Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Reducing Adverse Effects of Salinity in Peach Trees Grown in Saline Clay Soil

A field experiment was carried out during 2016 and 2017 seasons on heavy clay soil, somewhat affected by salinity located at Sidi Salem District , Kafr EL-Sheikh Governorate, Egypt, to study the effect of some treatments including; Uni-sal (U), Humic acid (H), Magnetic iron (Fe) and Mycorrhizae (M) on "Florda Prince " peach trees growth, productivity and fruit quality. The data indicated that the application of these treatments increased vegetative growth parameters, leaf chlorophyll content, leaf-macro and micronutrients content, fruit set percentage, yield/tree, total soluble solids (TSS), and fruit firmness, while decreased leaf-Na and proline content, pre-harvest fruit drop percentage and fruit acidity as compared to that of the control. Uni-sal treatment achieved the highest values of vegetative growth parameters, leaf-N, K, Ca, Mn and Zn contents, fruit set percentage, fruit weight, yield and fruit firmness and recorded the least pre-harvest fruit drop percentage and fruit acidity compared to that of the other treatments followed by humic treatment in this respect. Magnetic iron was most pronounced on rising leaf-chlorophyll content and reducing leaf-Na and proline more than H, U and M treatments. Micrrhyzae was superior to leaf-P and Mg contents.
How do land use policies influence fragmentation? An econometric model of land development with spatial simulation

Land fragmentation generates a host of environmental impacts, including habitat degradation, biodiversity loss and a reduction in natural lands that filter nutrient and sediment run-off. The design of effective land use policies to reduce land fragmentation relies on an understanding of the economic decision-making of landowners, land developers and other actors and the factors that influence the spatial pattern of development. The authors investigate the effects of a market-based versus a regulatory policy instrument on land fragmentation using data from a rapidly urbanizing area of the U.S. The paper first estimates a discrete-time duration model of residential subdivision development and then uses Monte Carlo simulations that account for model uncertainty to generate spatially explicit predictions of land development outcomes under these two types of policies. The authors find that zoning regulations that constrain the supply of developable land generate much larger impacts on the predicted pattern of land fragmentation and that developers’ demand for land is extremely inelastic. The paper concludes that, because of this highly inelastic demand for land, a zoning policy that restricts the density of development is a more effective policy for reducing land fragmentation than are market-based incentives. Howev-er, the results also imply that zoning controls that restrict the supply of developable land are likely to impose large welfare losses to developers.
Human Capital Quality in the Brazilian States 3

Quality of human capital seems to be an extremely important feature to be disregarded in the evaluation of this factor impacts on income per worker (rate of growth and level). This is the reason for the emergence of many recent studies which includes some variable that takes into account the quality of human capital. The present study’s goal is to make an empirical analysis by using a human capital proxy that takes into account quantitative and qualitative aspects of this factor to measure with a higher level of accuracy the human capital direct impacts on Brazilian States output level in the years 1970, 1980, 1991, and 2000. The methods employed are Ordinary Least Squares (OLS), Iteratively Reweighted Least Squares (IRLS) and Panel Data regressions.
FORESIGHT PROJECT ON GLOBAL FOOD AND FARMING FUTURES Postharvest losses and waste in developed and less developed countries: opportunities to improve resource use*

SUMMARY This review compares and contrasts postharvest food losses (PHLs) and waste in developed countries (especially the USA and the UK) with those in less developed countries (LDCs), especially the case of cereals in sub-Saharan Africa. Reducing food losses offers an important way of increasing food availability without requiring additional production resources, and in LDCs it can contribute to rural development and poverty reduction by improving agribusiness livelihoods. The critical factors governing PHLs and food waste are mostly after the farm gate in developed countries but before the farm gate in LDCs. In the foreseeable future (e.g. up to 2030), the main drivers for reducing PHLs differ: in the developed world, they include consumer education campaigns, carefully targeted taxation and private and public sector partnerships sharing the responsibility for loss reduction. The LDCs’ drivers include more widespread education of farmers in the causes of PHLs; better infrastructure to connect smallholders to markets; more effective value chains that provide sufficient financial incentives at the producer level; opportunities to adopt collective marketing and better technologies supported by access to microcredit; and the public and private sectors sharing the investment costs and risks in market-orientated interventions.
Job-Hopping in Silicon Valley: The Micro-Foundations of a High Technology Cluster

