Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Soil survey and soil classification of the Koupendri catchment in Benin, West Africa

1 Department of Soil Science and Land Resources Management, University of Nigeria, Nsukka. Enugu State, Nigeria. 2 West African Science Service Centre on Climate Change and Adapted Land Use (WASCAL), Climate change and water Resources, University of Abomey Calavi, BP-566, Cotonou Benin Republic. 3 Laboratory of Soil Sciences, Water and Environment/National Institute of Agricultural Research of Benin, 01 B.P. 988 Cotonou Benin Republic. 4 Geographical Institute, University of Bonn, Meckenheimer Allee 166, D-53115 Bonn, Germany.
Effects of geraniol and citronellal compounds on biochemical and reproductive parameters of Spodoptera frugiperda (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae)

The essential oils of plants are composed of several volatile compounds, which may have different concentrations and may be determinant for their toxicity. Thus, in this work, sublethal and lethal effects of the compounds, geraniol and citronellal on the biochemical and reproductive parameters of Spodoptera frugiperda were investigated. For the geraniol compound the LD30 of 9.42 mg/g and LD50 of 13.65 mg/g was used, while for the citronellal LD30 of 0.06 mg/g and LD50 of 0.08 mg/g. Pure acetone was used in the control. Third instar caterpillars were treated topically in the prothoracic region by applying 1 μl of the respective compounds with a Hamilton 50 μl syringe. After 48 h the caterpillars were macerated in sodium phosphate buffer at a ratio of 4 caterpillars / 5 ml of the buffer, the levels of total protein, total sugar, lipid and glycogen were measured. The daily posture was evaluated in order to determine the periods of preoviposition, oviposition, post-oviposition and egg quantity. The results showed a reduction in the concentration of proteins and sugars for both compounds and concentrations studied. There was no change in lipid concentration. Citronellal increased the concentration of glycogen for both concentrations. The oviposition period and the number of eggs were reduced. However, there was no difference for the pre-oviposition and post-oviposition periods. Thus, it is inferred that geraniol and citronellal compounds cause alterations in the biochemical parameters that reflect in the reproduction of S. frugiperda.
The Effects of Topical Carvacrol Application on Wound Healing Process in Male Rats

Carvacrol containing products such as Origanum onites have been used as phytotherapeutic agents in the treatment of serious skin injury. It has been suggested that carvacrol is the active component of these herbs because of its anti-microbial property. With the anti-microbial activity and as an ingredient of these herbs, carvacrol is a promising molecule for the treatment of skin injury. In the present study, we have evaluated the efficacy of carvacrol on healing progress after excisional skin injury. Here, Wistar-Albino rats were divided into two groups and treated with carvacrol and vehicle. Carvacrol was administrated topically at a concentration of %12.5 for the 5 consecutive days after excisional skin injury. Tissue samples were harvested on days 3 rd , 8 th and 12 th after injury. Significant beneficial effect of carvacrol was observed at the end of the experiment. In the acute phase of the injury, carvacrol treatment increased tissue granulation and decreased wound depth moderately. These effect of carvacrol was associated with increased TNF-α. However, at the second half of the experiment the elevated level of TGF-B 1 was observed as compared with control animals. The level of IL-1 β was increased in carvacrol treated animals only on day 8. Here, we provide evidence that carvacrol improves wound healing by regulating pro- inflammatory molecules TNF-α, IL-1 β and TGF-β 1 .
Early Ontogenetic Diet in Gray Wolves, Canis lupus , of Coastal British Columbia

Within populations, different age classes often consume dissimilar resources, and provisioning of juveniles by adults is one mechanism by which this can occur. Although the diet of Gray Wolves ( Canis lupus ) has been studied extensively, the diet of pups is largely unknown. We examined faeces deposited by altricial pups and adult providers during the first two months following birth at two den sites over two years on the central coast of British Columbia, Canada. Pups and adult wolves consumed similar species, and Black-tailed Deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) constituted most of the diet for both age groups. Pup and adult diet, however, diverged. Specifically, adult deer occurred significantly less frequently in the diet of pups than in the diet of adult wolves, which suggests that adults selectively provisioned pups. We speculate that this may relate to adaptive strategies of adult wolves to provide their offspring with food of optimal nutritional value or reduced parasitic burden, and/or logistic factors associated with provisioning such as prey transportability and availability.
The Interdependence of Risk Management, Corporate Governance and Management Accounting

