Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Surface Renewal Application for Estimating Evapotranspiration: A Review

The estimation of evapotranspiration (ET) is essential for meteorological modeling of surface exchange processes, as well as for the agricultural practice of irrigation management. Hitherto, a number of methods for estimation of ET at different temporal scales and climatic conditions are constantly under investigation and improvement. One of these methods is surface renewal (SR). Therefore, the premise of this review is to present recent developments and applications of SR for ET measurements. The SR method is based on estimating the turbulent exchange of sensible heat flux between plant canopy and atmosphere caused by the instantaneous replacement of air parcels in contact with the surface. Additional measurements of net radiation and soil heat flux facilitate extracting ET using the shortened energy balance equation. The challenge, however, is the calibration of SR results against direct sensible heat flux measurements. For the classical SR method, only air temperature measured at high frequency is required. In addition, a new model suggests that the SR method could be exempted from calibration by measuring additional micrometeorological variables. However, further improvement of the SR method is required to provide improved results in the future.
Gap theorems for compact almost Ricci-harmonic solitons

Almost Ricci-harmonic solitons are generalization of Ricci-harmonic solitons, almost Ricci solitons and harmonic-Einstein metrics. The main focus of this paper is to establish necessary and sufficient conditions for a gradient shrinking almost Ricci-harmonic soliton on a compact domain to be almost harmonic-Einstein.
Propagation of long fractures in the Ronne Ice Shelf investigated using a numerical model of fracture propagation

Long rifts near the front of the Ronne Ice Shelf, Antarctica, are observed to begin as fractures along the lateral boundaries of outlet streams feeding the shelf. These flaws eventually become the planes along which tabular icebergs calve. The fractures propagate laterally as they advect through the shelf, with orientations that can be explained by the glaciological stress field. Fracture length remains constrained over much of the advective path, and locations of crack tip arrest are observed to coincide with structural boundaries, such as suture zones between ice from adjacent outlet glaciers. Geomechanical principles and numerical models demonstrate that in the absence of these suture zones crack tips are unlikely to arrest in these locations.We conclude that lateral inhomogeneity in the ice plays an important role in fracture mechanics through most of the ice shelf. Only near the shelf front are these local structural effects overcome such that the large rifts required for tabular iceberg production develop.
ISOLATION OF FUNGI ASSOCIATED WITH SHISHAM TREES AND THEIR EFFECT ON SEED GERMINATION AND SEEDLING MORTALITY

A total of 10 fungi viz., Fusarium solani, F. moniliforme, F. equiseti, F. oxysporum. F. semitectum, Rhizoctonia solani, Alternaria alternata, Curvularia lunata, Aspergillus niger and Penicillium sp. were isolated from infected roots, bark, seed and stem of shisham. F. solani was most predominant followed by R. solani and C. lunata. Maximum infection frequency of 75.00% was exhibited by F. solani colonizing stem tissues followed by 47.39% from bark tissues, 29.83% from seeds and 15.62% from roots. The colonization percent of F. solani was highest in stem tissues collected from Ghotki (85.50%) as compared to Pano Akil (70.00%), Mirpur Mathelo (65.50%), Daharki (56.50%) and Hala (34.60%) followed by F. moniliforme ranging from 3.0018. 50% as compared to other isolated fungi. Seed germination percentage was also reduced (50.00%) in soil infested with F. solani and seedling mortality was 93.33% followed by soil infested with R. solani (60.00%) with mortality rate (66.66%) and C. lunata (70.00%), seedling mortality rate of 42.85% as compared to F. moniliforme and F. oxysporum, respectively.
A study of physico-chemical properties and heavy metals in contaminated soils of municipal waste dumpsites at Allahabad, India

