Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Current status of herbicide-resistant weeds in the UK

Summary Alopecurus myosuroides (black-grass) is the major herbicide-resistant weed problem and, by 2013, occurred on virtually all of the estimated 20,000 farms in 35 counties where herbicides are applied regularly for its control. Resistance to mesosulfuron + iodosulfuron, first used in the UK in autumn 2003, has now been detected on >700 farms in 27 counties in England. Resistance is conferred by both ALS target site (Pro-197 & Trp-574 mutations) and non-target site mechanisms. Resistant Lolium multiflorum (Italian rye-grass) occurs on >475 farms in 33 counties and resistant Avena spp. (wild-oats) on >250 farms in 28 counties of England. The first cases of ALS target site resistance (Pro-197) in UK populations of L. multiflorum were detected in 2012. ALS-resistant Stellaria media (common chickweed) was found on >50 farms in 13 counties in England, Scotland and Northern Ireland and ALS-resistant Papaver rhoeas (common poppy) on >40 farms in nine counties of England. ALS-resistant Tripleurospermum inodorum (scentless mayweed) was found on five farms in three counties (Yorkshire, Norfolk and Angus). These included the first recorded case in Scotland where the ALS mutation responsible (Pro-197-Gln) was determined, making this the first UK population of Tripleurospermum inodorum to have ALS target site resistance confirmed.
Supergravity in the Group‐Geometric Framework: A Primer

We review the group‐geometric approach to supergravity theories, in the perspective of recent developments and applications. Usual diffeomorphisms, gauge symmetries and supersymmetries are unified as superdiffeomorphisms in a supergroup manifold. Integration on supermanifolds is briefly revisited, and used as a tool to provide a bridge between component and superspace actions. As an illustration of the constructive techniques, the cases of d=3,4 off‐shell supergravities and d=5 Chern‐Simons supergravity are discussed in detail. A cursory account of d=10+2 supergravity is also included. We recall a covariant canonical formalism, well adapted to theories described by Lagrangians d‐forms, that allows to define a form hamiltonian and to recast constrained hamiltonian systems in a covariant form language. Finally, group geometry and properties of spinors and gamma matrices in d=s+t dimensions are summarized in Appendices.
Comparison Study: Taguchi Methodology vis.-a-vis. Response Surface Methodology Through a Case Study of Accelerated Failure in Spin-on-Filter

Assistant Professor, Department of Statistics, Sardar Patel University, Vallbh Vidyangar-Anand, India Professor, Department of Statistics, Sardar Patel University, Vallbh Vidyangar-Anand, India Abstract: In this paper we investigate the choice of best combination of factors for 2 X 3 mixed factorial design in 16 runs through Taguchi Design Method and Response Surface Method (RSM). Further we show that Response Surface Method predicts better optimal response (9.72% more) as compared to optimum response obtained through Taguchi Design Method. The comparison of methods is done with the help Spin-on-Filter case study conducted by [1]. We use MINITAB for the analysis under both methods.
Decreased light availability can amplify negative impacts of ocean acidification on calcifying coral reef organisms

Coral reef organisms are increasingly and simultaneously affected by global and local stressors such as ocean acidification (OA) and reduced light availability. However, knowl- edge of the interplay between OA and light availability is scarce. We exposed 2 calcifying coral reef species (the scleractinian coral Acropora millepora and the green alga Halimeda opuntia) to combinations of ambient and increased pCO2 (427 and 1073 µatm, respectively), and 2 light inten- sities (35 and 150 µmol photons m �2 s �1 ) for 16 d. We evaluated the individual and combined effects of these 2 stressors on weight increase, calcification rates, O2 fluxes and chlorophyll a con- tent for the species investigated. Weight increase of A. millepora was significantly reduced by OA (48%) and low light intensity (96%) compared to controls. While OA did not affect coral calcifica- tion in the light, it decreased calcification in the dark by 155%, leading to dissolution of the skele- ton. H. opuntia weight increase was not affected by OA, but decreased (40%) at low light. OA did not affect algae calcification in the light, but decreased calcification in the dark by 164%, leading to dissolution. Low light significantly reduced gross photosynthesis (56 and 57%), net photosyn- thesis (62 and 60%) and respiration (43 and 48%) of A. millepora and H. opuntia, respectively. In contrast to A. millepora, H. opuntia significantly increased chlorophyll content by 15% over the course of the experiment. No interactive effects of OA and low light intensity were found on any response variable for either organism. However, A. millepora exhibited additive effects of OA and low light, while H. opuntia was only affected by low light. Thus, this study suggests that negative effects of low light and OA are additive on corals, which may have implications for management of river discharge into coastal coral reefs.
The origin of interstellar asteroidal objects like 1I/2017 U1