In Silicon Valley’s computer cluster, skilled employees move quickly and easily between competing firms. This job-hopping facilitates the reallocation of resources towards firms with superior technology, but also creates costly human capital externalities. Outside of California, employers can use non-compete agreements to reduce mobility costs, but non-compete agreements are unenforceable under California law. Using new data on labor mobility we find higher rates of job-hopping for college-educated men in Silicon Valley’s computer industry than in computer clusters located out of state. Mobility rates in other California computer clusters are similar to Silicon Valley’s. Outside of the computer industry, California’s mobility rates are no higher than elsewhere. JEL Classification R12, L63, O3, J63; J48
Electromyography Analysis associated with Prolonged Standing In Metal Stamping Industry

Many jobs in metal stamping industry require workers to perform in standing position. Standing is a practical working position when the workers are lifting heavy products, and pushing or pulling excessive loads because those jobs require a stable position and large degree of freedom. However, if the workers perform the jobs continuously in standing throughout the working hours, they may be experience muscle fatigue. The objective of this study such as to measure the myoelectric levels (μV) exerted by the left and right erector spinae, left and right tibialis anterior. The myoelectric levels in the muscles were measured using surface Electromyography (sEMG). Ten production workers from a metal stamping industry participated as subjects for sEMG measurement. Out of which, five workers from metal stamping process lines and another five from handwork section. The muscle activity of the subjects was measured for 5 hours and 45 minutes of continuous standing during beginning of workday, middle of workday, and end of workday from Monday to Wednesday. Results of comparison found that the two groups of workers show significant difference (p-value < 0.05) in myoelectric level in the right erector spinae, right gastrocnemius, and left tibialis anterior during the beginning of workday. However, the two groups of workers did not show any significant difference in myoelectric level during the middle of the workday and end of the workday. It can be concluded that muscle activity of the workers was determined by the work load and duration of standing. This study suggests that anti fatigue mat and micro breaks should be provided to the workers to reduce muscle fatigue.
Predicting corporate distress in the Nigerian stock market: Neural network versus multiple discriminant analysis

The objective of the paper is to assess the quality of neural networks in predicting distress as against discriminant analysis and its applications in enhancing managers’ decision. Forty four firms listed on the Nigerian Stock Market between 1987 and 2006 are used for the study. The performance of neural network is then compared with the more familiar discriminant analysis statistical technique, and the performance of both is further with a performance obtainable by mere guesswork. The results show that, while both the neural network and the discriminant analysis techniques performed better than guess work, the neural network out performs the discriminant analysis technique. The outstanding performance of neural network underscores its importance as an invaluable tool in the business decision-making process. The study suggests that neural networks could aid managers in decision making to reverse the present down trend of the Nigerian Stock Market. Key words: Stock market, neural networks, firm’s distress, business decision, pay-out policy, discriminant analysis.
Complications associated with Amniocentesis in the third trimester of Pregnancy

Background: Amniocentesis is a procedure done for diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. It is a useful resource to establish fetal lung maturity in the final stages of pregnancy, when it is necessary for the pregnancy resolution. The objective of the study was to determine the morbidity associated with amniocentesis in the third trimester of pregnant women. Methods: A retrospective, cross-sectional, descriptive study in which 203 pregnant women underwent amniocentesis under ultrasound guidance was performed. Demographic data, etiology, clinical features of the maternal and fetal complications resulting from the procedure were analyzed. Results: Two hundred forty-nine amniocentesis procedures were performed in the 205 patients. The mean gestational age was 36.7 ± 2.8 weeks. Extraction of hematic amniotic fluid (4.8%) and preterm labor (1.9%) were minor complications attributed to the procedure. Premature rupture of membranes was the main major complication (1.45%). No fetal loss from the procedure was recorded. Conclusion: The amniocentesis during the third trimester of the pregnancy has decreased due to a better prenatal care and the ability to document the gestational age with ultrasound or other diagnostic techniques. However, despite the complications that may occur, amniocentesis is still a valid therapeutic and/or diagnostic tool in those patients who have indications for the realization of the procedure. J Clin Gynecol Obstet. 2017;6(2):34-36 doi: https://doi.org/10.14740/jcgo452w
Iron speciation in coastal rainwater : oxidation kinetics and organic complexation