The study assesses the qualities of contaminated soils of three municipal waste dumpsites in Allahabad, Uttar Pradesh. The pH of the dumpsite soils ranged from 6.42±0.46 to 7.16±0.81 which is tending towards neutral or alkaline pH. Water holding capacity and moisture content at dumpsites were in good amounts (30.43±1.33 to 48.58±1.19 and 35.53±1.79 to 50.77±1.32 % respectively). Organic matter was higher (1.60±0.39 to 2.55±0.48%) at dumpsites as compared to their adjoining areas. Clay texture class played a significant role in differentiating normal soils of adjoining area than dumpsite soils. Total metal concentrations of Cr, Cu, Fe, Ni, Pb and Zn were also analyzed and elevated levels of heavy metals were obtained at dumpsites (32.46±1.07 to 108.85±3.99 mg/kg). Metal contamination at dumpsite was in the order of Pb>Zn>Fe>Ni>Cu>Cr>Cd imparting highest contamination to Daraganj dumpsite while Phaphamau dumpsite was least contaminated. Cr and Cd were not detectable from all adjoining areas while Pb, Zn, Fe, Ni and Cu were present in least amounts (7.32±0.30 to 37.94±4.22 mg/kg). Physico-chemical properties and heavy metal concentrations at each dumpsite were also correlated with each other and many significant correlations were observed. Concentrations of Zn were highly correlated with the concentrations of Cu, Ni and Pb (r =-0.66 to 0.86, p<0.05). Concentrations of Cr were also significantly correlated with Ni and Pb (r =-0.62,-0.69, p<0.05). The study evidently indicates that the level of heavy metal contamination is higher at dumpsites which may be a cause of concern for their surrounding environment and organisms. This work will prove valuable in providing baseline information for further soil quality monitoring studies in study area.
The effect of fertilizer system on soybean productivity in the conditions of right bank forest-steppe

The influence of mineral fertilizer rates and various methods of treatment with a complex of Microfol Combi microelements on the formation of yield of soybean grain of cultivars of different maturity groups has been investigated. The authors have made the energy analysis and determined that the most effective is the model of technology of cultivating soybean of both Horlytzia and Vinnychanka cultivars, which involves the application of mineral fertilizers at the rate of N30Ð 60Ð60, presowing seed treatment with a complex of Microfol Combi microelements (150 g/ton), along with top dressing with the same preparation at the rate of 0.5 kg/ha at the budding stage that provides for the highest indicator of the energy sowing coefficient amounting to 2.53 for the cultivar of Horlytzia and 2.75 for the cultivar of Vinnychanka, that is, respectively, 0.89 and 0.99 more than check. Keywords: Soybean; yield; energy efficiency; fertilizer rates; complex of microelements References: Babych, A. O. , Drobytko, A. V. , & Drobytko, O. M. (2000). Formation of soybean yield depending on the selection of cultivars and technological practices in terms of the South-Western Steppe of Ukraine. Materials of the Third All-Ukrainian Conference “Production, processing and use of soybean for feed and food purposes”. Vinnytsa, pp. 9-10. Dospekhov, B. A. (1985). The methodology of field experiment (with the basics of statistical processing of research results). 5th revised and enlarged edition. M. : Agropromizdat, p. 351. Smakhlii, O. F. , Malynovskyi, A. S. , & Kardashov, A. T. (2004). Energetic assessment of agro-ecosystems. Zhytomyr: Publishing house “Volyn”, p. 132. Kalenska, S. M. , Novytska, N. V. , & Andriets, D. V. (2011). Photosynthetic activity of soybean crops on typical black soils. Scientific Bulletin of the National University of Bioresources and Nature Resource Management of Ukraine, 162(1), 82-89. Medvedovskyi, O. K. , & Ivanenko, P. I. (1988). Energy analysis of intensive technologies in agricultural production. K. : Urozhai, p. 205. Technique of bioenergetic evaluation of technologies of agricultural crop production (1971). M. : Kolos, 2, 239. Kulyk, M. F. , Babych, A. O. , & Semenchuk, V. M. (1997). Methodology of bioenergetic evaluation of livestock product and feed manufacture technologies. Vinnytsa, p. 54. Starchenkov, E. P. (1996). Problem of symbiotic nitrogen fixation: national economic significance, achievements and prospects of research. Physiology and Biochemistry of Cultivated Plants, 28(1), 36-52. Tarariko, Yu. O, Horodnii, M. M. , & Serdiuk, A. G. (2006). Bioenergetic evaluation of the systems of fertilizers and agricultural technologies; educational edition guidelines. Publishing unit of UVK NAU, p. 34. Shyshkyn, R. V. (2003). Saving of energy costs in soybean cultivation. Agrarian science, 12, 14-15. Shannon, D. A. , Kueneman, E. A. , Wright, M. J., & Wood, C. W. (1992). Fertilization effect of soy bean grown and yield in the southern Guinea savanna of Nigerian Journal of Plant Nutrition, 15(5), 639-658.
EFFECT OF LIMING AND FERTILIZER APPLICATION IN HEMIC AND SAPRIC OF TROPICAL PEAT: PHOSPHORUS MINERALIZATION, INFRA-RED SPECTROSCOPY AND MICROSCOPY

