Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Phosphorus fertilization effect on common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)-rhizobia symbiosis

Response to mineral fertilization, especially phosphorus (P), and the lack of efficient rhizobia strains in tunisian soil, where P deficiency, is one of the major factor limiting symbiotic nitrogen fixation (SNF) and yield of Phaseolus vulgaris L. In order to select the efficient strain and to study how P fertilization may improve rhizobial inoculation and there by symbiosis yields, greenhouse experiment and field trials in two different bioclimatic regions of Tunisia (Oued Beja and Oued Méliz) were conducted. Under greenhouse conditions, using Coco Blanc that is characterized a more rentable variety, fifty four strains have been tested. In field conditions, six treatments were completed: (T: Control), (P: 200Kg/ha), (CIAT899), (Ar02), (CIAT899+P: CIAT899+200Kg/ha), (Ar02+P: Ar02+200Kg/ha). Results showed that nodulation evaluation revealed variability among the 54 rhizobia strains. In compared with controlled and other strains, Ar02 showed higher increase nodulation number in order to 134 nodules per plant. Field trials showed that inoculation and P supply increased mainly in Oued Beja nodulation (24 nodules per plant), N content (2.1%) and shoot dry weight (2.44g plant). In comparison with other combinations, phosphorus fertilizer supply and rhizobia inoculation ameliorated mainly in Oued Beja, the nodulation(16.9 nodules per plant) and nodule dry weight (0.27g plant) under field conditions.
A Study of the Effects of the Content-Based Instruction for English Majors in the Chinese Context

Abstract This study focused on the effects of the Content-Based Instruction (CBI) for English majors in the Chinese context. A quasi-experiment was conducted in an English teaching institution with tests as data collection instruments. The quantitative study indicates that CBI brings better outcome than Skill-Oriented Instruction (SOI) in developing language knowledge, language skills and disciplinary knowledge, achieving the general objectives of the national curriculum more effectively than the conventional SOI. The findings throw a positive light on the reform of the national curriculum for English as a specialty and the education of English majors in China. 本项研究依托教学改革的准实验研究，运用了测试采集研究数据，重点关注了中国高笹院校英语专业基础阶段内容依托教学改革的实践效果｡实验研究表明，和以语言技能为导向的教学相比，内容依托教学在语言知识教学､语言技能发展和学科知识的传授方面取得了更好的效果，更好地实现了国家大纲规定的总体教学目标｡这项研究结果对我国英语专业教学大纲的改革及英语专业教育的发展具有重要的启示意义｡
ICT Evaluation: Are We Asking the Right Questions?

The evaluation of information and communication technologies (ICT) in development activities has metamorphised through different phases in the last 30 years. In this paper we explore the experiences of ICT evaluation in the broad business environment and draw parallels with the ICT for development (ICTD) environment. The paper motivates the need for a fundamental paradigm shift in ICTD evaluation. We argue that it is not sufficient to focus on the easily measurable tangible and quantifiable benefits of ICT. We motivate that the intangible benefits of ICT on development such as empowerment, self‐esteem and social cohesion are more important from a developmental perspective. Consequently, a more detailed exploration of the theoretical and methodological implications of this shift in the ICTD field is warranted.
Molar volumes of mixing of almandine-pyrope and almandine-spessartine garnets and the crystal chemistry and thermodynamic-mixing properties of the aluminosilicate garnets

Abstract The aluminosilicate garnet binaries almandine-pyrope and almandine-spessartine were studied by powder X-ray and 57Fe Mössbauer methods. Refinements of the unit-cell constants along the almandine-pyrope join show that the volumes of mixing are ideal. Those of the almandine-spessartine join show very small positive deviations from ideality, which can be fitted with a symmetric model having an interaction parameter of Wv = 0.24 (±0.05) cm3/mol. Mössbauer spectra recorded at 298 and 77 K show the presence of small amounts| of [6]Fe3+. which in the case of almandine-pyrope garnets is also measurable from microprobe analyses. The amount of Fe3+ is generally less than 3.5% of the total Fe for the almandine-pyrope garnets and 1-2% for almandine-spessartine garnets. The molar volumes of mixing of the aluminosilicate garnet binaries are interpreted using a crystal-chemical model involving rigid tetrahedral rotation. The degree of tetrahedral rotation is not linear with increasing size of the divalent X-site cation for the four common aluminosilicate garnet end-members or along the solid solution binary pyrope-grossular. The vibrational entropies of mixing should be positively correlated with the volumes of mixing in the case of garnet, but the masses of the X-site cations must also be considered. The phonon density of states at low energies should show the vibrations of the weakly bonded divalent cations and rigid-unit modes related to tetrahedral rotation. Positive excess vibrational entropies of mixing along a binary could result from increased amplitudes and lower frequencies of vibration of the smaller of the two X-site cations substituting within larger and more distorted dodecahedral sites, as compared to the X site in the smaller volume end-member.
Association Between Metabolic Abnormalities and Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver in Obese Premenopausal Women