The redox kinetics and organic complexation of iron were investigated in rainwater collected from a coastal site in Wilmington, NC between September 2001 and September 2003. A series of authentic rain samples was irradiated with simulated sunlight to photoproduce Fe(II) and the kinetics of its reoxidation back to Fe(III) was monitored. The oxidation of Fe(II) by hydrogen peroxide during dark storage followed second order kinetics with an average rate constant of 0.024mM-1h-1. Using sequential regression analysis the rate loss could be predicted accurately by the following equation (given that H2O2 is in mM and Fe(II) is in nM units): rate loss = -16.6 + 1.1[H2O2] + . 28[Fe(II)]. In addition to studying the redox kinetics of photoproduced Fe(II) in rainwater the importance of organic complexation on Fe speciation was also evaluated. After approximately 2 h the concentration of photochemically produced Fe(II) decreased until it reached levels at or near pre-irradiation values. A series of experiments demonstrated that the photochemically produced Fe(II) rapidly returned to initial concentrations, suggesting that essentially all the Fe(II) and most of the Fe(III) in rainwater in the absence of sunlight occurs organically complexed. When rainwater was UV oxidized the Fe(II) concentration declined to much lower concentrations than before irradiation, because the organic Fe(II) complex stabilizing Fe(II) in rainwater was destroyed. A second series of experiments demonstrated that Fe(II) present in authentic rainwater was stabilized for up to four hours once added to seawater. When the rain was UV oxidized prior to addition to seawater, the Fe(II) was oxidized almost immediately in the seawater again, suggesting essentially all the Fe(II) in rain is organically complexed. In summary, the results presented in this study suggests that during the daytime when sunlight is present there is a dynamic interconversion between inorganic Fe(II) and Fe(III) species. Once solar irradiation is removed, there is a organically complexed form of Fe(II) which is stabilized against oxidation. Therefore, the concentrations of Fe(II) and Fe(III) measured in rainwater at any given time depends on the photochemical history of the sample.
Genes that are Affected in High Hydrostatic Pressure Treatments in a Listeria Monocytogenes Scott A ctsR Deletion Mutant

Listeria monocytogenes is a food-borne pathogen of significant threat to public health. High Hydrostatic Pressure (HHP) treatment can be used to control L. monocytogenes in food. The CtsR (class three stress gene repressor) protein negatively regulates the expression of class III heat shock genes. In a previous study, a spontaneous ctsR L. monocytogenes deletion mutant 2-1 that was able to survive under HHP treatment was identified; however, there is only limited information about the mechanisms of survival and adaptation of this mutant in response to high pressure. Microarray technology was used to monitor the gene expression profiles of ctsR mutant 2-1 under pressure treatments (450 Mpa, 3min). Some of the gene expression changes determined by microarray assays were confirmed by real-time RT-PCR analyses. Compared to non-pressure-treated ctsR mutant 2-1, 14 genes were induced (> 2-fold increase) in the ctsR deletion mutant whereas 219 genes were inhibited (< -2-fold decrease) by pressure treatments. The induced genes included genes encoding proteins involved in synthesis of purines, pyrimidines, nucleosides, and nucleotides, transport and binding, transcription, cell membrane, DNA and energy metabolism, protein synthesis, and unknown functions. The inhibited genes included genes encoding proteins for transport and binding, cell envelope, transcription, amino acid biosynthesis, regulatory functions, cellular processes and central intermediary metabolism. The information concerning L. monocytogenes survival under HHP at the molecular level may contribute to improved HHP treatments for food processing.
Decadal growth of black carbon emissions in India