This study was conducted to investigate the changes in nutrient level P as well as in the structural and functional groups upon the decomposition of Hemic and Sapric peat material due to application of lime and fertilizers. The peat materials were left to decompose for 8 weeks under laboratory incubation and samples were taken for the determination of extractable P at 1 week interval. At 8 weeks, samples were sent for FTIR and SEM analysis. Although both types of peat material exhibit similar patterns in the mineralization of phosphorus, however, the amount of extractable phosphorus between Hemic and Sapric during the decomposition process differed. Addition of fertilizer (T3) resulted in a significantly large increase in extractable P compared to T1 and T2 but the effect was temporal as the extractable P declined throughout the incubation period. Sapric material displayed more absorption bands from the FTIR spectral analysis compared to Hemic although there were few similarities between the bands produced. Application of fertilizer in T3 caused the peaks that were similar with other treatments became weaker and different functional groups were shown at lower frequencies. Images from SEM showed that addition of lime and fertilizers caused the collapsing and degradation of the plant cell structures in the organic materials of the peat justifying the process of decomposition had occurred. Hemic and Sapric peat material showed some similarities as well as differences in extractable P, plant cell structures and spectral bands upon the application of lime and fertilizers.
Biofilm: Contributing Factor to Drug Resistance in Staphylococci in Blood Stream Infections

Staphylococci represent the most commonly encountered blood culture isolates from ICU patients. Slime production is considered to be a significant virulence factor for some strains of Staphylococci. The importance of the role played by slime is further increased by its frequent association to reduced antibiotic susceptibility. This study was done to find out relationship of Bio-Film formation on the susceptibility pattern of the isolates. 27.6% of the isolates produced biofilm as detected by Congo Red Agar method; commonest being Staphylococcus epidermidis (53.9%). The percentage of resistance in the group which produces biofilm is always greater than the group which does not produce biofilm. Odds ratio for overall drug resistance was 2.10 (with 95% confidence interval as [1.6 – 2.6]) and with a p-value of 0.006.
Clinical Profile of H1N1 Influenza Patients in a Tertiary Hospital in South India

To study the clinical profile , course of H1N1 influenza cases hospitalized in a tertiary hospital in South india and to study the outcome in these patients. A total of 26 cases were studied retrospectively during aperiod of 18 months from Jan 2016 to August 2017 . Real -time - reverse transcriptase - polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing was used to confirm infection. The demographic , clinical and laboratory data of 26 (RT-PCR) H1N1 cases were collected and analsyed usinf Fischer' exact t test between survivors and nonsurvivors to know thier significance.This study was approved by the institutional research and ethics committee.A total of 26 confirmed cases were studied with maximum cases seen in the month of July.The mean age of affected population was 46 years. Females (65.4%) were affected more than males(34.6%). Diabetes mellitus was the most common comorbid illness.Fever , cough and breathlessness are the common presenting symptoms. 57.7% required ICU.23.1% required vasopressors.Mechanical ventilation was required in 53.8% cases The presence of thrombocytopenia (p-0.025) use of vasopressors (p value-0.000)ICU admission (p- 0.017) and mechanical ventilation (p value-0.010) were poor prognostic factors. The mortality in our study was 23.1%
Non-linear dynamical analysis of the Blazhko effect with the Kepler space telescope: the case of V783 Cyg