With the recently discovered interstellar object 1I/2017U1 (1I/'Oumuamua) we have to realize that the Solar System is not isolated, but part of a larger environment with which we interact. We compare the kinematics of 1I/2017U1 with simulations of the Milky Way Galaxy and Gaia TGAS data to estimates the local density of objects similar to 1I/2017U1 and to investigate its possible origin. We find that about 1.3\,Myr ago 1I/2017U1 has passed within a distance of $0.16$\,pc from the nearby star TYC4742-1027-1. It seems unlikely that 1I/2017U1 originated from an Oort-cloud around this star, but it simply trespassed on its way through. Based on our calculations we conclude that the population of sola lapis (unbound asteroidal objects) is much larger than that of cometary objects. The number of objects with characteristics similar to 1I/2017U1 must be very common, we estimate a population density of $\approx 3\times10^{5}$ similarly sized objects within 100\,au from the Sun or $\sim10^{14}$ per cubic parsec in the Solar neighborhood. By comparing the results of simulations of the Milky Way Galaxy with the Gaia DR1 TGAS we conclude that the kinematics of 1I/2017U1 is consistent with that expected from interstellar distribution of isolated objects that are part of the local Galactic potential. It is then hard to predict how long 1I/2017 U1 has been roaming the Galaxy before it visited the Solar System. We subsequently argue that the Galaxy is rich in solae lapides such as 1I/2017U1. We speculate that such an object is formed in a debris disk as left over from the star and planet formation process. Upon interaction with other stars in the parental star cluster or due to resonant interactions within the planetary disk these objects are liberated from their parental star and float freely in the interstellar space.
Determination of decimal reduction time (D-value) of chemical agents used in hospitals for killing airborne isolated bacteria

Due to the growing numbers of infection outbreaks in hospitals, it is essential to set up an effective sanitation program. The kinetic parameter of killing time (D-value) was experimentally determined to study the effectiveness of some chemical agents used in hospitals. A total of 115 Air-borne bacteria were isolated from 12 wards of a hospital in Alexandria, Egypt. They were tested for their resistance to different antibiotics and commercial disinfecting agents. Three isolates were selected, identified and their D-values were determined against seven chemical agents (hydrogen peroxide, chlorine, betadine, phenik, iodine, dettol, and savlon). The bacterial strains were Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Bacillus subtilis representing the Gram positive,Gram negative and spore former, respectively. The results revealed that P. aeruginosawas the most sensitive organism where B. subtilis and S. aureus showed approximately same resistance pattern. The data of this study reflect the importance of selecting the appropriate chemical agent to be used for killing specific microorganisms in appropriate time. In conclusion, successful disinfection depends upon the selection of the correct chemical agent associated with a proper disinfecting procedure. Key words: Chemical agents, disinfection, D-value, hospitals, air borne bacteria.
Accuracy of Panoramic Dental X-Ray Imaging in Detection of Proximal Caries with Multiple Morpological Gradient (mMG) Method