A Geographical Information System (GIS) based methodology has been used to construct the black carbon (BC) emission inventory for the Indian geographical region. The distribution of emissions from a broader level to a spatial resolution of 1° × 1° grid has been carried out by considering micro level details and activity data of fossil fuels and bio‐fuels. Our calculated total BC emissions were 1343.78 Gg and 835.50 Gg for the base years 2001 and 1991 respectively with a decadal growth of around 61%, which is highly significant. The district level analysis shows a diverse spatial distribution with the top 10% emitting districts contributing nearly 50% of total BC emission. Coal contributes more than 50% of total BC emission. All the metropolitan cities show high BC emissions due to high population density giving rise to high vehicular emissions and more demand of energy.
Energy for a sustainable post-carbon society

A feasible way to avoid the risk of energy decline and to combat climate change is to build a worldwide, 100% renewable energy mix. Renewable energy can be scaled up to the range of 12 electric terawatts (TWe) if 10% of continental shelves are exploited with floating turbines to depths as low as 225 m, 5% of continents with ground turbines, and 5% of the main deserts with concentrating solar power (CSP) farms. However, a globally electrified economy cannot grow much above 12 TWe without approaching the limit of terrestrial copper reserves. New photovoltaic silicon panels do not use silver metallization pastes and could contribute up to 1 TW of decentralized residential power. Hydroelectricity has a potential of 1 TW but a fraction of this would have to be sacrificed for energy storage purposes. Hydro, CSP, wave energy and grid integration at continental scales may be sufficient to fit supply to demand, avoiding intermittency. The renewable energy mix would have an energy return on energy invested about 18, which is 25% lower than the estimated present one. That should be sufficient to sustain an industrialized economy provided that the substitution of electricity for fossil fuels is done intelligently.
Rate Effect on Pullout Behavior of Steel Fibers Embedded in Very-High Strength Concrete

Problem statement: Rate dependence of the newly developed Very-High-Strength-Concrete (VHSC) composites has received little or no attention so far. Approach: In this research, the bond-slip mechanisms of four types of steel fibers embedded in VHSC matrices were investigated through single-fiber pullout tests with the loading rates and matrix strengths are the primary variables. This study presented the experimental results of steel fiber-matrix bond characteristics and discussed the influence of loading rates on the pullout behavior. Results: The results were measured in terms of peak loads and total fiber pullout work or dissipated bond energy. Results indicated that the increase in pullout rate increases both peak load and total pullout work for all deformed fibers but had no effect on smooth, unreformed fibers. Conclusion/Recommendations: De formed and smooth fibers exhibit different rate sensitivities. The variation in response was attributed to the fiber end conditions. It is recommended that (1) additional experimental tests should be performed at other loading rates and (2) an analytical model should also be developed to analyze the rate effect on the interfacial deboning process of VHSC composites.
Reversing Early Stage Prostate Cancer in a Hypertensive Patient: A Case Study on Nutritional cum Phyto-therapy

While prostate cancer is the most common male malignancy in the West, it is ranked as the number two cancer death for non-smokers in many developing countries. This case study demonstrates how an early stage prostate cancer might be treated by a comprehensive and evidence-based nutritional cum phytotherapy if patient is given the option of using it. According to the ANMP ( www.anmp.org.my ), a nutritional therapy is used to treat, control, or prevent chronic disorders by impacting on the hormonal, neurological, and immune functions of the patient. It may take a decade or longer to develop a malignancy. Three quarter of prostate cancer occurs in men over fifty five years when they go through andropause, which is evidenced partly by elevation in their oestrogen levels. However, being overweight or obese may trigger early progression of prostate cancer in men.
Comparison of Complete and Sulfur Coated Urea Fertilizers with Pre-plant Urea in Increasing Grain Yield and Nitrogen Use Efficiency in Wheat