We present a detailed nonlinear dynamical investigation of the Blazhko mod- ulation of the Kepler RR Lyrae star V783 Cyg (KIC 5559631). We used different techniques to produce modulation curves, including the determination of amplitude maxima, the O–C diagram and the analytical function method. We were able to fit the modulation curves with chaotic signals with the global flow reconstruction method. However, when we investigated the effects of instrumental and data processing artefacts we found that due to the technical problems of data stitching, detrending and the sparse sampling, the chaotic nature of the modulation can not be proved. Moreover, we found that a considerable part of the detected cycle-to-cycle variation of the modulation may originate from these effects. According to our results, even the four-year-long, unprecedented Kepler space photometry of V783 Cyg is too short for a reliable nonlinear dynamical analysis aiming at the detection of chaos from the Blazhko modulation. We estimate that two other stars could be eligible for similar analysis in the Kepler sample and in the future TESS and PLATO may provide additional candidates.
Gender and hardiness as predictors of career adaptability: an exploratory study among Black call centre agents

The call centre career poses developmental challenges that require high levels of hardiness and career adaptability. This article explores whether call centre agents’ gender and hardiness significantly and positively predicted their career adaptability, and whether women and men differed significantly regarding their hardiness and career adaptability. A cross-sectional survey was conducted with a sample of 409 early-career Black African call centre agents (mean age = 32 years; 66% females). Correlations, stepwise hierarchical regression analysis and the Mann–Whitney U test for significant mean differences were performed to achieve the objective of the study. The results showed that gender significantly predicted career adaptability and that the females had significantly higher levels of career adaptability than their male counterparts. A high sense of hardy control and a low tolerance for unpredictability predicted higher levels of career adaptability. In the light of the paucity of research on the hardiness and career adaptability of Black women and men in the African context, the research contributed valuable new insights that may inform career development interventions for Black call centre agents. The results of the study emphasise the importance of developing call centre agents’ hardiness in order to strengthen their career adaptability. The results further indicated that the diverse strengths and growth areas of women and men in terms of developing their career adaptability must be considered in career development interventions.
Influence of fiber content on mechanical, tribological properties of short basalt fiber-reinforced nylon 6 and polypropylene composites

The aim of this study is to improve the physical, mechanical, and tribological properties of nylon 6 and polypropylene by reinforcing short basalt fibers (SBFs) of different weight percentages (2.5 and 5 wt%) using melt blending in a twin-screw extruder, followed by injection molding process. The control specimens without reinforcements were also prepared to compare and investigate the influence of fiber content on the properties. Density, tensile, flexural, hardness, impact strength, and tribological characterizations were performed according to ASTM standard. The results show that 5-wt% SBF-reinforced nylon composites exhibit maximum improvement in tensile, flexural, impact, hardness, and specific wear rate. Wear mechanisms were also identified using field-emission scanning electron microscope by examining the surface morphology before and after wear. The observation reveals aligned, undamaged fibers during shear mixing and injection molding. The adhesion between fiber/nylon matrix and stepped fracture in the matrix is also spotted.
Extended contact through story reading in school : Reducing children's prejudice toward the disabled

The aim of this study was to develop and assess a prejudice-reduction intervention for young children based on a relatively recent psychological concept, extended contact. A number of extended contact interventions were tested based on different models of generalized intergroup contact. A 3 (type of extended contact: neutral, decategorization, and “intergroup”) × 2 (time of interview: pre- vs. post-extended contacts) mixed design was used, with the latter variable being within participants. Non-disabled children (N= 67) aged 5–10 years took part in a 6-week intervention involving reading stories featuring disabled and non-disabled children in friendship contexts. The main dependent variables were children's attitudes and intended behavior toward non-disabled and disabled people. Results showed that extended contact led to increased positivity toward the disabled, and this was most pronounced in the intergroup-extended contact condition. These findings suggest that extended contact can provide a prejudice-reduction intervention tool that can be used with young children in contexts in which the opportunity for direct contact is low. The findings also add to the psychological literature, providing support of the Hewstone and Brown (1986)“intergroup” model in the context of extended contact.
Refinement of a drone-based method for estimating coarse woody debris and biomass residue following forest harvest