Corporate governance and risk management values that are not sufficiently established and affected may lead to the growth potential of South Africa as one of the economically leading countries in Africa being inhibited. The objective of the study was to test the interdependence of risk management, corporate governance, and management accounting in the top performing public listed companies of the Johannesburg Stock Exchange. A literature review, structured questionnaire and document review were used to conduct the study. The empirical results of the study demonstrate that there is a side-to-side interdependence of risk management, corporate governance and management accounting. It is recommended that future studies cover the risk management aspect of fraud, stakeholder management and the areas of compliance that have not been covered in the study.
Lightning flash multiplicity in eastern Mediterranean thunderstorms

Abstract. Cloud-to-ground lightning flashes usually consist of one or several strokes coming in very short temporal succession and close spatial proximity. A commonly used method for converting stroke data into flashes is using the National Lightning Detection Network (NLDN) thresholds of maximum temporal separation of 0.5 s and maximum lateral distance of 10 km radius between successive strokes. In the present study, we tested a location-based algorithm with several spatial and temporal ranges, and analyzed stroke data obtained by the Israel Lightning Location System (ILLS) during one year (1.8.2009–31.7.2010). We computed the multiplicity, the percentage of single stroke flashes and the geographical distribution of average multiplicity values for thunderstorms in the Eastern Mediterranean region. Results show that for the NLDN thresholds, the percentage of single stroke flashes in Israel was 37% and the average multiplicity was 1.7. We reanalyzed the data with a spatial range that equals twice the ILLS location error and shorter times. For the new thresholds of maximum distance of 2.5 km and maximum allowed temporal separation of 0.2 s we find that the mean multiplicity of negative CGs is lowered to 1.4 and find a percentage of 58% of single stroke flashes. A unique severe storm from 30 October 2009 is analyzed and compared with the annual average of 2009/2010, showing that large deviations from the mean values can occur in specific events.
Use of motion peculiarities of test particles for estimating degree of coherence of optical fields

We discuss interconnections between the depth of spatial inhomogeneity of energy distribution of the optical fields and the velocity of motion of test particles for the cases of different light scattering mechanisms during interaction with light. We suggest an additional tool for determining the degree of coherence of superposing waves that propagate along mutually orthogonal directions and have orthogonal polarisations, being linearly polarised in the incidence plane. The use of velocity of the test particles while estimating the degree of coherence of optical fields is suggested for the first time.
Pluralisation of policing in England & Wales and the Netherlands: exploring similarity and difference

Recent decades have seen a growing ‘pluralisation’ of policing providers and authorisers in liberal democracies (Crawford 2003, Johnston and Shearing 2003). Some have interpreted this as part of a major transformation of policing in western liberal democracies that reflects fundamental shifts in the nature of governance (Bayley and Shearing 1996, 2001). Others have stressed continuities with the recent history of policing and the persistence of significant national and local differences in policing structures (Jones and Newburn 2002, Ferret 2004). These discussions have some parallels with wider debates about convergence and divergence in penality and the ways in which structural and cultural shifts influence policy developments across different societies (Garland 2001). We here examine recent changes in policing within two EU countries – Britain and the Netherlands. This paper discusses areas of similarity and difference in plural policing developments, and speculates about what factors might explain these. There is evidence of structural and cultural shifts working to shape policing in similar ways, but also of the mediating influence of distinctive national and local political institutions and cultures. These particular contexts provide possibilities for the resistance and re-shaping of global forces, as well as provide a framework for the emergence of distinct policy innovations.
Do service activity impact on the risk of Indonesian banking industry

The Indonesian banking industry has developed technology innovation will provide financial services to generate income. The purpose of this paper is to compare the service activity and to explore the effect of the service activity on risk in Islamic and conventional banks. By analyzing 12 Islamic banks and 38 conventional banks in Indonesia during the period from 2015 to 2017, we use Structural Equation Modelling (SEM) with path analysis and multiple group analysis. The result shows that the service activity of Islamic banks appears to be more variable than conventional banks. The risk level of Islamic banks is more stable than conventional banks. For Islamic banks, non-financing income has a significant negative effect on risk, commission income and trading income have a significant positive effect on risk, and other non-financing income has no effect on risk. However, no significant effect has been observed between non-interest income, commission income, trading income, other non-interest income and risk level in conventional banks. This finding indicates that the combination of funding activities, lending activities, and service activities allows Islamic banks to obtain the diversification income till reduce risks. For conventional banks, diversification in activities contributes to the higher volatility of bank revenue.
Simulating bio-economic management scenarios for the sea bass (Dicentrachus labrax) fishery in France

