should we expect to treat randomly sampled figures differently from any other kinds of numbers, or any other forms of evidence? What we could do ‘instead’ is use figures in the same way as we would most other data, with care and judgement. If all such evidence is equal, the implications for research synthesis and the way we generate new knowledge are considerable.
Homotopy theory of non-symmetric operads II: change of base category and left properness

We prove, under mild assumptions, that a Quillen equivalence between symmetric monoidal model categories gives rise to a Quillen equivalence between their model categories of (non-symmetric) operads, and also between model categories of algebras over operads. We also show left properness results on model categories of operads and algebras over operads. As an application, we prove homotopy invariance for (unital) associative operads.
State of Research on Giftedness and Gifted Education: A Survey of Empirical Studies Published During 1998—2010 (April)

This study surveyed 1,234 empirical studies on giftedness, gifted education, and creativity during 1998—2010 (April), using PsycINFO database and targeted journals as main sources, with respect to main topics these studies focused on, methods they used for investigation, and the conceptual spaces they traversed. Four main research topics emerged from the survey: creativity/creatively gifted, achievement/underachievement, identification, and talent development. Rich and broad conceptual spaces linking these four categories to their psychological underpinnings and educational implications have been explored by this body of research, though the conceptual spaces are still too loosely organized to be seen as paradigmatic. Several prominent trends are identified, including the emergent qualitative studies (accounting for a quarter of the total studies) and the dominance of descriptive (comparative and correlational) research. Although most psychosocial studies are conducted in the context of gifted education, there still seems to be a gap between theory and practice, between psychological understanding of gifted development and promoting such development through education. More systematic, sustainable programs of research and more coordination among researchers are warranted to move the field forward.
Fungi and their use in the possible control of Nematodes in Botswana soils

A study assessing fungi isolated from three climatic regions of Botswana as a possible control for root knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.) affecting the tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum L. var. ‘Money maker’) crops was conducted. Out of 1,250 soil fungal isolates, only 232 soil fungi from the Okavango Delta, Bobirwa district and different saltpans in Botswana could be sub cultured, and screened for antagonism against Meloidogyne sp. Seven of the isolates i.e., Trichoderma sp. , Penicillium sp. , Dendriphiopsis sp. , Fusarium chlamydosporium, Cochliobolus sativus, Aspergillus fumigatus and an unidentified sterile fungus showed potential to immobilize nematode juveniles on agar plates within 2-4 days. C. sativus and Dendriphiopsis sp. showed maximum paralysis on agar plates and eventually death of the Meloidogyne sp. juveniles. In greenhouse studies using tomato plants the fungi alleviated the effect of nematodes by increasing plant, shoot height and root weight as compared to the reference controls. Cochliobolus sativus and Trichoderma sp. showed maximum plant protection of tomato plants under greenhouse conditions. Fungi ability to produce cellulase and chitinase were some of the mechanisms studied. The results indicated that Trichoderma sp. , Penicillium sp. , Dendriphiopsis sp. , Fusarium chlamydosporium, Cochliobolus sativus, and Aspergillus fumigatus are nematode antagonistic fungi indigenous to Botswana that can be used to control nematodes as they are better adapted in comparison to introduced fungi. _____________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Relationships between Heavy Metal Concentrations in the American Oyster (Crassostrea virginica) and Metal Levels in the Water Column and Sediment in Apalachicola Bay, Florida

This study aims to assess baseline concentrations of heavy metals (Cd, Cr, Cu, Pb and Zn) in the oyster soft tissue as they relate to concentrations in the water column (particulate phase) and sediment in Apalachicola Bay. In order to conduct these assessments, a total of 360 samples, collected in two seasons (winter and summer) and were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry. Results indicated that elemental concentrations in particulate phase correlate significantly with concentration in the tissue than those in the sediment. Moreover, assessment of seasonal and spatial variations have indicated that oysters collected in the winter have significantly higher (P<0.05) Cu, Pb and Zn concentrations than oysters collected in the summer. However, metal concentrations in sediment did not show such patterns. These observations confirmed the fact that metals in the particulate phase are more bioavailable to oysters and that the oysters can be used as good indicators of the spatial and temporal variation of the heavy metals in the aquatic system.
ORGANIC CHEMISTRY OF LOW-MASS STAR-FORMING CORES. I. 7 mm SPECTROSCOPY OF CHAMAELEON MMS1