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is frequently related to obesity and metabolic alterations. This study aimed to assess the relation between NAFLD and metabolic syndrome (MS) in obese premenopausal women and investigate the impact of NAFLD on occurrence of metabolic syndrome components. The study comprised 180 non-smoking premenopausal obese women. They were 90 with NAFLD and 90 with normal liver, aged 25 to 35 years. Abdominal ultrasonography was used to diagnose fatty liver disease. MS was diagnosed according to the Adult Treatment Panel III criteria. Metabolic syndrome was found in 22.2% and in 83.3% of the normal and fatty liver cases, respectively, with significant difference. Cases with NAFLD had significantly higher levels of triglyceride, glucose, ALT, cholesterol, HOMA-IR and waist circumference than those than those with the normal fatty liver. In fatty liver group, the majority of cases had central obesity (88.8%), followed by hypertriglyceridemia (85.5%), hyperinsulinemia (84.4 %), hyperglycemia (83.3%) and hypertension (81.1%). All metabolic syndrome components were significantly elevated in the cases with fatty liver than those with in normal liver cases. The strongest associations of an individual component of meta­bolic syndrome with NAFLD were hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-cholesterol. A higher percentage of NAFLD was observed in cases with three components followed by four components of the metabolic syndrome. NAFLD is correlated positively with metabolic risk components. It was associated with higher ratios of metabolic components; hypertriglyceridemia and low HDL-cholesterol level had the strongest positive association. This suggests the importance of these components in screening of NAFLD among obese premenopausal women.
Atributos físicos do solo e rendimento de soja em sistema plantio direto em integração lavoura-pecuária com diferentes pressões de pastejo

The integration of farming and cattle production activities in no-tillage system areas with winter cover crops can be an income supplement for summer grain farmers. However, many of them are afraid of adopting this integration system, because of possible negative effects of animal treading on soil attributes, mainly of those related to soil compaction. This study was conducted: (1) to determine the alterations in the soil physical attributes promoted by animal treading; (2) to verify if the alterations in soil attributes due to animal treading affect soybean establishment and grain yield. The experiment was carried out with a Rhodic Hapludox (Oxisol), under black oat + ryegrass pasture grazed at different heights (10, 20, 30 and 40 cm) and an ungrazed area. After one cycle of animal treading there were no significant modifications in soil bulk density, porosity and compressibility at different grazing heights. However, soil density and compressibility were higher and the porosity lower in the grazed plots. The soybean population and grain yield were not affected by modifications in the soil physical attributes.
Evaluation of antimicrobial activity and phytochemical screening of extracts of Tinospora cordifolia against some pathogenic microbes

The aim of present study was to evaluate the antimicrobial effect of different extracts of Tinospora cordifolia against four pathogenic bacteria (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Streptococcus mutans and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and one fungus (Candida albicans). The efficacy of extracts was measured in terms of zone of inhibition (mm). Butanol extract was the most effective against all the tested microbes as compared to the other tested extracts. The decoction and toluene was ineffective against all the microbes except E. coli where benzene was ineffective. The phytochemical screening of various extracts revealed the presence of tannins, steroids, flavonoids, cardiac glycosides and saponnins. These results suggested that butanol extract is not only the important source of antimicrobial component but can also be used for developing novel antimicrobial biorationals of plant origin.
Teaching behaviour of LETs and NETs in Hong Kong: Differences perceived by secondary students

Coming from different linguistic backgrounds, non-native English speaking teachers (NNESTs) and their native counterparts may exhibit different teaching behaviours in classrooms. Having a better understanding of these differences may assist teachers to reflect upon teaching and enable teacher educators to better prepare trainees for their professional life. This paper reports on a study which investigated students’ perceptions of the teaching behaviour of local English teachers (LETs) and native English teachers (NETs) in Hong Kong. Data were collected through 196 completed questionnaires and 10 semi-structured group interviews with students. Results show remarkable perceived differences in classroom atmosphere, classroom language use, teacher attitudes towards discipline, teaching approaches, and teaching objectives. Results also show what elements constitute an interesting lesson to students. This paper concludes with recommendations for classroom teaching practices and suggestions for future research.
Modeling take-up of rice-fish systems with fuzzy logic