The fishery for common sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) is the fourth most important French metropolitan fishery in value terms, with approximately 5 500 tons landed, and a total turnover of about 52 million euro in 2006. Given its high market value, sea bass is targeted by a range of metiers, resulting in interactions between a large number of fleets. The annual contributions to catches and landings of each of these fleets are highly variable, as are their level of economic dependence towards the species. Sea bass is also an emblematic species for recreational fishermen. Currently, there is no limitation on total allowable catch in this fishery, nor are catch allocations specified at the individual vessel level. The fishery thus faces the traditional difficulties of common-pool resource management, with a potential for the development of excess capacity and a risk of overexploitation. The nature and strength of externalities between fishing agents can thus be very different according to the fleets considered, and may lead to variable levels of potential support towards management decisions aimed at tackling these externalities. The aim of this paper is to simulate the response of French fishing fleets to the introduction of alternative management scenarios for the sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) fishery. The analysis is based on a bio- economic model which includes and age-structured model of population dynamics and a detailed representation of the numerous fishing fleets which impact the stock, including the size distribution of catches per fleet and per fishing technique, and the economic status of fishing vessels. The main emphasis of the analysis is on the heterogeneity of commercial fleets in terms of both their harvesting capacity and their reliance on sea bass for their revenue; recreational fishing is also included in the analysis and adds to the heterogeneity of behaviors which are accounted for in the model. Simulation results emphasize the diversity of anticipated impacts of alternative management scenarios from both a short-term and a long-term perspective, and the associated heterogeneity of economic incentives for different fleets to support these management scenarios.
ROMO - THE ROBOTIC ELECTRIC VEHICLE

This paper outlines the development of the ROboMObil, an innovative electro-mobility concept based on intelligent central control of four Wheel Robots, which integrate the drivetrain, brakes, steering and dampers. The motivation behind the Wheel Robot concept, the implementation details together with the suspension design are described. The electric power system, consisting of a Li-Ion battery cluster to provide high-voltage power for propulsion and a low-voltage supply for vehicle control, is also discussed. Finally, we provide an overview of the Shared Autonomy control architecture and an outlook on the future research projects based on this demonstrator platform.
UvA-DARE (Digital Academic Repository) Insights into Nod factor signaling mediated by Medicago truncatula LysM receptor-like kinases, MtNFP and MtLYK3 Pietraszewska, A. Link to publication Citation for published version (APA): Pietraszewska-Bogiel, A. (2012). Insights into Nod factor signaling media

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Financial Constraints and Firm Productivity in China: Do Liquidity and Export Behavior Make a Difference?

Financial factors have been found highly important in influencing firms’ real activities and in promoting aggregate growth. Yet, the linkage between finance and firm-level productivity has been overlooked in the literature. We fill this gap using a panel of 130,840 Chinese manufacturing firms over the period 2001–2007 to estimate a TFP model augmented with cash flow. We find that, especially for illiquid foreign and private firms, productivity is strongly constrained by the availability of internal finance. Furthermore, contrary to private firms, foreign non-exporters display higher dependence of productivity on cash flow than exporters.
Structural Changes in the Ventral Lobe of the Prostate of Diabetic Rat

Background: Streptozotocin has been widely used to induce type-1 diabetes in animal models. Aim of the Work: This study was conducted to delineate the effects of streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes on the ultrastructure of the secretory epithelium of the ventral lobe of the prostate of adult albino rats. Material and Methods: Healthy thirty adult male albino rats were divided into two groups. Group I is the control and group II is the STZ-experiment group of healthy rats treated with ﬁve intraperitoneal injections STZ for 7-day intervals. The ﬁrst three doses were 75 mg/kg body weight and the remaining two doses were 150 mg/kg per animal. The control group received only 0.1 ml 0.1 M citrate buffer, pH 4.4, by the intraperitoneal route. Thirty days after the detection of the diabetic status, the animals of the two groups were anaesthetized with ether inhalation and sacriﬁced. The ventral lobes of their prostate were removed and processed for microscopic examination. Results: The histological study of the experimental group revealed a reduction in the cell height of glandular epithelium, remarkable atrophy of secretory epithelial cells with an increase in the thickness of the glandular stroma as compared with the control group. The ultrastructural distinctive features of secretory epithelial cells of the ventral lobe of the prostate of the experimental group showed ruptured microvilli, homogeneous chromatin throughout the enlarged nucleus, thickened extracelluar matrix, dilated concentric cisterns of the granular endoplasmic reticulum and swollen mitochondria with disturbed cristae. The disorganized ultrastructural features of the experimental group were clear as compared with the control group. Conclusions: Our results suggested adverse effects of STZ-induced diabetes on the secretory epithelium of the ventral lobe of the prostate and emphasized remarkable drastic changes in the secretory epithelial cells that consequently lead to impaired glandular function and development of prostatic pathology
An RFID model for improving workers’ safety at the seaport in transitional environment

