Miracle-dz/UniFAR-FTUs huggingface dataset:
Environmental Fate of Imidazolinone Herbicides and Their Enantiomers in Soil and Water

Imidazolinones represent a new class of herbicides with low mammalian toxicity that can be used at low application rates, either pre- or post-emergence for the control of a wide range of weeds in broadleaf and cereal crops, and non-crop situations. All imidazolinone herbicides are chiral, containing two enantiomers that derive from the chiral centre of the imidazolinone ring. The inhibitory activity of the R(+) enantiomer is nearly eight times greater than that of the S(-) enantiomer. The use of imidazolinone herbicides has increased in recent years in Australia owing to increased popularity of pulses and the introduction of imidazolinone-tolerant canola and wheat. Concerns have been raised about the potential carry over damage to the subsequent crops grown in rotation with legumes and herbicide tolerant crops. Furthermore, the presence of alkaline soils in some regions of Australia may lead to the repellence of imidazolinone herbicides, which are chiefly present in anionic form at high pH values. Thus leaching and potential contamination of ground water may occurr when these herbicides are applied on alkaline soils in certain agroclimatic zones. There is some information in the literature on the degradation, sorption and leaching behaviour of these herbicides in the environment. However, there is little information about the behaviour of these herbicides in alkaline soils found in some areas of Australia. Until now there has been no investigation of enantioselectivity in the degradation of imidazolinone herbicides in soils. Therefore, this study was undertaken to determine the behaviour of three imidazolinone herbicides in solution and Australian soils including enantioselectivity in the degradation of these herbicides in Australian soils. Analytical method for these herbicides needed to be developed/improved to cater for specific experimental conditions for this study, namely the matrices containing higher levels of organic carbon and to analyse the two enantiomers of these herbicides. The extraction of imazapyr, imazethapyr and imazaquin was investigated using solid-phase extraction (SPE) procedure. The evaluation of different aqueous solutions (0.1 KCl, 0.5 M NaOH, 0.01M NaOH and 0.5M MeOH:NaOH, (80:20)) showed that the recovery of all three herbicides was greater than 70%. However, the highest level of herbicide recovery was obtained with 0.5M NaOH as the extraction solution. Evaluation of different solid phase extraction cartridges showed that PPL cartridge is most appropriate for the isolation and subsequent quantification of these herbicides in water and humic-amended solutions when used at pH 2. When used with soil extracts, SPE cartridges C[subscript]18 + SCX allowed removal of co-extracting substances, resulting in high levels of herbicide recovery and accurate quantification with HPLC. These improved protocols were used in subsequent studies. The abiotic degradation of the imidazolinone herbicides imazapyr, imazethapyr and imazaquin was investigated under controlled laboratory conditions. Hydrolysis,…
The evaluation of perpetrators and victims of peer victimization: an extended crossed-categorization approach

This research uses a crossed-categorization design for examining the perception of peer victimization. Using vignettes and an experimental design, perpetrator and victim evaluations of Dutch and Turkish-Dutch early adolescents were examined in terms of ethnic and gender similarities between (1) respondent and perpetrator, (2) respondent and victim, and (3) perpetrator and victim. When the perpetrator was a double-ingroup member of the respondent (same ethnicity and same gender), perpetrators were evaluated less negatively and victims less positively than when the perpetrator was a single (gender or ethnicity) or doubleoutgroup member. Further, when the victim was a double-ingroup member of the respondent, perpetrators were evaluated more negatively and victims more positively. No perpetrator–victim crossed-categorization effects were found for perpetrator and victim evaluations. Perceived norms of intervention in the classroom had the expected main effects but did not moderate the crossed-categorization effects. The usefulness of a crossed-categorization approach for examining the perception of negative peer behavior is discussed.
Vertical shear instability in accretion disc models with radiation transport

The origin of turbulence in accretion discs is still not fully understood. While the magneto-rotational instability is considered to operate in sufficiently ionized discs, its role in the poorly ionized protoplanetary disc is questionable. Recently, the vertical shear instability (VSI) has been suggested as a possible alternative. Our goal is to study the characteristics of this instability and the efficiency of angular momentum transport, in extended discs, under the influence of radiative transport and irradiation from the central star. We use multi-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations to model a larger section of an accretion disc. First we study inviscid and weakly viscous discs using a fixed radial temperature profile in two and three spatial dimensions. The simulations are then extended to include radiative transport and irradiation from the central star. In agreement with previous studies we find for the isothermal disc a sustained unstable state with a weak positive angular momentum transport of the order of $\alpha \approx 10^{-4}$. Under the inclusion of radiative transport the disc cools off and the turbulence terminates. For discs irradiated from the central star we find again a persistent instability with a similar $\alpha$ value as for the isothermal case. We find that the VSI can indeed generate sustained turbulence in discs albeit at a relatively low level with $\alpha$ about few times $10^{-4}$
A Case of Fragmented High School Earth and Space Science Education in the Great Plains: Tracing Teacher Certification Policy to Students' Access