Most current models analyzing technology adoption are based on a function that assumes farmers make decisions upon utility maximization but ignores cul tural or social factors. The traditional production systems of the Mekong Delta were based on floating rice varieties and fish harvested both from rivers and rice fields. Since 1980 the presence of fish in the rice fields decreased and research developed the s o- called concurrent rice-fish system to capture the a dvantages of the synergy. Whether this is a feasibl e option depends on the farmers' drives and motives f or taking-up the technology. In 2000 we made an inventory among 60 farmers who adopted the rice-fish system in four districts to describe their resour ces and motivations. In 2006 we repeated this survey among 94 farmers including potential adopters, in ord er to evaluate the take-up potential of the rice-fish system in the Mekong Delta. Income/person and income/ha of the farm households with a rice-fish s ystem were close to double, while their land area (2.5ha) was not significantly larger than those far ms without a rice-fish system (1.95ha). Usually far mers integrating also pigs and fish had the smallest lan d area. The farmers' non-adoption of the rice-fish system was mainly due to low availability of capita l and land, and to inappropriate location of the fi eld in relation to the homestead, water availability, and agro-ecological conditions. To create space for mor e upland crops was an important argument for the construction of a rice-fish system. Modeling confirmed that under appropriate agro-ecological conditions t he take-up of rice-fish systems can be stimulated b y increasing know-how on fish and on system component integration. The sensitivity of the fuzzy logic simulation did not confirm the importance of land s ize and wealth ranking for the take-up .
KNOT CONTACT HOMOLOGY AND OPEN GROMOV–WITTEN THEORY

Knot contact homology studies symplectic and contact geometric properties of conormals of knots in 3-manifolds using holomorphic curve techniques. It has connections to both mathematical and physical theories. On the mathematical side, we review the theory, show that it gives a complete knot invariant, and discuss its connections to Fukaya categories, string topology, and micro-local sheaves. On the physical side, we describe the connection between the augmentation variety of knot contact homology and Gromov-Witten disk potentials, and discuss the corresponding higher genus relation that quantizes the augmentation variety.
The size and polydispersity of silica nanoparticles under simulated hot spring conditions

Abstract The nucleation and growth of silica nanoparticles in supersaturated geothermal waters was simulated using a flow-through geothermal simulator system. The effect of silica concentration ([SiO2]), ionic strength (IS), temperature (T) and organic additives on the size and polydispersity of the forming silica nanoparticles was quantified. A decrease in temperature (58 to 33°C) and the addition of glucose restricted particle growth to sizes <20 nm, while varying [SiO2] or IS did not affect the size (30-35 nm) and polydispersity (±9 nm) observed at 58°C. Conversely, the addition of xanthan gum induced the development of thin films that enhanced silica aggregation.
Integrity, ethical leadership, trust and work engagement

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to investigate how leader integrity and ethical leadership can influence trust in the leader and employee work engagement. Design/methodology/approach Data were collected using an electronic web-based questionnaire completed by 204 employees from various business organisations. Data were analysed by means of item analysis and confirmatory factor analysis conducted via structural equation modelling. Findings High levels of reliability were found for the measurement scales. Good model fit was demonstrated for the measurement and structural models. Empirical support was found for all the postulated relationships in the structural model. Originality/value This study is the first to analyse the joint relationships between leader integrity and work engagement through the mediating role of ethical leadership (i.e. moral management) and trust in the leader. The findings emphasise the key role played by ethical leaders in creating an ethical and trusting work climate conducive for employee engagement.
Optimum phase-acquisition technique for charge-pump PLL

In this paper, we propose a new optimum phase-acquisition algorithm controlling the loop gain of a charge-pump PLL (CP-PLL) in the sense of the MMSE criterion. A set of recursive difference equations minimizing RMS jitter of output phase is derived to obtain an optimum gear-shifting sequence with a zero-phase start (ZPS) assumption. It is shown that the optimum gear-shifting sequence is independent of the variance of the input phase jitter. A procedure for applying this sequence to the design of CP-PLL circuits is described, Both behavoral simulation and HSPICE circuit-level simulation demonstrate that the proposed design leads to an efficient CP-PLL having both fast acquisition and significant jitter reduction characteristics. The optimal gear-shifting CP-PLL outperforms the conventional CP-PLLs. These methods can be used for clock recovery applications such as data communication receivers, disk drive read/write channels, and local area networks, as well as for other applications requiring very short initial preamble periods.
A portrait of innovative start-ups across countries

The report presents new cross-country descriptive evidence on innovative start-ups and related venture capital investments drawing upon Crunchbase, a new dataset that is unprecedented in terms of scope and comprehensiveness. The analysis employs a mix of different statistical techniques (descriptive graphics, econometric analysis, and machine learning) to highlight a number of findings. First, there are significant cross-country differences in the professional and educational background of start-ups’ founders, notably the share of founders with previous academic experience and in the share of “serial entrepreneurs”. Conversely, the founders’ average age is rather constant across countries, but shows a fair degree of variability across sectors. Second, IP assets, and in particular the presence of an inventor in the team of founders, are strongly associated with start-ups’ success. Finally, female founders are less likely to receive funding, receive lower amounts when they do receive financing, and have a lower probability of successful exit, when other factors are controlled for.
State Tobacco Taxation, Education and Smoking: Controlling for the Effects of Omitted Variables