Observations are presented of emission lines from organic molecules at frequencies 32–50 GHz in the vicinity of Chamaeleon MMS1. This chemically rich dense cloud core harbors an extremely young, very low luminosity protostellar object and is a candidate first hydrostatic core. Column densities are derived and emission maps are presented for species including polyynes, cyanopolyynes, sulphuretted carbon chains, and methanol. The polyyne emission peak lies about 5000 AU from the protostar, whereas methanol peaks about 15,000 AU away. Averaged over the telescope beam, the molecular hydrogen number density is calculated to be 106 cm−3 and the gas kinetic temperature is in the range 5–7 K. The abundances of long carbon chains are very large and are indicative of a non-equilibrium carbon chemistry; C6H and HC7N column densities are 5.9+2.9−1.3 × 1011 cm−2 and 3.3+8.0−1.5 × 1012 cm−2, respectively, which are similar to the values found in the most carbon-chain-rich protostars and prestellar cores known, and are unusually large for star-forming gas. Column density upper limits were obtained for the carbon-chain anions C4H− and C6H−, with anion-to-neutral ratios [C4H−]/[C4H] < 0.02% and [C6H−]/[C6H] < 10%, consistent with previous observations in interstellar clouds and low-mass protostars. Deuterated HC3N and c-C3H2 were detected. The [DC3N]/[HC3N] ratio of approximately 4% is consistent with the value typically found in cold interstellar gas.
Private Food Assistance in a Small Metropolitan Area: Urban Resources and Rural Needs

Food banks and other private feeding programs have become an institutionalized component of the social welfare system in over 190 urban areas in the U.S. More recently, private food assistance has gained importance in rural areas as well. The density and capacity of agencies to serve the poor is higher in urban areas than in sparsely populated rural locales where distance and dispersal tend to be barriers to supplying and accessing donated food. Rural food distribution strategies thus must be qualitatively different than those in larger communities, because of the smaller-scale, more informal distributional system. Little is known about how urban-based nonprofit services stimulate and support food assistance in surrounding rural locales. Based on intensive interviews with food bank staff, food pantry directors, and food pantry clientele, we examine obstacles affecting the use of food pantries and the amelioration of food insecurity. We also provide an assessment of how changes in federal welfare provisions may be affecting the need for private food assistance.
Long-term adaptive diversity in Levene-type models

Assuming a linear trade-off function between the habitat-specific fitness values in Levene’s model, De Meeûs and Goudet found that an evolutionarily stable strategy always exists and that polymorphism cannot be maintained on an evolutionary time-scale. On the other hand, Kisdi and Geritz showed that, in a broad parameter region, evolution necessarily leads to polymorphism in a Levene-type model with stabilizing selection within each habitat. Here I reconcile these results by demonstrating that the convexity of the trade-off function plays an essential role in the evolution of polymorphism.
Examination of the Composition of the Luminal Fluid in the Small Intestine of Broilers and Absorption of Amino Acids under Various Ambient Temperatures Measured In vivo

Composition and normal concentrations of nutrients (glucose, methionine, sodium and potassium) as well as the pH and osmolarity were determined in digesta collected from different segments of the small intestine of broilers both under thermoneutral and heat stress conditions in order to formulate a perfusate closely simulating physiologically normal conditions of the small intestine. Whilst glucose and methionine levels of the luminal fluid decreased with passage (p 0.05). There was no interaction between DL-Met and DL-HMB absorption and ambient temperature. It was demonstrated that only a marginal portion of the di-and oligomer fraction of DL-HMB was absorbed. Results suggest that the perfusate formulated on basis of luminal fluid analyses was suitable for investigating absorption of amino acids.
Public Sector Organization in Central and Eastern Europe: From Agencification to De-Agencification

The processes of transition and accession to the EU produced a fast expansion in the number of agencies and other public sector organizations in CEE. Between 1990 and 2004, many new organizations were established in order to implement new or reorganized functions of the democratic state, market economy and the EU member state. Agencies were created at a very high speed and with a larger scope than in most Western countries. Such a trend was counteracted by a major U-turn in the second half of the 2000s, when all studied CEE countries experienced a de-agencification process facilitated by the financial crisis and the aim to rationalize public sector organization. The studies in this special issue show that there is a considerable variation in terms of organizational autonomy and control, both across and within individual countries, and a clear domination of ex ante control over ex post control in the CEE region. Finally, politicization of agencies is identified as an important feature influencing their functioning in some CEE countries.