ABSTRACT Although U.S. high school students' access to Earth and space science (ESS) varies widely from state to state, nationally, ESS content is the most neglected area of science education and scientific literacy. States have been considering whether they will formally adopt, or less formally adapt, the new national science education standards, the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), which have been carefully developed and articulated in conjunction with state education leaders. However, there are many challenges with which states, school districts, and teachers must grapple to enact standards-aligned ESS science lessons. This study of one Great Plains state investigated how school districts provide ESS education at the high school level and to what degree is ESS being taught by qualified teachers. We found that 76% of districts added ESS topics to existing physical science and/or biology courses rather than offer a stand-alone ESS course. During the eight-year period investigated, the state awarded 901 science teaching endorsements to either new secondary teachers of which only 3.3% were single-subject ESS endorsements. In Phase I and II of our study we found that only 7% of science teachers teach ESS with an ESS endorsement versus a general science or other science subject area endorsement. When teachers teach ESS out-of-field they lack the confidence and subject matter knowledge to teach effectively using inquiry-based approaches and are less likely to recognize misconceptions and oversimplification of ESS content.
On decomposition of sub-linearised-polynomials

Abstract We give a detailed exposition of the theory of decompositions of linearised polynomials, using a well-known connection with skew-polynomial rings with zero derivative. It is known that there is a one-to-one correspondence between decompositions of linearised polynomials and sub-linearised polynomials. This correspondence leads to a formula for the number of indecomposable sub-linearised polynomials of given degree over a finite field. We also show how to extend existing factorisation algorithms over skew-polynomial rings to decompose sub-linearised polynomials without asymptotic cost.
Effect of socio-economic status on cognitive control in non-literate bilingual speakers*

Previous research has suggested that the advantages for cognitive control abilities in bilinguals are attenuated when socio-economic status (SES) is controlled (e.g., Morton & Harper, 2007). This study examined the effect of SES on cognitive control in illiterate monolingual and bilingual individuals who lived in adverse social conditions. We tested monolinguals and bilinguals using Simon and Attentional Network task while controlling for two potential confounding factors: SES and literacy. Bilinguals were faster for both trials with and without conflict demonstrating overall faster response times (global advantage) compared to monolinguals on both tasks. However, no bilingual advantage was found for conflict resolution on the Simon task and attentional networks on the Attentional Network task. The overall bilingual effects provide evidence for a bilingual advantage even among individuals without literacy skills and of very low SES. This indicates a strong link between bilingualism and cognitive control over and above effects of SES.
Effect of three decade long application of chemical fertilizer and amendments on crop yield under maize - wheat cropping system in an acid alfisol

The results on the effect of three decade long term application of chemical fertilizers and amendments on the yield of continuous maize-wheat crop rotation in an acid alfisol at Palampur revealed that continuous omission of essential nutrients in a maize-wheat sequence resulted in an appreciable decline in the grain yield of maize and wheat crops. A remarkable reduction in crop yield was noticed in plots where nitrogen was applied alone. Use of recommended level of N alone through urea had deleterious effect on crop productivity. The continuous exhaustionof native pools of K in 100% NP treated plots appreciably reduced percent grain yield. Application of farmyard manure (FYM) and lime along with NPK fertilizers increased the crop yield. The integrated use of optimal dose of NPK and FYM give better and more sustainable yields.
F-VIPGI: a new adapted version of VIPGI for FORS2 spectroscopy. Application to a sample of 16 X-ray selected galaxy clusters at 0.6 < z < 1.2