Dental caries is tooth decay caused by bacterial infection. This is commonly known as tooth decay. Classification of caries by location consists of; occlusal caries, proximal caries, root caries and caries enamel. Diagnosis of dental caries in general carried out with the help of radiographic images is called Dental X-Ray. Dental X-Ray consists of bitewing, Periapical and Panoramic. Identification of proximal caries using Dental Panoramic X-Ray lowest precision was compared with both other Dental X-Ray. This study aims to perform sharpening and improving the quality of information contained in the image of Panoramic Dental X-Ray to clarify the edges of the objects contained in the image, making it easier to identify and proximal caries severity. The methods and algorithms used are multiple Morphology Gradient (mMG). The results obtained are increased accuracy in identifying proximal caries 47.5%. Based on the severity of it, that level of enamel = 47.37%; dentin rate = 42.1% and the rate of dentin = 1.3%. Accuracy level of accuracy in identifying proximal caries a higher level of email, so that patients with proximal caries early levels can be tackled early handling by the dentist
Predicting future distributions of mountain plants under climate change: does dispersal capacity matter?

Many studies have investigated the potential impacts of climate change on the distribution of plant species, but few have attempted to constrain projections through plant dispersal limitations. Instead, most studies published so far have simplified dispersal as either unlimited or null. However, depending on the dispersal capacity of a species, landscape fragmentation, and the rate of climatic change, these assumptions can lead to serious over- or underestimation of the future distribution of plant species. To quantify the discrepancies between simulations accounting for dispersal or not, we carried out projections of future distribution over the 21st century for 287 mountain plant species in a study area of the western Swiss Alps. For each species, simulations were run for four dispersal scenarios (unlimited dispersal, no dispersal, realistic dispersal, and realistic dispersal with long-distance dispersal events) and under four climate change scenarios. Although simulations accounting for realistic dispersal limitations did significantly differ from those considering dispersal as unlimited or null in terms of projected future distribution, the unlimited dispersal simplification did nevertheless provide good approximations for species extinctions under more moderate climate change scenarios. Overall, simulations accounting for dispersal limitations produced, for our mountainous study area, results that were significantly closer to unlimited dispersal than to no dispersal. Finally, analysis of the temporal pattern of species extinctions over the entire 21st century revealed that important species extinctions for our study area might not occur before the 2080-2100 period, due to the possibility of a large number of species shifting their distribution to higher elevation.
WHAT NOS TEACHING PRACTICES TELL US: A CASE OF TWO SCIENCE TEACHERS

Translation of nature of science (NOS) views into teaching practice and the development of teachers’ NOS teaching are still open to investigation. Therefore, how teachers’ translation of NOS understanding into practice occurs and what extend science teachers are able to transform their understanding into explicit reflective NOS instruction have been issues still need to be further exploration. This study explored the impact of intensive nature of science summer workshop on science teachers’ views of NOS and their instructional practices. The current study was a case study of two middle school science teachers documenting their NOS views and instructional practice on NOS in the classrooms. Data resources included the VNOS-C; interviews and classroom observations. Participants made substantial improvements in their understandings of the targeted aspects of NOS as a result of their participation in professional development program. The study also showed that two of teachers translated their understanding of NOS in a certain degree into instructional practice. Keywords: in-service teachers, nature of science, professional development program, science education.
Management Praxis at Nepalese Manufacturing and Non-Manufacturing Firms

This paper ascertains management praxis at Nepalese manufacturing and non-manufacturing firms that are shaping the firms’ decisions and actions in due course of their managerial process activities. In-depth interviews with selected executives from among the respondents and discourse analysis thereof indicate a varied form of managerial practices. The discourse in the areas of organizational change and management praxis concentrated on the adaptation to their environment. It focuses on the role of executives, culture, environmental change, organizational and business legacy in consideration of discontinuity, innovation and social adaptation. Chisquare test of independence and Kendall’s tau-b have been instrumental in interpretation of the associations and relationships of the principal actors of change makers in organizations and businesses. Pravaha Vol. 24, No. 1, 2018, Page: 159-174
“Diffusion” region of magnetic reconnection: electron orbits and the phase space mixing