A quick and reliable method to estimate coarse woody debris (CWD) following forest harvest is required. Current methods of estimation are both time consuming and costly. A previous study tried to develop a method to calculate CWD volume using drones but overestimated volumes significantly. This study sought to reduce the errors of the previous study. Plots and piles were measured at two recently harvested sites in Emanuel and Effingham counties in Georgia, USA. Errors in estimates of volume ranged from very good (<10%) to very poor (>70%). Analysis showed no significant difference in ground and GIS measurements for distributed slash for the Emanuel County plots (p = 0.7362, df = 8) and for the Effingham County plots (p = 0.6467, df = 9). Ground-based measurements were significantly different from GIS measurements at both Rimes and Jack’s Creek for both oriented and slash piles (p = 0.0039, df = 15). INDEX WORDS: Forest inventory, unmanned aerial system, unmanned aerial vehicle, bioenergy, forest products REFINEMENT OF A DRONE-BASED METHOD FOR ESTIMATING COARSE WOODY DEBRIS AND BIOMASS RESIDUE FOLLOWING FOREST HARVEST
Neural modelling of compactibility characteristics of cohesionless soil

Compaction is the method of in-situ soil modification to improve its engineering properties. Two key compactibility parameters are: the maximum dry density ρd max and the corresponding optimum water content wopt. They are basic parameters for designing, constructing and controlling the compaction quality of earth structures (e.g. earth dams, highway embankments). Soil compactibility can be determined from the laboratory compactibility curve basing on Proctor's test. However, this test is destructive, time-consuming and expensive. To facilitate the determination of the cohesionless soil compactibility parameters, correlations between ρd max and wopt and the basic parameters characterizing soil grain-size distribution (CU, D10, D20, D30, D40, D50, D60, D70, D80, and D90) were developed. Artificial neural networks are applied to determine models with good prediction quality. The neural models have higher accuracy than the classic statistical models.
Exopolysaccharides Production and Characterization from Marine-Derived Penicillium commune KP942881.1 with Some Medical Potential Applications

SEVEN common marine-derived fungi were isolated from different collection sites distributed in Eastern and Western harbor of Alexandria, Egypt. The most promising marine-derived fungusproducing exopolysaccharide (EPS) was Penicillium commune (KP942881.1) which was identified according to microscopic morphological features and confirmed genetically by 18S rRNA gene. The results of the optimizing conditions for EPS production from marine-derived P. commune showed that 40 mg/ml of sucrose, 20 mg/ml of peptone, pH 5 and 3 cm discs of inoculum size and incubation at 30oC, for 9 days were the optimal conditions with using static condition for all factors. Three main spectroscopic analyses (FTIR, 1H NMR and HPLC) were employed to characterize the EPS extracted from marine-derived P. commune.1HNMR analysis of EPS exhibited the presence of β-galatopyranosyl. The HPLC chromatography showed that the EPS consist of two peaks; raffinose and rhamnose. EPS showed antiproliferative activity at dose 10 mg/ml where the percentage inhibition of tumor viability cells of colon was 85%. In breast cell (Mcf-7), EPS inhibited 87% of the tumor cells at dose 10 mg/ml and also the antiviral activity of EPS of P. commune exhibited 22.8% inhibition.
Beverage Consumption in the Diets of Children is Not Consistently Associated with Weight: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007-2014

Objectives : The objective of this study was to examine whether there was significant risk associated with types of beverages consumed on the weight status in children. Design : Nationally representative cross-sectional sample. Setting : Demographic information was obtained from the NHANES interviews. Dietary intake data were obtained from Day 1, in-person 24-hour dietary recall interviews administered using an automated multiple-pass method. Height and weight were obtained according to NHANES Anthropometry Procedures Manual. Subjects : Children 2-18 years of age. Results : The likelihood of being overweight or obese was not significant for any of the beverages studied between consumers and non-consumers. For the total sample, for every 29.6 mL of water consumed the risk of being obese was 1%. For ages 6-11 years water consumption increased the risk of being obese and in ages 2-5 years, consumption of sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) increased the risk of being obese. The risk of being obese was significant p <0.05 for Hispanic males for every 29.6 mL of water consumed and for 100% fruit juice and SSB for other males; increased risk was ? 3%. The risk of being obese increased for White females for every 29.6 mL of flavored milk consumed and water consumption for both Black females and Hispanic females; the significant p<0.05 increased risk of obesity was ? 7%. Conclusions : Beverage consumption was not consistently associated with weight status in the diets of a nationally representative sample of children. In some cases the increased risk was very small.