Aims. The goal of this paper is twofold. Firstly, we present F-VIPGI, a new version of the VIMOS Interactive Pipeline and Graphical Interface (VIPGI) adapted to handle FORS2 spectroscopic data taken with the standard instrument configuration. Secondly, we investigate the spectro-photometric properties of a sample of galaxies residing in distant X-ray selected galaxy clusters, the optical spectra of which were reduced with this new pipeline. Methods. We provide basic technical information about the innovations of the new software and refer the reader to the original VIPGI paper for a detailed description of the core functions and performances. As a demonstration of the capabilities of the new pipeline, we then show results obtained for 16 distant (0.65 ≤ z ≤ 1.25) X-ray luminous galaxy clusters selected within the XMM-Newton Distant Cluster Project. We performed a spectral indices analysis of the extracted optical spectra of their members, based on which we created a library of composite high signal-to-noise ratio spectra. We then compared the average spectra of the passive galaxies of our sample with those computed for the same class of objects that reside in the field at similar high redshift and in groups in the local Universe. Finally, We computed the “photometric” properties of our templates and compared them with those of the Coma Cluster galaxies, which we took as representative of the local cluster population. Results. We demonstrate the capabilities of F-VIPGI, whose strength is an increased efficiency and a simultaneous shortening of FORS2 spectroscopic data reduction time by a factor of ∼10 w.r. t. the standard IRAF procedures. We then discuss the quality of the final stacked optical spectra and provide them in electronic form as high-quality spectral templates, representative of passive and star-forming galaxies residing in distant galaxy clusters. By comparing the spectro-photometric properties of our templates with the local and distant galaxy population residing in different environments, we find that passive galaxies in clusters appear to be well evolved already atz ∼ 0.8 and even more so than the field galaxies at similar redshift. Even though these findings would point toward a significant acceleration of galaxy evolution in densest environments, we cannot exclude the importance of the mass as the main evolutionary driving element either. The latter effect may indeed be justified by the similarity of our composite passive spectrum with the luminous red galaxies template at intermediate redshift.
The Real Estate Economy and the Design of Russian Housing Reforms, Part I

The transition from plan to market in socialist economies dominates the economic agenda of this decade. This two-part paper on the Russian housing reforms addresses four questions. First, what is the legacy of the administrative-command system and why were demands for major reforms so widespread in the housing sector? Secondly, in what manner does the severe contraction of the Russian economy complicate the reformers' task? Thirdly, how has the Russian government responded so far to the reform challenge? Fourthly, why are the privatisation of housing and rent reforms at the core of the transition to market? The first part of the paper deals with the first two questions. The second part addresses the last two questions. Priority goes to an integrated perspective on the early stages of Russian reforms over an in-depth analysis of individual issues. The modern analysis of the real estate economy distinguishes two markets: the 'property market' for the allocation of space, and the 'asset market' where investment decisions are made. This theoretical insight provides a much needed framework to understand how the key components of Russian reform interact during the housing transition to market.
Monetary Policy During Japan's Lost Decade

We develop a quantitative costly price adjustment model with capital formation for the Japanese Economy. The model respects the zero interest rate bound and is calibrated to reproduce the nominal and real facts from the 1990s. We use the model to investigate the properties of alternative monetary policies during this period. The setting of the long-run nominal interest rate in a Taylor rule is much more important for avoiding the zero bound than the setting of the reaction coefficients. A long-run interest rate target of 2.3 percent during the 1990s avoids the zero bound and enhances welfare.
Failure Load of Composite Single-Lap Bolting Joint Under Traction Force and Bending Moment

The main objective of this paper is to investigate the behavior of single-lap joints in glass fiber reinforced epoxy (GFRE) composites under tension and pure bending loading conditions, with a constant W/D ratio (3) and variable the E/D ratios (3, 4, 5) and tightening torque values (0, 3 and 6 Nm). Bending properties were determined using four-point bending test. The experimental results show that in the tension tests, with increasing E/D ratio and tightening torque, the value of failure bearing stress increased. And in the bending tests, it is seen that atzero torque, with the increase of the E/D ratio, the bending strength value increases, but this increase is small at T=3, 6 Nm torques. And in these tests, the joint failed at the center, near the bolt, because of the excessive delaminations on the compressive side.
Medicobotanical Studies in Relation to Veterinary Medicine in Ekiti State, Nigeria: (1) Checklist of Botanicals used for the Treatment of Poultry Diseases

A semi-structured questionnaire matrix and direct field observation were used to identify botanicals used for veterinary health care in the rural areas of Ekiti State, Nigeria. A total of 38 plants belonging to 27 families were valued for the treatments of poultry pests and diseases in the study area and the parts mostly utilized were the leaves. Features that enhanced the continuous utilization of these botanical species were identified and strategies that could further enhance their sustainability were also proposed.
Adoption of Urea Deep Placement Recommended Practices among Rice Farmers in Niger State, Nigeria

This study assessed the factors influencing adoption of UDP recommended practices by rice farmers in Niger State, Nigeria. A total of 86 rice farmers were selected for the study using multi-stage sampling procedure. Structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Descriptive statistics and multiple regressions were used for data analysis. Results revealed that majority (60.5%) of the rice farmers were male and the respondents’ mean age was 49 years. The mean household size was 7 people whileless than half (48.9%) of the respondents had no formal education. The average farm size cultivated by the rice farmers was 0.8ha and all (100.0%) the respondents had no access to credit facilitates2015/2016 cropping season.The significant variables were sex, education, rice farming experience, farm size, paddy output, training and complexity. Constraints hindering adoption of UDP recommended practices were lack of credit facilities, labourious nature of line transplanting and USG application as well as limited USG supply, time spent on application of USG, inadequate training and health status of the rice farmers. It was recommended that government should ensure that credit facilities are made available and accessible to rice farmers in the study area. Also, trainings on UDP recommended practices should be a focal point for the government, non-governmental organizations and private sector actors to deal with the inadequate knowledge of UDP recommended practices among the rice farmers.
Simultaneous Pressure and Optical Measurements of Nanoaluminum Thermites: Investigating the Reaction Mechanism