Abstract. The nonlinear dynamics of electrons in the vicinity of magnetic field neutral lines during magnetic reconnection, deep inside the “diffusion” region where the electron motion is nonadiabatic, has been numerically analyzed. Test particle orbits are examined in that vicinity, for a prescribed planar two-dimensional magnetic field configuration and with a prescribed uniform electric field in the neutral line direction. On electron orbits, a strong particle acceleration occurs due to the reconnection electric field. Local instability of orbits in the neighborhood of the neutral line is pointed out. It combines with finiteness of orbits due to particle trapping by the magnetic field, and this should lead to the effect of mixing in the phase space, and the appearance of dynamical chaos. The latter may presumably be viewed as a mechanism producing finite “conductivity” in collisionless plasma near the neutral line. That conductivity is necessary to provide violation of the magnetic field frozen-in condition, i.e., for magnetic reconnection to occur in that region. Keywords. Magnetospheric physics (plasma sheet)
Mergers Improve Efficiency of Malaysian Commercial Banks

The merger of the Malaysian domestic banks was enforced by the government in the year 1999 after years of persuasion with little success. This study endeavors to measure the impact of the involuntary merger on the efficiency gains. Merger and acquisition of domestic banks improved the banks’ performance, profitability and value creation as indicated by Bank Negara Malaysia in 1999. The central bank of Malaysia (Bank Negara Malaysia) reassures banks to merge with other banking institution in order to bring about the economies of scale and to provide a higher level of efficiency. Subsequent to the mergers, there were only nine commercial banks left to form a completely new corporation. The secondary data was derived from the nine domestic banks from the year 2005 to 2009 were accumulated and analyzed using the DEA method. Mergers had unique advantages in terms of industry efficiency.
English Literary Texts used in Form Four AND Five English Literature Component ‘Revisit’

This study is designed to revisit ESL teachers’ perceptions towards the literary texts used in upper forms English literature component in 2007 in comparison to the texts used in 2016. It is also to identify the changes in the selection of the literary texts from the first to the current phase. The data were analysed based on these ESL teachers’ perceptions in terms of the topic/content, language, culture and authenticity found in the literary texts. In the attempt of data collection, semi-structured interview was designed with twelve questions which were divided into the four different criteria. A number of twenty five form four and five teachers from different schools within the state of Sarawak were interviewed. The data obtained were compared with the data collected from a parallel study done in 2007. The findings appeared to indicate that there were some significant similarities and differences in these teachers’ perceptions towards the two different sets of literary texts used in upper forms in 2007 and 2016 based on the stated criteria.
Land Use and Freshwater Ecosystems in France

Freshwater ecosystems have experienced over the last three decades larger declines in biodiversity than terrestrial and marine ecosystems. This is due to alterations of habitat, water pollution problems, overexploitation of water resources, exotic invasions, water extraction and flow regulation (Mantyka-Prigel et al., 2014). These human-induced pressures are mainly driven by land use changes. The increased urbanization and development cause the alteration of habitat in rivers. The agricultural sector is at the origin of diffuse pollution problems due to discharges of nitrogen, phosphorus and pesticides in soil and water. Some rivers in France are highly degraded because of these various land uses and their changes. This degradation is represented by a decline in the quality and quantity of water, and by changes in the distribution and structure of aquatic biota for some rivers in France (Oberdorff et al., 2002). This has led us to ask what land uses are at the origin of the spatial heterogeneity of the "health" of water bodies in France, and which public policies are best in improving it. The previous work on France has studied exclusively the effects of land uses on the chemical status of water quality. In this work, we close the gap in the literature by analyzing how alternative land uses affect freshwater ecosystems in France. In line with Hascic and Wu (2006), we estimate the effects of alternative land uses on a selected indicator of the ecological status of surface water, namely a fish-based index. As the effect of land uses on fish-based index is conditional to the location of water body and to its pedoclimatic conditions, it is important to take into account the spatial heterogeneity of the fish-based index in the econometric strategy. To this end, unlike the previous literature, we estimate a spatial econometric model to explain the FBI score registered for various monitoring points observed between 2001 and 2013 in France. We discuss the implications of the results for the design of agricultural and land use policies that improve the health of freshwater ecosystems. We first expect that different land uses (agriculture, forest, grassland, urban and other) and biophysical variables have a significant effect on the spatial distribution of the fish-based index. We also expect that the shares of forest and grassland areas in a specific hydrographic sector have a positive impact on the score of the fish-based index, while the shares of agricultural and urban areas have a negative impact. Furthermore, we expect that climatic variables significantly affect the evolution of the fish-based index over time. The findings of this study could be useful for policy makers to adapt land use policies for sustainable freshwater ecosystems.
Unhealthy Family Functioning As A Psychological Context Underlying Australian Children’s Emotional And Behavioural Problems