AbstractThe paper proposes a Radio Frequency IDentification (RFID) model for enhancing port workers’ safety with reference to the Port of Bar (Montenegro) as a developing seaport operating in a transitional environment. The paper also highlights the lack of appropriate Information and Communication Technology (ICT) solutions in some developing seaports, including safety-related ones. It emphasizes the importance of safety measures through the prism of reducing the number of accidents, and gives a review of some RFID safety solutions in the harsh environments. The main part of the paper deals with the RFID worker’s safety model proposed according to the Port of Bar’s individual needs. The model has been presented at a logic level, while some of the physical and link layers performances between the set of an active and several passive RFID devices embedded to the port workers’ Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) RFID readers located at the port perimeter, are simulated in .
REDUCTION OF FUEL CONSUMPTION IN MULTICYLINDER ENGINE BY CYLINDER DEACTIVATION TECHNIQUE

The four stroke Spark Ignition (SI) engine’s P–V diagram contains two main parts. They are the high pressure loop (compression–combustion–expansion) and the low pressure (exhaust-intake) loops. The main reason for efficiency decrease at part load conditions for these types of engines is the flow restriction at the cross sectional area of the intake system by partially closing the throttle valve, which leads to increased pumping losses. This can be rectified by implementation of cylinder deactivation in four cylinder SI engine by developing proper control system.
The Herschel view of circumstellar discs : a multiwavelength study of Chamaeleon-I

We present the results of a multiwavelength study of circumstellar discs around 44 young stellar objects in the 3myr old nearby Chamaeleon-I star-forming region. In particular, we explore the far-infrared/submm regime using Herschel fluxes. We show that Herschel fluxes at 160-500 μm can be used to derive robust estimates of the disc mass. The median disc mass is 0.005Mfor a sample of 28 Class IIs and 0.006Mfor 6 transition discs (TDs). The fraction of objects in Chamaeleon-I with at least the 'minimum mass solar nebula' is 2-7 per cent. This is consistent with previously published results for Taurus, IC348 and ρ Oph. Diagrams of spectral slopes show the effect of specific evolutionary processes in circumstellar discs. Class II objects show a wide scatter that can be explained by dust settling. We identify a continuous trend from Class II to TDs. Including Herschel fluxes in this type of analysis highlights the diversity of TDs. We find that TDs are not significantly different from Class II discs in terms of far-infrared luminosity, disc mass or degree of dust settling. This indicates that inner dust clearing occurs independently from other evolutionary processes in the discs.
GMM Estimation and Shapiro-Francia Normality Test: A Case Study of CEE Economies

The present paper estimates the link between GDP per capita, inflation (GDP deflator), exports, imports, final consumption, gross capital formation, tax revenue and public expense of CEE countries (Bulgaria, Romania, the Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Poland, Slovenia and Russia) using GMM estimation for the period 2005-2010. Besides, we run Shapiro-Francia W' test to indicate the patterns of normal distribution among samples of our study. The objective of this quantitative empirical is twofold: first, it examines the linkages of economic indicators of CEE countries in order to find out the main changes of economic landscape. Second, it aims at highlighting the development of CEE countries on the way of deeper convergence to the euro area utilizing the available panel series. We find that GDP per capita of CEE countries is in negative relationship with expense, final consumption, gross capital formation, exports and inflation. With regard to Shapiro-Francia W' test, we assume that variables show a normal distribution.
Increased Learning of Physical Science Concepts via Multimedia Exhibit Compared to Hands-On Exhibit in a Science Museum

The purpose of this study was to determine whether the use of an interactive multimedia exhibit is more effective than a traditional hands-on exhibit in teaching physical science in a museum setting. The Simple Machine exhibit, a permanent display at the East Tennessee Discovery Center, was used as a comparison with an interactive computer exhibit. Elementary school students (N=104) took a multiple-choice quiz before entering into the museum and again after interacting with the exhibits. A random sample was selected in order to determine whether the students would experience the traditional or the multimedia exhibit. Results indicate that there is an increase in science learning when students interact with a multimedia exhibit when compared to the hands-on exhibit. Also, there appears to be no significant difference in the holding power of the exhibits. Both exhibits were very efficient in attracting and engaging students, and statistical tests indicate no gender differences in learning or in holding power. (Contains 33 references.) (DDR) ******************************************************************************** Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best that can be made from the original document. ********************************************************************************