In order to increase grain yield, nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and nitrogen apparent recovery fraction (NARF) in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), this experiment was carried out with 5 or 6 treatments and 3 or 4 replications in 14 locations at 22 different sites in Iran during the 2004-05 growing season. The experiment was designed as a completely randomized block. The effect of N sources and timing on the grain yield, protein content, NUE and NARF of the current best adapted cultivars of different regions were evaluated. The treatments included T1= the control; T2= 150 kg ha -1 of N as urea in 3-split applications; T3= 150 kg ha -1 of N as urea in 2-split applications; T4= 150 kg ha -1 N as SCU as the base fertilizer; T5= 1 /3 N as SCU as the base fertilizer +2-split urea applications and T6= 1 /3 N as complete fertilizer as the base fertilizer +2-split urea applications. Protein content, NUE and NARF were calculated by measuring grain yield, N% and N-uptake. While the average grain yield and protein% for the control plots were 2,840 kg ha -1 and 10.03%; the yield and protein for T2, T3 and T4 were 4,160 kg ha -1 and 11.66%; 4,278 kg ha -1 and 11.78%; and 3,921 kg ha -1 and 11.60%, respectively. Grain yield and protein content for T5 were 4,330 kg kg -1 and 11.89%. Yield of 4,674 kg ha -1 and protein content of 12.01% were obtained by substituting complete fertilizer with 1/3 urea (T6). The grain yield for T6 was significantly different from T2 for various reasons, including higher levels of available P, K, S, Zn, lower N-leaching and appropriate N-timing. NUE for T2, T3, T4, T5, and T6 was measured to be 8.8, 9.6, 7.3, 9.9, and 12.2 kg kg -1 , respectively, and NARF were calculated to be 23.2, 25.3, 19.4, 26.3 and 31.6%, respectively. While the superiority of complete and SCU fertilizers over pre-plant urea has been proven, especially in the light-textured soils, it is highly recommended that the experiment be further tested and evaluated, since this practice has been increased the grain yield up to 12%, NUE up to 39 kg kg -1 and NARF up to 36% in comparison with the best wheat growers’ N-fertilization practice.
A P ] 2 A pr 2 01 8 Spikes of the two-component elliptic system in R 4 with Sobolev critical exponent ∗

Consider the following elliptic system:    − ε∆u1 + λ1u1 = μ1u1 + α1u 1 + βu2u1 in Ω, − ε∆u2 + λ2u2 = μ2u2 + α2u 2 + βu1u2 in Ω, u1, u2 > 0 in Ω, u1 = u2 = 0 on ∂Ω, where Ω ⊂ R is a bounded domain, λi, μi, αi > 0(i = 1, 2) and β 6= 0 are constants, ε > 0 is a small parameter and 2 < p < 2∗ = 4. By using the variational method, we study the existence of the ground state solution to this system for ε > 0 small enough. The concentration behavior of the ground state solution as ε→ 0 is also studied. Furthermore, by combining the elliptic estimates and local energy estimates, we also obtain the location of the spikes as ε→ 0. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first attempt devoted to the spikes in the Bose-Einstein condensate in R.
Title Effects of abstinence and chronic cigarette smoking on white matter microstructure in alcohol dependence : Diffusion tensor imaging at 4

Background: We previously reported widespread microstructural deficits of brain white matter in alcoholdependent individuals (ALC) compared to light drinkers in a small 1.5 T diffusion tensor imaging study employing tract-based spatial statistics. Using a larger dataset acquired at 4 T, the present study is an extension that investigated the effects of alcohol consumption, abstinence from alcohol, and comorbid cigarette smoking on white matter microstructure. Methods: Tract-based spatial statistics were performed on 20 1-week-abstinent ALC, 52 1-monthabstinent ALC, and 30 controls. Regional measures of fractional anisotropy (FA) and mean diffusivity (MD) in the significant clusters were compared by Analysis of Covariance. The metrics were correlated with substance use history and behavioral measures. Results: 1-week-abstinent ALC showed lower FA than controls in the corpus callosum, right cingulum, external capsule, and hippocampus. At 1 month of abstinence, only the FA in the body of the corpus callosum of ALC remained significantly different from controls. Some regional FA deficits correlated with more severe measures of drinking and smoking histories but only weakly with mood and impulsivity measures. Conclusion: White matter microstructure is abnormal during early abstinence in alcohol dependent treatment seekers and recovers into the normal range within about four weeks. The compromised white matter was related to substance use severity, mood, and impulsivity. Our findings suggest that ALC may benefit from interventions that facilitate normalization of DTI metrics to maintain abstinence, via smoking cessation, cognitive-based therapy, and perhaps pharmacology to support remyelination. © 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.