Objectives: Understanding the psychological reasons underlying childrens emotional and behavioural problems can guide appropriate interventions. This study examined emotional and behavioural problems in Australian children and unhealthy family functioning as a psychological factor associated with development of these emotional and behavioural problems. Methods: The study utilised stratified surveys conducted by the New South Wales, Ministry of Health, during the years 2005-2008. A computer assisted telephone interviewing method was employed. The surveys collected information on demographics, family functioning measured by the General Functioning Scale, and emotional and behavioural problems measured by the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Children aged 4-15 years (n=7,210 children) were included. Logistic regression analyses were used for the emotional and behavioural problem outcomes. Results: Analyses adjusting for demographics revealed that unhealthy family functioning increased substantially the risks of emotional symptoms (OR = 2.53; 95% CI = 1.36-4.69), peer problems (OR = 6.26; 95% CI = 4.43-11.42), conduct problems (OR = 3.83; 95% CI = 1.88-7.84), and the overall emotional and behavioural problems (OR = 5.06; 95% CI = 2.42-10.58). Conclusions: Children from unhealthy family functioning backgrounds have a potential risk factor for emotional and behavioural problems. Mental health interventions aiming at improving the quality of parent-child relationships may reduce this potential risk for emotional and behavioural problems among the children.
Two cases of severe weather in Catalonia (Spain): an observational study

Surface observations, satellite and radar imagery and cloud‐to‐ground lightning data are used in an observational study of two cases that produced severe weather in Catalonia (Spain). The first one occurred on 24 August 1993; a squall line crossed Catalonia from west to east producing heavy rain with rates of up to 100 mm h−1 and hail of 7 cm diameter. The observational information provided is a good tool for monitoring the event and issuing a reasonable nowcast. The second case, which occurred on 31 August 1994, was associated with the development of a tornado (F1 in the Fujita scale) as well as hail of up to 5 cm diameter. In this case the convection was almost stationary and no clear signatures of severe weather can be identified from available satellite and radar imagery. Copyright © 1997 Royal Meteorological Society
Effects of biological and mineral fertilization on yield, chemical composition and physical characteristics of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) cultivar seleim.

3 Abstract: A field experiment was conducted at Dongola University Farm at Al-Seleim - Dongola University Farm, Northern State to study the effects of Rhizobium leguminosarum biovar viceae and Bacillus megatherium var. Phosphaticum (BMP) inoculation and phosphorus and nitrogen fertilization on the yield and seed quality of faba bean (Vicia faba L.) cultivar seleim. Rhizobium inoculation significantly (p<0.05) increased yield, seed ash, fat, crude protein and 100-seed weight. BMP inoculation significantly (p<0.05) increased seed moisture, fat, crude fiber and crude protein content. On the other hand, Rhizobium and BMP Co-inoculation significantly (p<0.05) increased yield, seed ash, protein content and 100-seed weight. Application of chemical fertilizers increased yield, seed ash, fat, crude protein content and 100-seed weight. In addition to that, nitrogen fertilization significantly (p<0.05) increased the hydration coefficient. Nitrogen fertilization in the presence of Rhizobium significantly (p<0.05) increased the cookability.