There is a potential bias in cross-sectional estimates of the effects of cigarette prices on cigarette consumption. States with the strongest antismoking sentiment will likely have the highest cigarette taxes, which result in the highest prices. Some of the lower consumption of cigarettes in high-tax states will result from such sentiments, rather than from higher taxes, so the estimated effect of cigarette taxes on consumption will be overstated. This study corrects for such bias, employing panel data for U.S. states from 1960 to 1990. We find that controlling for this bias reduces the estimated consumer response to cigarette price change by 40-50 percent.
On the Modal Analysis of a Cracking Compressor Blade

On the Modal Analysis of a Cracking Compressor Blade The paper deals with issues related to reliable recognition and prediction of health of steel compressor blades. It outlines symptoms that indicate the blade cracking, and identification methods that can be used during operation, maintenance and repairs/overhauls of turbine jet engines of the SO-3 type. An optical method involving laser measurements of blade vibration while on the excitation source is presented in details as it is implemented in the WZL-3 (Military Aviation Works No. 3). The method has been verified in practice and some findings from the verification process are discussed. Next, new testing capabilities offered by the method are presented, including identification of early symptoms of material fatigue (the strengthening and the weakening of the material) and the crack initiation. The topics under discussion have been illustrated with some examples taken while measuring modal properties typical of both defect-free and faulty blades as well as from fatigue tests conducted according to the LCF and HCF profiles. It has been proved that the analysis of resonance responses for specific modes of operation allows of reliable differentiation between material's fatigue and cracking.
Monitoring Seasonal Pasture Quality Degradation in the Mediterranean Montado Ecosystem: Proximal versus Remote Sensing

Montado is an agro-forestry system occupying a large surface in countries of the Mediterranean region. In this system, the natural dryland pasture is the principal source for animal feed in extensive grazing. The climatic seasonality associated with the inter-annual irregularity of precipitation greatly influences the development of pasture and its vegetative cycle. The end of spring is a critical period in terms of animal feed due to the notable reduction in the nutritive value of the plants. The objective of this work was to evaluate, through the correlation between pasture quality indexes (Pasture Quality Degradation Index, PQDI and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index, NDVI), two technological approaches for monitoring the evolution of the quality of a biodiverse pasture in the period of greatest vegetative development (between February and June). The technological approaches consisted of (i) proximal sensing (PS), with the use of an active optical sensor; and (ii) remote sensing (RS), using images captured by a Sentinel-2 satellite. The results of this study show strong and significant correlations between PQDI and NDVI (obtained by PS or RS). These two techniques (PS or RS) can, therefore, be used in a complementary way to identify and anticipate the food supplementation needs for animals and support farmers in decision making.
Radiographic Evaluation of Root Canal Fillings in a Selected Yemeni Population: A Retrospective Study.

Aim: To assess the root canal filling quality performed by general dental practitioners in Yemen through radiographic evaluation. Materials and Methods: Four hundred fifty-five digital panoramic radiographs were selected from the archive of the Dental Health Center in Sana'a, Yemen. The final sample consisted of 221 patients, 685 teeth, and 977 root canals. The criteria for overall radiographic adequacy of root canal fillings were defined as the presence of adequate length, density and taper, and absence of iatrogenic errors (ledges, transportations and perforations). Chi-square test was used to determine statistical significance between different parameters. Results: This study considered only radiographic criteria for evaluation of the root canal fillings. The percentage of root canal fillings with adequate length, density and taper was 30.8%, 29.6% and 20.7%, respectively. Considering the incidence of iatrogenic errors, perforations were present in 12 root canals (1.2%), while the presence of transportations was observed in 20 root canals (2.0%). However, ledges were no detected in any root canals. Conclusion: The root canal filling quality performed by general dental practitioners in Yemen is poor.
The Role of Business Consulting in Creating Knowledge and Formulating a Strategy of Development in Polish Micro-Enterprises

The paper presents the role of business consulting in the management of micro-enterprises in the context of creating knowledge and formulating a development strategy. It discusses the importance of determinants and the impact of business consulting as a factor in reducing the knowledge gap. The results of research conducted in 406 Polish micro-enterprises confirm the hypothesis of the existence of positive correlations between business consulting and knowledge along with development strategies, as well as between knowledge and strategy. It was also noted that advanced knowledge on the part of managers is a condition for the efficient use of business consulting and the development of a developmental orientation of micro-enterprises.