This work investigates the reaction mechanism of metastable intermolecular composites by collecting simultaneous pressure and optical signals during combustion in a constant-volume pressure cell. Nanoaluminum and three different oxidizers are studied: CuO, SnO2, and Fe2O3. In addition, these mixtures are blended with varying amounts of WO3 as a means to perturb the gas release in the system. The mixtures with CuO and SnO2 exhibit pressure signals that peak on timescales faster than the optical signal, whereas themixtures containingFe2O3 do not show this behavior. The burn time is found to be relatively constant for bothCuOandSnO2, evenwhen a large amount ofWO3 is added. For Fe2O3, the burn time decreases asWO3 is added, and the temperature increases. The results are consistent with the idea that oxidizers such as CuO and SnO2 decompose and release gaseous oxidizers fast, relative to the burning, and this is experimentally seen by an initial pressure rise followed by a prolonged optical emission. In this case, the burning is rate limited by the aluminum, and it is speculated to be similar to the burning of aluminum in a pressurized oxygenated environment. For the Fe2O3 system, the pressure and optical signals occur concurrently, indicating that the oxidizer decomposition is the rate-limiting step.
Large-Scale Lexical Classification of Phishing Websites

The prominence of phishing has risen over the past years, with the number of unique attacks reaching an all time high in 2016. Attacks can be deployed with minimal cost and effort, enabling attackers to launch large volumes of attacks in short spaces of time. The fast-paced nature of phishing makesautomated detection processes critical for the safe-guarding of Internet users.This study investigates the use of machine learning for phishing detection, with features extracted from the URL only. Through experimentation, a set of 87 effective features were identified, including a significant number of novel features not found in existing research. An evaluation of classificationalgorithms identified that a Random Forest model with 150 trees maximized classification performance,obtaining an F1 score of 0.92 and ROC AUC of 0.97 when testing on a noisy data set of URLs obtained from spam email - a major communication channel where phishing attacks are found. A comparison against existing research indicated that the model built in this study outperforms state-of-the-artlexical classifiers, and often outperforms classifiers that use external features too.The obtained results were used to build a large-scale lexical classifier, Poseidon, that is able to acceleratethe classification of phishing sites, reducing the load on a more expensive classification process by99%. It is shown that Poseidon outperforms existing systems of this nature with respect to various evaluation metrics. Testing on a live feed of 2 million unlabelled URLs/day, Poseidon is able to detect 6000 phishing attacks/month, costing $0.01 per true positive when using a mainstream cloud servicesprovider.This study is one of the few to evaluate classification in a real-life scenario, using phishing and benign URLs retrieved from an environment in which a large proportion of phishing attacks operate.
Assessment of malocclusal traits using the index of complexity, outcome and need (icon) index in orthodontic patients reporting to a private practice

Background: Aims & Objectives: This study attempts to evaluate the usefulness of an index of complexity, outcome and treatment need (ICON) in a group of orthodontic patients reported to a private practice. Materials & Methods: A total of 175 consecutively treated patients identified from the Private orthodontic practice over a period of one year were selected and analysed as per the ICON Index. Statistical analysis was done using SPSS Package-17 version. Results: Among males majority of them showed substantial improvement; 59(86.7%) in their treatment, followed by 7(10.2%) greatly improved cases and 2(2.9%) moderately improved cases. Amongst females majority of them were moderately improved cases; 88(82.2%), followed by 10(9.3%) substantially improved cases and 9(8.41%) greatly improved cases. Conclusion: It was observed from this study that, ICON index can be considered comprehensive enough for assessing the malocclusal traits amongst the patients.
Optimal Sales Schemes for Network Goods

This paper examines the optimal sequencing of sales in the presence of network externalities. A firm sells a good to a group of consumers whose payoff from buying is increasing in total quantity sold. The firm selects the order to serve consumers so as to maximize expected sales. It can serve all consumers simultaneously, serve them all sequentially, or employ any intermediate scheme. We show that the optimal sales scheme is purely sequential, where each consumer observes all previous sales before choosing whether to buy himself. A sequential scheme maximizes the amount of information available to consumers, allowing success to breed success. Failure can also breed failure, but this is made less likely by consumers’ desire to influence one another’s behavior. We show that when consumers differ in the weight they place on the network externality, the firm would like to serve consumers with lower weights first. Our results suggests that a firm launching a new product should first target independent-minded consumers who can serve as opinion leaders for those who follow.